Walker Hearing Clinic Article
The Big Six
The Big Six
The Big Six
Amy Walker
Hearing aids come in all shapes and sizes, and different types of hearing loss require different hearing aids. There are countless hearing aid manufacturers worldwide, but we are proud to say that we have no financial ties with any of these manufacturers. This means we can supply hearing aids from each manufacturer, we are not tied to just one.
There are six main manufacturers, known as “The Big Six.” These are the leading manufacturers in the industry, controlling about 98% of the global market for hearing aids. Each of these manufacturers has its own strengths and weaknesses, and our expert audiologists are here to guide you in the right direction.
“The Big Six” are as follows:
Sonova
Widex
Signia / Siemens
Starkey
Resound
William Demant
Sonova
Sonova Holding AG is a Swiss-based global company specializing in hearing care. The company operates under several main brands, including Phonak, Unitron, Advanced Bionics, AudioNova, and Sennheiser. It ranks as one of the largest providers in the hearing care sector worldwide.
One exciting hearing aid from Sonova is the Sphere Infinio. This hearing aid provides exceptional sound quality and comfort from the start. Whether you’re chatting in a noisy café or watching TV at home, Infinio adapts seamlessly and automatically, leaving you free to focus on life’s precious moments. To learn more about this hearing aid click here.
Widex
Widex is one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers globally. Their most recent release, the SmartRIC, enhances your ability to connect with the world naturally, offering improved directionality, reduced wind and touch noise, and extended battery life. Widex launched the SmartRIC hearing aid range in April 2024, featuring a new slim L-shaped Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing solution.
Demant
Oticon, a hearing aid manufacturer headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a subsidiary of Demant A/S. With the Opn hearing aid platform, Oticon has introduced a whole new way of handling directionality and sound processing for the user.
One feature of the Opn is how it handles noisy situations. Unlike standard hearing aids, where noise in a noisy environment feels like a wall with no nuance, making it hard to distinguish between the noise you want to hear and the background noise, the Opn provides a more nuanced auditory experience.
Signia / Siemens
Signia, which was launched globally in 2016, is among the newest manufacturers. A very popular hearing aid from Signia is the Signia Silk. This device is an ideal option for those looking for a discreet, high-performance solution that fits seamlessly into everyday life. If you’re after a rechargeable, compact, lightweight, and comfortable hearing aid that doesn’t require custom moulding, this could be the perfect choice for you.
Resound
Resound, another Danish company with a global presence, was founded in 1943 and now manufactures hearing aids while operating a network of audiology clinics under the name Beltone.
One product range from Resound is the LiNX3D platform. The LiNX Quattro range is known for its superior sound quality, reliable performance, and focus on enhancing the user experience with personalized audio settings and remote adjustments.
Starkey
Starkey, founded in 1976 in Minnesota, is a relatively new player in the hearing aid industry. Starkey offers several different platforms, including Livio and an older platform called the IQ Platform.
This device is particularly noteworthy and has been hailed as the future of hearing aids. The Livio AI was the first hearing aid to feature built-in sensors, health tracking, fall detection, and real-time translation of 27 languages.
Are you ready to take the first step?
Choosing the right hearing aid manufacturer is a significant decision. It can be difficult to know which hearing aid suits your lifestyle and hearing loss best. Don’t navigate this important decision alone – let Walker Hearing Clinics provide the expertise and support you need to hear better and live better. Call us at 021 234 1239 to schedule and appointment or book online.
Hearing aids come in all shapes and sizes, and different types of hearing loss require different hearing aids. There are countless hearing aid manufacturers worldwide, but we are proud to say that we have no financial ties with any of these manufacturers. This means we can supply hearing aids from each manufacturer, we are not tied to just one.
There are six main manufacturers, known as “The Big Six.” These are the leading manufacturers in the industry, controlling about 98% of the global market for hearing aids. Each of these manufacturers has its own strengths and weaknesses, and our expert audiologists are here to guide you in the right direction.
“The Big Six” are as follows:
Sonova
Widex
Signia / Siemens
Starkey
Resound
William Demant
Sonova
Sonova Holding AG is a Swiss-based global company specializing in hearing care. The company operates under several main brands, including Phonak, Unitron, Advanced Bionics, AudioNova, and Sennheiser. It ranks as one of the largest providers in the hearing care sector worldwide.
One exciting hearing aid from Sonova is the Sphere Infinio. This hearing aid provides exceptional sound quality and comfort from the start. Whether you’re chatting in a noisy café or watching TV at home, Infinio adapts seamlessly and automatically, leaving you free to focus on life’s precious moments. To learn more about this hearing aid click here.
Widex
Widex is one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers globally. Their most recent release, the SmartRIC, enhances your ability to connect with the world naturally, offering improved directionality, reduced wind and touch noise, and extended battery life. Widex launched the SmartRIC hearing aid range in April 2024, featuring a new slim L-shaped Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing solution.
Demant
Oticon, a hearing aid manufacturer headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a subsidiary of Demant A/S. With the Opn hearing aid platform, Oticon has introduced a whole new way of handling directionality and sound processing for the user.
One feature of the Opn is how it handles noisy situations. Unlike standard hearing aids, where noise in a noisy environment feels like a wall with no nuance, making it hard to distinguish between the noise you want to hear and the background noise, the Opn provides a more nuanced auditory experience.
Signia / Siemens
Signia, which was launched globally in 2016, is among the newest manufacturers. A very popular hearing aid from Signia is the Signia Silk. This device is an ideal option for those looking for a discreet, high-performance solution that fits seamlessly into everyday life. If you’re after a rechargeable, compact, lightweight, and comfortable hearing aid that doesn’t require custom moulding, this could be the perfect choice for you.
Resound
Resound, another Danish company with a global presence, was founded in 1943 and now manufactures hearing aids while operating a network of audiology clinics under the name Beltone.
One product range from Resound is the LiNX3D platform. The LiNX Quattro range is known for its superior sound quality, reliable performance, and focus on enhancing the user experience with personalized audio settings and remote adjustments.
Starkey
Starkey, founded in 1976 in Minnesota, is a relatively new player in the hearing aid industry. Starkey offers several different platforms, including Livio and an older platform called the IQ Platform.
This device is particularly noteworthy and has been hailed as the future of hearing aids. The Livio AI was the first hearing aid to feature built-in sensors, health tracking, fall detection, and real-time translation of 27 languages.
Are you ready to take the first step?
Choosing the right hearing aid manufacturer is a significant decision. It can be difficult to know which hearing aid suits your lifestyle and hearing loss best. Don’t navigate this important decision alone – let Walker Hearing Clinics provide the expertise and support you need to hear better and live better. Call us at 021 234 1239 to schedule and appointment or book online.
Search
At 88 years of age, I was a little nervous about getting hearing aids, but from the moment I walked into Walker Hearing I was treated with such kindness, patience, and understanding.
Ellen K
3 Months Ago
I had a great experience with Walker hearing clinic. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. My Audiologist, Rachel, was very good. She explained the process step by step and everything went smoothly. I’d highly recommend.
Paul G
2 months ago
I would highly recommend Walker Hearing Clinics. The team are very friendly and accommodating. I had a doctors appointment in Cork, so they kindly arranged my appointment to fit in after that, explaining how to get there to avoid the queues.
Rachel M
3 months ago
I would highly recommend Walker Hearing Clinics! They offered us exceptional paediatric care, are highly supportive, friendly, welcoming and professional. We had the pleasure of dealing with Clara, Anne & Amy.
Carol D
2 months ago
Request a Callback
Have a question about your hearing or a loved one's?
Fill in the form and one of our team will give you a call. No pressure, no obligation, just friendly advice from people who genuinely care.
Request a Callback
Have a question about your hearing or a loved one's?
Fill in the form and one of our team will give you a call. No pressure, no obligation, just friendly advice from people who genuinely care.
Request a Callback
Have a question about your hearing or a loved one's?
Fill in the form and one of our team will give you a call. No pressure, no obligation, just friendly advice from people who genuinely care.
Ireland’s highest-rated independent hearing clinics, proudly family-run and delivering Audiological excellence across the Munster area.
Services
Ireland’s highest-rated independent hearing clinics, proudly family-run and delivering Audiological excellence across the Munster area.
Services
Ireland’s highest-rated independent hearing clinics, proudly family-run and delivering Audiological excellence across the Munster area.