Test report: ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW

The ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW in review

Here we take a look at a hearing aid at a rather high price, which is worn behind the ear. It is called Vivia 5 61-DRW and comes from the manufacturer ReSound. It can be used by all people with mild, moderate, and even severe hearing loss who desire a small hearing aid in a very slim design. Due to the comfortable position of the speaker in the ear canal, it has very good sound properties.

You received the ultrafocus in the previous model only in class 7. With the new ReSound Vivia family, you now get this already in this category.

Hearing comfort

The hearing aids are designed not only to bring speech to the ear but also to sound pleasant. So let's first look at the comfort features. What types of noise does the hearing aid recognize? Are they dampened or transmitted unchanged? Is the hearing aid suitable for a lively everyday life? Here, with this test device, the manufacturer provides the customer with comprehensive noise management. As in every hearing aid, typical background noise suppression is included here as well. It aims to reduce uniform, noisy background sounds to the point where they no longer dominate. With the Vivia 5 61-DRW, you can certainly be satisfied with the depth of noise suppression control. It can be adjusted in stages and ensures that the sounds do not dominate as much.

There is also wind management. We find this very good, as many people enjoy spending time outdoors. The reduction of wind noise occurs here at a medium level. We are pleased to find good and efficient impulse sound damping here. This is definitely useful in everyday life, as it noticeably cushions slamming doors, clattering dishes, or similarly rattling noises. The 12 equalizer bands provide a solid foundation for programming the Vivia 5 61-DRW. As sound junkies, we would love a few more, but for the typical situations we experience in our daily lives, a quite reasonable sound profile can be created from them. Spatial hearing is reliably supported by multifunctional microphones and is definitely practical.

The signal processing is based, among other things, on typical frequency patterns of speech and noise, but artificial intelligence has not yet been implemented here.

Thanks to automatic adjustment, the hearing aids capture speech specifically without filtering out important background noises. This keeps hearing relaxed and effortless even in challenging environments, while the brain can independently decide which sounds are important. In demanding hearing situations, a focus program can also be activated that directs the microphones forward, further improving speech understanding.

Rating Hearing comfort: 2,3

Operation & connectivity

Digital hearing aids have long since evolved beyond the basic amplification function. Apps and other control options greatly expand the range of features, so we’ll also look at this important topic in the Vivia 5 61-DRW from ReSound. There’s a button directly on the hearing aid. With it, you can adjust the volume or activate additional hearing programs. It can be programmed according to customer preferences. Of course, using it is optional. A discreet way to change the hearing aid is the remote control. It fits in any pocket. If the person you’re talking to speaks too quietly again, just one or two clicks are enough to adjust the volume. Additional hearing programs for listening to music or driving can also be activated with the remote control. For some time now, there has been a trend to adjust hearing aids with voice commands. The idea is really good, but ReSound is not at this stage with this device yet. Don’t worry, this feature would be nice, but it’s not essential. There is no control of the hearing aids with a simple tap of the finger in this ReSound model, as it would have needed specific sensors in the casing for that. We always have our smartphones with us, and it’s worth it with the Vivia 5 61-DRW, as it can be customized via an app. The app is also really fun and offers a range of features you wouldn’t expect in a hearing aid app. If you enjoy playing, you’re in the right place. We really enjoyed the direct, wireless streaming. This means that phone calls from the smartphone are transmitted 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 also incredibly comfortable.

The ReSound Smart 3D App now includes a free Auracast Assistant that transforms your smartphone into a versatile receiver – regardless of whether it supports Auracast. A symbol on the home screen takes you directly to the assistant, which shows you all available audio sources. With a click, you connect and enjoy a new level of connectivity.

Rating Operation & connectivity: 1,3

ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW: The slim TV Streamer+ can be discreetly mounted behind the television and transmits sound directly to your hearing aids. Using the ReSound Smart 3D app, you can customize the sound or start a public Auracast stream. This allows you to hear the TV sound in the best quality without disturbing others.

Simplicity & security

Another point on our checklist is handling. Does everything work easily and reliably? What does the hearing aid offer to ensure safe use in everyday life? With the Vivia 5 61-DRW, we experienced an effective automatic adaptation to situations that supports our hearing well. This already ensures that we don't have to constantly adjust something on the hearing aid. Some people find it difficult to get used to it, but this hearing aid makes it easy for us to cope with the new volume. There is a familiarity manager that gradually leads us to the required target amplification. The period can last from a few weeks to several months, and it is individually adjustable. The individual steps are so small that you don't even notice when there is an increase in volume.

The Vivia 5 61-DRW is not rechargeable. It operates with hearing aid batteries size 312. Disadvantage: The batteries are disposed of after use. Advantage: Daily charging of batteries is omitted, and the hearing aid can run continuously for several days with a single battery.

We also take a look at the robustness of the housing and discover in the data sheet the protection class IP 68. This means that dust cannot enter at all, and water only becomes a danger after prolonged submersion. Protection against contact is also included.

Rating Simplicity & security: 2,0

Extras

The finale belongs to the extras, so little additional features that could earn the hearing aid a few extra points: Are you among those suffering from tinnitus? Then you could use the optional tinnitus program in the Vivia 5 61-DRW. Soft, quiet sounds are tailored to your hearing and engage all areas of the inner ear. It's nothing more than a distraction maneuver, and it works surprisingly well. The tinnitus fades into the general noise and is no longer bothersome. This is a simple but effective tool and receives extra points from us.

We really like the remote adjustment option. This is very helpful whenever you only want to change something small in the hearing aid settings, but don't want to drive to the audiologist. Instead, you contact them through the app, and the hearing professional sends an adjusted data package back the same way.

Tracking health data is a real added value in modern hearing aids. However, this ReSound model lacks the sensors for this service. The functionality of the Vivia 5 61-DRW is limited to normal hearing, which is completely fine. Additional features like fall detection or Siri connections provide a decent added value, but are not relevant for a good hearing balance.

With the new interchangeable microphone filters from ReSound, you will enjoy consistently clear and natural sound quality. The filters protect your hearing aids from external influences such as dust and moisture and can be easily replaced by yourself. This saves you time, avoids unnecessary maintenance costs, and ensures that your hearing aids always function optimally.

Rating Extras: 2,4

Conclusion: ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW

In conclusion, it can be said that this device is a true all-rounder, impressing us with its comfort features and achieving a good overall result with a score of 1.98. Those who want to forgo top-notch technology but still desire a comfortable hearing experience will find the right solution here.

Are you still unsure about which energy supply is suitable for your daily life? We have summarized all the important decision criteria for you: Battery or rechargeable

 

Our ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW review was created on February 26, 2025 and lastly updated on April 15, 2025. The overall rating of 1,98 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 4 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 4 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 4 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..

 

 

 

FAQ

What does the ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW cost?

The Vivia 5 61-DRW from ReSound is currently offered by providers in a rough price range of approximately between €2,500.00 and €3,000.00. You should view this price in relation to the test score of 2.0 (good). And depending, for example, on the star rating in the area of noise suppression in our tests (good 4 out of 5 stars). You can find all comparison values in the hearing aid comparison.

How well can you hear with the ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW?

The Vivia 5 61-DRW from ReSound achieved a score of 2.3 (good) in the area of hearing comfort. In the area of noise suppression, the hearing aid received a good 4 out of 5 stars. For wind noise suppression, it receives the designation 'good' (3 out of 5 stars). The hearing aid shows 12 different equalizer bands in the test, which can be adjusted by the audiologist to suit individual hearing ability (current top models achieve 24).

Who is the Vivia 5 61-DRW from ReSound suitable for?

This hearing aid is aimed at people whose hearing loss is mild, moderate, or severe. This so-called "fitting range" is provided by ReSound as a rough guideline. A good local audiology company can immediately tell after a professional hearing test whether this behind-the-ear hearing aid is suitable for you.

How large is the ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW?

We have classified all hearing aids on the market into four size categories, from XXS (virtually invisible) to M (rather large). The ReSound Vivia 5 61-DRW has a size classification of XS, making it quite small compared to other hearing aids.

 

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