The Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 in review
The Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 from Oticon is a standard hearing aid with a thick or thin plastic tube that is worn behind the ear. The customer receives a slightly visible, high-quality hearing aid that can compensate for moderate, stronger, and changing hearing losses.
Hearing comfort
The hearing comfort determines whether someone likes to wear their hearing aids or not. That's why we first looked at how the hearing aid handles background noise. In this model, which Oticon presents to us, we found very few options for influencing comfort. Of course, there is noise suppression integrated, which is supposed to mitigate exhausting background sounds. We shouldn't expect too much from the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13. Speech and sounds are quite close to each other here. However, in acoustically simple situations, that should be sufficient. While there is wind reduction in the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13, it doesn't really help outdoors.
Quick, sharp noises are detected here but only moderately reduced. In our tests, we also look at spatial hearing. While adaptive microphones are integrated, the wireless connectivity between both ears is missing, making it impossible to reconstruct true 3D hearing. Nevertheless, one can manage well. With a little practice, directional hearing can be retrained. With 14 frequency bands, a quite good sound can be adjusted. A passionate musician may not be completely satisfied with this, but for normal hearing and sound needs, this number is completely sufficient.
Oticon does not yet utilize artificial intelligence in this version.
Rating Hearing comfort: 4,0
Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13:
Operation & connectivity
Most features of this Oticon model are activated automatically. However, it can be very useful to expand the functionality a little further. In our tests, we found out what options we have here. The simplest way to control it is always a button directly on the hearing aid. This one has it as well. It can be programmed according to your wishes. Do you want a manual volume control? No problem, the button allows for stepwise volume adjustment. Or do you need different special programs for your professional life or hobbies? These can also be activated via the button. If you wish to keep everything in automatic mode, you can simply ignore the button or even have it deactivated. A remote control for the hearing aid is available upon request. This allows for effortless adjustment of the volume. Not only is it incredibly easy to use, but no one will notice that you are adjusting your hearing aids.
Some hearing aids can already be controlled by voice, but unfortunately, this one from Oticon cannot yet. It would be practical when fingers are not as agile, or if you simply like smart gadgets. Another option for controlling the hearing aids is a tap control. This means that you simply tap your fingers on your ear, which then triggers a specific function. However, this option is not available in this Oticon device.
An app on the smartphone is supposed to make operation easier, and we found one for the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 as well. In addition to basic functions like volume and programs, we find a few more buttons for personalization. We really enjoyed the direct, wireless streaming. This means that calls from the smartphone are transferred to the hearing aids without any additional accessories. This turns the hearing aid into the perfect hands-free system or wireless headphones. Listening to music or watching and hearing videos is incredibly comfortable.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 2,0
Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13:
The best alternatives to the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13
Our database contains 84 reviews of hearing aids with similar technical features to this one (i.e., in klassischer Bauform in Size "", not rechargable, geeignet für Hörverlust-Grad leicht, mittel & stark). Here are the top 3 (Redaktionsstand 02.10.2025):
|
Hansaton Beat FS 9 R T 312 | Rating: 5 / 5 |
|
|
Hansaton Beat FS 9 R T 13 | Rating: 5 / 5 |
|
Philips HearLink 9040 MNB T | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Simplicity & security
Of course, we are also interested in how quickly one can get along with the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 and how easy the daily use is. Hearing is greatly facilitated by good situational awareness. In the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13, we found a fairly solid automatic feature that works well in the most common hearing situations. This could be sufficient if the acoustic conditions are not too challenging. We give a big plus point for the automatic acclimatization assistant. It gradually increases the starting volume in very small steps until my hearing goal is reached. This significantly eases the adjustment to the new sound.
The Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 is not rechargeable. It continues to get its power from disposable size 13 batteries, which need to be changed every few days.
With an IP 68 certification, the hearing aid can withstand a variety of adverse conditions. Dust cannot penetrate, it can withstand prolonged immersion in water, and it is also protected against contact.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,3
Extras
Lastly, we are interested in whether there are any additional goodies: Oticon has integrated a sound generator that plays soothing sounds for those suffering from tinnitus. This can help distract from the tinnitus and provide some relaxation.
We find the remote maintenance service exciting, which can be used. If one does not have the opportunity to visit the audiologist, they can contact them through the app, briefly describe their hearing problem, and then receive a data package with a new hearing aid configuration. If it sounds good, they can upload it to their hearing aids.
If Oticon had integrated motion sensors into this hearing aid, individual health tracking could even be performed. However, this is not the case here. These points result in a loss of value for the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13. In conjunction with a smartphone, the Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 surprises us with some nice lifestyle features. It is definitely worth getting thoroughly familiar with the app and using the available assistance programs.
Rating Extras: 1,8
Conclusion: Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13
With a final grade of 2.81, this model maintains its position in the mid-range. It has a fairly decent comfort equipment on board, which is sufficient for typical everyday moments and provides a satisfactory listening experience.
Top alternatives in the same price range
Which devices in a comparable price range currently show the best technical performance? Here are the current top 3:
|
Starkey Edge AI 24 ITC R | Rating: 5 / 5 |
|
Starkey Edge AI 24 mRIC R | Rating: 5 / 5 |
|
Starkey Edge AI 24 RIC RT | Rating: 5 / 5 |
Our Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 review was created on December 3, 2020 and lastly updated on September 8, 2022. The overall rating of 2,81 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 2 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 4 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 4.5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
How noticeable is the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 to others?
It is in the size category S, which makes it appear medium-sized. We primarily focused on the impression it makes on outsiders.
How much does the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 cost?
The price range for which the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 is approximately offered in Germany starts from €3,000. The performance of the device corresponds to this price. In the test, it achieved an overall rating of 2.8 (satisfactory).
Is the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 suitable for my hearing loss?
This behind-the-ear hearing aid is suitable for mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss. You can compare other hearing aids from this fitting range with the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13: Hearing Aid Comparison.
How well is hearing with the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13?
This behind-the-ear device receives a performance rating of 4.0 (sufficient) in the area of "Hearing Comfort" in the test report. Important for hearing comfort is, among other things, noise suppression. Here, the Oticon Xceed SP 1 HDO 13 achieves 2 out of 5 stars. For reducing wind noise, it receives a 'moderate' rating from us (only 1 out of 5 stars). The signal processing in this hearing aid happens in 14 different adjustable channels (the best hearing aids currently have 24 channels).
Compare hearing aids: discover all other current reviews now
Find and sort all currently listed hearing aids now. You have full access to all filters, allowing you to quickly view the top hearing aids at a glance.
