The Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312 in review
What exactly can the Magnify 40 BTE 312 from the manufacturer Widex do? First of all, it is a standard hearing aid that sits behind the ear. It covers mild, moderate, and even severe hearing needs. This model is a very small hearing aid in the premium price range. What can it achieve in everyday hearing? What comfort features does it offer? We took a closer look at it.
Hearing comfort
Good speech comprehension 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 will hearing be perceived as pleasant. That’s why we take a look at the comfort features: The Magnify 40 BTE 312 provides only the absolute essentials in terms of hearing comfort. Normal environmental sounds such as street noise, the sound of a vacuum cleaner, or that from a fan should be dampened by a classic noise suppression system. This Widex hearing aid has a simple noise reduction integrated by the manufacturer, but it cannot be adjusted further.
Deductions are made for the lack of impulse noise suppression. Normally, this dampens short, clattering sounds. However, anyone choosing this hearing aid should not let that bother them. When the wind sweeps across the microphones outdoors in nature, we wish for wind noise reduction. This is lacking here, and in some outdoor situations, it can significantly impair hearing comfort. Spatial hearing is unfortunately not well developed in this model. While the hearing aids can focus forward, this does not help when trying to determine from which direction a car is approaching or where someone is calling from. The Magnify 40 BTE 312 has only 6 frequency bands, meeting just the minimum requirements. One should not have overly high expectations regarding sound quality.
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: 5,2
Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312:
Operation & connectivity
Almost every one of us owns a smartphone, so the question arises whether it can be connected to the new hearing aid. Let's take a look at the connectivity and usability of the Magnify 40 BTE 312. There is a button directly on the hearing aid. With this, you can adjust the volume or activate additional hearing programs. It can be programmed according to the customer's wishes. The use of it is, of course, optional. Is the Magnify 40 remotely controllable? Unfortunately not; there is no suitable device available.
The modern form of operation via voice command is not yet found in the Magnify 40 BTE 312. Control of the hearing aids with a simple tap is not available in this Widex model, as certain sensors would have been needed in the casing for that.
Quickly adjusting the volume through an app - unfortunately, that is not possible with the Magnify 40 BTE 312. An app is not available for that. However, this is irrelevant if you are not a smartphone user anyway. Wireless connection options are unfortunately completely absent in this variant. This is no longer quite up-to-date, but it is probably due to the small size of the hearing aid.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 3,5
The best alternatives to the Magnify 40 BTE 312
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Simplicity & security
Usability is the next aspect we want to address. This is about practicality and the question of how easy and safe it is to go through life with the hearing aid. We would have liked an automatic program adjustment in the Magnify 40 BTE 312 that adapts to the environment by itself. However, this is not available, so unfortunately, we have to deduct points here. It's a pity that there's no assistance for getting used to the new hearing aid. An automated, medium-term loudness adjustment would have been particularly useful during the initial phase.
The BTE 312 from Magnify 40 is operated with 312 disposable batteries; it is not rechargeable. This has its pros and cons. For the decision between "battery or rechargeable," we have provided a guide here: Rechargeable hearing aids or batteries: 6 criteria for your decision.
We had a carefree everyday life in our test due to the IP-68 certification. This indicates that the hearing aid is particularly well protected against dust and water. We walked through the rain and then took out the hearing aids with wet hands - no problem at all. However, the water resistance really only refers to fresh, natural water and not to foamy bath water or salt water.
Rating Simplicity & security: 3,5
Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312:
Extras
Sometimes there are additional functions in hearing aids that can be quite useful. Let's see how it is with this Widex device: Manufacturers often implement a tinnitus program in their hearing aids to alleviate the annoying ringing a bit. However, Widex has opted out of this feature in this model. That's unfortunate, as it would have been a real added benefit for many people.
A real added value is provided by the remote maintenance service. To change the hearing aid settings, you no longer have to go to the specialty store; you can directly contact the acoustician via the app. Through a cloud service, you can then upload the new data package to the hearing aids. This is exactly what we expect from a contemporary hearing aid.
Some hearing aids can track certain health data. However, this requires special sensors in the hearing aid, which are unfortunately not present in the Magnify 40 BTE 312. The hearing aid also forgoes additional features such as special assistance systems, a fall alarm, or language translators. That's not a big deal, as it has no impact on the important hearing functions.
Rating Extras: 3,3
Conclusion: Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312
In the overall result, this test device ranks in the lower positions and lacks some features. We give it a score of 4.13. For less demanding listeners, this is acceptable, but for a very active lifestyle, we recommend a hearing aid with more extensive comfort features.
Top alternatives in the same price range
Which devices in a comparable price range currently show the best technical performance? Here are the current top 3:
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Signia Active Pro IX ITC | Rating: 5 / 5 |
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Philips HearLink 5050 MNR T R | Rating: 5 / 5 |
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Audio Service G8 12 Mood R LI T 8 | Rating: 5 / 5 |
Our Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312 review was created on September 27, 2023 . The overall rating of 4,13 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 1 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 2.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 2.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 3 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
What size is the Magnify 40 BTE 312 from Widex?
Large or small relates to the outward effect. Therefore, we assess how large hearing aids appear to outsiders. The Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312 is classified in the XS size category. This means it appears quite small.
How well do I hear with the Magnify 40 BTE 312 from Widex?
This hearing aid scores a total rating of 5.2 (poor) in the area of "Hearing Comfort." The rating is made up of various components. Important criteria: The noise suppression achieves only 1 out of 5 stars. The number of adjustable frequency bands in the Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312 is 6 (the class leaders currently have 24 bands). For wind noise suppression, the device receives our label 'total failure,' as it does not have this feature.
Is the Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312 suitable for me?
The suitability range of hearing aids is referred to by hearing acousticians as the "fitting range." Widex has established the following fitting range for the Magnify 40 BTE 312: mild, medium, or severe hearing loss. Have a professional hearing test conducted at a hearing acoustics business near you, and you will know if this hearing aid is suitable for you.
What does the Widex Magnify 40 BTE 312 cost?
Is the Magnify 40 BTE 312 from Widex expensive or affordable? It is currently priced in Germany within a range of approximately €2,500.00 to €3,000.00. If a health insurance company contributes, the amount will be significantly lower. Important: You should evaluate the price in connection with the overall rating in the test report (4.1 (sufficient)) and especially with the assessment in the area of noise suppression (only 1 out of 5 stars).
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