Sony CRE-C10 OTC Hearing Aid Review

Sony has been a world leader in developing electronics and other media products for well over 50 years. So, when I heard the company was throwing its hat into the over-the-counter hearing aid ring, I was first in line to conduct a specialized Sony CRE-C10 review.

The CRE-C10 self-fitting hearing aids are Sony's first FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids. The set includes a left and right aid, a carry case, a sample pack of various vented sleeve sizes, a cleaning brush and cloth, and a six pack of size-10 hearing aid batteries.

These hearing aids are very easy to use, and they mirror a design philosophy many prescription hearing aid users already know, so they shouldn't be too tricky to understand.

$1,000 at Best Buy

About the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids

The Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids come with small-sized vented sleeves installed, and there is no need to charge the devices before first use like many other hearing aids with rechargeable batteries. Simply insert the included size-10 batteries, and the hearing aids power on.

I found the default settings of these hearing aids to be a bit underwhelming out of the box, so you will need to download the Sony Hearing Control app, which can be found in your smartphone's app store. The packaging also includes a QR code card for quick access to the app to download as well, but it's very easy to find regardless.

Once the app is downloaded, users are instructed on basic product use and given a hearing test. The test features a series of testing tones at various volumes designed to customize your hearing aids' amplification of certain sounds and frequency ranges.

After each hearing aid is customized to match your hearing profile, you can further adjust the settings yourself, such as volume and treble/bass controls. I personally prefer a balanced bass/treble setting, but I like to put the volume up as far up as it can comfortably go, which, for me, was often a volume of 10 out of 15.

For folks like me with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids could be helpful in mitigating your disability. However, those with more severe hearing loss may want to seek professional guidance before use.

What I like about the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids

Easy setup process

I have tested several over-the-counter hearing aids and personal sound amplification products, and these were among the easiest to use across the board. Though not perfect in all regards, the Sony CRE-C10s were unbelievably easy to power on. There are no special button sequences or complex steps required: Just put in a size-10 battery, close the battery door, and the hearing aid powers on. Such simplicity brings me back to a time before rechargeable batteries were commonplace.

The Sony CRE-C10s were not ready for me to use out of the box, however. The default settings could be set a little higher, and, though I would say this is a deal breaker for those who don’t have smartphones or smart devices to pair with, I have to say the Sony Hearing Control app was the easiest hearing aid app I have used to date.

I didn't have to search very hard for the app, which can't be said for all the OTC hearing aids I've tested. Simply type in "Sony Hearing Control" into your app store's search bar and it pops up, installs in no time, and—after a walkthrough and hearing test—the hearing aid is ready to use. Other hearing aid companion apps have taken me hours to locate, set up, and get working on my device, so the Sony Hearing Control app was a welcome surprise with regard to its simplicity and compatibility.

Excellent sound quality and fine-tuning

Once set up through the intuitive hearing test, the Sony CRE-C10 self-fitting hearing aids are quite advanced in amplifying sounds. Fine-tuning options, along with basic volume and sound balance settings, allow for a personalized hearing experience. When fine-tuning the hearing aids, users can select a potential weakness or issue you are detecting with your hearing experience, and the app will offer a solution to your perceived issue.

For example, if you find speech too quiet, the app will attempt to fix that for you without messing with your selected volume setting. Or, if you find your own voice sounds very nasally, the app will correct that for you under the fine-tuning settings. If at any point you feel you have made an error in fine-tuning the hearing aid, there is a simple option to revert to the previous setting.

This means, unlike other hearing aids I have tested, the Sony CRE-C10s ensure you likely won't ever have to repeat the entire hearing test or try to self-tune the hearing aid settings in hopes of correcting any issues you may have accidentally caused yourself. I really liked using the fine-tuning options to address common problems I have experienced with other over-the-counter hearing aids.

$1,000 at Best Buy

Disposable batteries

I'm a big fan of rechargeable batteries. I wish more products—especially my 1-year old's toys—came with installed rechargeable lithium batteries. Not having to worry about running out of disposable batteries to run your hearing aids is a nice feature to have.

Why do I like that the CRE-C10 uses disposable hearing aid batteries then? While there is a level of convenience and financial benefit in not needing to constantly buy batteries, rechargeable alternatives often falter in longevity. Anyone with a smartphone knows a common point of failure is a weakening rechargeable battery that often can't be replaced without sending the product out for repair.
Hearing aids with disposable batteries will theoretically enjoy the benefit of a longer lifespan as long as they are properly cared for and maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Disposable batteries also last longer in daily use. Rechargeable batteries tend to store approximately 24-32 hours per charge, whereas disposable batteries, specifically size 10, last through 70 hours of continuous use. For me that accounts for five or six days of activity versus having to recharge batteries every other night; which hopefully you don't ever forget to do, or else you'll be without hearing aids during your day while they recharge.

Disposable batteries bring you from 0% to 100% with a simple battery change anywhere you are. There's certainly a place for the convenience of rechargeable hearing aids, but odds are you'll be happy you went with old school batteries in the event emergency strikes.

What I don't like about the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids

Lack of environmental settings

Other over-the-counter hearing aids apps I've tested include environmental presets tailored to common environments one may find themselves in. For example, there may be a setting that tunes your hearing aids to the surroundings of a loud restaurant, eliminating background noise and narrowing in on human speech to allow you to better hear those at your table. Perhaps Sony could look into updating its app to include these quick-access environmental settings to improve the user experience.

Regular feedback issues

While mileage may vary, I consistently experienced feedback issues with these hearing aids. It's not excessive, and it is not so bad that I wouldn't use the product, but, while wearing these hearing aids, I routinely experienced a low-pitch frequency burst. I didn't find it to be super intense or deafening, but it is problematic in that it shouldn't happen at all. I haven't encountered this issue with any other hearing aid I have tested thus far.

Perhaps there are ways to mitigate this shortcoming for those who also experience it, such as using a different vented sleeve or adjusting the hearing aid's volume through the Sony Hearing Control app.

No Bluetooth connectivity or streaming

It's unfortunate the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids don't include Bluetooth capabilities to stream smart device audio given the manufacturer's pedigree in electronics. The hearing aids go into your ear canal like AirPods or earbuds, so, when I discovered that the Sony hearing aids cannot connect to your smart device to listen to music, I was disappointed. I am not a fan of having to take these hearing aids out when putting in earbuds.

If you are a frequent user of in-ear headphones, be sure to bring your hearing aid's carry case with you, as you will need to keep the battery hatch open on the case to keep the devices off to prevent battery drain.

If you forget the carry case and need to switch to earbuds to make a phone call or listen to music, you will likely have to keep devices powered on while in your pocket to prevent the battery hatch door from breaking off (I have done this many times in the past). You also run the risk of the battery falling out of your pocket, rendering the device useless until the battery is replaced.

If streaming is what you’re after, the $1,300 Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids are among the best for doing that. The feature eliminates the above-described issues, but it only works on iOS devices.

Should you buy the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids?

Yes, especially if longevity matters more than advanced features

These FDA-cleared hearing aids sound great and offer state-of-the-art hearing amplification for about $1,000. Though the Sony CRE-C10s have room for improvement in noise reduction and streaming, these devices are more than sufficient in overcoming my mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

They are fairly comfortable for all-day use, and they use standard size-10 hearing aid batteries, which are plentiful at local drug stores or online. If I were to purchase these devices myself, I would not regret the decision. I expect these would last much longer than over-the-ear hearing aids or devices with rechargeable batteries that can't be easily replaced.

That factor alone could make the Sony CRE-C10s a great value. If you are on a strict $1,000 budget, lack severe hearing health issues, and like the longevity disposable batteries can offer, then the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids are well worth looking into.

$1,000 at Best Buy

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.