Auditionsanté

What Auditionsanté does

AuditionSanté is a French hearing aid retail network operating nearly 300 centers across all 96 French departments, providing hearing assessments, custom-fitted hearing aids, and ongoing audiology follow-up care. The company is wholly owned by Sonova Audiological Care France SAS, a subsidiary of Swiss-listed hearing technology conglomerate Sonova AG, and operates as part of Sonova's owned-retail channel in France. Its core product portfolio is built around Phonak's hearing aid technology, including the Infinio line (Audéo Infinio Sphere, Virto R Infinio, Infinio Ultra Sphere) powered by Sonova's proprietary ERA chip and DEEPSONIC AI processor with on-device deep neural network inference for speech-in-noise separation. AuditionSanté offers complementary services including free 15-minute hearing screenings, a free 3-minute online hearing test, 30-day free trials, custom ear protection, and device insurance/warranty programs, with all dispensing handled by state-certified audiologists (Diplôme d'État d'audioprothésiste) registered with regional health agencies.

The business model is a direct-to-consumer retail motion: lead generation through free screening and online tools, in-center conversion via audiologist-led consultations, and recurring revenue from device sales bundled with multi-year follow-up care. Pricing spans Class 1 hearing aids eligible for €0 out-of-pocket under France's 100% Santé reform through premium Phonak Infinio tiers, with reimbursement terms varying by patient age and status. The marketing mix combines educational content marketing, online screening tools, social media, paid digital, and a referral/Parrainage program. The network also includes a flagship "World of Hearing" concept at select locations (e.g., Rennes) designed as an experiential showcase. The stated strategic ambition is to rank among the top three national hearing care operators in France.

AuditionSanté's competitive position rests on three reinforcing pillars: (1) distribution scale at ~300 centers covering all French regions, (2) preferential access to Sonova/Phonak hearing technology including AI-powered flagship devices, and (3) a qualified clinical workforce mandated by French regulatory credentialing. The company operates in the mature French hearing aid market, with growth driven by demographic tailwinds (age-related presbycusis), clinical expansion of the addressable population, and a premium product upgrade cycle. The General Director is Virginie Ginsbourger. No independent funding, headcount, or revenue figures are disclosed in the available inputs.

Name

Auditionsanté

Legal name

Sonova Audiological Care France SAS

Website

https://auditionsante.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AuditionSanté is a French hearing aid retail network of nearly 300 centers selling Phonak hearing aids and audiology services to adults with hearing loss across all 96 French departments, operating as the French retail arm of Sonova AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Aid Retail & Audiology Services

akta.pro primary industry

Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)

Keywords

• Hearing aid retail
• Audiology services
• Hearing assessments
• Custom hearing protection
• Hearing loss solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cahors

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hearing Aid Sales: Sale of hearing aids and assistive listening devices to consumers through the network of ~300 retail centers across France
2. Audiology Services: Professional audiology services including hearing tests, audiograms, device fitting, adjustments, and ongoing follow-up care
3. Custom Ear Molds and Protective Devices: Sale of custom-fitted earplugs and hearing protection devices
4. Device Insurance and Extended Warranty: Insurance programs covering hearing aid damage and loss

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AuditionSanté is a French hearing aid retail network (nearly 300 centers) that sells Phonak-branded hearing aids and provides professional audiology services. Its core offer combines device sales (Audéo Infinio Sphere, Virto R Infinio, Infinio Ultra Sphere and related Phonak models) with in-center audiology care including free hearing assessments, custom fitting, 30-day trials, and ongoing follow-up. The company also sells custom hearing protection (earplugs and molds) and operates under the French 100% Santé reimbursement framework.

Product overview

Auditionsanté is a major network of hearing aid specialists in France with nearly 300 centers, operating as part of the Sonova Group (global leader in hearing solutions). The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of Phonak hearing aids including the Infinio line (Audéo Infinio Sphere, Virto R Infinio, Infinio Ultra Sphere) featuring AI-powered DEEPSONIC chip technology for speech enhancement. Services include free hearing assessments, 30-day free trials, personalized fitting, and follow-up care. The flagship technology combines ERA and DEEPSONIC AI processors for automatic speech clarity in noisy environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• World of Hearing: An innovative concept launched by AuditionSanté at select locations (e.g., Rennes) offering an interactive exploration of hearing expertise and technological advancements in hearing care.

Products and services

• Phonak Infinio Ultra Sphere Next-generation Phonak hearing aids with Ultra Sphere technology, providing advanced AI-powered speech processing, unmatched sound clarity, advanced connectivity, and Swiss engineering quality. Sold to adult patients with hearing loss through AuditionSanté's retail network in France.
• Phonak Audéo Infinio Sphere Premium rechargeable Phonak hearing aid with dual-chip architecture (ERA chip and DEEPSONIC AI processor) and Spheric Speech Clarity, delivering 10dB improved signal-to-noise ratio and +26% improvement in speech comprehension in noise. Sold to patients with hearing loss through AuditionSanté centers.
• Phonak Virto R Infinio Phonak's smallest rechargeable custom in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid, offering market-leading connectivity and full personalization. Sold to patients seeking a discreet custom-fitted device through AuditionSanté's retail network.
• Custom Hearing Protection Custom-made earplugs and ear molds for hearing protection (including waterproof ear molds) sold to individuals and workers requiring occupational noise protection or specific environmental protection.
• Free In-Center Hearing Assessment Complimentary 15-minute complete hearing evaluation with immediate interpretation of results by state-certified audiologists at AuditionSanté centers across France.
• Online Hearing Test Free 3-minute online hearing screening test accessible via the AuditionSanté website that provides initial indicators of potential hearing loss using headphones or earbuds.
• 30-Day Free Hearing Aid Trial Free 30-day trial of hearing aids with no commitment, allowing patients to test devices in real-life listening conditions before purchase at AuditionSanté centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26% average improvement in speech understanding in noise for patients using Audéo Infinio Sphère™ hearing aids
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Phonak (Sonova Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationPhonak, as the hearing aid manufacturing division of parent company Sonova Group, provides all hearing aid technology sold through AuditionSanté centers. Products include Phonak Infinio, Infinio Ultra Sphere, Virto R Infinio and related hearing solutions. The partnership enables exclusive access to Phonak's latest innovations including ERA chip, DEEPSONIC AI processor, and Spheric Speech Clarity technology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Amplifon: Global hearing aid retail leader headquartered in Italy with a large direct retail footprint in France, including its own audiology center network. Directly comparable to AuditionSanté on business model (state-certified audiologists, in-center fitting, ongoing care) and customer profile (adults with hearing loss).
• Audionova: French hearing aid retail network also owned by Sonova Group (sister brand to AuditionSanté). Identical business model, supplier stack, and customer base; effectively a sibling competing in the same French market for the same Sonova-supported customer segment.
• Audika: Major French audiology retail chain owned by Demant Group, operating hundreds of centers in France. Closest direct competitor to AuditionSanté in the French hearing aid retail market with similar service model and Sonova-aligned competitor stack (Oticon, Bernafon).
• Krys Audition: Hearing aid retail extension of the Krys optical cooperative in France. Comparable in its combination of optical retail plus audiology services and in serving French consumers with hearing loss via in-center fitting.
• Optical Center: Large French optical retailer that has expanded into audiology services across its store network. Competes with AuditionSanté on convenience, bundled offerings, and aggressive promotional pricing in France.
• Vivason: Independent French audiology retail network offering hearing tests, fitting, and follow-up care. Competes with AuditionSanté in the same French retail audiology category with similar service-based differentiation.
• Kélys Audition: Mid-sized French audiology retail chain offering hearing assessments, hearing aid fitting, and follow-up care. A relevant regional-scale direct competitor to AuditionSanté in the French retail audiology space.
• Alain Afflelou Acousticien: Hearing care division of the large French optical retailer Alain Afflelou. Competes with AuditionSanté by leveraging optical-store footfall for cross-sell into audiology, offering bundled optical + hearing solutions to French consumers.

Broad incumbents

• WS Audiology: Global hearing aid manufacturer and retailer formed from the merger of Sivantos and Widex, owning brands such as Signia, Widex, and Rexton. Indirect peer to AuditionSanté as a competing manufacturer-retailer stack in the European hearing care market.
• Demant Group: Danish global hearing healthcare conglomerate and parent of Audika, Oticon, Bernafon, and Philips Hearing Solutions. Indirect peer to AuditionSanté via Audika competition; offers broader manufacturer-plus-retail vertical integration compared with AuditionSanté's retail-only focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AuditionSanteFrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auditionsante

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Auditionsanté