ReSound hearing aids have a unique design, an innovative 3rd microphone placed in the ear canal, and a 150-year history in hearing health.
I currently wear their flagship product, ReSound OMNIA. Here's a breakdown of the company, their latest products, and how they stack up against other brands.
About ReSound
ReSound is the flagship hearing aid brand from GN Hearing, the 4th largest maker of hearing aids in the world.
GN has headquarters in the outskirts of Copenhagen, but its impact is global, providing products in over 100 countries. ReSound hearing aids are available from leading hearing care professionals and are considered one of the most respected brands by audiologists.
ReSound was the first brand to feature an iPhone-compatible hearing aid in 2013. They continue to innovate with more intelligent devices, longer battery life, and unique design.
Fun fact. ReSound wasn't always a European company. It was founded by Rodney Perkins, who grew up in Evansville, Indiana, and advanced technology from Bell Labs to create hearing aids.
The Latest ReSound Hearing Aids
ReSound rolls out a new product line every few years. Each new line has more features and smarter tech.
ReSound OMNIA is the company's current flagship product. As of this writing, ReSound OMNIA is only available in hearing aids that sit behind the ear.
If you want a custom-molded hearing aid, you'll need to consider another brand (Starkey is the leader) or go back to their previous generation of hearing aids, ReSound ONE. If you want more information on ReSound's custom options you can explore them here.
Whether you are considering a hearing aid for the first time or a long-time ReSound wearer, the ReSound OMNIA has some exciting technology to offer in 2022.
Bluetooth compatibility
ReSound OMNIA hearing aids stream audio from Android and iPhone devices. If you have a recent iPhone, you can also use your ReSound ONE for hands-free calling (no need to hold your phone).
Battery-powered or rechargeable options
ReSound hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries that allow 30+ hours of life on one charge (depending on streaming). If you are one of the people who prefer disposable batteries the ReSound OMNIA also comes with a 312 battery.
Remote programming
ReSound hearing aids are programmable remotely after your first fitting appointment.
Sound quality
ReSound hearing aids have a wide range of features to give you clear sound quality. The most notable innovation is M&RIE, the new 3rd microphone they've placed on the hearing aid receiver to capture the natural sounds that enter your ear.
New, More Powerful Ultra Focus
ReSound OMNIA includes a new Ultra Focus Mode that increases speech clarity in background noise by 150%. That means the wearer can understand the same amount of speech with an 8.6 dB increase in background noise volume. The Ultra Focus Mode is especially intended for situations where you are facing the person speaking (think restaurants and meetings).
ReSound offers the ReSound OMNIA three technology levels. To note, if you’re looking to go up a tech level with your hearing device, that means you’ll receive more technology capabilities for an increased price. This can be a confusing price model—especially if you’re looking for your first hearing aid—but it is currently the standard across brands.
Before we take a look at individual levels, every level (regardless of cost) in the ReSound OMNIA family has strong underlying technology that also includes Bluetooth connectivity and rechargeable batteries.
ReSound OMNIA tech levels:
- ReSound OMNIA 9: The highest tier in the ReSound OMNIA line. This tech level is made specifically for people who engage in an active lifestyle—think, travel, sports, work, and social activities—which includes hanging out in groups. If you plan to get the maximum sound clarity and versatility from your hearing aid, this is the one.
- ReSound OMNIA 7: This next option comes with many of the bells and whistles from OMNIA 9. The difference? OMNIA 7 offers less customizations and fewer automatic program changes.
- ReSound OMNIA 5: Now, this is the lowest level in the OMNIA family. How is this level different from OMNIA 9 or OMNIA 7? The OMNIA 5 has much less automatic program switching and does not come with a third microphone in the ear. This level is a solid option that’s customizable with a lower price tag.
Want to learn more about ReSound OMNIA? Check out this detailed review from Dr. Cliff Olson.
How to Purchase ReSound Hearing Aids
ReSound hearing aids are mainly sold via a local audiologist, and some products are available through Jabra Enhance online. Ahead are the purchasing options for ReSound.
1. Find a local audiologist.
Use the internet to find a provider that can address your specific health goals, concerns, and lifestyle needs. Once you have an appointment, the health care professional will guide you through the entire process which includes a hearing test with product recommendations.
During this process, you will not know the price at the start but you can expect to pay around $5,000 to $7,000 dollars depending on the level of technology you elect. As always, make sure to confirm with your audiologist that they are comfortable working with ReSound products.
2. Get a pre-negotiated price via a network.
The good news is that there are many national networks providers that can offer lower costs at typically 25 to 40 percent cheaper. The professionals likely work with medical providers and clinics you can find online, which will lower the cost before your initial visit. Want to compare pricing? Check out this link.
ReSound Hearing Aid Prices
Similar to other top audiology brands like Phonak, Oticon, and Signia. As we discussed earlier in the article, when you speak to your audiologist, costs can vary from $5,000 to $7,000 for a pair of hearing aids.
Here are the pre-negotiated prices for each technology level if you purchase through pre-negotiated rates.
ReSound OMNIA 9 $4,598 / pair
ReSound OMNIA 7 $3,798 / pair
ReSound OMNIA 5 $3,198 / pair
ReSound Key (budget line) $2,500 / pair
ReSound hearing aids delivered online through Jabra Enhance $1,195 - $1,995 / pair (more info on how this works below).
ReSound Reviews
We combed through ReSound reviews from hearing aid users and discovered ReSound gets 4.5/5 for their newest products on review sites. After looking over the reviews, most folks are very happy with their ReSound hearing aids. Aside from a few Bluetooth connectivity issues and the device learning curve, there weren't any outstanding product performance gaps.
"I got the new ReSound ONE M&RIE hearing aids and as a first-time wearer I love them. Everything sounds very natural and they even do a great job in a noisy environment like a restaurant, where I can hear clearly without a lot of background noise. I definitely give these Resound Hearing Aids a Five Star Plus rating." —Seve, IL
"Microphone in-ear provides additional sound detail and directionality. No issues with rechargeable batteries. iPhone app with multiple listening programs is very convenient and each program can be adjusted to suit local environment. Due to the products complexity there is a learning curve but well worth the effort." —Linda, NM
"Enjoying my ReSound ONE 9 hearing aids and I can definitely tell that it is easier to hear where sound is coming from, thanks to M&RIE receivers. A few Bluetooth glitches here and there, losing connection with my iPhone." —Michael
Want some more community-based intel? Of course you do, so peep these reviews here and here.
ReSound vs. Oticon, Starkey, Phonak, Widex, and Signia
There are five large companies manufacturing the majority of hearing aids on the market. To boot, the brands all offer comparable levels of technology at similar prices.
Essentially, compare hearing aid pricing to buying a car. Just like most cars come from a few major auto retailers, hearing aids are also largely designed and sold by a few big brands. Think of Phonak, Widex, and Starkey as the BMW, Ford, and Jeep of hearing aid sellers and technology. And just like cars come in all shapes, sizes, and upgrades, major hearing aid brands have similar levels, sizes, plus bells and whistles.
So—hearing aids come in a range of technology that increase in price (much like a car). While a car might have more expensive features like touch screens and Bluetooth capability, a hearing aid has other deluxe features (aka, robust sound processing and more).
What exactly makes ReSound stand out from its competitors? Check it out:
- The industry-leading third microphone placed inside the ear gives the device more power to pick out sounds in the midst of background noise.
- ReSound is a consistent leader in device connectivity and compatibility. They were the first to connect to iPhone, and while most brands now offer the same levels of connection, ReSound is likely to keep innovating for future features and compatibility.
- The ReSound ONE design is tech-forward and aesthetically pleasing in its unique, and minimal design sensibility with its geometric shape.
- ReSound sells its product entirely online and is the only major brand to do so(see Jabra Enhance below).
Our hearing device enthusiasts at Soundly all agree: If you’re looking for a behind-the-ear hearing aid, you won’t be disappointed by ReSound OMNIA. However, if you’re more in line for a custom molded or invisible aid, consider Starkey or Phonak.
How to Purchase ReSound Through Jabra Enhance
Both Jabra and ReSound share a parent company that sells the same exact technology. The only—but big—difference? Jabra Enhance actually programs hearing aids remotely and ships to your home, and the process can offer mighty significant savings.
If you’re looking for an easy—and super convenient—way to purchase hearing aids with ReSound’s features, you may want to consider this option.
How Jabra Enhance works:
✔️ Start with a hearing test on Jabra’s website or send in an up-to-date audiogram.
✔️ With the test, Jabra will program the hearing aids and ship them directly to you.
✔️ Need further adjustments? Jabra’s hearing team will tune the program remotely.
✔️ Jabra offers three years of unlimited follow-up care with all purchases
Price: $1,195 for a pair of battery-powered, $1,595 for a pair of rechargeable, $1,995 for rechargeable with the most premium sound quality.
Features: Rechargeable, Bluetooth enabled, Behind The Ear Style