Overview
Unitron is a leading brand of the Sonova Group, the largest hearing aid manufacturer in the world. Other than Unitron, you can also find Lyric hearing aids and Phonak products under the Sonova umbrella. Unitron is based in Canada with a U.S. headquarters in Minnesota. While the company has its largest presence in North America and Europe, Unitron products can be found in more than 70 countries around the world. Unitron has gained a reputation for offering solutions for a wide array of hearing loss levels and creating a robust line of accessories and smartphone apps.
The Unitron Shine Rev+ line of hearing aids were introduced in 2020 as an affordable and durable entry level hearing aid. Unlike some other Unitron hearing aids, the Shine Rev+ hearing aids do not offer great connectivity or rechargeable options, but they do offer features that can make your listening experience as natural and easy as possible. Features such as directional microphones, noise reduction, telecoil, and a tinnitus masker all make the Shine Rev+ a great option for anyone looking for a great listening experience at a great price. The following is a description and review of the Unitron Shine Rev+ line of hearing aids.
Things to Consider Before Buying
All hearing aids have strengths and weaknesses, and the Shine Rev+ hearing aids focus on providing a natural listening experience at a great price. While you do not have a choice of different technology levels within the line, there are options in terms of colors and some customization options as well. Shine Rev+ hearing aids have a comfortable fit and good technology that is accessible to many people because of the price and number of options in the line. There are Receiver-In-the-Canal (RIC), Behind-The-Ear (BTE), and In-The-Ear (ITE) options in at least one Shine Rev+ model. While you do not get all of the bells and whistles that are available on some of Unitron’s other models, you get comfort and clarity for a price that you can afford.
Pros
- A high quality, durable hearing aid at a great price.
- Good technology focusing on a natural listening experience.
- Speech enhancement and clarity is one of the device’s biggest strengths.
- A wide variety of styles and colors.
- The AutoMic feature gives you great quality and automatic adjustments based on your sound environment.
- Good features that allow you to hear conversations while reducing background noise.
- You can control each of the devices with the push of a button, no app needed.
- All of the devices in this line do basically the same thing and there are no technology levels so you always know what you are getting.
Cons
- No Bluetooth connectivity.
- No rechargeable battery options.
- You do not get the same, top-of-the-line technology that you get with many of the other Unitron lines of hearing aids.
- Is not compatible with the Unitron apps.
Features & Benefits of Each Model
Most of the features and technology are the same throughout the Shine Rev+ line of hearing aids. The main differences are found in the level of hearing loss that they cover and the style that they come in.
- Rev+ M
A BTE hearing aid that comes in 3 colors and is best for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Rev+ P
A pretty powerful hearing aid that is best for severe hearing loss. The Rev+ P is a BTE hearing aid with a size 13 battery that is one of the largest in the line and one of the easiest to maneuver. If you struggle with dexterity in your hands and fingers, this is a great option for you.
- Rev+ UP
This is the most powerful hearing aid in the Shine Rev+ line and is used primarily for severe to profound hearing loss. It is a BTE hearing aid and it is also the physically largest hearing Rev+ device. You still get all of the features that the other hearing aids in this line have but the amplification is stronger and if you have higher levels of hearing loss they are a great option.
- Shine Rev+ CIC
This is the smallest and most discreet Shine Rev+ hearing aid and sits far enough in your ear canal that it is virtually imperceptible to the outside world. You get all of the same features, a good price, and a small enough device that it is virtually invisible. If you struggle with dexterity, these might not be the best option, but if you are looking for an invisible option in the Shine Rev+ line these are a good choice.
- Shine Rev+ Canal/Half Shell
With the Shine Rev+ Canal/Half Shell, you get an ITE hearing aid that leaves half of your ear open so that sounds enter both the device and your ear simultaneously. These hearing aids work for mild to severe hearing loss and are a comfortable ITE option.
- Shine Rev+ Full Shell
These are the largest ITE hearing aid options in the Shine Rev+ line. They fill up your entire out ear so that no sounds enter your ear, but they are a comfortable option for people with moderate to severe hearing loss.
- Shine Rev+ RIC
A Receiver-In-the-Canal (RIC) hearing aid that comes in three colors and uses a size 312 battery. The Shine Rev+ RIC is a great option for mild to severe hearing loss that is small and lightweight. The receiver sits in your ear canal and aids in natural hearing.
Design/Type of Hearing Aid
No matter what style and type of hearing aid you are looking for, you can probably find it in the Shine Rev+ line. There are RIC, BTE, ITE, Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC) and more available depending on the model you decide to purchase. No matter if you suffer from mild to severe hearing loss, one of the Shine Rev+ hearing aids will work for you.
Fit and Wearability
All of the devices in the Shine Rev+ are designed for comfort and wearability. Physically they are built for comfort either to sit behind your ear or inside of it. In terms of features, the devices make hearing effortless, and when you do not have to work as hard there is a natural comfort level that arises.
Performance
- Battery
There are no rechargeable options or ultra long lasting battery options in the Shine Rev+ line. Each of the hearing aids have either size 312, 13, or 675 battery options that generally last anywhere from 2 to 8 days depending on usage and level of hearing loss.
- Sound quality
- Directionality
AutoMic is maybe the most significant feature available in the Unitron Shine Rev+ line of hearing aids. AutoMic works in quiet environments by using its omni directional mode which allows the wearer to be aware of their entire environment. When noise is detected, the AutoMic switches to adaptive directional mode to reduce unwanted background noise and focusing on the front-facing sounds that the wearer wants to hear.
- Adaptability
There is an automatic adaptation manager that works to comfortably and gently transition listeners from the amplification that is comfortable to them to the amplification that they truly need. This transition period is important because it moves the wearer slowly to their ideal hearing goal so that it feels natural rather than forced and so that the wearer will use their optimal amplification for the long-term rather than the short-term.
- Noise cancellation
AntiShock technology exists to eliminate the discomfort caused by sudden impulse noises. It does not completely eliminate them, but it does preserve speech clarity and listening comfort in the presence of sudden noises.
- Adaptive noise reduction
Noise reduction technology builds on the AutoMic technology by identifying and suppressing sounds that would be considered “distracting noise.” These distracting noises are taken from your entire soundscape and automatically suppressed for maximum listening comfort.
- Automatic sound adjustment based on environment
The AutoMic and Speech Enhancement features work together to give you automatic sound adjustments based on your environment. Speech Enhancement increases gain to speech sounds during conversations so that you get a clear and comfortable listening experience during conversations.
Accessories
Since the Shine Rev+ hearing aids do not have Bluetooth technology, there is no way for them to connect to the accessories that Unitron offers.
Unique Perks and Features
Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth technology is not available with the Unitron Shine Rev+ line of hearing aids.
Dedicated App
While Unitron has developed a few really good apps to control and get the most out of your hearing aids, the Shine Rev+ line is not compatible with any of them.
Tinnitus Relief
There is a tinnitus masker available that should be used as part of a comprehensive tinnitus therapy program. It includes a noise generator that provides a noise enrichment source to stimulate your auditory system.
Cost
The Shine Rev+ hearing aid was built to be accessible to as many people as possible because of its price. You can find a Unitron Shine Rev+ for as little as $600/ear as a base price with customization and service costing a little more. We would highly suggest purchasing any hearing aid from a licensed audiologist in your state, and depending on the audiologist you choose the price could be higher. There is only one technology level in the Shine Rev+ line and most of the features are similar across models and styles so when you choose this line of devices you can know about what the price is going to be.
FAQs
- Who makes Unitron hearing aids?
Unitron is made by Sonova Group, the largest hearing aid manufacturer in the world. Unitron is a Canadian-based company that has been around since 1964 and offers hearing aids in more than 70 countries around the world. With their size and experience in the market, Unitron offers more than 20 different hearing aid models and has developed a robust offering of apps and accessories for their hearing aids.
- Do Unitron Shine hearing aids have Bluetooth technology?
While many of today’s hearing aids are Bluetooth-enabled and can be connected to other electronics and apps for a smartphone, the Shine Rev+ line does not. They are a baseline hearing aid with great features and a lot of styles, but they do not have the same technological capabilities of some of Unitron’s other offerings.
- What is the best hearing aid on the market?
The best hearing aid on the market differs from person to person and depends a lot on personal preference. The Shine Rev+ line is best known for its low price along with great speech clarity and sound quality. While they do not feature all of the same technology that you can find in some of Unitron’s other devices, they make up for it in price and sound. Each brand and each device has its own strengths and weaknesses, it is up to each individual to match their needs with the features and strengths of the device.
- How much does Unitron Shine Rev+ hearing cost?
The Unitron Shine Rev+ line of hearing aids are some of the lowest priced full featured hearing aids that Unitron offers. You can expect to pay as little as $600 per ear, but it depends greatly on where you purchase them and what level of customization you desire. For a lower priced option, the Rev+ hearing aids offer a lot in terms of speech understanding, comfort, and ease of listening.
Bottomline
Unitron is one of the top hearing aid manufacturers in the world and is owned by the largest hearing aid conglomerate in the world. The company is known for its technological advancements and the features that they offer. The Shine Rev+ line, however, does not have all of the technological advancements for which Unitron has come to be known. They are one of the lowest-priced full-featured hearing aids that Unitron offers and some of the best budget hearing aids out there. If you want a good hearing aid at a great price, the Unitron Shine Rev+ is a good option.
