Oticon
BrainHearing technology. Open, natural sound for the way the brain processes the world.
Oticon, part of the Danish Demant Group, has been making hearing aids since 1904 — making it one of the oldest hearing aid manufacturers in the world. Oticon's philosophy centers on 'BrainHearing': the idea that hearing aids should support the brain's natural sound processing rather than simply amplifying speech and suppressing everything else. Their deep neural network processing, trained on 12 million real-life sound scenes, represents a genuinely different approach to hearing aid signal processing.
Visit Oticon.comMarket position
Top 3 globally
Price range
$2,000–$7,000/pair
Current platform
Intent / Real
Warranty
3 years standard
Oticon technology: BrainHearing & Deep Neural Network
Oticon's BrainHearing approach is built on the premise that the brain — not the hearing aid — does the real work of making sense of sound. Rather than focusing a narrow beam on one speaker and suppressing everything else, Oticon's OpenSound Navigator preserves a full 360° sound scene, giving the brain the spatial information it needs to naturally focus attention. The deep neural network (DNN) at the core of the More and Intent platforms was trained on 12 million real-life sound scenes.
- Deep Neural Network (DNN) — trained on 12 million real-life sound scenes for natural sound processing
- OpenSound Navigator — 360° sound scene analysis, preserving spatial awareness
- BrainHearing — supports the brain's natural sound processing rather than over-processing
- Oticon Intent — motion sensor detects head movement to optimize directionality automatically
- MoreSound Intelligence 3.0 — balances speech clarity with environmental awareness
- Bluetooth LE Audio — low-energy streaming for iPhone and Android
- Oticon ON app — remote control, hearing diary, and remote fine-tuning
- CROS/BiCROS solutions for single-sided deafness
Models & pricing
Oticon Intent
Receiver-in-canal (RIC)
- 4D Sensor detects head movement
- Automatic directionality adjustment
- Bluetooth LE Audio
- Rechargeable
- Best Oticon speech-in-noise performance
Oticon Real
Receiver-in-canal (RIC)
- Wind & handling noise stabilizer
- Sudden sound stabilizer
- MoreSound Intelligence 3.0
- Rechargeable
- Universal Bluetooth
Oticon More
Receiver-in-canal (RIC)
- First DNN-powered Oticon
- MoreSound Intelligence 2.0
- Rechargeable
- Bluetooth streaming
- Previous generation — often discounted
Oticon Xceed
Behind-the-ear (BTE) — Power
- Severe to profound loss
- Highest power output
- OpenSound Navigator
- Rechargeable option
Oticon Own
In-the-ear (ITE/ITC/CIC/IIC)
- Custom in-ear styles
- DNN processing in smallest form factor
- Rechargeable ITE option
- Discreet
Pros & cons
Strengths
- +Most natural, open sound quality of any major brand — preserves spatial awareness
- +Deep neural network processing is genuinely innovative and effective
- +Oticon Intent's motion sensor is a unique and useful feature
- +Strong custom in-ear line (Own) with DNN processing
- +Excellent for users who find conventional directional aids feel "tunnel-like"
- +Long history and strong audiologist support network
Limitations
- −Open sound philosophy means slightly less aggressive noise reduction than Phonak or Signia
- −Not ideal for users who need maximum speech-in-noise performance above all else
- −Premium pricing across the range
- −Oticon ON app is functional but less polished than some competitors
The bottom line
Oticon is the best choice for users who prioritize natural, open sound quality and find conventional directional hearing aids feel unnatural or isolating. The BrainHearing approach is backed by strong clinical evidence and is particularly valued by users who want to remain aware of their full sound environment.
Best for: Users who prioritize natural sound quality and spatial awareness; those who find conventional directional aids feel unnatural; audiophiles