Audien Hearing Aids Review 2024: Expert Insights

With four hearing modes, volume buttons, and a unique two-in-one portable charging case and UV sanitizer, the Atom Pro 2 is the most advanced Audien model and is a good starter device.

• Price: $289.
• Type of hearing aid: In-the-ear (ITE).
• Battery: Rechargeable.
• Wireless charging: Yes.
• Hearing modes: Conversation, Noisy Environment, Road Vehicle, and Outdoor.
• Standout feature: UV sanitation in charging case.

The Atom Pro 2 is our top pick from the Audien catalog because it offers the most features, such as four hearing modes, wireless charging, and a portable case with sanitizing UV lights. It’s also the only Audien hearing aid that holds its own against competitively priced models from other brands, like the $299 Go Prime by Go Hearing.

As its name implies, the Atom Pro 2 is an updated version of the Atom Pro. The volume control mechanism went through a total redesign, making this hearing aid much easier to use, especially for people who might have poor dexterity or low vision. With the Atom Pro 2, you can cycle through five volume levels by tapping quickly on the hearing aid while it’s in your ear, which is far more convenient than removing the hearing aid and turning a small screw in the Atom Pro.

The other major change between the Atom Pro and Atom Pro 2 is the introduction of preset listening modes, which emphasize different frequencies to improve clarity and understanding in noisy environments.

Like all Audien hearing aids we tested, the Atom Pro 2 proved comfortable to wear. Our testers say it doesn’t make their ears feel congested and doesn’t come loose with excessive head movement. That said, hearing aid fit is extremely personal and may require you to try several different dome shapes and sizes before you find one that’s firm but comfortable. The Audien Atom Pro 2 comes with small, medium, and large domes to help adjust the fit.

The portable charging case is small and easy to use, holding up to three wireless charges at a time. It uses strong magnets to hold the hearing aids in the correct charging position. When we held the case upside down and shook it, the hearing aids didn’t fall out, so they should continue to charge even if they get jostled around in your pocket or purse.

We love the case’s integrated UV light, which helps sanitize the hearing aids without exposing them to damaging liquids. UV boxes for hearing aids can cost around $100 alone, so we’re impressed by the value of the Atom Pro 2.

Even though this is our favorite Audien hearing aid, we’d like to see one major improvement: an audible low battery warning. As it is, you have to take out the hearing aids and place them in the charger to see a battery status. While these hearing aids don’t have many battery-draining features, it’s still alarming and inconvenient to suddenly stop hearing well due to a dead device.

What our testers say: “The Atom Pro 2 is a straightforward device with nothing superfluous. The distinction between volume controls (high-pitched beeps) versus mode switching (low-pitched beeps) was a little tricky to remember at first but it didn’t take long for me to get the hang of it. It’s lightweight and definitely less bulky and more secure than an earbud.”

The Atom 2 is one of the most affordable hearing aids we’ve come across with rechargeable batteries, push-button volume adjustments, and four listening modes.

• Price: $189.
• Type of hearing aid: In-the-ear (ITE).
• Battery: Rechargeable.
• Wireless charging: No.
• Hearing modes: Conversation, Noisy Environment, Road Vehicle, and Outdoor.
• Standout feature: 28 percent smaller than the original Atom.

The Audien Atom 2 costs $100 less than the Atom 2 Pro but shares its critical features, making it our choice for best value. Its 20-hour battery life is shorter than the Atom 2 Pro but still long enough to get through the day. The charging station isn’t portable, so it works best for people who aren’t usually on the go, and you don’t have a built-in UV light to help with sanitation.

Other than that, we couldn’t find any other distinctions between the Atom 2 and the Atom 2 Pro. You still get four hearing modes and five volume levels, both of which are controlled by tapping the back of the hearing aids. The Atom 2 also features noise cancellation and an upgraded sound chip, neither of which are present in the original Audien Atom.

What our testers say: “The Atom 2 was easy to charge because, like the other models, it has magnets holding it in place in the charger. The case seemed a little flimsy, but that’s probably because it isn’t portable.”

Because it lacks hearing modes and uses a volume screw, we think the Atom Pro is overpriced.

• Price: $249.
• Type of hearing aid: In-the-ear (ITE).
• Battery: Rechargeable.
• Wireless charging: Yes.
• Hearing modes: Default.
• Standout feature: Portable wireless charger.

It’s hard for us to justify the price of the Atom Pro, which is just $40 less than our top pick, the Atom Pro 2. The only reason you might want to choose this model is to get wireless charging at a slightly lower cost, but the trade-offs are lousy.

For starters, the Atom Pro has just one default listening mode. There’s no way to emphasize higher-frequency sounds. Gina Angley, audiologist at Nashville’s Hearing & Communication Center, calls this “clarity sounds,” which can affect understanding and comfort.

If you want to adjust the volume, you’ll have to remove the hearing aid from your ear and use a small screwdriver to adjust the dial. If you have trouble getting the hearing aids to rest comfortably inside your ear, the last thing you want to do is take them out just to control the volume. It can also be inconvenient to make these adjustments, not to mention impossible when you’re driving or you have your hands full. And if you have limited dexterity or low vision, the procedure gets even more difficult.

That said, the volume screw may work if you spend most of your time at home with little reason to adjust the volume. Just know that it would be inconvenient as soon as you go outside or to a busy space.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Audien discontinues the original Atom Pro in the near future. In our opinion, it’s absolutely worth it to spend an extra $40 for the Atom Pro 2.

What our testers say: “These are super basic hearing aids that are bigger than the other Audien models, but they still felt okay in my ears. The sound quality isn’t as clear as other hearing aids I’ve tested, and I had trouble removing the wax guards and ear domes.”

Although it has an attractive price, the original Audien Atom is inconvenient to use and lacks nuanced programs that can improve hearing in different sound environments.

• Price: $99.
• Type of hearing aid: In-the-ear (ITE).
• Battery: Rechargeable.
• Wireless charging: No.
• Hearing modes: Default.
• Standout feature: Lowest price on the market.

At $99, the Atom is the most affordable hearing aid we’ve been able to find from a reputable brand. That said, we think your money would be better saved and spent elsewhere. The Atom lacks noise cancellation features and has one default listening mode, so there’s no way to highlight different frequencies. And it uses a screw for volume control, which, as we mentioned with the Atom Pro, has numerous disadvantages.

The Atom may be suitable for someone with mild hearing loss who needs occasional amplification, but we think the $189 Atom 2 is an even better option for budget-conscious buyers, thanks to background noise cancellation and four programs.

What our testers say: “The Audien Atom does the bare minimum a hearing aid needs to do. They’re not uncomfortable, but they do feel larger than other options.”

While its lack of Bluetooth streaming makes it overpriced compared to the competition, the BTE is the only Audien hearing aid with a music listening mode that’s ideal for people with low-frequency hearing loss.

• Price: $489.
• Type of hearing aid: Behind-the-ear (BTE).
• Battery: Rechargeable.
• Wireless charging: Yes.
• Hearing modes: Conversation, Noisy Environment, Outdoor, and Music Listening.
• Standout feature: Music listening mode.

Audien finally branched out into the world of behind-the-ear hearing aids with the release of the BTE, but it’s not competitive with other behind-the-ear options on the market. For example, you can get the same features, plus Bluetooth streaming for just $10 more with the Go Ultra by Go Hearing.

But if you’re intent on getting a hearing aid from Audien, the BTE has some distinct features aside from its behind-the-ear style, which some people may find more comfortable and easier to manipulate when pressing buttons. For instance, it has a Music Listening mode instead of a Road Vehicle mode, making this the best choice for people with low-frequency hearing loss who want to hear richer bass and sub-bass sounds when listening to music.

According to Ishan Patel, Audien CEO, the BTE contains a more powerful digital processor than other Audien hearing aids, which allows for heightened speech clarity and background noise cancellation.

The BTE is also the only Audien hearing product with directional microphones, which Angley says are too large to place in ITE products. The microphones enhance speech clarity in Conversation Mode by emphasizing sounds in front of you and give you a better sense of where sound is coming from.

The BTE offers 11 volume levels, which is more than the five levels available on devices in the Atom series. It also comes with eight pairs of ear domes to help you get a snug, comfortable fit, whereas the Atom devices come with three pairs.

What our testers say: “The BTE is a nice gray color that looks very modern. Volume controls and mode adjustments are simple and worked well, but the charging cable is unusually short—just nine inches long.”