The Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T in review
Oticon offers the Zircon 1 mini RITE T, a small and narrow hearing aid that is worn behind the ear. It is a hearing aid from an affordable price range and is suitable for both mild and more severe hearing needs. The position of the speaker in the ear canal, close to the eardrum, ensures that sound reaches the eardrum without loss.
The OpenSoundNavigator has already been implemented in the premium devices of the Opn-S series. Now we are getting it in the mid-range as well.
Hearing comfort
Hearing aids are not only supposed to bring speech to the ear but also sound pleasant. So let's first look at the comfort features. What types of noise does the hearing aid recognize? Are they dampened or transmitted unchanged? Is the hearing aid suitable for an active daily life? Here with this test device, solid comfort programming by the hearing care professional is possible. As in every hearing aid, typical noise suppression is also included here. It aims to reduce uniform, buzzing background noises to the point where they are no longer so dominating. With the Zircon 1 mini RITE T, we have a relatively simple form of noise suppression that should be sufficient for normal environments.
When it comes to wind noise suppression, we are dealing with a relatively simple wind damper. The impulse sound management in this device is not really recommendable. Short, loud noises still sound quite intense. The Zircon 1 mini RITE T has 14 adjustable frequency bands and falls into the mid-range. A good audiologist can certainly extract a reasonable sound from it. The microphones in the Zircon 1 mini RITE T can be switched to the front in the direction of sight. However, this is the only feature that slightly supports spatial hearing.
Even with hearing aids, the use of artificial intelligence has made its way in, for example here in the Zircon 1 mini RITE T. This makes far more data available to identify speech and noise. From our experience, the sound of hearing aids with AI is perceived as particularly precise and realistic.
Rating Hearing comfort: 2,8
Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T:
Operation & connectivity
The operation of hearing aids today is as simple or as complex as anyone wants it to be. The basic functions work fully automatically, of course. We wanted to know how a user can further access the Zircon 1 mini RITE T. Usually, there is a button on the hearing aid, and we found one on the Zircon 1 as well. It can be configured as a volume control or program selection button and can also be deactivated if desired. We do like the small remote controls, and for this model, we found one. This allows for discreet adjustments to the volume or sound.
We are always excited when a hearing aid surprises us with a great additional feature. For instance, we would have liked to see voice control at this point. However, there is none in the Zircon 1 mini RITE T at the moment. If there are sensors in the hearing aid, a tap control could be conceivable, which would trigger a specific function by tapping the ear with the fingers. However, this option is not available in the Zircon 1 mini RITE T.
It is very convenient to adjust the hearing aids via the app. There is also a free app for the Zircon 1 mini RITE T. In our opinion, the range of functions is mediocre, but mostly sufficient. It’s best to try it out in demo mode beforehand. A streaming option would not be bad for our digital everyday life. The present device fulfills our wish and comes with a 2.4 GHz radio module, allowing phone calls and sounds to be sent directly from the smartphone to the hearing aids.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 2,0
Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T:
The best alternatives to the Zircon 1 mini RITE T
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Philips HearLink 9040 MNR T | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
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Starkey Evolv AI 2400 RIC 312 | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Simplicity & security
Continuing with the test: How does it stand in terms of user-friendliness? Is it easy or complicated to handle the hearing aid? An automatic situation detection is only rudimentarily integrated in the Zircon 1 mini RITE T. We have to resort to the manual options relatively often and adjust our hearing aid to the environments ourselves. The adaptation to the new hearing experience is supported by this device with a fully automatic acclimatization manager. It adjusts the amplification in barely noticeable steps until my hearing loss is completely compensated. I don’t have to do anything but regularly wear my hearing aids.
The Zircon 1 mini RITE T is not rechargeable. It is powered by hearing aid batteries size 312. Disadvantage: The batteries are disposed of after use. Advantage: The daily charging of batteries is eliminated, the hearing aid runs for several days continuously on one battery.
The Zircon 1 is almost dust- and waterproof and, with its IP 68 classification, is certainly well protected against external influences.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,8
Extras
Before we conclude, let's take a look at the extras: Are you among those suffering from tinnitus? Then you might consider the optional tinnitus program in the Zircon 1 mini RITE T. Soft, quiet sounds are tailored to your hearing and engage all areas of the inner ear. It's nothing more than a distraction maneuver, and it works surprisingly well. The tinnitus fades into the background noise and no longer bothers you. It's a simple yet effective tool and earns extra points from us.
A clever tool is the integrated remote maintenance service. Almost everyone has a smartphone, and time is a valuable commodity. That's why such a remote maintenance service is absolutely appropriate. If someone needs a new programming for their hearing aids, they can easily contact the audiologist via the app and describe their hearing preferences. Through a cloud service, the professional can then send a customized setting as a data package to the app. From there, it is loaded onto the hearing aid and can be tried out immediately. This definitely deserves extra points in our test.
Many hearing aids today still come with a few health functions. However, since the Zircon 1 mini RITE T does not have any special sensors for this, we cannot present any particular features here. There are also a few lifestyle functions that make your hearing aid a smart assistant. Connect with voice assistants like Siri, or explore what else the app has to offer. While this doesn't have much to do with actual hearing, it can be extremely useful.
Rating Extras: 1,8
Conclusion: Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T
Finally, it can be said that this device is a real all-rounder, impressing us with its comfort features and achieving a good overall result with a score of 2.39. Those who want to forego top-notch technology but still desire a comfortable hearing experience are in the right place here.
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 13 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
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Our Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T review was created on September 16, 2022 . The overall rating of 2,39 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 4.5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
Is the Zircon 1 mini RITE T by Oticon suitable for me?
The fitting range of this hearing aid is "hearing loss mild, moderate, or severe." A local hearing acoustics specialist can quickly assess whether your hearing deficit falls within this range.
How much does the Zircon 1 mini RITE T by Oticon cost?
The approximate price range for the Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T currently offered in Germany is around €1,300.00 to €2,000.00. When considering the price, it's also important to look at the overall rating: The overall test score in the HearShop test is 2.4 (good). Details are also crucial for understanding the hearing aid price: The star rating for "noise suppression" in the test shows 2 out of 5 stars.
What size is the Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T?
This behind-the-ear hearing aid is categorized in the size class XS. This means it is quite small. You can compare it with other hearing aids in this size class: Hearing Aid Comparison.
How well does one hear with the Oticon Zircon 1 mini RITE T?
The Zircon 1 mini RITE T from the manufacturer Oticon is equipped with 14 separately adjustable equalizer bands (for context: current top devices have 25 bands). The rating for noise suppression for this device achieves 2 out of 5 stars. The 'usable' rating (2 out of 5 stars) is given for the wind noise suppression of the Zircon 1 mini RITE T. Summarizing the entire area of "hearing comfort," the overall score in the test is 2.8 (satisfactory).
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