Audien Hearing made waves last year when it launched the Atom One, one of the few hearing aids to hit the market for under $100. The only problem is one you probably figured out already: They just weren’t very effective as hearing aids, providing a blunt amplification of every sound, whether you wanted to hear it or not—underpinned with a steady layer of hiss.
Audien has repeatedly tried again in this low-end part of the market, cranking out at least five models of low-cost hearing aids. While they have gently ratcheted up the price, most cost under $300. Its latest release is the Atom X, another spin on the same in-the-ear design but with some fancy new features and a $389 price, inching ever upward.
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Photograph: Chris Null
The hearing aids themselves aren’t exactly striking: Earplug-like and beige, with a weight of 2.20 grams each, the simple devices each have a fat button on the outward-facing surface. These buttons control everything from volume (independently in each ear) and streaming media to hands-free calling, depending on whether they are connected via Bluetooth and how long the button is pressed.