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SoundGear, a Starkey brand, received two 2026 Hearing Technology Innovator Awards: one for its Phantom device and one for SoundCheck Live. The awards recognize products focused on hearing protection and noise awareness, but do not by themselves establish clinical effectiveness or product performance beyond the company’s descriptions.
SoundGear, Starkey’s hearing protection and wellness brand, has received two 2026 Hearing Technology Innovator Awards, one for the Phantom hearing device and one for its SoundCheck Live noise-monitoring tool. The recognition highlights technologies aimed at hearing protection and prevention alongside conventional hearing-loss treatment, though the awards announcement does not provide independent clinical findings about either product.
SoundGear Phantom is a custom-molded, rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled device that combines hearing enhancement with active hearing protection, according to the product description in The Hearing Review report. SoundGear says it provides a 22 dB Noise Reduction Rating and up to 30 dB of amplification. The company also describes the device as responding automatically to sudden and continuous loud sounds.
Other stated features include multiple listening memories, wind-noise management, adaptive feedback cancellation and Bluetooth streaming for calls, music and other audio. The product is designed to let wearers hear sounds while reducing exposure to loud noise, a combination that can be relevant in environments where users need both communication and protection. The report says Phantom had previously received a Hearing Technology Innovator Award alongside Starkey’s Evolv AI platform.
SoundCheck Live measures noise levels in real time and identifies potentially harmful sound exposure, according to the report. It is presented as a way for users to recognize loud environments and make decisions before exposure becomes a concern. The source does not specify the tool’s measurement range, how it classifies risk, or whether readings are intended for clinical or occupational monitoring.
Awards Highlight Prevention Tools
The awards put a spotlight on hearing protection and prevention, rather than focusing solely on devices that address hearing loss after it occurs. Phantom combines listening support with noise reduction, while SoundCheck Live is intended to make sound exposure more visible to users. Together, the products illustrate how hearing technology companies are positioning prevention as part of a broader hearing-health offering.
That distinction matters to people who spend time in loud workplaces, at concerts or sporting events, or outdoors, where awareness of sound levels and protective equipment may be relevant. Still, the award recognition is not proof that a product prevents hearing damage in every setting. The report provides manufacturer-supplied specifications and descriptions, not independent testing or evidence of outcomes for users. Readers should treat the stated capabilities as product claims unless supported by additional evidence.
For the industry, the dual recognition gives Starkey and its SoundGear brand visibility during Protect Your Hearing Month. The Hearing Review report says the 2026 awards also recognized products from other manufacturers, indicating that the program covered a range of hearing-health technologies rather than SoundGear alone.
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SoundGear’s Prevention Portfolio
SoundGear is a Starkey brand focused on hearing protection and hearing wellness. The report places Phantom and SoundCheck Live within a wider portfolio that includes Shield, a digital hearing protection device, and a partnership with Realtree aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. These examples show the brand’s stated focus on products and initiatives for people who may encounter loud sound, as well as on hearing technology used in more traditional care.
The awards come during Protect Your Hearing Month, an annual observance that the report describes as emphasizing preservation alongside treatment. Starkey executive Michael Scholl said in a company release that the company sees hearing healthcare as including both treatment and prevention. The source also describes Starkey as an American-owned hearing aid manufacturer with more than 5,000 employees across 29 facilities and products distributed in more than 100 markets; those figures are company background supplied in the report.
The awards are part of the Hearing Technology Innovator Awards program, which recognizes products across hearing-technology categories. A previous award for Phantom was also reported, while the current announcement names Phantom and SoundCheck Live as this cycle’s two SoundGear recipients.
“These awards recognize more than individual products; they reflect a broader commitment to advancing hearing health through innovation.”
— Michael Scholl, Starkey’s chief corporate development and business officer and executive vice president of corporate relations, in a company release
Product Evidence And Use Details
The award announcement does not describe the judges’ evaluation criteria, provide comparative testing, or report clinical studies measuring whether Phantom or SoundCheck Live reduces hearing damage. The listed Phantom ratings and features are product specifications and claims presented in the source report; details about testing conditions and independent verification are not included.
For SoundCheck Live, the report does not say what devices it works on, how its noise readings are calibrated, what exposure thresholds it uses, or whether it provides warnings or recommendations. It is also unclear whether the tool is intended only for personal awareness or has any formal role in workplace safety programs. The source does not provide pricing, availability by market, or information on how the award recipients were selected.
Availability And Further Product Information
The award announcement does not name a follow-up event, product update or release date. Readers seeking practical details will need to consult SoundGear or Starkey for current availability, pricing, compatibility and instructions for using Phantom or SoundCheck Live. Further information about the awards program would also be needed to assess how the products were evaluated relative to other entries.
For now, the confirmed development is the dual award recognition and the products named as recipients. Any broader conclusions about hearing-health outcomes will depend on product documentation, testing details and evidence beyond the award announcement.
Key Questions
Which products received the awards?
SoundGear Phantom and SoundCheck Live each received a 2026 Hearing Technology Innovator Award, according to The Hearing Review report.
What is SoundGear Phantom?
Phantom is described as a custom-molded, rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled device that combines hearing enhancement with active hearing protection. SoundGear reports a 22 dB Noise Reduction Rating and up to 30 dB of amplification.
What does SoundCheck Live do?
SoundCheck Live measures sound levels in real time and is intended to help users identify potentially harmful noise exposure. The report does not provide details on its measurement methods or risk thresholds.
Do the awards prove that the products prevent hearing loss?
No such finding is provided in the source report. It describes the awards and product features but does not include independent clinical evidence showing that either product prevents hearing loss.
When were the awards announced?
The recognition was reported as part of the 2026 Hearing Technology Innovator Awards and coincided with Protect Your Hearing Month. The source does not give a specific announcement date.
Source: rss
