Signia’s vast range of hearing aids includes, by my count, a whopping 20 different models, but one of the smallest and most discreet is the company's Silk X line. There are currently five different sub-models within the Silk X lineup, the most advanced and most expensive of which is the Silk 7X, reviewed here. Note, however, that while it's still being actively marketed, Signia says the Silk X line is considered “outdated technology” and will eventually be phased out in favor of the Silk Charge&Go IX line.

The Silk 7X are a pint-sized powerhouse that sit completely in the ear canal and are virtually invisible save for the tiny retrievals wires that stick out just above your earlobes. Weighing in at 1.34 grams each, their heft is kept at a minimum by using tiny replaceable batteries (size #10) instead of rechargeable ones. Distinguishing right from left is easy: The right aid is clad completely in translucent red plastic, the left in blue. No hunting for tiny R and L signposts here. To turn the aids off, open the battery hatch a bit. Close it to turn them on again.

Aside from the color scheme, the aids themselves may appear familiar in design—specifically, they look a lot like Sony’s CRE-C10 hearing aids, which were released as part of the first wave of over-the-counter hearing aids back in 2022. Sony’s version is all black but otherwise identical in appearance. That’s for a reason: Signia is Sony’s hearing aid technology partner, and it made the C10 (as well as Sony’s E10 model) for the company.

Why would Signia make two versions of the same hearing aid? That’s a complicated question, but the crux is that Sony’s model is purely over-the-counter, with no audiologist visit required (or available), whereas Signia’s Silk X line comprises prescription models you can get only through a professional. This matters a great deal, and which type of hearing aid you purchase depends heavily on how much handholding you want and need.

Case in point: Sony’s C10s aren’t the easiest to set up—they don’t have a Bluetooth connection—so novices may become frustrated during the delicate configuration process, which is performed via high-frequency sound waves emitted by your phones. The C10s also rely on an in-app hearing test to tune them to your hearing profile. On the other hand, the Silk 7X are configured in person by an audiologist. The user doesn’t have to do a thing except get themselves to the doctor’s office.

Functionally, I didn’t notice any real difference between the two models—though I do not have Sony C10s on hand anymore to test them side by side—and I even had the same notes about the default settings causing the bass to be too heavy on the Silk 7X. There’s no way to make any major adjustments in the mobiles app—Signia’s AI-powered Signia Assistant isn’t available on this device —aside from adjusting volume, sliding balance between “soft” and “sharp,” and making directional hearing choices that let you focus on sounds originating from all around you, just one side, or somewhere in between.

It’s important to note that the Silk 7X do not support media streaming since there are no wireless functions. A feature called Twin phones is supposed to offer a hack of sorts that lets you hold your phones up to one ear and transfer the audible phones signal to both, but I could never get this to work (or find any documentation on it outside of a mention in a FAQ on Signia’s website).

Limitations aside, the units sound very good out of the gate—just like the Sony C10—with minimal hiss and minor feedback that’s noticeable only when you’re inserting and removing the devices from your ears. While the Silk 7X supports four styles of eartips, only one style came in the box, a set of medium-size vented sleeves that create a bit more of an isolating effect than I’d like. Different sizes would be nice to experiment with—but paying users will likely receive whatever eartips they prefer as part of a professional fitting.

Aside from being OTC versus prescription, the Sony C10 and Signia Silk X series have another big difference: the price. The cost of the Signia Silk 7X varies based on the audiologist from whom you purchase it, but the units we acquired run $5,445 per pair. (It’s also available as a single aid at half the price.) While the Sony C10 is purported to use the same technology as the lowest-end and least expensive Silk, the Silk 1X, the Sony C10’s price of $800 per pair (with current discounts) makes for a jaw-dropping contrast. The quality difference between them, not so much.

I’ve long been on the record that those new to hearing aids should unequivocally start their journey with an over-the-counter model, most of which offer a lengthy money-back trial period for users to experiment with. The calculus here is a particularly easy one: If the Silk’s diminutive form factor interests you, start with the Sony C10 and work your way up from there if you feel like you need more professional help.