Test report: Oticon Own 5 CIC

The Oticon Own 5 CIC in review

Here we take a look at a hearing aid offered at a rather affordable price, which is worn in the ear. It is called Own 5 CIC and comes from the manufacturer Oticon. It can be used by anyone who has both mild and more severe hearing needs and desires a discreet, slender-shaped hearing aid. Due to its precise placement directly in the ear canal, it has very good sound characteristics.

Oticon has used the same technology for these in-ear devices as in the Oticon Zircon 2.

Hearing comfort

We all agree that speech understanding is the most important task of hearing aids. From our experience in the hearing acoustics shop, we also know that listening comfort is at least equally important. This involves processing background noise so that it does not interfere with speech understanding, while still creating a natural sound picture. When testing the Own 5 CIC, we find only the bare essentials regarding listening comfort. Let's take a look at the individual features:

Of course, this Oticon device has noise reduction, as that is now standard. Noise reduction means that uniform and rather monotonous noises (e.g., air conditioning, vacuum cleaner ...) are dampened. There is a very basic noise reduction implemented, but it provides only a very slight attenuation.

Points are deducted for the lack of impulse sound suppression. Normally, this dampens short, clanging noises. But those who choose this hearing aid should not be disturbed by this. We found a basic wind detection, but unfortunately, nothing is adjustable. With 12 frequency bands, you can achieve quite a good sound. A passionate musician may not be entirely satisfied with this, but for normal hearing and sound needs, this number is completely sufficient. Orientation in space, localizing sounds or speakers is rather difficult with this hearing aid. There are no supportive functions with the microphones. We can hardly award any points here and recommend considering this aspect. After all, spatial hearing also serves to navigate in public spaces and in traffic.

Artificial intelligence is also used in the signal processing of the Own 5 CIC. This allows for a much more realistic analysis of the hearing environment, and especially the clarity in noisy environments is significantly better.

Rating Hearing comfort: 4,5

Oticon Own 5 CIC: In strong winds, conversations can become a challenge. But they are also challenging for those with normal hearing. Please do not expect any miracles here.

Operation & connectivity

Digital hearing aids have long evolved beyond the normal amplification function. Apps and other control options significantly expand the range of functions, which is why we will also take a look at this important topic with the Own 5 CIC from Oticon. A very quick way to adjust the volume is the small button on the device. It is easy to feel, and you can set it to be louder or quieter in several steps. Additional programs for specific hearing situations can also be activated with it. If someone wants to do without the button, they can simply have it disabled. Remote controls for hearing aids are actually quite common today, but Oticon has not provided one for this device.

Voice commands are a fairly new way of operating hearing aids. However, this feature is not yet available in this model. That's not a big deal - the main thing is that you can hear well. Some hearing aids can also be operated with a quick tap of the finger without needing to press a button. This feature, however, has not yet been implemented here.

An additional app for individual operation would be nice, but is currently not offered for this hearing aid. The smartphone cannot be connected to the hearing aid, as the necessary equipment with a radio antenna is unfortunately missing.

Rating Operation & connectivity: 3,5

Simplicity & security

Usability is the next aspect we want to address. This is about everyday practicality and the question of how easy and safe it is to go through life with the hearing aid. When it comes to adapting to changing hearing situations, we have to limit ourselves to manual options with the Own 5 CIC. An automatic situation detection would definitely have made life easier, but it is not available here. A great feature of this hearing aid is the automatic acclimatization. Especially if someone has been experiencing hearing difficulties for a long time and then wears a hearing aid for the first time, this is a huge relief. The volume does not have to be immediately set to maximum. One can start at a lower level and gradually and almost imperceptibly, the amplification approaches the target.

Own 5 CIC relies on battery power instead of rechargeable batteries. Advantage: Very long runtime with a single battery. Unlike rechargeable solutions, one needs to worry about the power supply only very rarely. Disadvantage: Waste is generated in the form of used batteries. This hearing aid uses a hearing aid battery size 10.

With an IP 68 certification, the hearing aid can withstand many adverse influences. Dust cannot penetrate, it can withstand prolonged submersion in water, and it is also protected against touching.

Everything you need to know: In our extensive hearing aid guide, you will learn everything you need to know about purchasing hearing aids.

Rating Simplicity & security: 3,0

Extras

Before we come to the end, let's take a look at the extras: A special tinnitus program can be programmed in the Own 5 CIC upon request. This allows for the generation of stimulating, pleasant sounds that distract from tinnitus when it becomes particularly strong. We find this very useful and are happy to give extra points.

Unfortunately, there is no option for remote adjustment. So, anyone who has a need for optimization and wants to change their hearing aid settings will have to visit an acoustic professional.

If Oticon had integrated motion sensors into this hearing aid, it could even allow for individual health tracking. However, this is not the case here. These points are lost for the Own 5 CIC in the evaluation. We really liked the additional features that come with the Own 5 CIC. Various assistants support your everyday life beyond hearing and can be configured in the app. Such hearing aids are hard to give up. By the way: These lifestyle functions are often still being worked on, so it’s possible that they may change with updates.

What is the difference between the different designs? Are there mini hearing aids with rechargeable batteries? Or with Bluetooth? Read our extensive In-Ear Hearing Aids Comparison, which provides you with this and many more interesting information.

Rating Extras: 2,5

Conclusion: Oticon Own 5 CIC

In the overall result, this test device ranks in the lower positions and is missing some features. We award a rating of 3.67. For less demanding listeners, this is acceptable, but for a very active lifestyle, we recommend a hearing aid with more extensive comfort features.

 

Our Oticon Own 5 CIC review was created on March 16, 2023 and lastly updated on June 20, 2024. The overall rating of 3,67 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 1.5 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 2.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 3 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 3.5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..

 

 

 

FAQ

How noticeable is the Oticon Own 5 CIC to others?

It is in the size class XS, which means it appears quite small. We primarily focused on the perception for outsiders.

What is the price of the Oticon Own 5 CIC?

The price range for the Oticon Own 5 CIC in Germany is approximately between €1,300.00 and €2,000.00. The price reflects the performance of the device. In testing, it achieved an overall rating of 3.7 (sufficient).

Is the Oticon Own 5 CIC suitable for my hearing loss?

This in-ear hearing aid is suitable for mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss. You can compare other hearing aids in this fitting area with the Own 5 CIC from Oticon: Hearing Aid Comparison.

How well is hearing with the Own 5 CIC from Oticon?

This in-ear device received a performance rating of 4.5 (poor) for the area of "hearing comfort." Important for hearing comfort is, among other things, noise suppression. The Own 5 CIC from Oticon only achieves 1 out of 5 stars here. For the reduction of wind noise, it receives a 'moderate' rating from us (only 1 out of 5 stars). The signal processing in this hearing aid occurs in 12 different adjustable channels (the best hearing aids currently have 24 channels).

 

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