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Starkey Livio Hearing Aids Reviews, Styles, Features & Benefits

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Updated 16/02/2024

*Starkey Livio


2024 Update:  This range is now discontinued. View newer Starkey ranges here

  • Body and brain tracking
  • Fall detection 
  • Thrive Virtual Assistant
  • Lithium-Ion rechargeable option
  • Edge Mode
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Starkey Livio Family

Starkey Livio Hearing Aid Range

Including a Starkey Livio Edge AI, Starkey Livio AI & Starkey Livio Ranges

THIS HEARING AID RANGE IS NOW DISCONTINUED

 

January 2024 Update:  This range is now discontinued.  View newer Starkey ranges here

The Starkey Livio is a "Healthable" Hearing Aid

Here are some of its key features:

  • Body and brain tracking.
  • Fall detection - hearing aid alerts others that you have fallen.
  • Virtual Assistant called "Thrive".
  • Lithium-Ion rechargeable option
  • Language translation via Google Translate iPhone app.
  • Voice-to-text transcription.
Livio AI Pic 5

Hold on, I thought this was a hearing aid?

It is indeed. The Starkey Livio range is the 2019 offering from the American hearing aid manufacturer Starkey.

Best known for making their in-ear aids smaller than most, Starkey has been trying to move towards creating a popular RIC (receiver in canal) platform to rival the likes of Oticon for the top spot with regard to advanced technology.

We will talk more about the AI side of things below, but at its core, the Livio AI is an efficient, high technology hearing aid that does very well at its main job of helping you to hear better.

Exploded Livio

What does the Starkey Livio look like?

There were originally four shapes in this hearing aid range.  These were:

  • Starkey Livio microRIC 312 - 312 battery with push-button.

  • Starkey Livio RIC 312 - 312 battery with volume control.

  • Starkey Livio RIC R - Lithium-Ion rechargeable with volume control.

  • Starkey Livio BTE - Larger behind the ear model.

2020 brought the Starkey Livio AI Edge Hearing Aid Range

In 2020 Starkey added to their famous Livio digital hearing aid range with Livio Edge AI.  Since Starkey launched their Livio family, in 2018, it has sparked many a conversation in the audiology industry.

It brought new hearing aid innovation to the table with artificial intelligence, 3D sensors, fall detection and brain and fitness health tracking devices. Resulting in this hearing aid being named the 'Times Best Invention' in 2019.  More information on Starkey Livio updates further down the page.

Starkey Livio Edge AIStarkey BTE Rechargeable

Livio Edge Charging Station

Starkey Livio Edge AI

The Edge has a lot going for it, but what's changed and what's better since the Livio AI?  Here are a few:

  1. Voice Activation:  Gives you access to voice activation with Siri on your smartphone, as well as in-ear and screen notifications of your daily schedule.
  2. Edge Mode:  An automatic and on-demand feature that adjusts your hearing aids to reflect your surroundings with a tap of the finger on the devices.
  3. Rechargeable ITE:  The world's first 2.4 GHz wireless streaming rechargeable custom-made hearing aid.  The image to the left is the Livio Edge charging pod and now a new BTE rechargeable is available.
Livio Edge Table Mic

Table Microphone Disc

This new addition to their Starkey accessories is ideal for group settings like conferences and family gatherings and even busy restaurants.  Just place the disc in the centre of the table and it will use its 8 microphones to focus on the main voice in the conversation and then stream it directly to your hearing aids.

Starkey Livio Hearing Aids Reviews

Has Starkey succeeded with Livio?

 

Yes and no. The Livio is a mixed bag and doesn't seem to quite know what it is and who it's aimed at. It has some really good features that seem to be aimed at opposite ends of the market and as a result, seems to push away most people who would otherwise be interested in it.

This is a shame, as once you get past the special features that make the Livio different to all other hearing aids of this generation, you have what is actually a very solid hearing aid underneath.

 

Starkey Livio AI hearing aid reviews

The top of the range Livio is the Livio 2400 AI. Choosing the model with the AI (standing for Artificial Intelligence) will cost you a fair bit more. So what do you get for it?

Well, Starkey calls it the world's first "Healthable" digital hearing aid, and yes it's certainly easy to be the world's first when it's a made-up word. Basically, it's an activity tracker that communicates with your smartphone and via an app tracks various data in a similar way to a wrist-worn activity tracker. Heart rate, movement activity etc. 

More interestingly they also come with a foreign language translation feature. Working with the Google Translate app on your phone, the hearing aids will translate the foreign language that you hear into English. The person you are talking to certainly has to speak slowly and enunciate their words, but it works.

Finally, the Livio AI hearing aids have a fall detection and alert feature. This can communicate with up to three people of your choice should you suddenly fall over and not be able to get up.  All of these new non-hearing related features are interesting, but for different people.

I have spoken to people who are excited about the activity tracking and translator, only to be quite put off by the idea that anybody might expect them to fall over and have to come to their aid. "I'm only in my 60's for goodness sake!" they say.

I've spoken to others who like the idea of the fall detection for their very elderly relative but are put off by the price. Many people who are at risk of a fall are less likely to need a top-end hearing aid designed for very active people.

 

Get past the AI

If you don't get sidetracked by everything I've covered so far, then you find yourself with a very interesting hearing aid range. Starkey has industry-leading feedback management, meaning hearing aids that rarely whistle. They have background noise reduction to rival Oticon's open sound system and they have hearing aids across the price range meaning that as long as you don't need those AI sensors you can get a lower-priced hearing aid that is still packed with great features.

 

The Livio AI Ecosystem

The Livio ecosystem is unlike anything previously available to hearing aid wearers and enabled patients to improve their listening experience, manage their wellness and share their health data with their audiologist. The audiologist can observe any of this remotely via the Telecare facility.

 

Other 2020 Starkey Livio Range Updates

September 2020 Update: Due to COVID, they have now developed their AI technology to automatically optimise speech audibility for social distancing, face masks and background noise.

They also added a rechargeable BTE Livio family addition, which competes the line they currently have, with a 2.4GHz, 70 dB gain and 30% smaller than other industry BTE'S. It also works with their existing pocket charger.

Additionally, all models have an "AP" option. That stands for "absolute power" and is the stronger model for severe to profound hearing loss.

 

July 2020 Update: The Livio AI range is now available in the Edge mode for an additional £100 per aid.

 

June 2020 Update: Starkey has now opened up the option of their AI sensors to all levels of their Livio hearing aids. This mitigates many of our past concerns with these aids as, for example, you can now take advantage of having fall sensors in your hearing aids without having to choose a model with far more features (and corresponding expense) than you need.

 

May 2020 Update: Starkey has added to their famous Livio hearing aid range with Livio Edge AI.

 

Bluetooth quality of all the Starkey Livio ranges

The Bluetooth quality in these hearing aids, similar to Starkey's hearing aids in the past, is rather hit and miss.  Historically, people have hit problems with either the initial pairing of these devices, maintaining a consistent connection or getting good quality audio streaming and connectivity. 

This still rings true for Edge AI and is something to consider, as you weigh this up against the great qualities of this hearing aid range.

Watch the Starkey Livio Video Below

Understanding the similarities and differences across all Starkey Livio Models

 All Starkey Livio models have the following features:

 

Starkey Livio

Starkey Livio AI

 

The Starkey Livio 2400 AI is considered the highest-level offering in the Livio model family.

 This model has cutting-edge features not present in any of the previous models, or any other hearing aid at all! They include:

  • Brain and Body tracking: Provides detailed information by tracking your brain and body activities.
  • Fall Alert: Through the Thriveâ„¢ Hearing Control app, this features lets you send alerts to close personal contacts when you have suffered a fall.
  • Heart Rate: Monitor heart rate and heart rate recovery.
  • Translate: Translates speech into up to 27 languages.
  • Transcribe: Real-world close captioning. You are able to transcribe conversations and view them on your smartphone screen.

Starkey Livio 2400

 

The Starkey Livio 2400 is an advanced level offering in this model family, offering high-quality features not found in other models in the range.  

 Features:

  • 24 channels Directional Processing
  • 24 channels of Speech Optimisation
  • Ultimate Ear to Ear Technology
  • Ultimate Sound Manager Efficiency
  • Ultimate Directional Processing
  • Ultimate Wind Noise Management

This model also boasts the Thrive Personal Assistant. Using this app-based feature, you can receive extra guidance with your Livio hearing aids. 

Starkey Livio Hearing Aids

Starkey Livio 2000

 

The Starkey Livio 2000 is a powerful hearing aid.

Features:

  • 20 channels Directional Processing
  • 20 channels of Speech Optimisation
  • Advanced Ear to Ear Technology
  • Advanced Sound Manager Efficiency
  • Advanced Directional Processing
  • Advanced Wind Noise Management

 

Starkey Livio 1600

 

The Starkey Livio 1600 hearing aids are a definite step up in technology from the Livio 1200.  

Features:

  • 12 channels Directional Processing
  • 12 channels of Speech Optimisation
  • Medium Ear to Ear Technology
  • Medium Sound Manager Efficiency
  • Medium Directional Processing
  • Medium Wind Noise Management

 

This model also has features not present in the 1200, including:

  • Spatial Speech Enhancement: Analyses multiple inputs to help reduce listening effort.
  • CROS System option: Enables streaming between your hearing aids to help those with single-sided hearing loss.
  • Multiflex Tinnitus Technology: An advanced tinnitus management system.

 Starkey Livio 1200

 

The Starkey Livio 1200 hearing aids are considered the entry-level Evoke hearing aids.

 Features:

  • 12 channels Directional Processing
  • 12 channels of Speech Optimisation
  • 1 level of Transient Noise Reduction
  • Basic Ear to Ear Technology
  • Basic Sound Manager Efficiency
  • Basic Wind Noise Management

Starkey Livio Range Technology & Specification Comparison Table

Price for one
£1695
£1295
£1045
£845
£695
Price for a pair
£3195
£2495
£1995
£1595
£1295
Manufacturer warranty
2
2
2
2
Number of channels
24
20
16
12
Thrive Hearing app
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Brain and Body tracking
No
No
No
No
No
Fall Alert
No
No
No
No
No
Heart Rate
No
No
No
No
No
Thrive Personal Assistant
Yes
No
No
No
No
Translate
No
No
No
No
No
Transcribe
No
No
No
No
No
Self Check
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Tap Control
No
No
No
No
No
Telehealth Remote Programming
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Speech Optimisation
Ultimate
Advanced
Medium
Basic
Music Optimisation
Ultimate
Ultimate
Ultimate
Ultimate
Ear to Ear Technology
Ultimate
Advanced
Medium
Basic
Sound Manager Efficiency
Ultimate
Advanced
Medium
Basic
Spatial Speech Enhancement
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Transient Noise Reduction
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Feedback Management
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
CROS System option
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Multiflex Tinnitus Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Directional Processing
Ultimate
Advanced
Medium
Basic
Wind Noise Management
Ultimate
Advanced
Medium
Basic
Machine Noise Adaptation
Ultimate
Advanced
Medium
Basic
Phone Streaming
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Full Accessory Compatibility
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Starkey Livio Hearing Aid Accessories and other features

The Livio has a range of accessories that use Bluetooth to communicate with the hearing aids and has an extremely good rechargeable option.

 

Why no prices for the accessories?

As you will see from the rest of the website, we are completely transparent on pricing. However it's complicated for accessories as the prices can vary. Sometimes the manufacturers have offers where some are included for free, often there is a discount from Starkey if you are buying more than one accessory at the same time as the aids. Call us for current information.

Lithium Ion rechargeable

Included with the Livio RIC R rechargeable model is the charger illustrated on the right.

It's easy to use, the aids turn on automatically when you take them out of the charger. The charger only needs to be plugged into the wall a few times a week as the charger itself holds enough power for three full charges of the aids.

Some Li-Ion rechargeable models are significantly chunkier than their battery driven counterparts, with the Livio R it's barely noticeable.

Turbo Charger

There is also a mini turbo-charger that holds enough power for four full charges and can incredibly charge the hearing aids with 3.5 hours worth of charge in just 7 minutes. This isn't included though, Starkey charge extra for it.

TV streamer

This little box lets you stream audio from a TV or other audio source directly into your Livio hearing aids. It's easy to set up and use and the sound quality is top notch. It works with both newer and older TV sets and it lets the user hear the television clearly without impacting others.

Remote control

This is a remote control to make adjustments to your hearing aids. As well as the obvious, it also lets you mute the aids, change the memory settings and turn some of the hearing aid features on and off.

If you have a smartphone, save your money. The app does exactly the same as this and more besides.

Mini remote microphone

This is a clip on microphone. You attach it to the person you want to speak to and the mic will pick up their voice and stream it directly into your hearing aids. This can be beneficial in background noise for people with hearing that is sufficiently bad that they cannot hear well enough with the hearing aids alone in noise at a distance, even with such good aids as the Livio.

Remote microphone +

This lets you stream from most devices featuring Bluetooth, directly into the hearing aids. Popular uses would be laptops, Android mobile phones and Amazon Alexa.

Thrive app

The Thrive app adds a lot of features and offers a lot of control over your hearing aid. You can download it for free on your smartphone even if you don't have the hearing aids yet if you want a proper look at the features, but here are the highlights.

  • Hearing Care Anywhere
  • Find My Hearing Aids
  • Personalised Memories
  • Healthable Technology
  • Personal Assistance
  • Adaptive Car Mode
This information was written by Paul Harrison - Audiology Expert

Meet Paul Harrison, Audiology Expert & Founder

Managing Director & founder of Hearing Aid UK, with over 20 years of audiology experience and a member of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists Council (BSHAA) between 2015-2020.

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