What is Auracast? The Future of Public & Private Listening

Auracast is a new Bluetooth audio broadcast standard that allows a single audio source — a TV, PA system, or transmitter — to stream sound to an unlimited number of compatible devices at once. For people with hearing aids, this is a meaningful shift in how they connect to the world around them.

How Auracast Works

Traditional Bluetooth is a one-to-one connection. Auracast changes that by broadcasting audio the way a radio station does — anyone with a compatible receiver can tune in. No pairing required. No interference between listeners. No limits on how many people can receive the signal at once.

Think of it like Wi-Fi for audio. A transmitter broadcasts a signal, and anyone with an Auracast-enabled device — hearing aids, earbuds, or headphones — can connect to it directly.

What This Means for Hearing Aid Users

For someone with hearing aids, Auracast opens up real-world listening situations that have historically been difficult.

At home, an Auracast transmitter plugged into your TV lets your hearing aids receive audio directly — at the volume and settings that work for you — without turning up the TV for everyone else in the room.

In public spaces, venues like theaters, houses of worship, airports, and restaurants can set up Auracast broadcasts so that anyone with a compatible hearing aid can stream announcements or audio feeds right to their ears. This is a significant step forward from the old loop systems that required you to be in a specific location.

Privately or securely, Auracast also supports encrypted broadcasts, so a signal can be kept between specific users if needed.

Auracast in Modern Hearing Aids

Several of the latest hearing aids now come equipped with Auracast support built in. The ReSound Vivia and ReSound Savi are fully Auracast-activated — no firmware update needed. Both use the ReSound Smart 3D app's Auracast Assistant, which connects to available broadcasts with a single tap.

Oticon Intent and the new Oticon Zeal also support Auracast through the Oticon Companion app, which can function as an Auracast assistant even on older phones that don't natively support Bluetooth LE Audio.

Try It in Our Office

We have Auracast transmitters available at our office so you can experience how this technology works with compatible hearing aids before making any decisions. Auracast transmitters are available from various manufacturers — hearing aid companies sell their own versions, though comparable transmitters are also available at a fraction of the price for home use.

The key is making sure your hearing aids support Auracast, and that they are properly programmed to take full advantage of the connectivity features available to you.

Schedule a Consultation at Port Jefferson Hearing

If you're curious about Auracast or want to see how today's hearing aids connect to the technology in your life, we'd be glad to walk you through it. Dr. John Martinetti and our team have been fitting patients in the Port Jefferson area since 1984, and staying current with the latest hearing technology is a core part of what we do.

Give us a call at 631-331-1888 or visit us at Davis Professional Park, 5225 Nesconset Hwy, Building #3, Suite #10, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 to schedule your appointment.