TL;DR: Auracast hearing aids receive broadcast audio directly from TVs, phones, and public venues. No pairing required. ReSound shipped the first one in late 2023. Most major brands now sell Auracast hearing aids, or have models waiting on firmware.

In late 2023, ReSound shipped one of the world's first Auracast hearing aids: Nexia. It quietly became a category leader. Today, almost every major brand offers Auracast hearing aids or has one close to launch.

The technology is finally landing where it matters most. Airports, theaters, places of worship, and lecture halls. This guide covers what Auracast does and why ReSound got there first. It also lists which brands have working models today.

Shopping for a hearing aid soon? Add Auracast readiness to your shortlist.

What Is Auracast and How Does It Work?

Auracast is a broadcast technology built into the Bluetooth LE Audio standard. It lets one audio source stream to unlimited receivers at once. No pairing required.

Picture it this way. Classic Bluetooth is a private phone call between two devices. Auracast works more like a radio station. One transmitter broadcasts, and anyone nearby with a compatible device can tune in.

For Auracast hearing aids, three things change at once:

• Pairing disappears. You join a broadcast the way you join a Wi-Fi network.

• Listeners go unlimited. A single broadcast can reach everyone in range, not one device at a time.

• The audio source moves. Sound can come from across the room, not just your pocket.

Those three shifts add up to something Bluetooth has never done before. The Bluetooth SIG's overview of LE Audio and Auracast spells out the underlying spec.

Auracast launched in 2020 and started showing up in real products in 2023. That timeline is fast for a major Bluetooth update. The push came from accessibility advocates and hearing aid manufacturers. They wanted a clean alternative to telecoil loops.

How Auracast Differs From Classic Bluetooth

The differences look small on paper. In practice, they reshape what hearing aids can do in public spaces.

One-to-Many Broadcasting

Classic Bluetooth handles personal connections only. One phone pairs to one set of hearing aids, period.

Auracast flips that. A single transmitter can reach every Auracast device within roughly 100 meters. Twenty people in a theater can all listen to the same broadcast at once.

The LC3 Codec

Auracast uses a new audio codec called LC3, short for Low Complexity Communications Codec. LC3 delivers better sound quality at lower power than older codecs.

That matters for battery-powered devices like Auracast hearing aids. Lower power use means longer streaming time on the same charge.

LC3 also reduces latency. Audio reaches your hearing aids closer to real time. That helps with lip syncing in video and with audio cues in live venues.

A Quick Comparison

The Real Benefits of Auracast Hearing Aids

Brand pages tend to oversell new tech. Here is what Auracast actually delivers, based on real-world deployments so far:

• Direct audio in noisy public spaces. Gate announcements, gym TVs, and restaurant PAs all stream straight to your ears.

• No pairing fumbling. Walk in, open your app, pick the broadcast you want. Same flow as joining public Wi-Fi.

• Cross-brand compatibility. A ReSound Auracast hearing aid can join the same broadcast as a Phonak one.

• Longer battery life when streaming. LC3 sips power compared to older Bluetooth codecs. A podcast drains your battery less.

• Better assistive listening. Theaters, churches, and lecture halls have used telecoil loops for decades. Auracast does the same job with cleaner sound.

• Multi-language support. A single venue can broadcast multiple streams. Pick English, Spanish, or a quiet narration track in seconds.

• Shared listening at home. Two people can stream the same TV broadcast at their own volume. Couples finally agree on the audio.

The catch: these benefits only kick in at venues that support Auracast. Rollout is happening, but it is uneven.

Why ReSound Got to Auracast First

ReSound's lead in this category did not happen by accident. GN, ReSound's parent company, bet on Bluetooth LE Audio years before competitors caught up. The company's edge came from three places:

• Spec involvement. Engineers helped shape the LE Audio standard at the Bluetooth SIG.

• Custom silicon. Instead of waiting for off-the-shelf chips, GN designed its own.

• Ecosystem investment. Apps, accessories, and partner relationships shipped before Auracast launched.

That accumulation of bets is why ReSound shipped Auracast first. Most brands were still in development at the time. The head start still shows up in product roadmaps today.

The Nexia Story

ReSound Nexia launched in fall 2023. It supported both Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast broadcast audio from launch. The micro receiver-in-canal model was small, rechargeable, and Auracast-ready from day one.

Nexia ran on a custom chip that handles the LC3 codec efficiently. That was the technical key. Older hearing aid chips could not run LE Audio without major battery hits. Most brands waited for the next chip generation.

ReSound was not waiting.

How Vivia Took It Further

In 2025, ReSound released Vivia as the company's next-generation flagship. Vivia kept all of Nexia's Auracast capability. It added a Deep Neural Network chip for noise processing.

The DNN chip handles speech-in-noise differently from older designs. It trains on millions of recorded conversations. The result is cleaner speech pickup, even with Auracast broadcast as the primary source. Background chatter recedes. The broadcast voice stays clear.

Vivia also introduced the world's first Auracast Assistant for hearing aids. The Assistant lives inside the ReSound Smart 3D app. It turns any compatible phone into an Auracast finder. Same idea as a Wi-Fi menu listing nearby networks.

That last piece matters. Most Auracast tuning today happens through phone apps. Vivia made the experience native to the hearing aid ecosystem.

ReSound's Accessory Ecosystem

ReSound did not stop at the hearing aids. The TV-Streamer+ and Multi-Mic+ accessories work as Auracast transmitters in their own right.

That means a ReSound user can broadcast their own audio, including:

• Your TV at home. Stream what you are watching directly to your hearing aids.

• A guest speaker at an event. Clip the Multi-Mic+ to a presenter and broadcast their voice.

• The narration on a museum tour. Capture the guide's voice cleanly in a noisy gallery.

• Restaurant conversations. Place the mic on the table and tune in to your dinner partner.

Other brands have not matched this ecosystem yet.

Which Hearing Aids Use Auracast Today?

Most premium brands now include Auracast hardware in their flagship models. The split is between models with Auracast fully enabled and models that are "Auracast-ready." Ready means the hardware is there. Firmware activation is pending.

Confirm activation status with your hearing care provider before you buy, since firmware schedules shift.

A few notes on the table:

• "Fully enabled" means the device can receive Auracast broadcasts today through the brand's app.

• "Ready" means the hardware supports Auracast, but the firmware update is still in the pipeline.

• Activation timing for most ready brands runs through 2026.

Want a hearing aid that works at Auracast venues today? ReSound is currently the only brand with broad commercial availability. Open to enabling Auracast via a firmware push in the months ahead? Signia, Starkey, Oticon, Phonak's flagship lineup, and Widex are all credible picks.

Where You Can Actually Use Auracast Right Now

The honest answer: in a small but growing number of places. Venues actively deploying Auracast include:

• Airports. Frankfurt Airport became the first airport with Auracast in 2025. The rollout started at Gates A16 and A17.

• Theaters and performing arts venues. Several U.S. theaters have followed, including pilot installations on the East Coast.

• Churches and places of worship. Adoption is picking up, especially in larger congregations.

• Lecture halls and conference centers. Universities are testing Auracast as a replacement for telecoil loops.

• Gyms and sports bars. A growing number now broadcast TV audio to patrons' hearing aids.

The chicken-and-egg problem is real. Venues wait for more hearing aid users to have Auracast. Users wait for more venues to broadcast. Both sides move, but slowly.

The most useful Auracast scenario today lives at home. Streaming TV audio directly to your hearing aids using an Auracast transmitter works right now. It cleans up clarity in a way regular TV speakers cannot match.

What's driving the venue rollout? Cost. An Auracast transmitter is cheaper than a hearing loop. Installation is faster. Maintenance is simpler. Venues that put off hearing accessibility for budget reasons are taking another look.

Where Auracast Goes From Here

The rollout follows a familiar tech pattern. Hardware ships first. Standards stabilize. Venues install. Adoption snowballs.

We are still in the first two phases. Most premium hearing aids now have the chips. The Bluetooth SIG has the spec locked. Venue installations are early but accelerating.

Three signals to watch over the next two years:

• More airports. Major U.S. hubs are evaluating Auracast for gate announcements and accessibility. Frankfurt set the example. Others are budgeting.

• App readiness. Each hearing aid brand needs its app to support Auracast tuning. ReSound's Smart 3D app already does. Others are catching up.

• TV manufacturers. Samsung and LG sell Auracast-ready TVs today. Expect more brands and lower price points by 2027.

For most people, the right move is buying an Auracast-ready or fully enabled hearing aid. Activation will come. Waiting for the perfect moment usually costs more than buying now.

What This Means If You're Buying a Hearing Aid Today

Auracast readiness belongs on your shortlist if you plan to keep your hearing aids long-term. By 2030, the technology will likely be standard in U.S. public venues.

But Auracast is not a reason to overpay or to delay. The major premium models from every brand we carry now include Auracast hardware. Real differences come down to sound processing, fit, battery design, and app behavior.

If you're upgrading from a three to five year old device, the leap is significant. You get better speech in noise, longer battery life, and cleaner streaming. Auracast is one feature on a long list.

A quick framing on where you can buy:

We are an authorized retailer for every brand listed above. That matters more than people realize. An authorized retailer ships the same device, with the same warranty as a clinic. A licensed hearing care provider programs each pair. You also get a 60-day risk-free trial if it does not work out.

Already have an audiogram? You can submit your hearing test, and we will match you with the right model. Don't have one yet? Our free online hearing test takes about ten minutes.

Talk to a Hearing Specialist About Auracast Hearing Aids

Auracast is moving fast. The right model depends on your hearing profile, lifestyle, and where you go. Our team can walk you through current Auracast hearing aids. We will help you pick one that fits.

Talk to one of our hearing specialists or call (855) 924-3420 Monday through Friday.

Auracast Hearing Aids: Frequently Asked Questions

Where do ReSound hearing aids rank?

ReSound sits in the top tier alongside Phonak, Starkey, Signia, Oticon, and Widex. The company belongs to GN, a Danish group with deep hearing aid engineering roots. ReSound currently leads on connectivity, thanks to its early Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio launches.

Will Auracast improve hearing aids?

Yes, in two clear ways. Auracast cleans up sound quality in public venues. The broadcast audio streams directly to the device. It also opens up cross-brand compatibility. Any Auracast hearing aid can join any Auracast broadcast.

What are the benefits of Auracast?

The main benefits include:

• Direct streaming in airports, theaters, and other public spaces

• No pairing required, just like joining a public Wi-Fi network

• Cross-brand compatibility across every Auracast device

• Longer battery life thanks to the efficient LC3 codec

• Multi-language broadcasts at venues with multiple streams

• Shared listening for couples or roommates at home

The biggest practical win: hearing announcements clearly in airports, theaters, and places of worship.

Which Auracast hearing aids are available now?

ReSound Nexia, Vivia, and Savi can receive Auracast broadcasts today. Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio, Starkey Omega AI, and Starkey Edge AI also carry Auracast hardware. So do Signia IX models, Oticon Intent, and Widex Allure. Each of those brands expects full activation through firmware in 2026.

Is Auracast better than Bluetooth?

Auracast is part of Bluetooth, not a replacement for it. The Bluetooth LE Audio standard covers both classic point-to-point connections and Auracast broadcasts. Each shines in its own situation. Classic Bluetooth handles calls and personal streaming. Auracast handles public venues and shared listening.

Is Auracast available now?

Yes, but real-world deployments are still limited. Frankfurt Airport supports it. So do some U.S. theaters, plus a growing list of churches and gyms. The biggest practical use right now is streaming TV audio at home.