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When Will Auracast Actually Be Enabled for Phonak, Oticon, Signia, etc.? (From a Device Maker’s Perspective)

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Hi everyone,
I’m Phoebe from Avantree, and we design / transmitters like:

  • C82 Aura (for phones, laptops via USB-C)
  • Voyager (portable, 3.5mm for travel)
  • Audikast 4 (for TVs – optical + AUX)

We’re seeing excellent real-world results with Beltone Serene, ReSound Nexia, and Jabra Enhance Pro 20, which support Auracast natively—no app or phone needed.

But many customers ask us about Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Rexton, and Philips HearLink—all of which are labeled “Auracast-Ready” but still require Samsung phones (Galaxy S20+) as a bridge or don’t support broadcast yet.

:mag_right: Our questions to the community:

  • Has anyone received a firmware update from these brands that finally enables direct Auracast?
  • Are there any reliable timelines from manufacturers?
  • For now, is Samsung phone bridging still the only option?

We’re trying to help users get the most from this new technology, and any info or firsthand experience would be valuable to us—and the community.

Thanks in advance,
—Phoebe (Avantree Team)

50 people in this conversation45 min readJump to latest

The Jabra ep 30 use the Jabra app. The app can search for broadcasts.

No. I’ve never seen any timeline from any manufacturer for this to happen. A user here was told by Oticon that they are actively working towards implementation. Phonak aren’t even enabled for point-to-point yet.

Android 16 is supposed to add OS-level support for assistant functionality. That might move things along a bit.

Thanks, @d_Wooluf. We do have a lot of iPhone users though, so that’s been a bit limiting so far.

By the way, do you happen to know if Widex has shared any plans for support? My guess is that within the next 1–2 years, most of the major brands will catch up. Fingers crossed!

Generally what you see actually implemented is all the info we have. I’m not aware of any of the mfrs saying anything like an intention to roll out firmware and app support for xyz in 3rd qtr 202x. They might announce a new product to be available imminently. Or available in only certain countries initially. But no crystal ball rubbing with any authority. There are occasional leaks to people in the industry, but they tend to keep a lid on it so they don’t get cut off. Some knew about Phonak infinio sphere a few months before announcement. But the most anyone I knew would say was something big was coming.

I have reason to believe Phonak is getting close to having pushed out. How close? I worked in sw too long to guess from an outsider’s view. My hope is this summer.

WH

Perhaps the reason @PhoebeY thinks is not supported is that the appropriate app for Jabra Enhance Pro 20 IS NOT the Resound Smart 3D app that was used for earlier Resound .

I have Jabra Enhance Pro 20 Hearing Aids (Costco) and the Jabra Software Enhance Pro 1.39.0 available in the Google Play Store has had Auracast capability for a few months now, even with earlier releases. There is an Auracast Assistant available in the More… area of the program. The app’s About menu says that the “Enhance Pro is compatible with Hearing Aids produced by GN independent of brand.” I personally have not had a need for Auracast sp I haven’t experminented with it. My EP20 HA’s are running firmare version 9.68.1.0 on my Pixel 8 phone running Android 15 build BP1A.250505.005.B1.

I suspect it will be as new models roll out.
Its a bit like whats happening with televisions - its currently only in limited numbers of high range sets, and it will take a decade for it to be a normal standard.

Apple’s feet dragging is baffling. They officially have no plans, but the iPhone17 is rumoured to have Bluetooth 6.0 in it.

Edited
@PhoebeY said:

We’re seeing excellent real-world results with Beltone Serene, ReSound Nexia (ReSound Nexia 5, 7, 9 Hearing Aids Reviews and Prices), and Jabra Enhance Pro 20, which support Auracast natively—no app or phone needed.

I don’t understand how any hearing aid can support without a phone or phone app. There has to be a way to search for an auracast broadcast and select it, which a hearing aid alone cannot do. Furthermore, if the broadcast is encrypted, there has to be a way to enter the password.

FYI, I am listening to auracast right now as i type this! I have an auracast transmitter connected to my home theater system, which uses a Yamaha AV receiver. That receiver setup lets you enter a distance for each speaker, to keep each channel perfectly in sync. By entering a fictitiously long distance for my subwooofer, the audio of my main speakers is delayed enough to perfectly match the latency of my transmitter + hearing aids (about 30mSec).

At my church, latency is a non-issue. By the time the sound arrives from the overhead speaker, it is perfectly in sync with my hearing aids.

I use the Resound Smart 3D app to select the auracast broadcast and set the volume. I can also select the auracast broadcast by going into the Pairing settings on my Samsung S23 phone, which not only has auracast options for my paired hearing aids, but also lets you enable .

@TechieTim Thanks for sharing your setup — really insightful! Quick question: since your ReSound hearing aids are -enabled and you’re using the ReSound Smart 3D app, I thought the app could already scan for nearby broadcasts and handle connections (including password entry). Just wondering — is there a reason you also use the Samsung phone’s built-in Auracast interface to select the broadcast?

Also, what Auracast transmitter are you using? Anything you particularly like or wish it could do better?

I am using the HomeSpot BA210 transmitter that I bought on Amazon for $50. To program it, there is an unadvertised web app: QK CastTool34.

Yes, the Resound app has Auracast controls built-in. I mentioned the Samsung controls for completeness. And even though the hearing aids are already paired, you have to click the pairing menu to get to the Samsung Auracast functions when not using the Resound app. There is also a setting buried there for audio quality, which is exceptionally good except that hearing aids do not have flat frequency response down to 30Hz (my home theater system does, and can do so at 110 Db!).

In reply to @WhiteHat

Regarding Phonak Infinio that are “ Ready” I wonder if we all here on the forum should post on the MyPhonak App in the Apple and Play Stores asking when the app will be updated to include Auracast?

Just to bug them about it.

For example:

IMG_6704

Edited

I don’t know how effective that will be, but it doesn’t cost much. There is also the feedback mechanism in the myPhonak app and you can volunteer to be in the testing pool. If you were to be involved in testing the product, you’d have a closer feel to how close the product is.

WH

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