Sennheiser is officially in the hearing aid game with a family of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing products. In this guide, we'll break down their product range, process, and the big question. Are Sennheiser hearing aids any good?
Sennheiser has long been a favorite among musicians and audiophiles. They are loved for their soundbars, microphones, and a $60,000 pair of headphones, which makes YouTube creators cry. I can't make this stuff up.
Background
In 2022, Sennheiser was acquired by the Swiss audio giant Sonova. Sonova is the largest hearing health company and manufacturer of hearing aids globally. The move was a head-scratcher for some people, but it made total sense.
Sonova's acquisition put them in the perfect position to release a product with a familiar name (Sennheiser) into the over-the-counter hearing aid category, officially opening to the U.S. in late 2022 (thanks to Congress).
Fast forward a year, and Sennheiser now has three hearing enhancement products available for purchase.
Let's talk about Sennheiser's hearing aid selection.
Sennheiser has three hearing enhancement products available at this time. One is an earbud hybrid, and the others are actual hearing aids.
Conversation Clear Plus
Conversation Clear Plus is an earbud with pass-through sound that reduces background noise. The company is careful not to call this product a hearing aid. It emphasizes that it's best for folks who want easier listening in background environments vs. those who need amplification.
You can think of Conversation Clear Plus as a pair of true wireless Bluetooth headphones with some superpowers. The product is pricey but offers excellent sound quality and, according to our lead audiologist, does help in noisy environments. You can read Dr. Amy's full review here.
Conversation Clear Plus Pros:
- Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus hearing aids offer clear, smooth music-streaming sound quality.
- The devices are larger than traditional hearing aids, but comfortable
- The devices offer strong directionality and help cut down background noise
Conversation Clear Plus Cons:
- Conversation Clear Plus will not replace hearing aids.
- We put the product in a test box and could not get significant amplification.
- The devices are on the larger side
- Conversation Clear Plus isn't cheap
Shop Conversation Clear Plus
All Day Clear and All Day Clear Slim
Sennheiser's proper over-the-counter hearing aids came out in August 2023, and we've been very impressed at their overall sound quality and ease of programming. Sennheiser released two products that are virtually identical on the inside but come in different form factors. The All Day Clear (non-slim version) is our recommendation for most people. It's less expensive and more comfortable.
Both hearing aids are programmed at home using a smartphone app and offer rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth streaming from iPhone and Android devices.
Read our full review of All-Day Clear here, or check out my full YouTube review below.
All-Day Clear Pros:
- Premium technology for less than prescription channels
- Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calls (Android and iPhone)
- Comfortable all-day form factor
All-Day Clear Cons:
- More expensive than some OTC competitors
- The charger must be plugged in to work
- Less precision in programming than prescription devices
Shop All-Day Clear
Are Sennheiser Hearing Aids Good
The short answer is yes. Sennheiser and their parent company, Sonova, are both very respected companies in the world of audio, and their hearing products maintain a high standard.
I don't consider Conversation Clear Plus a true alternative to hearing aids. The product is just too chunky for all-day wear and doesn't offer amplification. Conversation Clear Plus is an earbud alternative with some special powers.
The real winner in Sennheiser's line of hearing aids is the All Day Clear (non-slim version). All Day Clear is comfortable, with excellent background noise management and a discreet form factor. When wearing the product, I hear many similarities between All Day Clear and Phonak Lumity (typically $5,000+ for a pair).
All Day Clear might have the best sound quality of any OTC product I've tried, and the hearing aids stream music and offer hands-free calling through iPhone and Android devices.
If you are open to programming your hearing aids through an app, All-Day Clear should definitely be on your shortlist.
Final Thoughts
Sennheiser's entrance into the world of hearing health signals a long overdue shift toward consumers. I can't wait to watch this brand evolve as technology improves over the next few years.
We hope you've found this information helpful. If you've tried Sennheiser hearing aids or have questions, we'd love to hear from you at [email protected].