Danavox Astro Pro vs Astro Core: What's the Difference?
Astro Pro vs Astro Core comes down to three things in our catalogue: technology levels, styles and connectivity. Astro Pro offers the Select, Advanced and Premium levels with 12 to 17 channels in MicroRIE and RIC styles, plus a CROS transmitter. Astro Core offers the Essential and Essential Plus levels with 12 channels in RIC and Super Power BTE styles. Both families include rechargeable and battery models, and the right one for you depends on your hearing test, your listening needs and the style that suits your ear.
The two names sound alike, and both families support Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, so the difference is easy to miss. This comparison lays them side by side using the published catalogue data, quotes what Danavox says about each, and suggests who may lean towards one or the other. It is not a diagnosis: the final choice of hearing aids is made with the audiologist after a hearing test at our clinic in Muscat.
Astro Pro vs Astro Core at a glance
- Models in the catalogue: Astro Pro lists 7 entries, of which 6 are hearing aids and 1 (XG160S-DRWC) is a CROS transmitter. Astro Core lists 6 hearing aids.
- Styles: Astro Pro has MicroRIE and RIC hearing aids and a CROS transmitter (RIC). Astro Core has RIC and Super Power BTE.
- Technology levels: Astro Pro: Select, Advanced and Premium. Astro Core: Essential and Essential Plus.
- Channels: Astro Pro: 12, 14 or 17 depending on the level. Astro Core: 12 on every model.
- Batteries: both families mix rechargeable models and models using 312 zinc-air batteries.
- Connectivity: both list Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, with different phone requirements (details below).
Astro Pro: models and features
Styles and models
MicroRIE, rechargeable (3 models)
- XG560S-DRWC: Select, 12 channels
- XG760S-DRWC: Advanced, 14 channels
- XG960S-DRWC: Premium, 17 channels
RIC, 312 zinc-air battery (3 models)
- XG561-DRW: Select, 12 channels
- XG761-DRW: Advanced, 14 channels
- XG961-DRW: Premium, 17 channels
CROS transmitter (1 device)
- XG160S-DRWC: rechargeable, Premium. This is a transmitter, not a hearing aid. It is worn on the ear without usable hearing and sends sound to the hearing aid on the other ear. Read more in our article on hearing loss in one ear and CROS.
The portfolio notes for these models list receiver options MM, LP, MP, HP and UP, a programmable push button or toggle, TapControl with the microRIE, exchangeable microphone filters and IP68 certification.
What Danavox says
Danavox describes Astro Pro as the "smallest AI hearing aid in the world", "preferred for hearing in noise" and "Made for Auracast". The features it lists include a DualChip, Triple Processor design (360 Chip plus a Deep Neural Network Chip), Intelligent Focus (on the microRIE at Tech Level 9) and an IP68 rating with protective nanocoating. These are the manufacturer's statements; how much any feature helps you depends on your hearing and on the programming.
Connectivity
According to the catalogue, Astro Pro is Made for Auracast, supports Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, and works with the BeMore app with Auracast Assistant. It requires an iPhone 11 or later, or devices with Bluetooth 5.3 or later.
Astro Core: models and features
Styles and models
RIC, rechargeable (2 models)
- XH360-DRWC: Essential, 12 channels
- XH460-DRWC: Essential Plus, 12 channels
RIC, 312 zinc-air battery (2 models)
- XH361-DRW: Essential, 12 channels
- XH461-DRW: Essential Plus, 12 channels
Super Power BTE, rechargeable (2 models)
- XH398-DWHC: Essential, 12 channels
- XH498-DWHC: Essential Plus, 12 channels
The RIC models' portfolio notes list receiver options LP, MP, HP and UP, a programmable push button or toggle, exchangeable microphone filters and IP68 certification. The catalogue lists no portfolio notes for the two Super Power BTE models, so ask us about their details.
What Danavox says
Danavox describes Astro Core with the words "Hear clearly throughout the day. Perfect for all-day wear," and adds that it is the first time a smaller miniRIE is offered in the Essentials category. Its listed features include Binaural Directionality III (Tech Level 4), Sound Shaper (Tech Levels 2 to 4), Autoscope (Tech Levels 3 and 4), an IP68-rated nanocoating, exchangeable microphone filters and programmable or multi-function buttons. The catalogue does not explain how these numbered tech levels map to the Essential and Essential Plus names, so ask the audiologist which features your chosen model includes.
Connectivity
The catalogue lists Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast broadcast audio, with tap to connect to Auracast streams. Hands-free calls require an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 15.3 or later, or a compatible iPad.
What is the real difference?
Technology level and channels
This is the clearest dividing line. Astro Core sits in the Essential range, with 12 channels on every model. Astro Pro covers Select, Advanced and Premium, with up to 17 channels at the Premium level. Higher technology levels generally adapt more automatically to noisy and changing places; our article on hearing aid technology levels explains what usually changes between levels. A higher level is not automatically better for you: it matters most if your days include many different and demanding listening situations.
Style and power
Astro Pro offers the MicroRIE, which Danavox presents as its smallest AI hearing aid, alongside a standard RIC. Astro Core offers RIC models and two rechargeable Super Power BTE models for greater amplification. Astro Pro itself has no Super Power BTE; for super power at the Select, Advanced and Premium levels the catalogue has a separate family, Astro Pro SP, with three rechargeable Super Power BTE models. Super power behind-the-ear models are considered when a hearing test shows more severe hearing loss.
Batteries
Both families offer a choice. In Astro Pro, the three MicroRIE hearing aids and the CROS transmitter are rechargeable and the three RIC hearing aids use 312 batteries. In Astro Core, four models are rechargeable (two RIC and both Super Power BTE) and two RIC models use 312 batteries.
Hearing in one ear (CROS)
Only Astro Pro includes a CROS transmitter in its catalogue entry. If you have hearing in one ear only, this may be part of the discussion, but whether CROS is suitable is decided after a full assessment.
Which one may suit whom?
These are general starting points, not recommendations:
- You may lean towards Astro Pro if you spend a lot of time in noisy places such as meetings, restaurants or family gatherings, want the MicroRIE style, which Danavox calls the smallest AI hearing aid in the world, want a choice of technology level, or are being assessed for a CROS solution.
- You may lean towards Astro Core if your listening days are mostly calmer, you want rechargeable or battery RIC models at the Essential levels, or your hearing test points towards super power amplification in a rechargeable behind-the-ear design.
- Either family may work if streaming from a recent phone matters to you; check the requirements listed above against your phone.
Whichever family you choose, keep expectations realistic: the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) notes that a hearing aid will not restore normal hearing, although with practice it can increase awareness of sounds and where they come from.
Your hearing test, the shape of your ear canal, your dexterity and how you spend your day all shape the decision. The Astro Pro family page and the Astro Core family page show every model, and the final choice is made during a Danavox hearing aid fitting consultation.
On cost: we do not publish prices. What changes the price is technology level, style, rechargeable or battery power, one or two hearing aids, and any accessories. You can request a quote for a specific model or book an assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is Astro Pro better than Astro Core?
Not for everyone. Astro Pro offers higher technology levels and more channels, which may help in varied and noisy places, while Astro Core offers the Essential levels and super power BTE options. The better choice is the one that matches your hearing test and daily life.
Are all Astro Pro and Astro Core models rechargeable?
No. In both families the RIC models ending in -DRW use 312 zinc-air batteries. The MicroRIE models and the CROS transmitter in Astro Pro, and the -DRWC RIC and Super Power BTE models in Astro Core, are rechargeable.
Do both families stream from my phone?
Both list Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. Astro Pro requires an iPhone 11 or later or devices with Bluetooth 5.3 or later; for Astro Core, hands-free calls require an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 15.3 or later, or a compatible iPad.
Does Astro Pro have a super power model?
Not within the Astro Pro family itself. The catalogue lists super power models at the Select, Advanced and Premium levels in the separate Astro Pro SP family, and Astro Core includes two rechargeable Super Power BTE models.
Book an appointment
To find out whether Astro Pro or Astro Core suits your hearing, start with a hearing test. Book an appointment or call or WhatsApp +968 9171 8373. Our clinic is in Bousher, Muscat, opposite Oman Mall, and no referral is needed. The audiologist will discuss the options during a Danavox hearing aid fitting visit.
Related articles
- Best Hearing Aids for Understanding Speech in Noise
- Best Small and Nearly Invisible Hearing Aids
- Best Hearing Aids for Severe to Profound Hearing Loss
- Best Rechargeable Danavox Hearing Aids
Sources
- NIDCD (NIH) — Hearing aids
- Danavox Astro Pro and Astro Core portfolio as published in our hearing aids catalogue on this site.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from a qualified professional.