AGX® Hearing is a hearing aid brand created in 2004 by members of Audigy Group, a membership organization of hearing healthcare providers. The AGX brand—a collection of hand-picked advanced products made by the world's largest manufacturers—is thought to make up only about 1% of the U.S. hearing aid retail market, while the Audigy Group may account for as much as 3-5%.
Although the Audigy Group is owned by GN, the large Denmark-based manufacturer of ReSound, Beltone, and Jabra-branded hearing aids, its members have exceptional autonomy and may offer hearing aids from any of the global hearing aid companies.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about AGX hearing aids and the Audigy Group, including the models offered, the advantages and benefits of working with an Audigy provider, and pricing so you can make an informed decision when purchasing hearing aids.
Who is Audigy and Why Did They Create AGX?
You’ll find AGX-branded hearing aids are exclusively sold at Audigy member clinics, and Audigy has supply agreements with multiple manufacturers, including Signia, Widex, Starkey, Oticon, and, obviously, GN's ReSound. In fact, the only global hearing aid manufacturer missing from the AGX product line is Sonova, the maker of Phonak, Unitron, and Sennheiser hearing aids. (This could be related to Sonova's recent decision to reserve the Phonak brand for certain distribution channels.)
Despite being owned by GN Hearing, Audigy members can sell any hearing aids that they wish, including Sonova products. According to Audigy, AGX was primarily created to take the emphasis off hearing aid brands and instead place professional hearing care services at the forefront. The company notes that it “curates a selection of technology that represents the newest, most effective options for patients, allowing patients to have the best option for their hearing needs, lifestyle, and goals without focusing on the brand name of the device.”
Audigy, headquartered in Vancouver, Wash, is partly a practice management consultancy and partly a buying group. Members include audiologists, hearing aid specialists, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physicians, neurotologists, and university systems in North America. The group was formed to assist smaller clinics with day-to-day business challenges, such as marketing, personnel training, and clinical operations. Beyond these services, Audigy brings clinics together to increase their overall buying power.