The short version
Discontinued. Sony no longer sells the CRE-C10 or CRE-E10, and we're not linking you to buy one. Sony and WS Audiology (WSA), the partner that actually manufactured and operated this line, mutually agreed not to renew their partnership; both models have been listed "Item no longer available" on Sony's US site since April 2026. Some old stock may still surface at a handful of outlets for a limited time, but this isn't an ongoing product line, and we're not treating it as a purchase option on this page anymore. WSA has stated it will continue honoring warranty and service for existing owners. We're keeping this page up for archival value - the CRE-E10 had a genuinely strong independent-testing record (HearAdvisor ranked it #1 of 56 OTC devices tested, SoundGrade A, three consecutive Expert's Choice Awards) - and for anyone who already owns one and wants the specs. If you're shopping now, see the comparable alternatives linked in "Where to buy" below instead.
What independent testing actually found
This is a clean-proof story for the CRE-E10, not a divergence one: HearAdvisor's lab testing gives it a SoundGrade A and ranks it #1 out of 56 OTC devices tested, backed by Expert's Choice Awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 (HearAdvisor). One independent roundup separately praised its "impressive automatic adjustments." Consumer sentiment points the same direction, for what it's worth: 4.3 out of 5 stars on HearingTracker, though from a small sample of just 6 reviews - not a robust signal, but not a contradiction either (HearingTracker). We don't have a C10-specific consumer rating.
The C10 and E10 are meaningfully different devices under one combined product line, not just size variants. The C10 is tuned for high-frequency hearing loss with good low-pitch hearing and "very little low-frequency amplification," while the E10 handles a flatter hearing loss more evenly across frequencies, with better low-frequency amplification than the C10 (Digital Trends). One reviewer flagged the ongoing cost of the C10's disposable batteries as a real added expense on top of the purchase price, and separately argued the C10 could reasonably have been priced at $499-$799 given the underlying technology.
Trial period and warranty
Both models come with a 45-day trial, standard across most retailers per two independent sources - though Best Buy specifically offers a 60-day window instead (HearingTracker, Digital Trends). The warranty is a 1-year repair warranty, with an extended option available if purchased within 90 days. WSA has stated warranty and service will continue to be honored for existing purchasers despite the manufacturer discontinuation.
Who pays return shipping depends on where you buy, and the two retailers we checked disagree: Hears Hearing & Hearables states customers are responsible for return shipping costs, non-refundable (source), while Diglo.com states it covers return shipping on free returns within 30 days for customers in the 48 contiguous states (source). We're presenting both rather than picking one, since it's a genuine retailer-to-retailer difference, not a single Sony-wide policy.
Diglo.com also offers a mid-trial exchange process - a new order ships immediately for the replacement item while a separate return processes on the original, letting you swap between C10 and E10 without waiting. That's specific to Diglo; Hears Hearing & Hearables' return page describes only a standard return-for-refund, with no comparable exchange mechanism.
A few more practical specifics: the C10 runs on disposable size-10 zinc-air batteries rated for about 70 hours per battery (one reviewer measured roughly 68 hours in practice - close enough to call it confirming, not conflicting). The E10 is rechargeable, though its battery life is itself disputed - HearingTracker states 23 hours on a full charge (with 6 more hours via a 30-minute quick charge, plus 3 additional charges from the case), while a Sony-specs figure cited in a Techlicious reader comment says 26 hours. We're not resolving that gap ourselves.
Bluetooth is C10's clearest limitation: it has none at all, a point called out as a con in at least one review. The E10 streams audio and supports hands-free calling, but only for iOS - there's no Android support. Neither model has telecoil: confirmed false for the C10 via Sony's own manual and an authorized retailer's spec sheet ("T-Coil Receiver: No"), and confirmed false for the E10 via a full-text search of Sony's own complete official user guide. Neither model offers a dedicated tinnitus-masking feature. Water/dust resistance also splits by variant: the E10 carries an IP68 rating (single-sourced, not yet independently cross-confirmed), while no IP rating is disclosed anywhere for the C10 despite checking Sony's own manual, HearingTracker's spec table, and an authorized retailer's spec page. Setup requires Sony's Hearing Control App for both models, but day-to-day use afterward doesn't.
Both models are self-fit rather than preset, meaning they're configured to your own hearing profile rather than shipped with a fixed generic setting.
We couldn't confirm whether either model can be purchased or replaced as a single ear rather than a pair - see "What we couldn't confirm" below.
The HSA/FSA math
Neither device has a single settled price - both have genuine conflicts between independent sources - so here's the math at every confirmed figure, using pre-tax HSA or FSA dollars by marginal tax bracket. This is arithmetic, not tax advice; your actual savings depend on your specific plan and eligible-expense rules.
CRE-C10 (HearingTracker cites $700; Digital Trends cites $999 - a nearly $300 gap we're not resolving):
| Tax bracket | Effective cost at $700 | Effective cost at $999 |
|---|---|---|
| 12% | $616 | $879 |
| 22% | $546 | $779 |
| 32% | $476 | $679 |
CRE-E10 (two HearingTracker pages agree closely at $899-$900; HearAdvisor cites a separate $998 figure):
| Tax bracket | Effective cost at $899 | Effective cost at $998 |
|---|---|---|
| 12% | $791 | $878 |
| 22% | $701 | $778 |
| 32% | $611 | $679 |
Check with your plan administrator before assuming reimbursement.
Discontinued - what that actually means
Sony and WS Audiology mutually agreed not to renew the partnership behind this product line, and both the CRE-C10 and CRE-E10 have been listed "Item no longer available" on Sony's US site since April 2026 (HearingTracker). Sony was the brand on the box, but the devices were manufactured and operated under a partnership with WS Audiology formed in September 2022, shortly before the FDA's OTC hearing aid rule took effect - and it's that partnership, not Sony's hearing-aid ambitions broadly, that's ending.
This is not an ongoing, purchasable product line. Some old stock may still surface at a handful of outlets for a limited time, but we're not tracking or pointing you toward it - there won't be future updates or new units once current stock is gone, and we don't think a discontinued line still deserves active "where to buy" placement on this site. WSA has stated existing customers will continue to receive warranty and service support.
Where to buy
We're not linking to a purchase option here - this line is discontinued and we don't consider it an active buying decision anymore. If you're shopping in a similar price and quality tier, two devices we do actively recommend and keep current are the ELEHEAR Beyond Pro (around $599, self-fit, Bluetooth) and the Jabra Enhance Select 50R (around $1,195, self-fit) - bracketing the CRE-C10/E10's old $700-999 range from below and above. Check each review for current pricing and specs before deciding.
What we couldn't confirm
- Single-ear purchase or replacement: we could not find a source addressing whether either the C10 or E10 can be bought or replaced as a single unit rather than a pair, despite checking multiple retailers across two research passes. Everything found describes them strictly as a pair. We're not stating a policy either way.
Disclosure
Drafted with AI assistance from HearingScout's verified product database; reviewed and fact-checked against primary sources before publishing. See our methodology for how we evaluate every device.