CRE-C20 Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aids
Product details
Web ID: 19673691Just What I Needed
When OTC hearing aids first became available, I bought a pair of Bose that I used 4-5 years. My ear canals are apparently very small and even the smallest size tips didn't fit. But, I only used them for watching TV, so that wasn't a huge problem. But, as my hearing got worse, I needed something that fit, but still wanted to avoid a custom-fitted product. The Sony C20 is perfect. The XS sleeve size fits like a glove. They feel natural and stay in-place. And the sound quality is excellent. My thanks to Sony for designing and building just what I needed.
Recommends this product
Customer review from sony.com
Superior Hearing Aids at an Affordable Price
I absolutely love these hearing aids. I previously gave up on two audiologist practices that gave incompetent hearing tests and lied to me as they tried to hard-sell me on expensive behind-the-ear hearing aids. Fed up, I decided to go with OTC hearing aids even though my generous insurance coverage doesn't cover them. After extensive research over months, I settled on Sony C20 aids. I was pleasantly surprised to get an ample discount. After almost two months of use, here are my pros and cons: PROS: -Sony's hearing test is as thorough as any audiologists' - even better in that it can be done in the quiet privacy of your home. -C20's are essentially invisible, so, if, like me, you shun having electronic devices visibly hanging on your ears, these in-the-canal hearing aids are the way to go - and they're very comfortable. -you save a ton of money compared with what you'd be charged at an audiologist practice. -the hearing quality is superb! Crisp and clear. These aids do for me what LASIK surgery did for my eyesight, a major improvement in quality of life. -I love the streamlined controls via phone app - intuitive and simple to adjust. No confusing software. -Sony support is quick and helpful. -28 hours of rechargeable battery life! CONS: -my major complaint is the charger, which many others also point out in reviews. Getting the tiny aids situated in their charging cradles is very tricky; you have to be sure the charging light blinks, or you'll be unpleasantly surprised when you take them out for wearing later. Not only that, the aids easily fall out of their cradles with a slight jolt. Don't expect to be able to place the charger in your pocket or purse confident the aids won't become dislodged. They will. Sony really needs to work on a better charger. Congress did us all a huge favor in 2021 when it passed legislation authorizing OTC hearing aid sales. In ending the hearing aid industry's lock on sales, thereby maintaining artificially high prices, Congress made it possible for millions of people with hearing impairment to affordably correct it. The technology keeps advancing to provide us now with a variety of affordable options. As a satisfied Sony customer, I heartily recommend their C20 hearing aids.
Customer review from sony.com
Fine tuning difficult to use, no good speech
Bought this and went all out trying to find the right settings. It takes forever to try fine tunings, no way to skip ones you know don't work. I have moderate loss, but nothing worked well for speech, and the sound is muffled. Very expensive product that is pretty much useless to me and apparently not a returnable/exchangable product anymore.
Customer review from sony.com
Great hearing aids but the app is a problem.
I've been using Sony CRE-C20 hearing aids for about 6 months. I bought them to replace my Signia Silk 1X aids when one of the Signia aids quit working. I like the in-canal form factor, but wish they had bluetooth streaming. I think the Sony CRE-C20 aids work better than the Signia Silk 1X. They are also rechargeable which also makes them more resistant to moisture, dust and earwax since they don't have a battery door. The hearing control app is a little tricky to set up, but it's easy to adjust or re-do if you want. A problem I am having now is the hearing control app does not work with the new ios26 on my iPhone. I can no longer control sound volume or tone, or check battery charge with the app because the hearing aids won't connect to the app. My hearing aids are stuck at the settings they had before I updated my iPhone. Sony should update the app real soon or all the Sony OTC hearing aids will be useless.
Recommends this product
Customer review from sony.com
Response from sony.com
Hi Owyhee1, Thanks for taking the time to review your Sony CRE-C20 OTC hearing aids! It's great to learn that you've been satisfied overall with your hearing aids! We are sorry to learn you've been having difficulty with your Sony | Hearing Control app. While we are not currently aware of any compatibility issues with iOS 26, unexpected app behavior can sometimes be solved by resetting the Sony | Hearing Control app. To reset your app, open the Sony | Hearing Control app and go to the menu (three bars). Select Settings > App settings > Reset the app and then select Ok. If this does not work, we recommend uninstalling and re-installing the Sony | Hearing Control app. If you are still having difficulty using the Sony | Hearing Control app, we encourage you to reach out to our expert Sony Hear Team: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=otcha Thanks for choosing Sony! Sincerely, Jenn.
I like them
I have been wearing miracle ear for about three years and the Sony C 20s in my opinion are a lot better. I hear better with them, and for me the fit is so comfortable I forget I have them in. After about a week of adjustment and trying different fine tunings, I Found what I like, I do not need to go to an audiologist to make the adjustments. The engineers who developed these hearing aids deserve a raise.
Recommends this product
Customer review from sony.com
Response from sony.com
Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your Sony CRE-C20 OTC hearign aids! We're thrilled to hear that tyour devices have been such a great fit for you, both in sound quality and comfort. It's great to know that you were able to fine-tune them to your liking without needing to visit an audiologist. Providing that level of control and convenience is something we’re proud of, and we’re glad it’s made a difference for you. Your kind words about the engineers mean a lot, and we’ll be sure to share your feedback with the team. Thank you again for your support and for being part of the Sony hearing community. Best regards, Estefany
Good build although difficult to setup properly
I bought this 2 months ago and was very happy until the application on my iPhone insisted that I reconfigure because it had lost contact. Since then every time that I reconfigure there’s something wrong; present it’s the right ear battery level that doesn’t work.
Recommends this product
Customer review from sony.com
Response from sony.com
Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to review your Sony CRE-C20 OTC hearing aids. We are so sorry to hear you've been having difficulty using the Sony | Hearing Control app. The issues described in your post are not expected app behaviors. To use the battery check function within the app, ensure that your phone's media volume is approximately 75% and your phone should be unmuted. To test that sound is coming from the phone’s loud and clear, consider playing a YouTube video or music clip. If you’re still not hearing the battery check, consider force closing the Sony Hearing Control app and all other applications running in the background of your phone, then try again. If you’re still having trouble with the battery check feature or have other app-related concerns, we recommend reaching out to our expert Sony Hear Team for assistance: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=otcha Thank you for considering Sony products and for bringing this to our attention. Sincerely, Estefany
Love these!
I really only need in one ear where I have 50% hearing loss. Set up was easy. I bought the vented sleeves and they work very well. I really am impressed!
Recommends this product
Customer review from sony.com
Response from sony.com
Hi Wb13, thank you for taking the time to review your Sony CRE-C20 OTC hearing aids! We are so pleased to learn you've been impressed with the hearing aids and they are working well for you. Check out some tips for getting the most out of your new hearing aids: https://youtu.be/sT4h0HKXQCE?si=_MjKWcNUIUweErQJ Thank you for choosing Sony! Best regards, Estefany
Great crisp and clear sound
I have had these for a couple of months and after finally figuring out the app and the equalizer I will say these are the most clear and crisp sounding hearing aids I have ever had. I've had a hard time hearing most of my life and I really am impressed with the overall sound quality. The only thing that I'm not pleased with is the comfortability. After wearing these for more than a few hours they really hurt my ears, and I have to go at least 1 day after of not wearing them to give my ears time to stop hurting. If there was a way to make these more comfortable these would be a perfect solution to my hearing problems
Recommends this product
Customer review from sony.com
Response from sony.com
Hello there! Thank you for taking the time to review your Sony CRE-C20 OTC hearing aids. It's fantastic to hear that you're experiencing such clear and crisp sound quality with your new hearing aids! We're thrilled that the app and equalizer have made such a positive difference in your ability to hear. Regarding the comfort of your hearing aids mentioned, our dedicated Sony Hear Team specializes in providing support and guidance for all aspects of your hearing devices. We recommend reaching out to discuss your concerns: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=otcha –Thank you for choosing Sony! Best regards, Jenn.