Elehear Delight vs. Sony CRE-C20
Check out our comparison of the Elehear Delight vs Sony CRE-C20. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.
Product Overview
Expert Ratings
Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.
The ELEHEAR Delight is an affordable OTC hearing aid designed to look and feel more like a modern earbud than a traditional hearing aid. While HearingTracker has not yet completed a full hands-on review, independent lab testing from HearAdvisor suggests the Delight delivers strong overall value for the price, with especially good performance for everyday conversations in quieter settings and better-than-expected music streaming. Its main trade-offs are more modest performance in noisy environments and slightly weaker feedback handling, but for budget-conscious shoppers who want a comfortable, app-connected, earbud-style hearing aid, the Delight is a promising option.
Read full reviewThe Sony CRE-C20 is a discreet, over-the-counter hearing aid designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, featuring a compact size and rechargeable battery for up to 28 hours of use. While it offers a user-friendly setup and an Auto Sound Analyzer for enhanced speech clarity, it lacks Bluetooth streaming capabilities, which may be a consideration for users seeking more advanced connectivity options.
Read full reviewElehear Delight achieved a SoundScore of 4.28/5 in HearAdvisor lab testing. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.47/5.
The Sony CRE-C20 achieved a SoundGrade of B and ranked #21 out of 56 devices in the OTC Hearing Aid category, placing it in the top 36% of OTC devices tested by HearAdvisor. This positions it as an above-average performer within a competitive category.
Elehear Delight have an IP67 rating, meaning they offer good protection against moisture and dust. They appear built from quality materials, with a unique rubber flange pull-tab, and come with a sleek robust portable charging case.
Sony CRE-C20 has an excellent IP rating of 68, which aligns with our hands-on experience as we observed an improved build quality compared to CRE-C10.
Delight have a reported battery life of up to 13.5 hours per charge, which is on the lower end. The case offers up to 2 full additional charges which you can expect to take around 1.5 hours from a fully depleted battery.
CRE-C20 offer an impressive battery life of up to 28 hours. I also liked the portable charging case which offers you Qi wireless charging.
Delight are Bluetooth compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling.
The Elehear app has a user-friendly interface and modern, appealing design. It includes practical features like volume control and a tone balance from Brighter to Deeper. At this time, Delight are "preset-based", though you can get a more customized fit using their ElePro feature and their "Audiologist Plan" program.
Sony's Hearing Control app includes good features and allows your to further personalize CRE-C20 with their on-ear hearing assessment. One downside though is that the hearing aids and app communicate with sound cues from your phone. I find this method of wireless communication less reliable that Bluetooth, and it overall makes the pairing process more complicated.
I found Delight fairly comfortable with good ear retention. Be sure to test various ear tips to find optimal comfort and hearing benefit.
CRE-C20 are good comfortable once you find the best tip for your ears. They are not overly plugging though it can take some time to get used to having a hearing aid so deep in your ear canal.
Unlike other Elehear hearing aids, Delight offer a more modern earbud-like design. Their smaller size also means they are relatively discrete. One potential downside is that Delight are currently only available in a light-tan color.
CRE-C20 are surprisingly small and sit mostly invisible in your ears. The style works well and was originally designed as an "instant-fit" prescription hearing aid from Signia.
Elehear Delight has a value score of 5.0/5 based on lab performance and public display price.
The Sony CRE-C20 offers moderate value relative to its $999 price point, with several higher-scoring alternatives available at similar or lower prices.
I did not run into any issues while using Delight and overall found the app, and Bluetooth connection, very stable. Delight hearing aids are ear specific, so be sure to get them oriented properly.
CRE-C20's smaller size and method of wireless communication make it more difficult to manage than many other hearing aids. However, Sony has improved upon the design as CRE-C20 now uses internal rechargeable batteries, as opposed to disposable ones. It is a unique offering with many pros but be sure to consider this against your needs and abilities.
Unlike many OTC devices, remote support from licensed audiologists is available through the ElePro app feature and follow-up email correspondence. It is not the same as direct in-person care, though it is a nice inclusion from Elehear.
Sony does not offer great support with their hearing aids. You are limited to phone and email based technical assistance which is a downside to many OTC products.
Lab Recordings
Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.
Accessories
Compatible accessories for each hearing aid
Delight Charger
The ELEHEAR Delight charging case is a compact portable charger designed to keep the hearing aids powered at home or on the go. It recharges the hearing aids automatically when they are placed inside, provides up to two extra charges, and uses simple LED indicators to show charging and battery status. The case charges by USB-C, includes a reset button for restoring or reconnecting the hearing aids, and also handles basic power management: the hearing aids turn on when removed from the case and power off when returned and the lid is closed.
Delight Charger
The ELEHEAR Delight charging case is a compact portable charger designed to keep the hearing aids powered at home or on the go. It recharges the hearing aids automatically when they are placed inside, provides up to two extra charges, and uses simple LED indicators to show charging and battery status. The case charges by USB-C, includes a reset button for restoring or reconnecting the hearing aids, and also handles basic power management: the hearing aids turn on when removed from the case and power off when returned and the lid is closed.
App
The ELEHEAR app lets users set up and personalize the Delight hearing aids from a smartphone. It supports volume, tone, noise-control, and preset-mode adjustments, along with battery monitoring and firmware updates. The app also includes mode switching between hearing-aid use and headset/streaming use, plus extra features such as AI translation and Serene natural white-noise sounds for tinnitus masking. It is available for iOS and Android, with Bluetooth support for calls, music, and other media streaming.
App
The ELEHEAR app lets users set up and personalize the Delight hearing aids from a smartphone. It supports volume, tone, noise-control, and preset-mode adjustments, along with battery monitoring and firmware updates. The app also includes mode switching between hearing-aid use and headset/streaming use, plus extra features such as AI translation and Serene natural white-noise sounds for tinnitus masking. It is available for iOS and Android, with Bluetooth support for calls, music, and other media streaming.
Hardware
- Bluetooth® (A2DP)
- Bluetooth® (HFP)
- Volume Control
Software Features
- Tuned based on hearing test through device