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Auracast in 2025 - 2026: Are Hearing Aid Brands Ready?

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™ is one of the biggest leaps in Bluetooth® — a way to broadcast sound to many listeners at once. Instead of pairing devices one by one, you’ll be able to “tune in” to a shared audio stream, like joining Wi-Fi. Imagine instantly catching an airport announcement, a church sermon, or your TV at home through your hearing aids.

Last week (Early Sept, 2025) at the Bluetooth UPF (UnPlugFest) in San Francisco, hundreds of engineers from the world’s top hearing aid and audio brands gathered to test Auracast interoperability. The results? Cross-brand compatibility is looking strong, and the technology feels nearly ready for real-world use.

Where the Hearing Aid Companies Stand

WS Audiology (Signia, Widex, Rexton, Philips, Miracle-Ear)

  • Actively testing Auracast, some pilot models already out.

Sonova (Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton)

  • Still the Classic Bluetooth leader.

  • Focus now is Auracast broadcast reception rather than unicast.

Demant (Oticon, Bernafon, Philips Hearing Solutions)

  • Deep in testing. Expect app integration on launch.

GN Group (ReSound, Beltone, Jabra)

  • The clear leader today. Multiple Auracast-ready models already shipping.

  • Jabra especially fast in consumer rollout.

Starkey

  • Latest Edge models already Auracast-enabled.

  • Works well when scanned with Android/Google phones.

  • No separate app needed at this stage.

Cochlear (Nucleus processors, in partnership with ReSound)

  • Building Auracast features, likely tied closely to GN/ReSound ecosystem.

Takeaways

  1. Every major hearing aid brand is moving toward Auracast.

  2. GN / Jabra are leading right now, with Starkey already shipping Auracast models.

  3. Others are close behind — launches are now a matter of when, not if.

:backhand_index_pointing_right: This post is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

  • Part 2: Real-world testing with Avantree transmitters + early Auracast venues (coming soon).

  • Part 3: System players & chipmakers (Google, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, Qualcomm, Nordic, NXP, Infineon) — who’s powering adoption (coming soon).

For the full detailed article on Part 1, you can read here:
:link: Avantree Blog – Auracast & Hearing Aid Readiness 202560

15 people in this conversation12 min readJump to latest

Just wondering whether that the will be installed on Resounds Enzo AL ? Ive a private appts tomorrow and I would like a trial on this particular HA.

If you mean Resound Enzo IA then yes, I can confirm this is and enabled.

I have used the Avantree Audikast 4 (TV Streamer), the Avantree C82 Aura (HA) and FlooGoo FMA 120 with these aids

A.I. tells me: “Yes, the Jabra Enhance Pro 20 is ready, allowing it to connect to Auracast broadcast audio for enhanced streaming experiences. This feature enables users to enjoy audio directly from public broadcast systems.”

Successful Testing with Bernafon Encanta Hearing Aids & Avantree Devices

We’ve completed testing with the Bernafon Encanta hearing aids (using the same platform as Oticon Intent) and Avantree devices—the C82 Aura and Voyager. Here are the key details:

  • Hearing Aids: Bernafon Encanta, firmware 1.3.0 (from Bernafon fitting software 2025.2)

  • App Version: Bernafon App 1.6.1

  • Avantree Firmware: C82 Aura (20.6.0), Voyager (20.6.8)

  • Phone: Samsung S21 (no native support, used Bernafon app’s Auracast Assistant)

Both the C82 Aura and Voyager provided smooth, reliable streaming with no dropouts and minimal delay when connected to a TV. The Voyager delivered a flawless performance with no lipsync issues, and a slight sound delay was only noticeable when TV speakers were also on.

The Bernafon app’s Auracast Assistant enabled the streaming functionality, even though the Samsung S21 doesn’t have built-in Auracast support, ensuring a seamless experience.

We’ll continue testing with Oticon Intent once the necessary updates are available

Strangely, the Pixel 8, 9, and 10 phones are ready, but the 8a and 9a phones are not, even though they have 5.3. I don’t know how that will affect us, since ReSound say the 8a and 9a will work with their .

@philbob57 said:

I don’t know how that will affect us, since ReSound say the 8a and 9a will work with their HAs

It could be the Android 10 and higher Bluetooth they are talking about. This goes back to Pixel 3 phone for sure.

is a different beast.

Glad to see Cochlear on this list. I for one am looking forward to this.

This is a which came first, the chicken or the egg? situation. Until a lot of people with aids or other Bluetooth devices have the ability to receive and are asking for it, others distributing sound may be reluctant to invest in Auracast tech, but until there’s investment in it, aid users may not see the benefit of having it. Auracast is on the Jabra aids I have on order, but that wasn’t a factor for me in choosing them, because I don’t know when or if I’ll have the opportunity to use it. Sure I can get a TV streamer with Auracast now, but the one I have without it works fine.

Edited

In reply to @hamjor1

I don’t see why they wouldn’t invest in if they know about it. It’s dirt cheap to implement.

Avantree is selling a transmitter for fifty-six bucks if you pre-order. For only $560, a sports bar can buy 10 transmitters.

A church may only need one of the new $56 transmitters. Heck a regular church member who has an Auracast hearing aid, might just buy one and donate it.

I should order two of them and donate them to my local square dance clubs.

I am planning to donate an transmitter to a church next year when I get new hearing aids that have it. It’s worth the cost to have clear audio.

I’ve used my current aids at my sister’s church on their loop and it was nice (a slight hum, but otherwise great) and I’ve an Auracast transmitter at my home that I use with a set of headphones from the same manufacturer. These are even nicer.

In reply to @PhoebeY

@PhoebeY said:

We’ll continue testing with Oticon Intent once the necessary updates are available

Hi Phoebe, I remarked in the Oticon Companion update thread that The C82 Aura f/w is rock solid on my Oticon Intents with the new update to 1.3.0.

I also emailed Sara to update.

** EDIT ** Just to add, I did a broadcast from my Windows PC, and played spoken word, and music with no latency, and walked around the house w/out drop outs.

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