Hearing Technology
Auracast reached mainstream news in October 2026. Per Aura Hear's coverage, TIME put it on its 2026 Best Inventions list under Connectivity and Communication. The same week, Complete Hearing Solutions announced an Auracast pilot with the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, in the Cook Theatre. The release says the theater's existing hearing loop stays in place. TIME honored the technology. It did not endorse any product we offer or any practice.
The honest Bay Area answer is that hearing loops, not Auracast, are what venues run today. This page checks the brands one by one, explains the catches and tells you how to find out about your own aids. We are California Hearing Center in San Mateo and San Carlos. For the basics, see what Auracast is and our report on the first U.S. theater pilot.
At a glance
- Per the Bluetooth SIG, all five of the biggest hearing aid makers, about 90% of the global market, now offer Auracast-supporting hearing aids.
- Support varies by model. Some aids need a firmware update, and Signia says MaX activation waits for an app update due by March 2027.
- The Bluetooth SIG forecasts more than 2.5 million Auracast locations by 2030. Today, venues near us mostly run hearing loops.
- We have not verified Auracast at any Bay Area venue. Call a venue before you count on it.
- Bring your hearing aids and phone to your visit. We will check what Auracast support your aids list.
How does Auracast work?
The Bluetooth SIG describes three parts. A transmitter broadcasts the audio, such as a theater sound system or a TV. An assistant, usually the app on your phone, finds the broadcast and lets you pick it. A receiver, such as a hearing aid, earbud or implant, plays it. Because it is a broadcast, an unlimited number of people can listen at the same time. The Bluetooth SIG video embedded on this page shows the idea in a few minutes.
Which hearing aids support Auracast today?
Every claim in the table is the maker's own. Firmware moves fast, so we re-check these entries when we update the page. Ask for the status of your exact model, because brands often sell several platforms at once.
| Brand and platform | What the maker says | Check before you count on it |
|---|---|---|
| ReSound (GN) | Says Vivia was the world's first hearing aid made for Auracast, and that Auracast is built into its current ReSound and Jabra Enhance lines | Confirm your model is in a current line |
| Starkey | Says Edge AI received Auracast through a firmware update | Your aids must have the update installed |
| Signia | Says Auracast is built into its Integrated Xperience platform | Signia MaX activation waits for a Signia One app update due by March 2027 |
| Phonak | Says EON offers Auracast alongside Bluetooth Classic and Roger, and describes the Audéo Sphere Infinio as Auracast-ready with LE Audio | Ask which of your Phonak model's features are active today |
| Oticon Reveal | HearingTracker says it is Auracast-ready | HearingTracker says a firmware update may be needed |
| Widex Allure | Widex describes it as Auracast-ready, with activation by a future software update | Not active until that update arrives |
| Cochlear Nucleus Nexa | Cochlear describes it as Auracast-ready | Needs a firmware update and third-party adoption, per Cochlear |
Do I need a new phone for Auracast?
Your phone usually acts as the assistant that finds the broadcast. Samsung and GN announced Auracast support for Galaxy phones running Android 16 and One UI 8, including the Galaxy S25 series and the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, with hearing aids that include ReSound and Jabra Enhance. Other phone and hearing aid pairings vary. Ask your audiologist to check the pairing you own before you buy anything new.
Where can I use Auracast in the Bay Area?
Today, mostly nowhere yet. As of November 2, 2026, theaters we looked at in San Francisco list assistive listening that uses hearing loops or listening devices, not verified Auracast. These include A.C.T.'s Toni Rembe Theater and the Strand, SF Playhouse and the Landmark Aquarius Theatre. We have not verified Auracast at any Bay Area venue, and we will not list one until we have confirmed it with the venue. If your telecoil works in a venue's loop, keep using it. The first U.S. pilot we found, in Sarasota, kept its loop.
Will Auracast replace the hearing loop?
Not soon. A loop works today with any hearing aid that has a telecoil. Auracast needs newer hearing aids and a venue with a transmitter. The Hearing Loss Association of America makes a useful point on wording: no technology is itself ADA-compliant, but a deployment can meet the ADA's assistive listening standards. Treat Auracast as a second tool, and keep the telecoil option if your aids have one.
What should I ask before buying a hearing aid for Auracast?
Ask whether the exact model supports Auracast now or waits for a firmware update, who delivers that update, and whether your phone can act as the assistant. Also ask how the aid performs in your hardest listening situations, because a feature you rarely use matters less than daily speech clarity. Our guide to how AI hearing aids work and our EON versus Reveal comparison cover those questions.
Auracast readiness check
Bring these answers to your visit, and we will help you fill the gaps.
- The exact brand and model name of your hearing aids.
- Whether they have a telecoil, which still works in hearing loops.
- The phone you use, and its software version.
- The venues where you most want better sound.
Does Auracast matter for cochlear implants?
TIME's entry names the Cochlear Nucleus Nexa system among Auracast-enabled devices. Cochlear describes Nexa as Auracast-ready, and it attaches caveats: a firmware update and adoption by other companies are both required. The 2026 guidelines for severe and profound hearing loss also include a dedicated Auracast section. See our Nexa page and our guidelines page.
What to do next
Book a hearing evaluation at our San Mateo office or our San Carlos office, or call 650-342-9449. Bring your hearing aids and your phone, and we will check what Auracast support your aids list. Browse hearing aids by brand, and see our page on TV and streaming help for what works today.
Last updated and sources
Last updated November 2, 2026. What changed: this is the first version. We will update the table when a brand changes its Auracast status, and the venue section when we confirm a venue directly. Sources: Aura Hear on TIME's 2026 Best Inventions, Complete Hearing Solutions and Asolo Repertory Theatre release, Oct 30, 2026, Auracast, Bluetooth SIG, Samsung and GN Auracast announcement, Starkey: what is Auracast.
Medical information notice
This page offers general information. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose or recommend treatment. Sudden hearing loss, hearing loss in one ear, ear pain or dizziness need prompt medical care. Call 650-342-9449 to book at our San Mateo office, 88 N. San Mateo Drive, or our San Carlos office, 1008 Laurel Street.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered
What is Auracast?
It is a Bluetooth feature that broadcasts audio from one source to any number of nearby hearing aids, earbuds and implants. There is no pairing. A transmitter sends the audio, your phone helps you pick it and your device plays it.
Does my hearing aid support Auracast?
It depends on the brand, the model and sometimes a firmware update. The table on this page lists what each maker says. Bring your aids to a visit and we will check what support they list.
Do I need an app to use Auracast?
Usually your phone acts as the assistant that finds and selects the broadcast, per the Bluetooth SIG. The exact steps depend on your phone and hearing aid pairing.
Will my current hearing aids get Auracast by firmware?
Some have, such as Starkey Edge AI, per Starkey. Others wait for updates, such as Signia MaX and Widex Allure. Ask for the status of your exact model.
Is Auracast replacing hearing loops?
Not soon. Loops work now with any telecoil. The first U.S. theater pilot we found kept its loop in place.
Does TIME's honor mean my hearing aid is better?
No. TIME honored the technology. It did not endorse any hearing aid or any practice.