Sennheiser’s Conversation Clear Plus: Hearing aids in disguise for superior sound quality

As the name suggests, these earbuds are focused on improving your ability to understand conversations in noisy environments, thanks to a Sonova chip that’s used in some of the top hearing aid brands like Phonak and Unitron. The company behind Sonova also acquired Sennheiser’s consumer audio business about 18 months ago, so it’s no surprise that they’re using this technology in their new earbuds.

The Conversation Clear Plus looks a lot like a regular pair of true wireless headphones, which should help to remove any stigma or association with traditional hearing aids. And like most wireless headphones, they offer active noise cancellation and can be adjusted through a companion app, with three preset options: Relax, Communication, and Streaming. The last one is especially noteworthy because it allows you to stream music and audio from your phone, something that some hearing aids can do but often with suboptimal results. With Sennheiser’s expertise in the headphone world, it’s likely that the streaming experience will be much better on these earbuds.

In terms of practicality, the Conversation Clear Plus has a nine-hour battery life per charge, with an additional 27 hours/three charges available through the charging case. And while traditional hearing aids can cost several thousand dollars with a fitting from an audiologist, the Conversation Clear Plus will retail for $850. Pre-orders for these earbuds start on January 5th, with general sales beginning on January 20th.