Otofonix is one of the more established brands in over the counter hearing aids. With the Elite, Encore, and Helix, this brand has offered two top-shelf amplifiers and an affordable option for years. Now, the Otofonix Sona has been added to Otofonix’ catalogue. This new amplifier fits a recent trend in amplifiers: controlling your hearing aid through BlueTooth. With an app on your smartphone, you can easily adjust the settings on your amplifier at any moment.
In this review for the Otofonix Sona, I will go through the specifics of this hearing aid. I’ll take a look at what’s working well, what any drawbacks might be, and if these hearing aids are worth your money. To give you a better picture, I’ll also give you some alternatives.
As always, I have added a 30-second visual summary of my findings. You can find it at the bottom of this post or by clicking here.
Links in this article pointing to another website might be affiliate links. If you purchase something on those websites, I could receive a small commission. This doesn’t affect your price nor my review.
This model was picked ‘Best value for money’ in the best hearing aids for 2022.
Key features of the Otofonix Sona
The most important feature of the Sona is the app that controls your amplifiers. You install this app on your smartphone, connect it to your amplifiers, and adjust each amplifier (left or right) individually. This makes handling your amplifiers easier than reaching behind your ear and fiddling with the tiny buttons. It’s a tradeoff, however, since you do need affinity with a smartphone to manage the app.
Another interesting feature is the self-fitting technology. When you first start using the amplifiers, the app helps you set up your listening experience so they perfectly align with your hearing needs. This automatic program guides you through the steps in a similar fashion as how an audiologist would adjust your hearing aids.
Who is this hearing amplifier for?
Otofonix creates hearing amplifiers for moderate to severe hearing loss. This means that the Sona is perfect as an advanced hearing amplifier. With the fine tuning capabilities of the self-fitting technology, you can also start wearing it in the earlier stages of hearing loss. Budget-wise, the Otofonix Sona is targeted at people who want an amplifier that rivals an official hearing aid, but for a reduced price.
How well does the Otofonix Sona work?
As we’re expecting from Otofonix products, the Sona works like a charm. Putting the battery in is a breeze and downloading, installing, and using the app is just as easy. Sound quality is excellent and there are four different listening programs: conversation, restaurant, traffic, and outdoors. These pretty much align with the standard listening programs you might find in similar devices, but the app allows you to further tweak your listening experience.
Standard features include: feedback and noise cancellation, magic domes (balancing the power of closed domes with the comfort of open domes), and Otofonix’ great customer support. Buying the Sona gives you a 45-day trial where you can get your money back and a one year manufacturer warranty.
The Otofonix Sona uses size 13 batteries. You get twelve batteries with your purchase of the amplifier, and for your subsequent hearing aid battery needs I recommend the Hearoclub.
What’s not to like about the Otofonix Sona?
There’s nothing really wrong with the Otofonix Sona, but there are some features ‘missing’. Compared to the Helix, for example, you miss out on the dual microphones and the telecoil. These features – and especially the telecoil – always set the Otofonix models apart from competitors. Without either of these features, the Otofonix Sona simply blends in with the competition.
Hearing amplifiers that are good alternatives
Speaking of the competition, if you’re looking for an app-controlled hearing amplifier, two models especially come to mind. The ZVOX is a long-time favorite on this website. This American-made model was one of the first to offer an app-controlled hearing amplifier. It’s not the newest or fanciest model, but it does a good job for a neat price. If you do like new and fancy, Otofonix has come out with a rechargeable and smaller version of the Sona: the Otofonix Groove.
The main competitor is the Neosonic MX Smart. This hearing amplifier is the twin brother of the Otofonix. They’re essentially the same product, but Neosonic offers their pair for $50 less. So that’s a good alternative.
Want to know more about Otofonix hearing aids? Find all Otofonix Reviews here.
Should you buy the Otofonix Sona?
Well, the only reason not to is that the equivalent across the street saves you $50. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Otofonix Sona, but there’s simply no reason to buy it when the Neosonic MX Smart is exactly the same. If you do prefer to go with the Otofonix, you’re set with an advanced model that will grow with you and your hearing needs.
The Sona is (currently) $395 for a pair, which is a fair price.
This model runs on size 13 batteries, which you can also buy on the website.
You can order an extra cleaning kit and a one or two year protection plan.