Siemens are introducing the latest upgrade to their BestSound technology in May 2012. This new technology will roll out across its RIC products, the Siemens Pure and Pure Carat, and the Siemens Motion SX and P, but only at the top three tiers of its range at present.

This means at 701, 501 and 301 level the Pure, Pure Carat, Motion SX and Motion P will now be available in the new XCEL chipset.

The Xcel Pure and Pure Carat use the familiar housings of previous models but now have the benefit of a smaller M receiver and a new ‘semi-open’ click dome, similar to tulip domes used by other manufacturers.

The Motion Xcel SX and P now ship with stylish new housings and offer the rechargeable option.

Also at the same time as releasing the Xcel chip, Siemens have released a deep fitting product called the Eclipse XCEL. It is an interesting idea where the aids sit deep in the ear with an exchangeable soft dome to aid comfort, the first half of the aid is custom fit and the second half projecting deep into the second half of the ear canal has the comfort dome. The dome has a fitting the same as a Siemens’ Click dome.

Siemens state that they have introduced a two knee point compression system into the algorithm of the technology, the stated aim is to increase naturalness of speech and sound generally, and to increase the effectiveness of the feedback manager too. The sound quality has been remarked upon as to be less like amplification, more like not wearing a hearing aid, and generally pleasant to wear.

It’s a little early to make too many assumptions but overall looks like a set of products worth consideration.