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Phonak Hearing Aids

4.25 Stars (36 Reviews)
Updated: January 23, 2023
By: Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith
Sr. Content Manager
As Retirement Living’s senior content manager, Jeff oversees the product and publishing of all retirement, investing, and consumer wellness content on the site. His extensive expertise in brand messaging and creating data-driven stories helps position Retirement Living as a top authority for senior content and community resources.
Sr. Content Manager
Edited By: Lauren Hamer
Lauren Hamer
Sr. Editor
Bringing more than a decade of editorial experience to Retirement Living, Lauren focuses on reporting senior-related issues, including retirement planning, finance, consumer protection, and health and wellness. Lauren has edited consumer content for Credible, Angi, Slickdeals, Jobs for the Future, and more.
Sr. Editor

Phonak is an award-winning global leader in hearing aid technology. The company offers the broadest line of hearing devices and accessories we found in our research. Phonak hearing aids address any level of hearing loss, from mild to profound, and partial loss. The company consistently develops new technology to offer increasingly improved hearing to customers.

Phonak logo

Editorial Breakdown

Ease of Purchase 4.3 Stars
Warranty 4.3 Stars
Price 4.5 Stars
Customer Service 4 Stars

Overall Rating 4.3 Stars

Bottom Line

Phonak is an award-winning leader in unique hearing aid technology. The company offers the broadest line of hearing devices and accessories to give customers different models to fit different situations.

Phonak Hearing Aids Review

Phonak is a hearing aid solutions company that has been in business for over 60 years. Company headquarters are in Switzerland with a U.S.-based office in Illinois. The company is owned by Sonova, which also owns the Unitron and Hansaton hearing aid brands and Advanced Bionics cochlear implants. You’ll find Phonak’s extensive network of distributors and subsidiaries represented in over 100 countries around the globe.

Pros

  • Patented sound technology
  • Smart app connects to smartphone and TV
  • Cutting-edge technology, including a hearing aid worn 24/7
  • Free online hearing test

Cons

  • Many models not covered by Medicare
  • Can be expensive

Latest Phonak Hearing Aid Technology

Phonak develops and manufactures hearing aids with some of the most current technology, like rechargeable batteries you never have to change, advances in Bluetooth, and hearing aids that adjust to your surroundings in a split second.

  • Direct Connectivity is compatible with any cellphone using Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology, which includes many older phones. Your hearing aids double as a hands-free cellphone or wireless TV headset with Direct Connectivity. Studies show that this technology delivers excellent TV sound quality.
  • AutoSense OS is a hearing technology that automatically adapts to the sound environment by performing a fast analysis and blending audio profiles to produce optimal hearing results. AutoSense Sky OS is similar but designed for children and teens to adjust to classroom or playground sounds, or to listening to music or having conversations with friends. The AutoSense Sky OS is more sensitive to loud speech and yelling compared to the regular Phonak AutoSense for adult hearing aids. The latest AutoSense 3.0 identifies even more hearing scenarios with top-rated streaming sound quality.
  • Binaural VoiceStream Technology streams real-time full audio bandwidth bi-directionally in both ears. This feature allows you to put less effort into trying to hear others speak in a noisy environment.
  • Roger Wireless technology encompasses a variety of microphones that transmit sound directly to the Phonak hearing aid wearer. Roger was developed for particularly challenging hearing environments and reduces background noise while enhancing understanding. Roger mics are useful in settings like restaurants or when sitting a distance from someone who is speaking to a roomful of people.
  • Phonak Rechargeable Batteries are self-contained Lithium-ion batteries. Phonak claims the cells last for six years, but we found four to five years is more typical. Field tests indicate these batteries are 15% more reliable than replaceable batteries and a single charge can last around 24 hours.

Phonak Hearing Aid Models

We listed some details for Phonak’s seven latest hearing aid models in the chart below. The company offers 14 other models as well. Your hearing specialist will help you choose the best hearing aids for your needs.

Phonak Hearing Aid Models
Model Price per Ear Hearing Loss Treated Type Features
Audéo Marvel
$1,149 – $2,799
Mild to profound Receiver in canal Rechargeable
Bluetooth – TV and phone
Naída B
$1,049 – $2,299
Mild to profound Receiver in canal or behind the ear Rechargeable
Roger mic compatible
Bolero B
$1,149 – $2,299
Mild to profound Behind the ear Rechargeable
Autosense OS
Virto B-Titanium
$1,899 – $2,499
Mild to severe In the ear Medical grade titanium
Smallest custom-made aid
Autosense OS
Virto B
$1,199 – $2,399
Mild to profound In the ear Custom made using biometric calibration
CROS B
Custom, Prices Vary
Single sided deafness Receiver in canal or behind the ear Rechargeable
Must use a Phonak aid in the hearing ear
Lyric
$3,000 – $6,000 per pair
Annual plan
Mild, moderate or severe Receiver in canal Invisible when worn
24/7 wear
30-day trial

Phonak Hearing Aids Cost

Phonak hearing aids come at all price points set by the hearing aid providers, and you can compare the prices to the average in our Best Hearing Aids Guide. The most affordable devices are about $1,300 per aid or $2,600 for a pair. The most expensive Phonak hearing aids are the Lyric model, which are the size of a pencil eraser and sit entirely in the ear canal, so they are invisible to others. Because a professional must insert Lyric hearing aids and remove them every few months, Phonak sells this model using an annual subscription between $3,000 and $6,000 a pair. There’s no Medicaid or Medicare coverage for Lyric devices.

Where to Buy Phonak Hearing Aids

Phonak sells hearing aids through audiologists; ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists; or designated hearing aid centers. You can check the website for providers near you or call the number on the site. Before getting fitted for Phonak hearing aids, you will need to have a hearing test. The specialist will recommend the best Phonak hearing aid model and style for your particular needs. The specialist orders your new devices after taking a mold of your inner and outer ear, and you will be fitted in a few days to a few weeks, depending on the model.

Phonak Hearing Aids Complaints

Phonak hearing aids receive mixed reviews online. ZipHearing gives the brand 5 out of 5 stars, with many reviewers commenting on impressive sound quality and comfortable fit. ConsumerAffairs reviewers give the company an average of 2.5 out of 5 stars, with many saying Phonak hearing aids work great, but others experienced problems and had to send the hearing aids back for adjustments or repairs. ConsumersAdvocate gives the brand 4 out of 5 stars for high-quality products, after-sale service, and a wide range of accessories. The Better Business Bureau has accredited Phonak and rates the company with an A+.

Phonak Hearing Aids Q&A

  • Will my insurance cover Phonak hearing aids?
    Some insurance providers cover part or all of the cost of hearing aids from Phonak, though many will only cover specific models. Check with your provider or insurance company for details.

  • Can I buy a warranty to cover Phonak hearing aids?
    Phonak provides a one-year international warranty on its hearing aids, but talk to your local provider to see if they offer a separate warranty. You can buy an extended warranty for some Phonak hearing aid models.

  • Can I buy Phonak hearing aids online?
    You can buy some Phonak models online, but only with the assistance of a licensed professional. Phonak’s Internet Sales Policy warns that any direct-to-consumer online sales are from unauthorized sellers, and you will not receive the support you get from a hearing specialist.

  • Does Phonak have a program for veterans?
    Yes, Phonak has a contract with the U.S. Veterans Affairs. Most of the models listed in our chart above are available via VA benefits along with many accessories to enhance the hearing aids.

Conclusion

Phonak sells a hearing aid for any level of hearing loss across all age groups. The company develops technologically-advanced hearing aids with comfort and ease of use in mind, including the convenience of Lyric hearing aids which are worn invisibly for months at a time.


36 Phonak Hearing Aids Reviews

Write Review
1 Star

June 20 2022 10:20PM

Worst hearing aid I have ever owned. I have had them in for repair multiple times with the same problem but the problem keeps recurring. I will never purchase Phonak again. Worst service I have ever experienced. Can't wait to get rid of them.

Trevor M.
Barry\'s Bay , Ontario, Canada, SELECT A STATE
1 Star

May 17 2022 7:05PM

I have had a number of brands of hearing aids over the years and these Phonaks are by far the worst. The app is unstable and whenever your Bluetooth on the phone or anything the microphones jump way up in volume so you can hardly hear what’s being said in your hair and he says you’re hearing the surrounding sounds.

Not only that live listen does not work with Phonak like every other brand they want you to pay $450 for a device to help you. I would never buy these hearing aids again and I would hope that nobody else does either.

Ronald D.
MESA, AZ
1 Star

March 19 2022 3:29PM

After a week the left ear stopped working. All it does is whistle. I called my provider and their response was Make an appointment. So these cost me 12000 dollars. Truth be told sound quality is worse than a pair of cheap head phones I bought at the dollar store for 6 bucks.

If the wind blows I can't hear anything but wind noise. If I open my phone, which they are connected to, the hearing aid stops working...I know there are many options out there and I dont know which ones are the best...but I'm guessing these are among the worse. Do some homework and avoid this product.

Angelo A.
High Point, NC
1 Star

March 18 2022 1:30PM

My mother has been wearing Phonak hearing aids for over 10 years. She bought another pair 2 weeks ago and both of them have been broken due to manufacturing. Her audiologist has sent them back and we went with a new company.

Apparently this has become a problem with this company. My mom is 91 and has a hard time getting around. We can’t keep going to the audiologist every other week.

Christianne A.
Towson, MD
3 Stars

January 12 2022 4:05PM

My problem is I have had the CROS B for little over a year and it has twice completely stopped working and has to be replaced. Needless to say this is anxiety inducing as now I'm afraid of where it may choose to completely stop again.

Luckily the first time was at home on my day off and the second literally an hour after I got off work. Waiting on my 3rd one to come back. Going to have a serious discussion regarding the reliability of this product.

I had a Microtech before from a different provider that never gave me any trouble till it simply got old and needed replacing.

Sammie S.
Bend, OR
3 Stars

November 12 2021 2:48PM

I have had these Audeo Marvel 90R for over a year now. The connectivity to the phone is indeed great as is sound quality of any streaming music. It does great as amplifying sound, too. But from my experience that is where it stops.

While Phonak comes with programs that allegedly allow one to hear in loud environments, all I experience is an amplification of all sound, background and voice, no matter what program I am in and no matter what settings I use.

I have been to my audiologist five times now to make adjustments without success. He advised me that my next fitting will now start costing me $60. While the sound amplification is good, the clarity of speech is poor even after all of these fittings.

I think that Phonak applies a lot of "market embellishment" in the claims that they make about speech clarity and ability to hear in noisy environments.

My experience with this hearing aid as well as Eargo's and Resounds is that all of them are really nothing more than sound amplification devices and do nothing to improve speech clarity. Not the result I was hoping for!

John H.
Cincinnati, OH
3 Stars

November 06 2021 3:04PM

I am deaf in my left ear and have some high frequency hearing loss in my right ear which is typical for someone my age. In January 2021 I was fitted with the Phonak P90 Unit that is designed to pair with a crossover unit for my deaf side.

I purchased the main unit (for my "good ear") ($2800) because of the promise of the crossover technology, that unfortunately wasn't available at that time. The main unit seemed to work well initially.

When the crossover technology became available in August, I went in to get it fitted. Upon placement, it worked great.

I was ready make that additional purchase until it was revealed that the crossover unit was not designed to pair with the phone app, in spite of what the audio technician told me when first discussing this system in January. The app is even graphically designed for left and right controls!

He called Phonak tech support while I was there there to discuss the issue and they told him that the technology was not available, contrary to what he was led to believe. He was as flabbergasted as I was.

At that point, I was not willing to shell out another $1100 for something that wasn't going to do that I was promised it would do.

When I checked with my audiologist a few weeks ago (October), they told me that the crossover unit was being redesigned to sync with the app and would be available in Jan 2022.

I'm not holding my breath. To this day I am having a continual problem with my main unit not connecting with the phone app. The suggested remedy by tech support to reload the app has not worked after three attempts.

This is all very disappointing after being excited for the crossover technology that would enable me to hear sounds from my left side. Particularly after already spending $2800. Spending that kind of money gives the right to expect far better.

It appears to me that Phonak is a typical company that put marketing and sales ahead of technology. At this point, I would NOT recommend their systems. There are many others out there.

Tim W.
Decorah, IA
2 Stars

July 13 2021 10:22PM

I have the Audeo P90. While it does most of what it says it will, it only does it most of the time. Sliding out of programs, back to autosense preset. Causing me to have to readjust several times a day.

The largest annoyance is that one will quit about every 2 months, requiring a visit back to audiologist. Here they say it just needed cleaning, but the hearing aid would not give out even an audio feedback. Each visit cost$25. After warranty that will be hell knows how much.

This is not what I expected after paying $2000 each. But I guess they know us old folks will be dead soon enough, and all the negative feedback will be buried with us.

Charles J.
Shelbyville, TN
2 Stars

July 06 2021 6:32PM

Right hearing aid has had problems from the start. It has been sent back by the provider four times for repair. It stopped working entirely a month ago and still has not been replaced.

30 days seems like sufficient time to send a replacement. After spending a small fortune to hear clearly, this is unacceptable.

Karen A.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
3 Stars

May 11 2021 4:42PM

I was advised by the seller of my Phonak hearing aids that the aids warranty applied to international locations. My Phonak aids were purchased in the USA and one of my hearing aids broke when I was travelling in Europe.

I contact a local Phonak dealer in Portugal and they advised they could not assist me because I did not purchase the hearing aid from them. I was advised that the hearing aid repair would need to be performed at the Phonak factory.

I also contacted the Phonak website via email and was advised they would not assist me then I needed to send my hearing aid to the store in the USA and they could send in the aid for repair.

I explained my situation to the Phonak representative and was advised 'sorry, we cannot assist, you need to contact the store where the unit was purchased". Wow what a surprise.

So if you purchase a Phonak and plan to travel, make sure you can contact the original seller and return a broken aid to them.

Dan P.
Lisbon, CA