Test report: Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T

The Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T in review

Let's take another look at an earlier widely used hearing aid for mild to severe hearing loss: This model is called HearLink 5040 MNB T and comes from the company Philips. It is worn behind the ear and is a small hearing aid. The HearLink 5040 MNB T is a model at a reasonable price from the upper mid-range. Let's see if the price classification is justified.

Since 2018, the partnership between Philips Hearing Solutions and the Danish Demant Holding AG, which already includes Oticon, Bernafon, and the American manufacturer Sonic Innovations, has existed.

Hearing comfort

Good speech understanding is a given in modern hearing aids. Equally important is listening comfort. Only when the ratio of speech transmission to the level of background noise is right will listening be perceived as pleasant. That's why we take a look at the comfort features: The manufacturer provides comprehensive noise management with the HearLink 5040 MNB T. Normal ambient noises such as street noise, vacuum cleaner noise, or from a fan should be dampened by classic noise cancellation. In this Philips hearing aid, we would rate the noise reduction as average. It is sufficient unless you live in a very noisy environment.

The noise filter in this hearing aid is quite solid and practical for everyday use. The HearLink 5040 MNB T impresses us with its wind reduction and offers good performance in that regard. The adjustable microphones help to identify specific directions and can also assist in blending out background noise, but the spatial sound was not very natural. The more bands the equalizer in the hearing aid has, the more reliably it separates speech from background noise. The sound can also be shaped better. The HearLink 5040 MNB T has 18 bands, making it one of the more powerful models.

Interestingly, artificial intelligence also plays a role in signal processing. The sound is therefore analyzed not only based on typical frequency patterns. Particularly intense, noisy situations are perceived as more realistic and pleasant.

The new chip technology now includes Sound Protect. Sound Protect cleans the input signals of unwanted noise disturbances caused by wind, handling, or impulse signals before they are passed on to the noise suppression. It only needs to focus on improving the contrast between speech and noise so that you can understand well. Your benefit? Clearer sound without unwanted signal distortions.

Rating Hearing comfort: 2,3

Operation & connectivity

The operating options for hearing aids today are as simple or as complex as anyone would like. The basic functions run fully automatically. We wanted to know how a user can access the HearLink 5040 MNB T beyond that. There is usually a button on the hearing aid, and we found it on the HearLink 5040 as well. It can be configured as a volume control or program selection button, and it can also be disabled if desired. A remote control is available for the HearLink 5040 MNB T. It's quite practical, fits in your pocket, and offers a volume up-down option as well as various hearing programs.

For some time now, there has been a trend to adjust hearing aids louder or quieter using voice commands. The idea is really good, but Philips is not there yet with this device. Don’t worry, this feature would be nice, but it is optional. Tap Control would have been an interesting function as well. With this, you could change the function with a quick tap on your ear. But that's not available on the HearLink 5040 MNB T yet.

The best way to adjust the HearLink 5040 MNB T is with the corresponding app. The early apps only had one screen, but this one offers far more than just the usual volume control function. We clearly have points for this. We really enjoyed the direct wireless streaming. This means that calls from your smartphone are transmitted to the hearing aids without any additional equipment. This turns the hearing aid into the perfect hands-free system or wireless headphones. Listening to music or watching and hearing videos is incredibly comfortable.

This hearing aid has a built-in telephone coil, also known as an induction coil. This coil is capable of receiving inductive signals and transmitting them to you without interference. This transmission method is mainly used in public spaces, event halls, as well as museums and churches. Simply switch your hearing aid to the appropriate hearing program and enjoy direct speech transmission without disturbing background noise. This technology has actually been in use since 1936, but back then it was so large that it was a tabletop device with an external power source. Today, the telephone coil is tiny and fits into almost every hearing aid.

Rating Operation & connectivity: 1,8

Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T: Bridge waiting times by treating yourself to a moment of relaxation. Stream music, an audiobook, or a podcast directly into the hearing aids. It doesn't get more discreet than that.

Simplicity & security

Another point on our checklist is handling. Does everything work simply and reliably? What does the hearing aid offer to ensure safe application in everyday life? The situational automatic feature of the HearLink 5040 MNB T includes almost everything one can experience in daily situations. It gives me the perfect setting at all times, without me having to do anything actively. Especially in varied phases, this is extremely convenient and allows me to almost forget that I am wearing the hearing aid. We give a big plus point for the automatic acclimatization assistant. It increases the starting volume in very small steps until my hearing goal is achieved. This makes it much easier to get used to the new sound.

Unfortunately, the HearLink 5040 MNB T is not equipped with a rechargeable battery, so it requires size 312 batteries for operation on a regular basis.

We also take a look at the robustness of the casing and discover in the data sheet the protection class IP 68. This means that dust cannot penetrate at all, and water only becomes hazardous after prolonged submersion. Protection against contact is also included.

Rating Simplicity & security: 1,8

Extras

Finally, let's take a quick look at whether there are any extras: A special tinnitus program can be programmed into the HearLink 5040 MNB T 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 very good additional benefit is provided by the remote maintenance offer. Through the app, you can contact your hearing aid specialist and describe your hearing problem. They can then adjust the settings accordingly and upload them to the hearing aids via the app. For people with little time or a long commute, this is an excellent service.

Many hearing aids today still come with a few health functions. However, since the HearLink 5040 MNB T does not have any special sensors for that, we cannot present any particular features here. In combination with a smartphone, the HearLink 5040 MNB T surprises us with a few nice lifestyle features. It is definitely worth becoming thoroughly familiar with the app and utilizing the available assistance programs.

Rating Extras: 1,8

Conclusion: Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T

In conclusion, it can be said that this device is a true all-rounder that impresses us with its comfort features and achieves a good overall result with a grade of 2. Those who want to forgo top-notch technology but still desire a comfortable hearing experience will find what they are looking for here.

 

Our Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T review was created on June 19, 2023 . The overall rating of 2,00 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 4 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4.5 | »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

### How big is the HearLink 5040 MNB T from Philips? Since a size in millimeters does not explain how large a hearing aid appears, we have divided the size perception into classes. Class "XXS" is practically invisible, Class "M" has the largest appearance. The HearLink 5040 MNB T from Philips is in the size class S. It could be described as medium-sized. ### What is the price of the Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T? The HearLink 5040 MNB T from the manufacturer Philips is currently offered by hearing acousticians in Germany in a price range of approximately between 2,000.00 € and 2,500.00 €. To evaluate the price-performance ratio, you should also consider the overall test score of 2.0 (good). ### How well does one hear with the Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T? The Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T receives a rating for hearing comfort of 2.3 (good) from us. The Philips hearing aid receives the 'very good' rating for its suppression of wind noise (4 out of 5 stars). The noise suppression of the device achieves 3 out of 5 stars. 18 frequency bands can be adjusted separately in this hearing aid for processing sound pitches (top values of the current top models: 24). ### Who is the Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T suitable for? If your hearing deficit is mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss, the Philips HearLink 5040 MNB T could be suitable for you. This so-called "fitting range" of the hearing aid is defined by the manufacturer and has to do, among other things, with the amplification of the hearing aid. Whether the device is actually suitable for you can only be sensibly assessed by an on-site hearing acoustician after a comprehensive hearing test has been conducted.

 

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