Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT IX: The Smallest Bluetooth Classic Hearing Aid
Hearing Aid Specialist
Brad Ingrao
Editor & Doctor of Audiology
Originally launched in September 2023, the Signia Pure Charge&Go IX family has been Signia’s flagship hearing aid line for a year and a half. Now, as of February 2025, it’s getting a significant update with the introduction of the BCT model—a new model that enhances the existing platform rather than replacing it.
Before getting into what’s new, let’s first break down its notably long product name. Pure Charge&Go refers to the style of hearing aid, in this case, receiver-in-canal, with a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery. IX stands for Integrated Xperience, Signia’s latest hearing aid platform, designed to enhance speech clarity in group conversations. BCT stands for Bluetooth Connectivity Transformed, and that’s where things get interesting.
For the past decade, Phonak has been the only major hearing aid brand offering Bluetooth Classic, the gold standard for universal device connectivity. With the launch of the Pure Charge&Go BCT IX, Signia is disrupting that status quo and introducing much-needed competition in the Bluetooth hearing aid space. Unlike most hearing aids that rely on limited or proprietary Bluetooth protocols, often requiring accessories or facing compatibility issues, Bluetooth Classic ensures seamless, universal connectivity with virtually any Bluetooth-enabled device.
Beyond improved connectivity, the BCT model brings meaningful upgrades. It offers an impressive battery life of up to 54 hours on a single charge while maintaining a more compact design than any other Bluetooth Classic hearing aid on the market. Like the non-BCT model, it features RealTime Conversation Enhancement, Signia’s advanced speech-processing system—technology they claim outperforms the deep neural networks (DNNs) used by competitors.
What’s new with Pure Charge&Go BCT IX
Bluetooth Classic Connectivity
There are numerous ways that hearing aids can connect to devices for Bluetooth streaming: Bluetooth LE Audio, MFi, and ASHA. Bluetooth LE Audio is the new kid on the block, but compatibility is limited as several phones don’t yet support this (including all iPhones).
Then there are the Made for iPhone (MFi) and ASHA specifications, which work well but come with their own connectivity, and reliability issues. And then there’s Bluetooth Classic, which Signia has chosen to use for the BCT model. Why? Because hearing aids with Bluetooth Classic can connect to 99% of the devices on the market, making hands-free calls and music streaming effortless. Bluetooth Classic is reliable, stable, ready to go right now, and will continue to be reliable and widely supported for years to come. That’s exactly why major competitor Phonak stuck with Bluetooth Classic for their latest flagship product, Audéo Sphere.
If for some reason you prefer Bluetooth LE Audio or MFi/ASHA, you still have that option and can buy the standard (non-BCT) model. But for most people, we'd recommend going with this new BCT version if connectivity is important. Bluetooth Classic may not sound as flashy, but it’s the most practical and dependable choice today.
Design Enhancements
Pure Charge&Go BCT IX the smallest Bluetooth classic hearing aid on the market, by a long shot. As an example, the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio (released August 2024 and pictured below), is around 35% larger overall as compared to the Pure Charge&Go BCT IX.
By popular demand, this new model features a small LED indicator light, which signals when the hearing aid is powered on or off. I’m a fan of this feature, as it’s nice to have a visual indicator confirming that the hearing aid is doing what you expect it to do.
And, it’s a minor detail but helpful when you or your hearing provider needs it, Signia has added a small window on the part of the hearing aid that rests against your ear, which makes it easy to see your serial number and tech level (3ix, 5ix, or 7ix).
Improved Battery Life
The new BCT model has an improved battery life of up to 54 hours on a single charge. Signia is reporting that battery life will be reduced to 36 hours with 5 hours of Bluetooth streaming daily. Both of these figures are impressive and put the BCT model at the best, or second-best battery life on the market, depending on how you quantify it. What is for certain, is BCT has the best battery life (by a long shot), of all the Bluetooth Classic hearing aids.
New TV Sound Streamer
The new TV Sound Streamer (coming soon) brings Dolby-quality stereo sound straight to your ears for a more immersive TV experience. It connects automatically to Pure Charge&Go BCT IX hearing aids and is fully backward compatible with all connectivity-enabled Signia devices—making streaming simple and reliable.
What Stays the Same
While the BCT model brings big changes to connectivity, design, and battery life, what hasn’t changed is what’s inside. Audiologically, it performs just like the existing IX models, featuring the same RealTime Conversation Enhancement technology that Signia claims outperforms the Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology used by competitors. More on that in a moment.
How it Looks, Fits and Feels
Dimensions (LxWxD): 28.8mm x 7.6mm x 12.3mm
Weight: 3.11g
The Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT IX is 35% smaller by volume as compared to the other Bluetooth Classic model on the market, Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio.
That’s a difference that you can feel, in terms of weight on the ear, and cosmetically. Signia tucks discreetly behind the ear and has a natural lightweight fit that contours well with the ear.
If I have any gripe about its appearance, it’s that Signia receiver wires tend to be a bit brighter and shinier than some competitor products, but it wouldn't be a deal-breaker. Phonak, ReSound, and Starkey make a more muted receiver wire that I feel lends itself to a more discreet overall appearance.
Performance in Noise
Recently, many of Signia’s competitors have started integrating Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) into their hearing aids to enhance speech clarity in noise. While DNNs have become an industry trend, Signia is (for now) bucking that trend and doubling down on their proprietary RealTime Conversation Enhancement (RTCE) technology instead. They've even put out a white paper that suggests that their RTCE tech may outperform the DNN of at least one major competitor.
The study (linked above) shows that Signia IX hearing aids, including BCT, provide an 8.1 dB boost in SNR compared to unaided listening—on par with what other major manufacturers report. What sets this study apart is Signia’s comparison of IX to three major competitor hearing aids. According to their findings, IX outperformed all three and surpassed the next-best competitor by 3.2 dB SNR, effectively doubling that second-best product’s speech clarity over background noise.
And therein lies why Signia may be sticking with their RCTE tech for now. Signia doesn’t name that second-best competitor in the study, but we know two things from the study:
-The model came out before October 2024 (the date of the study)
-The model has a DNN which can be selectively turned off (Signia says they did this in the study).
I could be mistaken, but I believe the only product that matches those descriptions would be the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio, a hearing aid which third party testing lab HearAdvisor currently ranks as the hearing aid with the best performance in noise.
Sure, the above study was done in laboratory conditions that may not capture every aspect of real-world performance, and of course, it’s a manufacturer-sponsored study, so there is potential for bias. Nonetheless, it’s a bold claim, and if true, Signia’s got a winner on their hands with BCT. Anecdotally, my experience wearing the BCT (which I’ll touch in below), suggests this probably isn’t just hype.
How RealTime Conversation Enhancement Tech Works
Signia’s RealTime Conversation Enhancement (RTCE) is a proprietary technology designed to track and enhance multiple moving speakers at once. Using beamforming and AI, it splits conversations into up to three focus streams, prioritizing speech while keeping background noise at a comfortable level.
Built on Signia’s exclusive split processing and fourth-generation ear-to-ear (E2E) communication, RTCE ensures both hearing aids stay synchronized for seamless sound processing. It runs automatically in the Universal program but also allows manual beamwidth adjustments through the Signia app—I touch on that in a minute, below.
As the only hearing aid technology that can track multiple moving speakers in real time, RTCE offers a unique approach to speech clarity in group conversations.
How They Compared to Competitor Aids in Noise
I’ve now worn and tested all the leading competitor aids, so I was anxious to try these new hearing aids and see how they compare. I test drove these hearing aids in a noisy restaurant with lots of background music, and lots of chatter. This is an environment where I’d usually miss a few words.
To be honest, when left on all the default settings, I don’t think the background noise suppression was as good as competitor hearing aids I’ve worn recently. The DNN-powered hearing aids of all the competitors I’ve worn have all made the background noise noticeably turn down for me, and I didn’t get that sensation with these.
In addition, wearing them in the ‘Universal’ program, without making any adjustments to them, didn’t really “wow” me in noise. Yes, the speech of the person I was looking at and wanted to focus on was clearer and distinguished from the background noise, but I still found myself really focusing on what the person was trying to say, and trying to ignore the background noise.
However, once I started to fiddle with the settings in the Signia App, I was able to tweak them to get me the results I’d hoped for—a clear separation fo speech from background noise.
If you focus the microphone directionality (shown above), forward, and turn up the volume of sound, and also adjust the sharpness, the speech clarity of these hearing aids is as good, and perhaps better than any DNN-powered hearing aid I’ve worn in the last year. It is truly remarkable, and I have no doubt that if you struggle with noise and are competent with making adjustments via the app (which is very easy), you will not be disappointed by this hearing aid.
Bluetooth Connectivity & Streaming
As compared to other Bluetooth standards, hearing aids with Bluetooth Classic (like BCT) are always going to win in this—it’s just not even close. Pairing BCT hearing aids to my phone and tablet worked perfectly, which sadly is rare with hearing aids, but that’s part of the reason Signia chose to use Bluetooth Classic with these hearing aids—it just works.
The aids connected instantly through the native Bluetooth section on my iPhone, and began streaming audio immediately just like you’d expect from a pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The streaming sound quality leaves much to be desired. There is very little warmth to the sound, there’s a lot of treble, which means music doesn’t sound rich or full. They are fine for streaming content like YouTube videos, podcasts, or audio books, but for music you’ll likely prefer headphones.
The handoff between devices is not ideal. For instance, I had these paired up to my iPad and iPhone, but to switch streaming between the two devices, you’d have to go into one of the devices and disconnect the aids from the Bluetooth, which is a hassle, and it’s not something you can really do ‘on the fly’. For example, if you were streaming from your PC, and got a call on your phone, you’re not going to be able to disconnect the aids from your PC, and reconnect them to your iPhone quickly enough to really make that switch practical in day-to-day use.
Signia made a conscious decision to make the handoff work this way though, stating that battery life would’ve been impacted if they hadn’t. The other aid that uses Bluetooth Classic, Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio, has a much better handoff between devices (it’s perfect really), but the BCT hearing aid does have a much better battery life than the Phonak.
Taking Phone Calls Through BCT Hearing Aids
This is an (optional) feature Bluetooth Classic has always been very good at, and you can likely use regardless of what type of phone you have. As long as your hearing aids are paired to your phone, when a call comes in, you can push a button on the back of the hearing aid to answer the call, and then talk hands-free. That’s right—your phone can be in your pocket, and the microphones on the hearing aids will pick up your voice so the caller can hear you.
As with all hearing aids that offer this feature, the call quality for the other person isn’t going to be amazing, and it does sound (to them), like you’re on speakerphone, because you basically are (you’re using the microphones on the hearing aids).
Answering calls can be done with a quick tap on the push button on the hearing aid. Ending a call does take a longer press and hold (2-3 seconds) which is a bit annoying, but you also have the option of just ending the call on your phone, or waiting for the other person to end the call.
General Observations
Echo
All hearing aids have a bit of echo, and you hear yourself when you speak, because the microphones pick up your own voice and amplify it back to you. It’s annoying, but most people get used to it quickly. This is a common complaint from first time hearing aid wearers, and Signia has a unique way to address it. During the hearing aid programming process, your hearing provider will ask you to count loudly for 5-7 seconds. During that time, the hearing aids analyze your voice and apply settings to try and make your voice sound more natural, with a less-pronounced “echo” sensation.
Signia calls this feature OVP (Own Voice Processing) 2.0. I support any manufacturer’s effort to add more personalization into their products. In this case, personally, it missed the mark for me. I toggled the feature on and off and did blind listening tests and really couldn’t tell any difference one way or another. I suspect that if you have hearing loss in the low frequencies (I don’t), this feature may help you a bit, as it’s likely turning down those frequencies when the feature is activated, but for me I couldn’t tell any difference.
In summary I got the same amount of “echo” sensation wearing the BCT model as I have from most other models, I’d call them average in this category.
Machine/Circuit noise
This is another type of noise that all hearing aids make, there’s no escaping it. All hearing aids generate a low level of white noise, it sounds like a static. I only noticed it in my quiet office. Once there were any other sounds, and especially when I was outside, it was completely unnoticeable, so you likely won’t notice it. Having said that, I would rate BCT hearing aids ‘average’ in this category. If this has been an annoyance for you in the past, I would recommend checking out the Starkey Edge AI hearing aids, as these are in my opinion the quietest hearing aids on the market.
Wind Noise Reduction
There is a feature in the hearing aid programming software called eWindScreen, and it comes with a few different settings—min/med/max. By default, it is set to ‘med’ (at least when you’re in the most popular ‘Universal’ program). The wind noise reduction feature is not particularly remarkable, this is another category where I’d have to rate the hearing aids as ‘average.’ I would hear wind noise making an annoying scratchy sound when cruising at about 15 mph on a bike, or if on a stroll and it got a bit windy.
Signia does have a program called "Outdoor Sports” which sets the eWindScreen to ‘max’, but I’m not sure I noticed any difference. I did notice a difference when I used the ‘Stroll’ program—that reduced all the wind noise—but it also turns down all noises, so it’s not going to be helpful if you’re trying to communicate with someone. I think this program would be helpful for reducing wind noise during activities like a solo walk, or maybe outdoor sports that don’t require a ton of communication—like tennis.
Signia Assistant Feature in the Signia App
Signia developed this feature in the Signia App during the pandemic (when people couldn’t get in to their hearing providers for appointments), and I’m pleased to see they’ve kept it around— it’s very helpful.
If you’re in an environment and things aren’t sounding right, you can open this feature in the app, and via a chatbot, get targeted changes made to your hearing aids, for things like how your own voice sounds, how other voices sound, and general sound quality.
The Signia Assistant is an AI-driven feature that continuously learns and adapts to improve your hearing experience. When you adjust settings using the Assistant and choose to ‘keep’ a change, anonymized data is sent to Signia’s Deep Neural Network (DNN). This allows the system to refine its recommendations based on real-world user input. This is a standout feature in Signia hearing aids. Unlike other hearing aids, which use a fixed DNN that doesn’t evolve after release, Signia’s DNN keeps learning over time—essentially crowdsourcing improvements to deliver smarter, more personalized adjustments.
If you like the changes you make via the Assistant, they’ll stay until you revert them, and eventually your hearing provider can even view the adjustments you made and just incorporate that into your programming, so they’re always there.
Alternatively, if you feel like you make a few changes and get too far away from your initial settings (the way your hearing pro set them up), and you’re feeling unsure, you can simply ‘revert’ the changes and that’ll undo everything you’ve done with the Assistant.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Size: The BCT IX is 35% smaller than the only other aid on the market that uses Bluetooth Classic, making it an easy choice if discretion and great connectivity are top priorities.
Bluetooth connectivity: There’s no fuss with the Bluetooth connectivity, Bluetooth Classic just works, in exactly the same way you pair any other Bluetooth device to your phone, tablet, etc. The connection was steady, to both ears, and never buggy.
Notch therapy: This feature didn’t get any airtime in my review because I don’t have tinnitus, but if you do, it’s a strong reason to buy this hearing aid. Most hearing aids mask tinnitus by playing background sounds like white noise to distract from the ringing. Signia’s Notch Therapy works differently—it identifies the specific pitch of your tinnitus and blends it into the hearing aid’s sound processing, without adding additional masking noises.
Performance in noise: It took a little tinkering with the Signia App, but these hearing aids provided excellent speech clarity in noise. The voice of the speaker you are looking at and want to hear is easily distinguishable from the ambient noise in the environment.
DNN-powered Signia Assistant: Signia Assistant sets itself apart by using AI and crowdsourced data to fine-tune your hearing experience in real time. Unlike competitor apps that offer simple, one-size-fits-all adjustments, Signia Assistant learns from thousands of users to provide smarter, more personalized changes. Plus, its user-friendly chatbot makes it easy to tweak sound settings without needing a professional visit.
Cons
No Deep Neural Network for noise reduction: At this point, all of Signia’s main competitors are convinced that a DNN is the gold standard for improving speech clarity in noise. Signia on the other hand, at least for the moment, is sticking with their RealTime Conversation Enhancement technology (RTCE), putting out a study showing their RTCE tech performing better than a competitor’s DNN-powered hearing aid. But, that study only compared the IX hearing aid against one competitor, and the study was done by Signia’s parent company.
No Bluetooth LE Audio & Auracast: Phonak’s flagship model, Audéo Sphere, has Bluetooth Classic (just like the BCT) and eventually (with a firmware upgrade), can be switched to the newer Bluetooth LE Audio standard, including the Auracast feature. It appears (though I’ve tried to confirm and have not received a reply), that the BCT model will only ever support Bluetooth Classic, and some would consider that less future-proofed.
Conclusion
When GN ReSound introduced the first hearing aid with direct Bluetooth connectivity in 2014, it revolutionized how users interacted with their devices—eliminating the need for intermediary accessories. While this advancement has transformed the industry, it’s surprising that even in 2025, we still receive a dozen calls daily from people struggling with Bluetooth connectivity issues. The reality is that traditional Bluetooth protocols used by most manufacturers simply aren’t as seamless or reliable as Bluetooth Classic.
Even if BCT hearing aids offered nothing else, their Bluetooth Classic implementation alone would make them a winning product. But when you consider that the BCT IX is 35% smaller than its only Bluetooth Classic-enabled competitor—along with Signia’s RCTE technology (even if you take their study with a grain of salt)—it’s clear that Signia has a serious contender on its hands.
If you’re looking for the smallest Bluetooth Classic hearing aid on the market, one with speech enhancement technology that can compete with DNN-powered (and more battery-hungry) alternatives—and especially if you have tinnitus—you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Pure Charge&GO BCT IX.
Hearing Aid Specialist
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