Oticon Intent vs Resound Vivia 9 60S microRIE

The Oticon Intent is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $4,898. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5, ranking #1 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested—placing it in the top tier of the category. Speech performance is a standout strength. Speech in quiet scores an excellent 4.6/5, running 1.17 points above the category average. Speech in noise reaches a solid 3.7/5, which is 2.15 points above average—a meaningful advantage for challenging listening environments. Music streaming also performs well at 4.0/5, sitting 1.36 points above the category norm. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, slightly above the already-high category average. The notable weakness is own-voice comfort, which scores a low 1.3/5—falling 1.45 points below the category average. Users who are sensitive to the sound of their own voice may find this less comfortable than competing devices. The Oticon Intent is best suited for listeners who prioritize speech clarity across varied environments and streaming quality, and who can tolerate potential own-voice occlusion effects. At premium pricing, it competes with devices like the Phonak Sphere Infinio (4.65/5) and Signia Active Pro IX (4.61/5). This device earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024.

The Resound Vivia 9 60S microRIE is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2025, currently available at $3,798. In HearAdvisor lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5, ranking #20 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates notable strengths in speech clarity during quiet listening situations, scoring 4.0/5—a strong result that sits 0.57 points above the category average. Own-voice comfort is another highlight, measuring 0.65 points above average at 3.4/5, which may appeal to users sensitive to how their own speech sounds while wearing hearing aids. However, the Vivia 9 shows limitations in challenging acoustic environments. Speech-in-noise performance scores just 1.3/5, falling 0.25 points below the category average—a consideration for those frequently in noisy restaurants or social gatherings. Feedback handling, while strong in absolute terms at 4.2/5, measures 0.51 points below what other prescription devices achieve on average. Music streaming performance is mixed at 2.6/5, essentially matching the category norm. The Vivia 9 includes modern conveniences: rechargeable batteries, direct streaming to both iPhone and Android devices, and hands-free calling capability. Buyers seeking top-tier performance in this price range may want to compare alternatives like the Oticon Intent or Phonak Sphere Infinio, which scored notably higher in our testing. The Vivia 9 is best suited for users who prioritize clear speech in quieter settings and natural own-voice perception over challenging noise performance.