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Is LE Audio the Same as Auracast for Hearing Aid Users?

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Edited

Many hearing aid users are confused about what and really mean. Here’s a clear breakdown:

LE Audio includes two types of connections:

  1. Auracast (Broadcast Mode) – Sends audio from one device to multiple hearing aids or headphones at once. Great for watching TV or listening in public places.
  • As of May 2025, some hearing aids are Auracast-ready (the hardware supports it), but still require software/app updates to enable full functionality.
  • Currently enabled or partially enabled brands include:
    ReSound, Jabra, GN, Beltone, Starkey*
  • Auracast-ready but not yet enabled (as of May 2025):
    Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Rexton, Widex, Philips*
    We believe these brands will enable Auracast soon through app or firmware updates.
  • Auracast transmitters like FlooGoo and Avantree, and devices like Samsung phones, already support broadcasting.
  • iPhones still require apps that can detect and tune into Auracast broadcasts.
  1. One-to-One Connection (CIS) – A direct private audio stream between a single source and device.
  • Mainly used for talking on the phone or using computers, where low latency and clarity are important.
  • For example, the Avantree ProLink transmitter and receiver use LE Audio CIS to deliver ultra-low latency and stable sound, even when using a microphone channel.
  • However, Avantree LE Audio adapters are not yet fully compatible with LE Audio hearing aids. One-to-one connections across different brands are still limited and often only work within the same ecosystem.

We hope this helps you better understand your options and choose the right devices for your hearing needs.

8 people in this conversation5 min readJump to latest

thanks for the clarification. I have oticon intent 1 which are not enabled yet. Does this mean that all my connections with my phone are CIS connections? I have been happy so far with the connectivity with my iphone 13 pro and my intents.

We are in the early stages of implementation. To help avoid confusion, I think it would be helpful if websites selling transmitters clearly stated:

  1. The transmission rate. 24k, 48k, or both. ( users need 24k.)

  2. Is the broadcast open, encrypted, can you switch between them. (For video calls encryption seems essential.)

  3. Are there going to be firmware updates, if so, what operating systems are supported? (Floogoo needs Windows.)

In reply to @jeffre

@jeffre said:

iphone 13 pro

I think the cis is going to be LE audio. Your iPhone doesn’t do that yet. Your current connections are bt le (note no audio in name). Many ppl conflate bt le like mfi and asha support with LE audio.

WH

In reply to @chrisb

@chrisb Great points — thank you for the thoughtful suggestions. We’ll be sure to add these details to our product pages to reduce confusion. Here’s a quick summary in response:

  1. Transmission rate: Yes, our transmitters support both 24kHz and 48kHz. We understand 24kHz is essential for users and make that available.
  2. Encryption: Some models like the C82 Aura offer encrypted Auracast broadcasts. Others, such as Voyager, currently use open broadcasts. However, reconnection is only allowed at very short range for safety. That said, we are planning to add encryption to more models via firmware (DFU) updates.
  3. Firmware updates: Yes, all our transmitters support updates via Windows and Mac. On the receiver side (e.g. clip-on Auracast adapters or Bluetooth earbuds), updates will be available via our mobile app.

Thanks again for highlighting these important aspects!

Suppose I get enabled hearing-aids and go to a lecture where sound is broadcast with Auracast, do I need a cell-phone to hear the Auracast signal?

(If that is the case, the system is more complex than a hearing-loop system where no cell-phone is necessary. Also latency is increased since sound is relayed via cell-phone)

My understanding is that you will need your phone with an assistant either built in to the phone’s operating system or an assistant built in to an app to find the broadcast and tell your hearing aids to connect to it.

Your hearing aids are then connected directly to the broadcast without the phone in between. Latency is not a problem.

Ok. Thanks. That sounds good.

I suppose auto-connect to a broadcast without pwd could be possible - eliminating need for cell-phone alltogether (in some cases).

The problem there is that you will often have to choose from several available streams. That’s why you need something that allows you to decide which one you want to connect to.

In reply to @Swift

The assistant lets you choose which auracast broadcast to listen to, there could be more than one. Even when there is only one auracast broadcast available, you might not want to listen to it. Having the assistant seems pretty essential.

The good thing is that the auracast assistant doesn’t need an auracast enabled phone.

In reply to @Swift

In the event of a situation where interpreters could provide multiple language versions of what is going on (you don’t even need to be to want to hear in your mother tongue) could provide multiple versions of the event which a loop can never do. But the instances of that will be vanishingly small.

Capability sometimes costs a bit in complexity.

WH

The device you are using must be capable of using the assistant app that the device manufacture has put out.

However, this does not mean that you need an Auracast enabled phone.

Which brand of hearing aid are you using? If your hearing aid has capability, then you just down load the app for that hearing aid.

Anyhow, I would be surprised is your smartwatch can run a hearing aid app since they are likely just made for smartphones.

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