Test report: Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10

The Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10 in review

This test report is about the Magnify 40 RIC 10. It was developed by Widex and covers a moderate hearing need. This variant is worn behind the ear. The Magnify 40 RIC 10 is a lightweight, barely visible and noticeable hearing aid from the entry-level category. The clean sound transmission is achieved through the deep placement of the speaker in the ear canal.

Hearing comfort

First, we looked at the comfort features. The better these are, the easier and more pleasant the listening experience becomes. In this hearing aid, we find only the absolute essentials regarding hearing comfort. The traditional noise suppression ensures that uniform, unimportant noises are slightly lowered. In the Magnify 40 RIC 10, it has only limited effectiveness. Looking at the price, that might be appropriate. Wind noise is another issue. Many people enjoy being outdoors and are then somewhat disturbed by the wind. Unfortunately, there is no wind management here, so one must simply endure the sounds of the air movements.

A filter for rattling and popping noises is not present here – unfortunately, no points for that. Regarding spatial hearing, unfortunately, nothing can be said here; the microphones have no additional functions that could enhance directional hearing. The equalizer in the Magnify 40 RIC 10 only offers 6 bands. This means that when making adjustments, you can only access fairly large frequency ranges. So, you end up changing a lot at once, and the small nuances cannot be implemented.

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: 5,3

Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10:

Operation & connectivity

Almost every one of us owns a smartphone, so it's natural to wonder if you can connect it to the new hearing aid. Let's take a look at the connectivity and usability of the Magnify 40 RIC 10. Unfortunately, this hearing aid lacks a direct control option. This is likely due to its small design. However, this doesn't have to be a disadvantage, as the automatic functions are often sufficient. Those who are not keen on touching their ear to adjust the volume will appreciate the optional remote control. This allows for easy and discreet changes to the hearing aid.

We always get excited when a hearing aid surprises us with a fantastic additional feature. For instance, we would have liked to see voice control at this point. But that is currently not available in the Magnify 40 RIC 10. If there are sensors in the hearing aid, tap control could be an option, which would trigger a specific function by tapping the ear with your fingers. However, this possibility is not available in the Magnify 40 RIC 10.

Although smartphone apps are available for many hearing aids today, Widex unfortunately does not offer one for its Magnify 40 RIC 10 yet. There is no option for connecting to other audio sources either. It's a pity, as a wireless streaming function would have provided real added value.

Rating Operation & connectivity: 3,5

Simplicity & security

Another point on our checklist is handling. Does everything work easily and reliably? What does the hearing aid offer to ensure safe use in everyday life? When it comes to adjusting to changing hearing situations, we have to limit ourselves to the manual options with the Magnify 40 RIC 10. An automatic situation recognition would have definitely made life easier, but it is not available here. There is currently no automatic acclimatization manager. So I have to deal with the full target volume right away, or have my hearing aid settings regularly adjusted by my hearing professional.

The RIC 10 from Magnify 40 operates on 10 disposable batteries; it is not rechargeable. This has its pros and cons. For the decision "Rechargeable or Battery," we have provided help 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 marched through the rain and then took out the hearing aids with wet hands - it was all no problem. However, the water resistance really only applies to fresh, natural water and not to soapy bathwater or seawater.

Rating Simplicity & security: 3,5

Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10:

Extras

At the end of our test report, there is still some space for the extra features: Manufacturers often implement a tinnitus program in their hearing aids to alleviate the annoying ringing a bit. However, Widex has opted out of this in this model. This is unfortunate, as it would be a real added benefit for many people.

A very good additional benefit comes from the remote maintenance service. Through the app, you can contact your hearing care professional and describe your hearing problem. They can adjust the settings accordingly and upload them to the hearing aids via the app. This is a great service for people with little time or a long commute.

If Widex had integrated motion sensors into this hearing aid, individual health tracking could even be possible. However, this is not the case here. These points are lost for the Magnify 40 RIC 10 in the rating. It would have been nice to have a few lifestyle features, but these are not available in the Magnify 40 RIC 10. Other hearing aids can score with translation features or fall alarms, but here it remains at the usual range of functions.

Rating Extras: 3,3

Conclusion: Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10

This test device ranks low in the overall results and lacks some features. We give it a score of 4.19. This is acceptable for less demanding listeners, but for a very active lifestyle, we recommend a hearing aid with more extensive comfort features.

 

Our Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10 review was created on July 15, 2022 and lastly updated on November 16, 2022. The overall rating of 4,19 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

How noticeable is the Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10 to others?

It falls into the size category XXS, making it appear extremely small. We primarily focused on the perception for outsiders.

What is the cost of the Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10?

The price range in which the Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10 is offered in Germany is between €1.00 and €700.00. The performance of the device corresponds to the price. In the test, it achieved an overall rating of 4.2 (sufficient).

Is the Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10 suitable for my hearing loss?

This behind-the-ear hearing aid is suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss. You can compare other hearing aids within this fitting range with the Magnify 40 RIC 10 from Widex: Hearing Aid Comparison.

How good is hearing with the Widex Magnify 40 RIC 10?

This behind-the-ear model receives a performance rating of 5.3 (poor) in the report for the "Hearing Comfort" category. Important for hearing comfort is, among other things, noise suppression. Here, the Magnify 40 RIC 10 from Widex only achieves 1 out of 5 stars. For reducing wind noise, it receives our designation of 'complete failure,' as it does not have this feature. The signal processing in this hearing aid takes place in 6 different adjustable channels (the best hearing aids currently have 24 channels).

 

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