WIDEX UNIQUE 440 - £1,695.00
The UNIQUE 440 is the latest, premium hearing aid manufactured by Widex. Launched in October 2015, it is the direct replacement for the previous Widex DREAM 440. Incorporating their newest processing chip (U-Platform), this new hearing aid from Widex pushes the performance barrier and takes digital processing to a whole new level.
Packed with all new features, the Widex UNIQUE captures more sound by including 4 A/D converters for an incredibly wide input, a sound classifier for intelligent listening and a Wind Noise Attenuation system that dramatically reduces wind noise. UNIQUE is documented to deliver a dynamic range from 5dB SPL up to 113dB SPL.
To learn more about what all these new features mean for the Widex UNIQUE, please watch the video below.
The Widex UNIQUE 440 is available in 6 different styles; 3 ‘behind-the-ear’ and 3 ‘in-the-ear’. Excluding the Unique 440 CIC-M (Widex’s equivalent of an IIC or ‘invisible-in-canal’ hearing aid) which has no wireless capability, all styles of hearing aid contain the same technological features; just wrapped up in different packages to suit your lifestyle, hearing loss and personal preference.
UNIQUE 440 ‘in-the-ear’ styles:
- WIDEX UNIQUE 440 CIC-M: non-wireless, ‘completely-in-canal’-‘micro’ (equivalent to an IIC ‘invisible-in-canal’), (size 10 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 440 CIC: wireless ‘completely-in-canal’ with telecoil (size 10 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 440 XP: wireless ‘in-the-ear’ with telecoil (size 312 battery)
UNIQUE 440 ‘behind-the-ear’ styles:
- WIDEX UNIQUE 440 PASSION: wireless, mini ‘receiver-in-canal’ (size 10 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 440 FUSION: wireless, ‘receiver-in-canal’ with program button and telecoil (size 312 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 440 FASHION: wireless, slim line, power ‘sound-tube BTE’ or ‘standard BTE’ with program/volume control and telecoil (size 312 battery)
The Widex UNIQUE 440 processes sound across 15 frequency channels, the most in the UNIQUE range; resulting in accurate processing, precise sound and better speech intelligibility. With 15 fine-tuning channels, it provides more options for personalised sound adjustments for user preference and hearing needs.
Exclusive to the UNIQUE 440 and unavailable in any of the lower models is the ‘High Frequency Boost’ feature which provides clear and crisp sound in the higher frequencies from 6KHz and above to help enrich the sound quality of music. Additionally, the ‘Personal Audibility Extender’ allows the hearing aid user to hear and process high frequency sound more effectively. It does this by converting high frequency sounds in to a lower frequency range where the wearer’s hearing is less affected and damaged; a great feature for those individuals with a severe to profound high frequency hearing loss.
The Widex UNIQUE 440 uses their latest algorithm for noise reduction (Noise Reduction), including a low-level background noise reduction system (Soft Level Noise Reduction), wind noise reduction (Wind Noise Attenuation) and adaptive directionality (HD Locator).
The powerful ‘Soft Level Noise Reduction’ feature reduces the soft sounds users do not want to hear whilst retaining the audibility of soft speech. It determines the difference between speech and noise without any compromise in speech intelligibility or comfort. Hearing soft sounds is particularly important for hearing aid users but even more important than this is determining which sounds are useful and which are not. The UNIQUE hearing aid ensures important soft sounds are maintained and unwanted sounds are removed.
The ‘Wind Noise Attenuation’ feature is exclusive to the UNIQUE 440. For users to truly enjoy being outdoors, it is essential that they can hear clearly no matter what the conditions. This feature allows speech and other sounds to be audible in wind noise. The Widex UNIQUE 440 has the industry’s best wind noise reduction. Switched on, the ‘Wind Noise Attenuation’ feature provides an impressive improvement of 8.4dB SNR (signal-to-noise-ratio) in wind noise vs. the feature being switched off in the hearing aid.
Click on the video below to learn more about the impressive 'Wind Noise Attenuation' feature in the WIDEX UNIQUE 440.
Using ‘Inter-Ear’ technology, the Widex UNIQUE 440 allows both hearing aids to act simultaneously as one system. Using this wireless exchange of information, the UNIQUE 440 hearing aids work as a pair to detect and adapt in 9 different listening situations for clarity, comfort and audibility. This feature is known as ‘Sound Class Technology’ and works in sync with the ‘Real Time Speech Enhancer’ to reduce noise and enhance speech in real time, in response to an individual’s sound situations and hearing loss. To further maintain natural time and sound level differences between the hearing aids, the UNIQUE 440 can synchronise noise reduction, compression and directionality settings to enhance their effectiveness and provide the user with a 3D spatial awareness of their listening environment.
The ‘Inter-Ear’ feature also supports the synchronization of program and volume adjustments made on one hearing aid, automatically transferring the changes to the other hearing aid. As well as this, the hearing aids can be set up to provide a warning signal when the wireless connection has been lost between the two hearing aids. ‘Inter-Ear’ also allows for better hearing on the phone via the ‘Phone+’ feature. The hearing aids automatically detect when the user is on the phone and switch to a phone program that streams the sound signal to both hearing aids.
Click on the video below to learn more about the 'Sound Class Technology' feature in the WIDEX UNIQUE 440.
The UNIQUE 440 also uses the ‘Inter-Ear’ feature for their latest feedback algorithm (Multi-Directional Active Feedback Cancelling). The wireless communication between the hearing aids allows them to accurately detect actual feedback and eliminate any annoying whistling sounds.
Additional features in the Widex UNIQUE 440 include the ‘Digital Pinna’ feature which mimics how your real ear would pick up specific frequencies naturally; resulting in better hearing in noise and improved spatial awareness and the ‘Trusound Softener Plus’ which quickly reduces any sudden and spontaneous loud sounds that may be uncomfortable for the user (e.g. rattling plates and cutlery).
Furthermore, the Widex Unique 440 can be programmed to gradually increase in sound level over a pre-specified period of time. This feature is known as ‘Personal Acclimatisation’ and allows a new hearing aid user the opportunity to adapt to the hearing aid at their own pace. Through the ‘Sound Diary’ feature, the hearing aids can also keep track of manual volume changes, allowing the default level of sound to be adjusted to the user’s preferred level in up to 5 different sound environments.
The Widex UNIQUE 440 also incorporates a personal tinnitus management tool called ‘Zen’. For tinnitus sufferers, ‘Zen’ includes a library of Zen melodies for tinnitus management and relaxation. Zen attempts to reduce the effects of tinnitus by using soothing tones to mask the tinnitus. The Widex UNIQUE 440 also has ‘Zen+’ which allows the user to select their personal preference from a library of soothing tones and sounds as well as ‘Personal Zen’ that allows the sound to be frequency matched to the user’s individual tinnitus.
The Widex UNIQUE 440 allows for full connectivity and compatibility with the Widex DEX range of communication accessories: COM-DEX, TV-DEX, RC-DEX, PHONE-DEX, T-DEX, CALL-DEX, UNI-DEX and FM+DEX. These accessories provide full connectivity to mobile phones, remote controls, TVs and more.
Benefits of WIDEX UNIQUE 440 over WIDEX UNIQUE 330:
- 15 channels vs. 10 channels
- IE of compression, noise reduction and directionality
- Latest Speech Detection Algorithm (Real-Time Speech Enhancer)
- Wind Noise Attenuation
- High-frequency Boost
- Sound Class Technology (9 different environments)
- Partner Monitor
