Almost every time someone calls us about a hearing loop, Auracast comes up. Fair question. It’s new, it’s Bluetooth, and there’s a lot of buzz about it. So here’s the honest picture as of fall 2026, from a hearing loop installer who has tried hard to be fair about it.
The short version: Auracast won’t replace hearing loops. The two run side by side, and plenty of buildings will end up with both. If your people use hearing aids or cochlear implants with a telecoil, a hearing loop is still the simplest way to get them clear sound today.
What is Auracast?
Auracast is a new feature of Bluetooth (part of what’s called LE Audio). One transmitter can broadcast sound to any number of compatible devices nearby: newer hearing aids and cochlear implant processors, wireless earbuds and some phones. Think of it as a radio station for audio, picked up over Bluetooth.
And what is a hearing loop?
A hearing loop is a copper wire around the listening area, connected to your sound system through a loop amplifier. It sends the sound as a magnetic signal that hearing aids and cochlear implants pick up with their telecoil, the T setting. Loops have been around for decades, they’re built to an international standard (IEC 60118-4), and millions of people already carry a telecoil in their hearing aids.
Will Auracast replace hearing loops?
Not anytime soon. Auracast has real promise, but it runs alongside loops rather than replacing them:
- Many hearing aids in use today can’t receive Auracast broadcasts. A growing number of new models can.
- The international standard for using Auracast as public assistive listening (IEC 60118-17) isn’t expected until late 2027.
- Some of the first permanent public Auracast systems were added next to an existing hearing loop, not in place of one, and even some Auracast equipment makers recommend running both for now.
We see it the same way. Auracast will reach new listeners, like people with earbuds, and the loop keeps serving the telecoil users you already have.
How do they compare?
| Hearing loop | Auracast | |
|---|---|---|
| Works with | Hearing aids and cochlear implants with a telecoil (most behind-the-ear and many in-the-ear models). Loop receivers with headphones for everyone else. | Newer Auracast-ready hearing aids, cochlear implant processors, earbuds and some phones. Auracast receivers for everyone else. |
| Getting connected | Press one button (T). No app, no pairing. | Pick the broadcast on a phone, hearing aid app or other device, or scan a QR code. A few more steps, and getting easier. |
| Sound | Clear speech straight to the ear, with essentially no delay. | High-quality digital audio. A small delay (often 30 to 45 thousandths of a second) can sound like an echo if you sit close to the loudspeakers. |
| Channels | One program per loop. | Several streams at once, such as different languages or rooms. |
| Installation | Wire around or under the listening area. Easiest during flooring or remodel work, but we retrofit existing rooms all the time. | No wire in the floor. Transmitters connect to the sound system, and coverage depends on the room. |
| Standards | An established international standard (IEC 60118-4), long used for ADA assistive listening. | The assistive listening standard (IEC 60118-17) is expected in late 2027. |
| Battery | The telecoil uses very little hearing aid battery. | Streaming uses more battery. |
| Watch out for | Some of the newest, smallest hearing aids leave out the telecoil. | Many hearing aids in use today can’t receive it yet. |
Which one should we choose?
- Your people mostly wear hearing aids or cochlear implants: a hearing loop is still the most seamless option. Sit down, press T, done.
- You also want to reach earbud and phone users, or need several languages: Auracast can add that.
- Both: many venues will end up with a loop and Auracast, fed from the same sound system.
Whatever you choose, the most important part is the sound going in. If your microphones and mix aren’t clear, no system can fix it. Garbage in, garbage out.
Can we add Auracast to our hearing loop later?
Yes. An Auracast transmitter can take the same audio feed as your loop, so the two run side by side. Your loop keeps working for telecoil users, and Auracast adds earbuds and phones. Putting in a loop now doesn’t close any doors.
Do we need receivers either way?
Yes. With either system, venues covered by the ADA need receivers on hand for guests who don’t have a compatible hearing aid or phone. With a loop, those are simple loop receivers with headphones. With Auracast, they’re Auracast receivers with headphones or neckloops.
Does DRS Sound install Auracast?
No. We stick with what we know best: hearing loops. If you want Auracast, on its own or alongside a loop, we recommend David Harmon at Equal Access Audio. He designs and installs Auracast systems and knows hearing loops too, so he’ll tell you honestly what makes sense for your space. Tell him DRS Sound sent you.
