2xUPDATED Widex Allure Review - They Did What?

19/6/2025 UPDATE: Oh my days, Widex have now clarified that Frequency Lowering is NOT scheduled to be introduced to the Allure. I can see that this stream of updates will make me look as if I don’t know what I’m talking about. Nevertheless I’m going to leave it up for posterity, so that everyone can see what we are dealing with.

Companies who make decisions at high levels, who don’t communicate with their staff, end users and network of clinical partners? This is what we end up with.

I know I’m being harsh here, when other manufacturers have done similar. But come on guys, this is FREQUENCY LOWERING. It’s absolutely integral to maybe 40% of people’s fittings - and probably should be used in more.

I continue to try and get to the bottom of this. Meanwhile I have access to many superb systems that can suit any patient, any situation . I’ll find one that works best for you.

11/6/2025 UPDATE: I have clarification from my Widex representative that Frequency Lowering is going to be made available “later this summer”. Apparently the aids are capable, but the programming software is not. Until that time though, this still stands…

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So, you know I’ve been hyper excited about the new Widex launch?

Latest generation, Allure, with the:

1) all new Widex 2.0 fitting rationale*

2) dual processing for streaming vs environment** 3) Full-fat Bluetooth for greater streaming stability

4) More interesting Puresound settings, for better focusing on speech in front, without much sacrifice on natural sound

Well! I got my pair a couple of weeks ago, and I was so excited. Programmed them that night, bought myself some brand new custom tips. Then… I couldn’t get them right for me. I couldn’t figure out how to change the frequency-lowering*** technology!

This is really embarrassing, so I kept quiet while I tried to gen up, by in-person training, reading the whole instruction manual, sitting through a webinar. There was no mention of these settings. Finally I gave in and asked Tech Support.

There. Is. No. Frequency. Lowering.

None. So, I can’t tell you how good they are, or not, because I literally can’t hear anything above 1kHz. It sounds crunchy above that, because all I hear is distortion, due to cochlear dead regions****.

Widex can’t tell me when or if it will be added, which means I really can’t offer Allure to any patients unless I am 100% sure they won’t need frequency lowering during the aids’ lifetime. That’s a small cohort of people.

I expect every other audiologist is thinking something similar, so watch this space as we try and right this egregious wrong. To all my patients with a flat hearing loss, you may find it very easy to get hold of some of my demo aids! They are beautiful for sure, maybe you can tell me how they sound? 😔

Seriously though, Widex need to put them back in the oven - they’re not done yet. As soon as I have solid feedback from a patient who can use them to their advantage, I will be back with more detail.

Sally Jackson

Audiologist

*rules for how much amplification your hearing loss is given at certain volumes/frequencies

**This should mean streaming calls/audio is able to be constantly flawless AND the environment/speech is processed in its own, fabulous way

***makes high pitch sounds lower in pitch, so you can still hear e.g. birds and phonemes

****search the blog posts!