dual microphones

Dual Microphones in Hearing Aids

Dual microphones in hearing aids (also called directional microphones) are getting more and more common. With technological developments and the quality increase behind non-prescription hearing aids, most good over the counter hearing aids also feature dual microphones. These microphones are the parts of the hearing aid that capture the sound, the same way your ears are naturally made to capture sound. 

Advantages of dual microphones

Maybe it seems like an arbitrary feature, but a hearing aid with two microphones offers several benefits. Adding an extra microphone offers more depth to the sound. Because the two different microphones also face different directions, it helps to focus the location of the sound. 

This means when you’re having a conversation, the hearing aid can focus on the person in front of you, while using the other incoming sound to know what to filter out. In short, this translates to three main different benefits of dual microphones in hearing aids:

• Improved speech clarity: as I mentioned, filtering out background noise helps to enhance the speech you want to hear. Good hearing aids don’t just amplify sound, but they mimic the way your brain processes sound, eliminating unwanted noise, and focusing on what you want to hear. This advantage is clearest in noisier environments like a restaurant. 

• Better noise reduction: closely related to the last point, but the enhanced noise reduction from dual microphones helps from getting overwhelmed in general. Especially when you’re getting used to wearing a hearing aid, all the ‘new’ sounds can feel overwhelming. Good noise reduction helps you adjust to your new hearing. 

• Directional hearing: hearing aids that would simply amplify sounds (and some do), can be disorienting. Knowing where a sound comes from, helps you be more aware of your environment. This is also how your brain was made to process sound, and how it naturally filters out background noise when you’re having a conversation. 

Hearing Aid Models with Dual Microphones

Newer over the counter hearing aids have no reason to offer a single microphone. The technology isn’t crazy expensive anymore, and offers a lot of benefits. Below, I list three different hearing aids that offer dual microphones. 

The Lexie B2 Bose is the new industry standard. It offers most hearing aid features in one package, including directional microphones. The B2 Bose is the best hearing aid in 2023, and offers a great hearing aid coupled with exceptional service. 

Like the Lexie, the MDHearing VOLT MAX is a great allround hearing aid. Its slightly lower price made it the best value for money hearing aid in 2023. With a travel case, dual microphones, and several smart options, the MDHearing VOLT MAX combines most important features in hearing aids for less than $800.   

The Neosonic B10 is a rechargeable hearing aid with a travel case. It has a 50 dB max gain and is a good choice for people looking for a little extra power. The sound quality is excellent with 6 channels and 12 frequency bands. It has three listening modes and volume control. The B10 won the "Best Budget Model" award in the best hearing aids for 2022.