Sony CRE-E10 vs Widex Moment SmartRIC

The Sony CRE-E10 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5, placing it in the top 3% of the 65 OTC hearing aids tested in our lab. At $998, this visible-in-ear style device delivers performance that competes with the best in its category. Speech performance is a standout strength. Speech in quiet scores a strong 4.3/5, sitting 1.46 points above the category average. Speech in noise reaches a solid 3.3/5, which is 1.77 points above average—a meaningful advantage for conversations in challenging environments. Music streaming quality is another highlight at 4.0/5, exceeding the category average by over 2 points, making it a strong choice for users who value audio fidelity when streaming from their iPhone. The device does have limitations. Own voice comfort scores a low 1.7/5, falling 0.81 points below the category average—users sensitive to the sound of their own voice may find this bothersome. Feedback handling is solid in absolute terms at 3.4/5 but sits 1.14 points below the category average, suggesting slightly less stability margin than many OTC competitors. The CRE-E10 is best suited for users who prioritize speech clarity and streaming quality and are less sensitive to own-voice perception. It has earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award for three consecutive years (2023–2025), reflecting its consistent strong performance in lab testing.

The Widex Moment SmartRIC is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $3,398. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned a SoundScore of 4.5/5 and an A grade, ranking #14 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates excellent speech clarity in quiet environments, scoring 4.7/5—a full 1.33 points above the category average of 3.32/5. Speech in noise performance is above average at +0.66 points versus category peers, though the absolute score of 2.6/5 reflects the inherent difficulty of noisy listening situations. Own-voice comfort is a notable strength at 3.7/5, measuring 0.95 points above the category average. Feedback handling presents a mixed picture: the 3.5/5 score is solid in absolute terms but falls 1.21 points below the category average of 4.71/5. Music streaming quality scores 3.1/5, which is 0.46 points above average for prescription hearing aids. The device supports iPhone and Android streaming with hands-free functionality and uses rechargeable batteries. The Widex Moment SmartRIC is well-suited for users who prioritize clear speech understanding, particularly in quieter settings, and who value natural own-voice perception. Those especially sensitive to feedback stability may want to compare against higher-scoring alternatives in this price tier, such as the Phonak Sphere Infinio or Oticon Intent. This device has received HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024.