Test report: Starkey S 2 RIC

The Starkey S 2 RIC in review

This test report is about the S 2 RIC. It was developed by Starkey and covers mild to profound hearing losses. This variant is worn behind the ear. The S 2 RIC is a small hearing aid with a very slim design from the basic price segment. We achieve clear sound transmission through the deep placement of the speaker in the ear canal.

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 presented by Starkey, we found only a few options to influence comfort. Of course, noise suppression is integrated to reduce tiring background noises. In the S 2 RIC, we find a rather below-average level of background noise suppression. Noise-sensitive people will have to make some compromises in terms of hearing comfort. This device can recognize wind and slightly mitigate the noise.

The impulse sound management is relatively simple; it slightly dampens short loud sounds, which is okay. The microphones in the S 2 RIC can be switched to face forward in the direction of view. However, that’s the only thing that slightly supports spatial hearing. With 12 frequency bands, you can achieve quite a good sound. A passionate musician may not be completely satisfied, but this number is more than enough for normal hearing and sound needs.

The signal processing is based, among other things, on typical frequency patterns of speech and noise, but artificial intelligence is not yet employed here.

Rating Hearing comfort: 4,2

Operation & connectivity

Almost everyone of us owns a smartphone, so the question arises whether it can be connected to the new hearing aid as well. Let’s take a look at the connectivity and usability of the S 2 RIC. There is a button directly on the hearing aid. This allows you to adjust the volume or activate additional listening programs. It can be programmed according to customer preferences. The use is, of course, optional. If desired, there is a remote control for the hearing aid. This allows you to effortlessly adjust the volume. The operation is not only child’s play, but no one will notice that you are currently adjusting your hearing aids.

In the test, we did not find any option for voice control. This function is not necessarily required, but we would have appreciated it. This Starkey model does not have the ability to control the hearing aids with a simple tap, as specific sensors would have been needed in the housing for that.

Quickly turning up the volume via the app is unfortunately not possible with the S 2 RIC. An app is not available for this. However, this is irrelevant if you are not a smartphone user anyway. The hearing aid can also be used as a headset and requires a small additional device for that. If you clip it onto your collar, a whole multimedia world opens up to you. Smartphone, tablet, laptop – all Bluetooth-enabled devices can be wirelessly connected to the hearing aid.

Rating Operation & connectivity: 3,0

Simplicity & security

Of course, we are also interested in how quickly one can get used to the S 2 RIC and how easy daily use is. Unfortunately, the listening experience with the S 2 RIC is not as good. The automatic situation adaptation is quite limited, so we receive little support when it gets loud around us. This can be compensated by utilizing the manual adjustment options. However, this hardly scores points in terms of simplicity. 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 an enormous relief. The volume does not have to be turned up immediately. You can start at a lower level, and gradually and almost imperceptibly, the amplification approaches the target.

The RIC from S 2 is powered by 312 disposable batteries and is not rechargeable. This has its advantages and disadvantages. For the decision "battery or rechargeable," we have provided a guide here: Rechargeable hearing aids or batteries: 6 criteria for your decision.

The S 2 is nearly dust and water resistant and, with its IP 68 classification, is certainly well protected against external influences.

Rating Simplicity & security: 2,8

Extras

Before we come to an end, let's take a look at the extras: Worth mentioning is the tinnitus program. Those who are troubled by annoying ear noises will benefit from it. Pleasant, quiet sounds are adjusted to gently surround the tinnitus. In the end, the tinnitus fades into the background noise and is no longer disturbing at all.

In these mobile times, a remote service via an app would be very helpful. This would allow one to conveniently have a new hearing aid programming created from home. Unfortunately, this service is not available for the S 2 RIC. For any changes, one still has to visit the specialist store.

A nice feature would be a remote service, so one could get help from a hearing professional even when they cannot come to the store. But unfortunately, this is not available here, so there is no extra point. The functionality of the S 2 RIC is limited to normal hearing, which is perfectly fine. Additional features like fall alarms or Siri connections provide some added value, but are not relevant for good hearing balance.

Rating Extras: 3,3

Conclusion: Starkey S 2 RIC

With a final grade of 3.46, this model holds its ground in the mid-range. It has a fairly decent comfort feature set on board, which is sufficient for typical everyday moments and creates a satisfying listening experience.

Hearing aids with private labels are relabeled technologies from well-known manufacturers. Starkey also offers its devices under different names. Read on to find out why this is the case.

 

Our Starkey S 2 RIC review was created on June 23, 2023 and lastly updated on August 24, 2023. The overall rating of 3,46 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 2 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 3 | »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

Is the S 2 RIC from Starkey suitable for me?

The fitting range of this hearing aid is "mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss." A local hearing acoustics specialist can quickly assess whether your hearing deficit falls within this range.

How much does the S 2 RIC from Starkey cost?

The rough price range for the Starkey S 2 RIC currently being offered in Germany is approximately between €1.00 and €700. When considering the price, it's also important to look at the overall rating: The overall test score in the HörShop test is 3.5 (satisfactory). Additionally, details are important for contextualizing the price of the hearing aid: The star rating for "noise suppression" in the test shows 2 out of 5 stars.

What size is the Starkey S 2 RIC?

We have classified this behind-the-ear hearing aid into 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 can you hear with the Starkey S 2 RIC?

The S 2 RIC from the manufacturer Starkey is equipped with 12 separately adjustable equalizer bands (for context: current top models have 25 bands). The noise suppression rating for this device reaches 2 out of 5 stars. There is a 'satisfactory' rating (2 out of 5 stars) for the wind noise suppression of the S 2 RIC. Summarizing the entire area of "hearing comfort," the overall test score is 4.2 (sufficient).

 

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