The Bernafon Alpha 1 CIC in review
Das Bernafon Alpha XT ist der Nachfolger dieser Technik. Da sie nicht mehr ganz aktuell ist, haben wir eine Abwertung in der Gesamtnote vorgenommen.
Here we are looking at a hearing aid from an affordable price range that is worn in the ear. It is called Alpha 1 CIC and comes from the manufacturer Bernafon. It can be used by all people who have almost any hearing need and wish for a discreet, slim-shaped hearing aid. Due to its natural, cleverly chosen fit directly in the ear canal, it has excellent sound properties.
Hearing comfort
Good speech understanding is a given in modern hearing aids. Equally important is hearing comfort. Only when the ratio of speech transmission to the level of background noise is right, is hearing perceived as pleasant. Therefore, let’s take a look at the comfort features: The Alpha 1 CIC allows for solid comfort programming by the hearing care professional. Normal environmental noises such as road noise, vacuum cleaner sounds, or sounds from the fan should be dampened by a classic noise suppression. In this Bernafon hearing aid, we have to settle for a minimum level of noise suppression.
Unfortunately, an impulse sound suppressor is not included in the Alpha 1 CIC. There is no wind management here. This is perfectly fine, as the placement directly in the ear canal already provides a natural protection against wind noise. The Alpha 1 CIC impresses us with its natural, spatial hearing. The ear shell retains its function, making it feel just like wearing no hearing aid at all. We always take a close look at the number of equalizer bands. They are important for adjusting the sound of a hearing aid as accurately as possible to the hearing curve. Additionally, speech noise management also takes place within these bands. The Alpha 1 CIC has 12 of them. That’s okay.
One component in the signal processing of the Alpha 1 CIC is artificial intelligence. The impact is positive since many customers find conversations in noisy situations to be significantly more relaxed.
Rating Hearing comfort: 3,0
Operation & connectivity
Almost every one of us owns a smartphone, so the question arises whether it can be connected with the new hearing aid. Let’s take a look at the connectivity and operability of the Alpha 1 CIC. A very quick way to adjust the volume is the small button on the device. It is easy to feel, and you can adjust it to be louder or quieter in several steps. Additional programs for specific hearing situations can also be activated with it. Those who want to do without the button can simply have it disabled. Unfortunately, this hearing aid cannot be adjusted via a remote control – which costs a few points.
Some hearing aids can already be controlled by voice, but this one from Bernafon unfortunately cannot yet. It would be practical if the fingers are not as mobile anymore or if one simply likes smart gadgets. This Bernafon model does not have the ability to control the hearing aids with a simple tap of the finger, as it would have required specific sensors in the casing.
Although smartphone apps are now offered for many hearing aids, Bernafon unfortunately does not provide one for its Alpha 1 CIC yet. A connection to other audio sources is not provided here. Too bad, as a wireless streaming function would have offered real added value.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 3,5
The best alternatives to the Alpha 1 CIC
Our database contains 70 reviews of hearing aids with similar technical features to this one (i.e., In the ear (ITE) in sehr kompakter Bauform in Size "", not rechargable, geeignet für Hörverlust-Grad leicht, mittel & stark). Here are the top 3 (Redaktionsstand 02.10.2025):
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Starkey Genesis AI 24 CIC Wireless | Rating: 5 / 5 |
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Starkey Signature Series 24 CIC NW | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
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Starkey Genesis AI 20 CIC Wireless | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Simplicity & security
Usability is the next aspect we want to address. This is about everyday practicality and the question of how easy and safe it is to navigate life with a hearing aid. The automatic situation recognition is supposed to make listening easier. However, the Alpha 1 CIC does not handle changing or difficult acoustic environments as well, as it lacks some adaptive algorithms. Additionally, it is advisable to have a few extra hearing programs set up for this device. A great feature of this hearing aid is the automatic acclimatization. Especially when someone has been hearing poorly for a long time and then wears a hearing aid for the first time, this is a tremendous relief. The volume does not need to be turned up fully right away. One can start at a lower level, and gradually, almost unnoticed, the amplification approaches the target.
Zinc-air batteries power the Alpha 1 CIC. Changing the battery can be quite cumbersome for people with limited dexterity or vision. If you have concerns about this, it is better to look for a rechargeable model.
The hearing aid is classified in the IP68 protection class. This guarantees comprehensive protection against dust intrusion. Water also cannot easily damage the hearing aid. This makes it well-equipped for outdoor activities where it may get wet and dirty. However, it is still best not to bathe or swim with the hearing aids. Bath additives or the salt content in seawater can alter the composition and may ultimately cause damage.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,8
Extras
Sometimes there are additional features in hearing aids that can be quite useful. Let's see how it is with this Bernafon device: The tinnitus program is definitely worth mentioning. Those who are plagued by bothersome ear noises will benefit from it. Pleasant, soft sounds are adjusted to gently surround the tinnitus. In the end, the tinnitus fades into the background noise and is no longer bothersome at all.
In mobile times like these, a remote maintenance service via an app would be very helpful. Through it, one could comfortably have a new hearing aid programming done from home. Unfortunately, this service is not available for the Alpha 1 CIC. So, for any changes, one still has to visit the specialist shop.
A new trend in the hearing aid industry is integrated sensors that can track, for example, some personal health data. However, the Alpha 1 CIC does not offer this feature. The functionality of the Alpha 1 CIC is limited to normal hearing, which is perfectly fine. Additional features like fall alerts or Siri connections do provide some significant value, but they are not relevant for good hearing balance.
Rating Extras: 3,3
Conclusion: Bernafon Alpha 1 CIC
Im Gesamtergebnis landet dieses Testgerät auf den hinteren Plätzen und lässt einige Ausstattungsmerkmale vermissen. Wir vergeben die Note 4,39. Für anspruchsarme Hörer ist das in Ordnung, für einen sehr aktiven Lebensstil empfehlen wir allerdings ein Hörgerät mit umfangreicheren Komfortmerkmalen.
What is the difference between the different shapes? Are the mini hearing aids also available with a rechargeable battery? Or with Bluetooth? Read our extensive In-Ear Hearing Aids Comparison, which provides you with this and many other interesting information.
Top alternatives in the same price range
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 13 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 312 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 675 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
Our Bernafon Alpha 1 CIC review was created on April 18, 2023 and lastly updated on June 25, 2024. The overall rating of 4,39 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 3 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 2.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 3 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
Ist das Alpha 1 CIC von Bernafon für mich geeignet?
Der Anpassbereich dieses Hörgerätes ist "". Ob Ihr Hördefizit in diesem Bereich liegt, kann ein Hörakustik-Fachbetrieb vor Ort schnell beurteilen.
Was kostet das Alpha 1 CIC von Bernafon?
Der grobe Rahmen, in dem das Bernafon Alpha 1 CIC derzeit in Deutschland angeboten wird, ist ungefähr zwischen 1.300,00 € und 2.000,00 €. Zum Preis sollte man sich auch die Gesamtbewertung anschauen: Die Gesamt-Testnote im HörShop-Test ist 4.4 (**). Auch Details sind wichtig, um den Hörgerätepreis einordnen zu können: Die Sternebewertung der "Lärmunterdrückung" im Test zeigt .
Welche Größe hat das Bernafon Alpha 1 CIC?
Dieses In the ear (ITE) haben wir in die Größenklasse XS eingeordnet. Das bedeutet, dass es ist. Sie können es mit anderen Hörgeräten dieser Größenklasse vergleichen: Hörgeräte-Vergleich.
Wie gut hört man mit dem Bernafon Alpha 1 CIC?
Das Alpha 1 CIC vom Hersteller Bernafon ist mit 12 separat einstellbaren Equalizer-Bändern ausgestattet (zur Einordnung: Die aktuellen Spitzengeräte besitzen 25 Bänder). Die Bewertung der Unterdrückung von Lärm für dieses Gerät erreicht . Prädikat gibt es für die Windgeräuschunterdrückung des Alpha 1 CIC. Fasst man den gesamten Bereich "Hörkomfort" zusammen, ergibt sich eine Gesamtnote im Test von 3,0 (***).
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