Sony
CRE-C20
$999 / pair
Last typical street price before discontinuation; remaining stock may sell below this.
The Sony CRE-C20 was a virtually invisible, self-fitting over-the-counter hearing aid — a rechargeable CIC with a 28-hour battery, IP68 protection, and WS Audiology sound engineering for $999 a pair. It is now discontinued: Sony ended its hearing aid partnership with WS Audiology in April 2026 and stopped selling the model. Warranties are still being honored, and remaining stock is selling at clearance prices.
By Lilly Seay · Updated July 2026
At a Glance
What we like
- Prescription-grade WS Audiology sound engineering in a virtually invisible shell
- 28-hour rechargeable battery beat Eargo's 16 hours at a third of the price
- IP68 dust and water protection
- Warranties still honored by WS Audiology despite the discontinuation
Worth knowing
- Discontinued April 2026 — no future firmware updates or product development
- Self-fitting and adjustments depend on a companion app that may not be supported forever
- No Bluetooth audio streaming
- Stock is dwindling — buy only from reputable sellers with warranty paperwork
A great fit if you…
can find a genuine clearance deal from a reputable seller with warranty paperwork, want a virtually invisible fit for mild to moderate loss, and accept that the line — and possibly its app — has no future
Look elsewhere if you…
want a hearing aid with years of app support, firmware updates, and repair options ahead of it — and honestly, that's most people
Standout Features
- Virtually invisible completely-in-canal (CIC) design
- Self-fitting and adjustments via the Sony | Hearing Control app over Bluetooth LE
- Up to 28-hour rechargeable battery
- IP68 dust and water protection
- Co-developed with WS Audiology on the Signia platform
- Fits mild to moderate hearing loss; no audio streaming
Full Specifications
| Last street price (per pair) | $999 |
|---|---|
| Style | CIC |
| Category | Over-the-counter (OTC) |
| Released | 2024 |
| Fits hearing loss | Mild to moderate |
| Rechargeable | Yes |
| Disposable battery option | No |
| Battery life | Up to 28 hours |
| Bluetooth streaming | Yes |
| Bluetooth LE Audio | No |
| Auracast ready | No |
| iPhone streaming | No |
| Android streaming | No |
| Hands-free calls | No |
| Companion app | Sony | Hearing Control app |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
| Telecoil | — |
| CROS option | No |
Our Take
The CRE-C20 was Sony's newest self-fitting over-the-counter hearing aid, and it was a good one. Built with WS Audiology on the Signia platform, it packed prescription-grade sound into a completely-in-canal shell most people would never spot. You fit it yourself with the Sony | Hearing Control app, the rechargeable battery ran up to 28 hours — remarkable for something this small — and IP68 protection meant sweat and dust weren't a worry. At $999 a pair, it undercut invisible rivals like Eargo while beating their 16-hour battery life.
Clearance stock is the reason this page still matters. Sony ended its hearing aid partnership with WS Audiology in April 2026 and discontinued the CRE-C20, so remaining pairs are selling below the old $999 price — and the discounts can be genuinely tempting. Here's the caveat: warranties are being honored, but there will be no new firmware and no next model, and because the CRE-C20 depends on its companion app for fitting and adjustments, a day may come when that app stops working. If you own one, it works today — keep your warranty paperwork. If you're buying, buy only from a reputable seller.
If invisibility and a sub-$1,000 price drew you to the CRE-C20, you have solid places to land. On a budget, the MDHearing NEO XS PRO ($497 – $597) costs roughly half what the Sony did. The Sennheiser All-Day Clear ($800 – $1,000) sits in the same price range and is still sold and supported. If you can stretch further, the Rexton Reach at Costco ($1,500 – $1,600) and the ReSound Savi ($1,300 – $3,000) come from lines that are still moving forward. Your hearing care professional can help match one of them to your hearing loss.
Alternatives to Consider
Still-available models closest to this one by style and price. Tap any model for its full review.
| Model | Price / pair | Style | Rechargeable | LE Audio | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony CRE-C20 this model | $999 | CIC | Yes | No | 28 hrs |
| ReSound Savi | $1,300 – $3,000 | RIC, ITC, CIC | Yes | Yes | 30 hrs |
| Rexton Reach (Costco) | $1,500 – $1,600 | RIC, CIC | Yes | Yes | 39 hrs |
| MDHearing NEO XS PRO | $497 – $597 | CIC | Yes | No | 18 hrs |
| Sennheiser All-Day Clear | $800 – $1,000 | RIC | Yes | No | 24 hrs |
| Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses | $699 | Glasses | Yes | — | 8 hrs |
| Phonak Virto Infinio | $2,498 – $4,398 | ITE, ITC, CIC, IIC | Yes | No | 30 hrs |
ReSound
Savi
$1,300 – $3,000 / pair
Auracast and LE Audio streaming on a budget for quieter everyday listening
Rexton
Reach (Costco)
$1,500 – $1,600 / pair
Long wear days, hearing-loop access, and independently tested speech clarity at Costco pricing
MDHearing
NEO XS PRO
$497 – $597 / pair
A near-invisible CIC with app fine-tuning at a mid-hundreds price
Prices are typical US per-pair street prices as of July 2026 and vary by clinic, technology level, and included services. Hearing Buddy is not affiliated with Sony and doesn't sell hearing aids — this guide is independent research for the hard of hearing community. Always confirm fit and pricing with a licensed hearing care professional.
Sony CRE-C20 Questions
Yes, the Sony CRE-C20 is discontinued. Sony ended its hearing aid partnership with WS Audiology in April 2026 and stopped selling the model. It was never replaced by a newer version — the whole line simply ended. Existing warranties are still being honored, and remaining stock is selling at clearance prices through WS Audiology channels and third-party sellers.
Yes. WS Audiology is honoring existing warranties despite the discontinuation, so keep your proof of purchase and warranty paperwork somewhere safe. What you won't get is new firmware or a successor model. And because the CRE-C20 relies on the Sony | Hearing Control app for fitting and adjustments, there's a real risk the app eventually stops working or disappears from app stores. Your aids would keep amplifying, but you could lose the ability to adjust them.
Only with eyes open. The real upside: prescription-grade sound in an invisible shell, likely below the last $999 street price, with warranties still honored. The downsides: no future firmware, a companion app that may not be maintained forever, and limited repair options once your warranty ends. Buy only from a reputable seller who provides warranty paperwork, and treat it as a shorter-term purchase than a supported model.
It depends on what drew you to the CRE-C20. If it was the sub-$1,000 price, look at the MDHearing NEO XS PRO ($497 – $597) or the Sennheiser All-Day Clear ($800 – $1,000), both still on the market. If you want more support behind your purchase, the Rexton Reach at Costco ($1,500 – $1,600) or the ReSound Savi ($1,300 – $3,000) come from active product lines.
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