Blu is Unitron’s hearing aid platform, and it has recently launched its BTE hearing aid models: the Moxi Stride B-PR and the Moxi Stride B-UP. A family of hearing aids with a modern, elegant style, extensive connectivity, and a highly advanced signal processing system thanks to its Integra OS, all designed to make patients’ everyday lives more pleasant.
Blu also features new Sonova PRISM™ technology (Processing Real-time Intelligent Sound Management), which translates into more memory and greater connectivity options.
Hearing Performance of the Unitron Blu Moxi and Moxi Stride
Hearing performance focuses on:
- Focusing on speech to improve understanding. To achieve this hearing performance, it relies on AutoFocus 360, which uses a binaural network of four microphones to determine where speech is coming from and dynamically adjust the amplification of each ear
- Eliminating distractions. It also uses algorithms to improve noise dynamics, aiming to reduce the distractions caused by background noise, making it easier to concentrate on in-person conversations in challenging environments such as a crowded restaurant.
- Prioritising soft voices. It also features soft speech amplification, since every voice matters in a conversation. This enhances the subtler voices when speaking, making even the quietest ones clearer and more comfortable to hear.
- Preserving subtle cues. Spatial Awareness — helping the patient orient themselves within their environment through the sound cues they receive — is another important factor Unitron considered in the design.
Personalisation by the Patient
With the help of the Remote Plus app, the Unitron Blu platform allows patients to personalise certain aspects via their mobile phone. The actions available through the app are as follows:
- Temporary automatic programme boosters
- New manual, on-demand programmes
- Remote adjustment of the hearing aid by the professional: Teleaudiology.
- Bass, mid and treble equaliser, plus genre-specific music settings.
Connectivity
We’ve already covered the different Bluetooth connectivity options that make Unitron Blu hearing aids easy for patients to use technologically, with features including streaming multimedia content directly to the hearing aids via Universal Bluetooth, as well as making hands-free phone calls.
They can also connect to two digital devices at the same time, and can be paired with up to eight Bluetooth devices in total.
The new addition compared to the previous model, the Unitron Discovery, is touch control, which lets you answer calls with a single tap on your ear. It even allows access to virtual assistants on your phone, such as Siri or Google Assistant.
Types of Hearing Aids on the Unitron Blu Platform: Moxi and Stride
The Blu platform includes two hearing aid families: Moxi, for the RITE models, and Stride, for the BTE models.
Within Moxi there are three hearing aid tiers: Moxi B-R, Moxi B-RT and Moxi B-312, and within Stride there are two tiers or models: Stride B-UP and Stride B-PR.
Let’s take a look at the technical specifications of each model, along with their features at the different technology levels.
Unitron Blu Moxi Hearing Aid Features
| TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | MOXI B-R | MOXI B-RT | MOXI B-312 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion | Rechargeable lithium-ion | 312 disposable battery |
| Push-button | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Telecoil | No | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP68 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Technology levels | 3,5,7,9 | 3,5,7,9 | 3,5,7,9 |
| Colours | Platinum, Amber, Peltre, Espresso, Sand, Charcoal | Platinum, Amber, Peltre, Espresso, Sand, Charcoal | Platinum, Amber, Peltre, Espresso, Sand, Charcoal |
Unitron Blu Stride Hearing Aid Features
| TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | STRIDE B-UP | STRIDE B-PR |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 675 disposable battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Push-button | Yes | Yes |
| Telecoil | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| IP68 | Yes | Yes |
| Technology levels | 3,5,7,9 | 3,5,7,9 |
| Colours | Platinum, Amber, Peltre, Espresso, Sand, Charcoal | Platinum, Amber, Peltre, Espresso, Sand, Charcoal |
Blu Platform Technology Levels and Features
| Technology level | Blu 9: Premium | Blu 7: Advanced | Blu 5: Standard | Blu 3: Essential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Helps improve listening in all types of environments, with special emphasis on speech, so you can tell where it’s coming from even with lots of people and background noise. | Helps improve listening in environments with background noise when the conversation comes from in front and from the sides. | Able to handle simple listening environments, helping users know where sounds are coming from in quiet settings. | Able to handle simple listening environments. |
| Environment classification | – 7 listening environments – Noise – Conversation in a noisy environment – Music – Silence – Conversation with few people – Conversation with many people – Conversation in a quiet environment – 2 streaming environments – Speech in media – Music in media | – 6 listening environments – Conversation in a noisy environment – Music – Silence – Conversation with few people – Conversation in a large group – Conversation in a quiet environment – 2 streaming environments – Speech in media – Music in media | – 4 listening environments – Silence – Conversation with few people – Conversation in a large group – Conversation in a quiet environment – 2 streaming environments – Speech in media – Music in media | – 2 listening environments – Conversation in a large group – Conversation in a quiet environment – 2 streaming environments – Speech in media – Music in media |
| Sound performance and optimisation | – AutoFocus 360 – Dynamic noise reduction – Soft speech amplification – Spatial awareness – Pinna effect – Speech enhancement – Noise reduction | – AutoFocus 360 – Dynamic noise reduction – Soft speech amplification – Spatial awareness – Pinna effect – Speech enhancement – Noise reduction | – Soft speech amplification – Spatial awareness – Pinna effect – Speech enhancement – Noise reduction | – Pinna effect – Speech enhancement – Noise reduction |
| Fitting channels | 20 | 20 | 16 | 12 |
Chargers and Optional Accessories
The optional accessories are:
- TV Connector: wirelessly streams all stereo audio from the multimedia content the patient wants.
- PartnerMic: an easy-to-use clip-on microphone for in-person conversations.
- Remote Control: a remote that lets the patient control the volume and switch programmes.
Conclusions
Unitron already offered the Moxi models within the Blu platform, and now, with the new launch of the Stride BTE models, it reaches patients with greater hearing loss, providing users with a technologically well-rounded hearing aid thanks to its features, plus a rechargeable option across the different tiers.
A platform that adapts to the patient’s specific needs — not only hearing-related, but also in terms of appearance and budget. In short, a great hearing aid.
