ReSound Vivia Hearing Aid: Compare Levels 9, 7 & 5 Features

GN ReSound Vivia: Technology Levels Compared

Launched in 2025, the ReSound Vivia is claimed to be the smallest rechargeable receiver-in-canal (RIC) AI-powered hearing aid on the market, designed for the most natural-sounding listening experience possible. The Vivia is available in different technology levels, premium, advanced and standard– 9, 7, and 5. Level 9 being the most advanced or what audiologists will refer to as premium. All levels are built on the same core platform and share the same physical design, hence looks the same, Bluetooth connectivity, and weatherproofing, but differ in processing power, automation, and feature access.

Common Features of the Vivia Hearing aid:

Each hearing aid is IP68-rated with a protective nanocoating on every component, and all models include replaceable microphone filters that can be changed on the spot. All Vivia models can stream audio and support hands-free calling via Bluetooth Low Energy, with battery life up to 30 hours on a single charge. ReSound is the first, and currently the only as we write this post (April 2026), manufacturer with an active Auracast connection for broadcast streaming, allowing users to receive transmitted audio from TVs, airport gates, theaters, and other venues. App control via the ReSound Smart 3D app is also available at every level.

Vivia 9: Premium Technology

The premium Vivia hearing aid features a dual-chip design that combines the 360 Chip for sound processing with a new Deep Neural Network (DNN) chip specifically for the Intelligent Noise Tracker, which reduces background noise and enhances speech clarity. This is the defining feature of the entire Vivia platform, but it is important to note that the DNN feature is only available in the top-tier Level 9, and only in the rechargeable model.

The Vivia 9 hearing aid offers 17 processing channels and exclusive AI-powered features such as Intelligent Focus and Clear Focus, sharing that it offers superior speech clarity compared to the other models in the most challenging listening situations. It also includes Environmental Optimizer II, enhanced Noise Tracker II with 5 settings, and Streaming Bass Boost at maximum settings.

The DNN chip itself is substantial:

it was trained on 13.5 million spoken sentences in various languages across 3.9 million tuned sound parameters, and can perform 4.9 trillion operations per day to spotlight speech and reduce background noise. According to GN’s internal research, 64% of Vivia users experience better speech understanding in noise compared to other AI-powered hearing aids, and 83% prefer Vivia’s Intelligent Focus, which prioritizes sounds based on the direction you’re looking, over previous-generation noise-reduction products.

However, independent testing has raised some questions. In standardized tests by Hear Advisor, even after optimization with Real Ear Measurements, the Vivia’s speech-in-noise score reached only 3.5 out of 5, ranking it last among the top 10 hearing aids tested in background noise.

ReSound Vivia 9, according to the manufacturer, is best suited for people with active lifestyles who frequently encounter complex or noisy listening environments such as restaurants, crowded gatherings, or busy workplaces.

Vivia 7:  Advanced Technology

The mid-range Vivia 7 includes all the features of the Vivia 5, but with 14 processing channels and added enhancements such as Front Focus and Ultra Focus. These advanced speech enhancement features help users hear speech more clearly in noisy environments by dynamically adjusting directionality. It also features an upgraded Noise Tracker II system and Streaming Bass Boost, improving the quality of streamed music and audio.

Critically, the Vivia 7 does not include the DNN chip or the AI-powered Intelligent Focus feature, looking for speech, making its noise management more rule-based and reactive compared to the Level 9’s machine-learning approach. It strikes a balance between solid real-world performance and more accessible pricing.

The Vivia 7 is a strong fit for people who are moderately active and regularly encounter noisy environments but do not need the full AI processing power of the premium tier.

Vivia 5: Standard Technology

The Vivia 5 provides a clear and comfortable experience in less complex environments. Its 360 All-Around system keeps users aware of their surroundings, while Front Focus gives the clarity needed to converse with those in front. It includes basic noise reduction through Noise Tracker II, sampling sounds, said to be “13 million” and Wind Guard, but with fewer channels (typically around 10) and less directional sophistication than the higher tiers.

As you progress down in technology levels, the hearing aids include fewer frequency bands for programming to exact individual needs, and access to features and customizations available in higher technology levels is reduced.  The research doesn’t confirm that number of channels or frequency bands matter.

ReSound recommends people who lead quieter lifestyles or spend most of their time in relatively controlled listening environments such as at home, in one-on-one conversation, or in small group settings are well-suited to the Vivia 5 standard technology.

Which Level Is Right for You?

The core question when choosing between levels comes down to lifestyle, listening complexity, and your cost benefit. Active users in complex environments benefit most from Vivia 9, while quieter lifestyles may be well served by Vivia 5 or 7. All tiers benefit from the same modern platform, connectivity, and build quality, what you are paying more for at the top end is the degree of automatic, AI-driven adaptation to your environment, and the number of frequency channels available to your audiologist when fine-tuning the fit.

Here is a detailed feature comparison table for the three main ReSound Vivia technology levels: