The Oticon Ruby 1 mini R in review
Wir haben dieses Gerät in der Gesamtnote mit einem Abschlag versehen, weil es bereits eine neuere Hörtechnik von diesem Hersteller gibt: Oticon More
Oticon presents the Ruby 1 mini R, a model from a still moderate price category. It can compensate for both mild and more severe hearing needs. It is a small, narrow hearing aid, which provides good sound by placing the speaker directly in the ear canal. It is worn behind the ear.
Hearing comfort
The hearing comfort determines whether someone likes to wear their hearing aids or not. That’s why we first looked at how the hearing aid handles background noise. With this model that Oticon presents to us, we found only limited options for comfort influence. Of course, noise suppression is integrated, which is supposed to mitigate exhausting background noises. The Ruby 1 mini R has a rather simple form of noise suppression, which should be sufficient for normal environments. This device can detect wind and slightly reduce the noise.
Sudden loud noises are likely cushioned, but we didn’t really notice the effect. The device detects whether the microphones are transmitting everything or need to be oriented forward. This can help in conversation situations, but it does not replace true spatial hearing. We also look at the number of equalizer bands: Oticon provides 10 here. We are not really happy with that; the options for sound design are quite limited. However, it is enough for good speech understanding.
Oticon does not yet work with artificial intelligence in this version.
Rating Hearing comfort: 4,2
Operation & connectivity
How can we fully utilize the potential of hearing aids in everyday life? We have found out about the access options available with the Ruby 1 mini R. For those who want to quickly and easily adjust the volume, there is a button on the device. You can also select additional programs for special listening situations through this. We do enjoy small remote controls, and we have found one for this model. This allows for discreet adjustments to the volume or sound.
The modern form of operation via voice command is not yet present in the Ruby 1 mini R. Tap Control would have been an interesting feature. With that, you could change the function with a quick tap on the ear. However, this is not available in the Ruby 1 mini R yet.
An app on the smartphone is intended to simplify operation, and we have found one for the Ruby 1 mini R as well. In addition to basic functions like volume and programs, we also find a few more buttons for personalization. The Ruby 1 comes with a 2.4 Ghz antenna and allows us the pleasure of binaural phone calls. This even gives us an advantage over normal hearing individuals. We appreciate this and are happy to give points.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 2,0
Oticon Ruby 1 mini R:
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Simplicity & security
Usability is the next aspect we want to address. It's about everyday practicality and the question of how easy and safe it is to navigate life with the hearing aid. We had expected a bit more support in everyday hearing with the automatic situation recognition. While the situations "Quiet" and "Noise" are recognized, the sound environment is usually a bit more complex. We are very pleased with the integrated acclimatization manager. It gradually increases the volume of the hearing aid in tiny steps until our target amplification is eventually reached. We can relax and gradually get used to the new hearing impressions.
A great relief in daily life is the integrated battery. With it, my Ruby 1 mini R always has enough energy for the whole day, and I no longer have to worry about the batteries suddenly running out in the middle of an event. Even for those with limited dexterity, a battery system is very helpful, as it eliminates the need to insert small button cells.
The Ruby 1 is almost dust and water resistant and, with its IP 68 rating, is certainly well protected against external influences.
Rating Simplicity & security: 1,8
Oticon Ruby 1 mini R:
Extras
At the end of our test report, there is still a bit of space for the extra features: A special tinnitus program can be programmed into the Ruby 1 mini R upon request. This allows for the generation of stimulating, pleasant sounds that distract from the tinnitus when it is particularly strong. We find this very useful and are happy to award extra points. A real added value is the remote maintenance service. For a change in the hearing aid settings, one no longer necessarily has to go to the specialty store but can directly contact the acoustician through the app. Through a cloud service, the new data package can then be loaded into the hearing aids. This is exactly what we expect from a modern hearing aid. A new trend in the hearing aid industry is integrated sensors that can, for example, track some personal health data. However, the Ruby 1 mini R does not offer this. With devices like this one from Oticon, our test reports keep getting longer, as there are now also intelligent additional functions. Various assistants make your life easier and can be personalized in the app. While this is not strictly necessary, it is a lot of fun. Therefore, we give it a good rating.
Rating Extras: 1,8
Conclusion: Oticon Ruby 1 mini R
In the overall result, this test device ranks in the lower positions and lacks some features. We give it a rating of 3.9. For less demanding listeners, this is acceptable, but for a very active lifestyle, we recommend a hearing aid with more extensive comfort features.
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Our Oticon Ruby 1 mini R review was created on November 11, 2020 and lastly updated on June 25, 2024. The overall rating of 3,90 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 2 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 4.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 4.5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
What does the Oticon Ruby 1 mini R cost?
The Ruby 1 mini R from Oticon is currently offered by providers in a rough price range of approximately between €2,000.00 and €2,500.00. You should consider this price in relation to the test score of 3.9 (sufficient). And for example, also in dependence on the star rating in the area of noise suppression in our tests (2 out of 5 stars). You can find all comparison values in the hearing aid comparison.
How well can you hear with the Oticon Ruby 1 mini R?
The Ruby 1 mini R from Oticon achieves a score of 4.2 (sufficient) in the area of hearing comfort. In the area of noise suppression, the hearing aid receives 2 out of 5 stars. For wind noise suppression, it gets the rating 'usable' (2 out of 5 stars). The hearing aid shows in testing 10 different equalizer bands that can be adjusted by the hearing care professional to the individual's hearing ability (current top models achieve 24).
Who is the Ruby 1 mini R from Oticon suitable for?
This hearing aid is aimed at people whose hearing loss is mild, moderate, or severe. This so-called "fitting range" is roughly defined by Oticon. A good hearing care company in your area can immediately say after a professional hearing test whether this behind-the-ear hearing aid is suitable for you.
How large is the Oticon Ruby 1 mini R?
We have classified all hearing aids on the market into four size categories, from XXS (virtually invisible) to M (rather large). The Oticon Ruby 1 mini R has a size classification of XS, so it is quite small compared to other hearing aids.
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