Orka Two vs. Sony CRE-C20

The Orka Two hearing aids offer sleek, modern design and advanced wireless features, including Bluetooth connectivity and hands-free calling for both iOS and Android devices.

The 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.

The Orka Two achieved a SoundGrade of B and ranked in the top 62% in the Prescription Hearing Aid category. While solid, this mid-tier positioning means several competitors in the same price range deliver stronger overall sound performance in HearAdvisor's standardized testing.

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.

Orka Two have a published ingress rating of IPX6, meaning they have some moisture protection but they are not waterproof. They appear very well built, nearly on par with prescription hearing aids.

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.

Orka Two are rechargeable and you can expect up to 12 hours of battery life per charge. This is less than many modern hearing aids and may limit all-day use for some. The case does offer on-the-go power which takes only 1.5 hours for a full recharge.

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.

Orka has made sure their hearing aid offers excellent Bluetooth features for both iOS and Android users. You can expect wireless streaming, app control, and hands free calls across both platforms.

Not yet rated by our experts

Orka Two's app is a nice addition with many useful features, such as personalization through an app-based hearing assessment.

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.

Orka Two are very comfortable thanks to their smaller size and ergonomic design. Their team of hearing care professionals can also assist you in optimizing comfort based on the available earwire and ear tip sizes.

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.

These hearing aids appear very modern and have a sleek design similar to Apple products.

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.

The Orka Two offers moderate value, though higher-scoring devices are available at this price point.

The Sony CRE-C20 offers moderate value relative to its $999 price point, with several higher-scoring alternatives available at similar or lower prices.

Orka Two are fairly easy to use, though the receiver-in-canal style may require some practice for people just starting out. While these hearing aids do not have physical buttons, the portable charging case does offering you options beyond their nifty tap-controls.

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.

Orka offer relatively good pro support for an OTC company. You receive unlimited remote support and adjustments from their team of licensed hearing care professionals.

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.