Hörberatung Basel

What Hörberatung Basel does

Hörberatung Basel is a family-owned hearing care specialist operating from a single store at Nadelberg 13 in Basel, Switzerland, founded in 1987 by Christoph Schwob and now managed by the second generation of the Schwob family. The business sells, fits, and services hearing aids from all major manufacturers (Oticon, Phonak, Starkey, Signia, Widex, Resound, Bernafon, Unitron) and provides complementary hearing protection products, custom earmolds, and pediatric audiology services. Its core service differentiation rests on two unique-in-region capabilities: the Otoscan 3D ear scanner for precise ear impressions, and a Real Life Fitting system using five surround-sound setups that reproduce Basel-specific ambient noise scenarios for hearing aid calibration. Additional services include free 30-minute hearing screening, paid hour-long consultations, a 60-day no-obligation trial, up to six years of aftercare service packages, repairs, pediatric fitting, and home visits for immobile patients.

The business monetizes through a mix of one-time hardware sales (hearing aids, accessories, hearing protection, custom Earborn Bluetooth in-ear headphones via partnership), professional service fees (consultations, fittings, repairs), and consumables through an online shop covering batteries, cerumen filters, cleaning products, drying stations, and signal/alert systems. Go-to-market is primarily direct in-person at the Basel location, supplemented by phone/email booking, an online shop, and home visits for immobile customers. Customer acquisition leans on ENT doctor referrals, word-of-mouth from published testimonials, radio advertising (tracked via MassLytics), a TV spot, Google/SEO, and information events at senior homes. The company employs 5–6 staff (conflicting data: 5 in firmographics vs 6 acousticians per company self-description), including multiple certified and pediatric-specialist acousticians.

Hörberatung Basel targets a horizontal segmentation of end consumers: adults and seniors with hearing loss (primary segment), children with hearing impairment (in collaboration with speech therapists and ENT doctors), musicians and music enthusiasts needing custom hearing protection, and parents of children with sensitive ears needing noise/water protection. The firm's value proposition is local, in-person, highly personalized clinical care that combines proprietary technology with long-term service relationships, rather than scale or digital-first distribution. There is no external funding, no parent company, and no publicly disclosed financial information.

Name

Hörberatung Basel

Legal name

Ch. Schwob AG

Website

https://hoerberatungbasel.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hörberatung Basel is a family-owned hearing care specialist in Basel, Switzerland, founded in 1987, selling and fitting hearing aids from major manufacturers, providing pediatric audiology, custom hearing protection, and aftercare services to individual consumers and musicians in the Basel region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Care Services

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC), Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL), Hearables (True Wireless Earbuds & Smart Headphones) (CRACAIAD)

Keywords

• Hearing aid services
• Hearing care specialists
• Pediatric audiology
• Custom hearing protection
• Hearing aid fittings

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hearing Aids Sales: Sale of hearing aids (behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, receiver-in-canal) across multiple brands (Oticon, Phonak, Starkey, Signia, Widex, Resound, Bernafon, Unitron). Customers undergo a fitting process and pay for the device after a 60-day free trial period.
2. Hearing Aid Accessories and Consumables: Online shop sales of batteries, filters (Ceru-Stop, HF3, HF4 Quickguard, Phonak CeruShield), cleaning products, drying stations, ultrasound cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and hearing aid accessories. Prices range from CHF 3 to CHF 240.
3. Professional Hearing Services: Consulting services including free hearing tests, paid hour-long hearing tests with consultation, hearing aid fitting, repair services, aftercare service packages (guaranteed follow-up for up to 6 years), pediatric hearing care, and home visits.
4. Hearing Protection Products: Sale of custom and off-the-shelf hearing protection including musician's hearing protection with broadband filters, Loop Switch 2 earplugs, foam earplugs, Music Safe, KID Peltor ear defenders, Sanohra swim and music protection, and Peltor SportTac hunting gear. Also includes custom earmolds and otoplastics.
5. Earborn Custom Wireless In-Ear Headphones: Sale of custom-made Earborn wireless in-ear headphones featuring Balanced Armature drivers and Bluetooth 5.3. Hörberatung Basel handles the ear impression process and sends them to the Swiss manufacturer, after which customers can order their custom headphones online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hörberatung Basel is a family-owned hearing care specialist practice in Basel, Switzerland, providing professional hearing tests, hearing aid fittings across all major brands, custom hearing protection, and custom in-ear Earborn Bluetooth headphones. The core offering combines in-person consultations with Otoscan 3D ear scanning and Real Life Fitting surround-sound simulation, complemented by an online shop for hearing aid accessories and consumables.

Product overview

Hörberatung Basel is a family-run hearing care business established in 1987, offering hearing aids, custom in-ear headphones, and comprehensive hearing services. The core product portfolio includes Im-Ohr (in-ear) and Hinter-dem-Ohr (behind-the-ear) hearing aids from major brands such as Oticon (Zeal, Intent), Phonak (Audéo Sphere Infinio), ReSound (Vivia), Starkey (Omega AI), Signia (Pure Charge&GO IX, Silk Charge&GO IX), Widex, Bernafon, and Unitron, plus custom Earborn wireless in-ear headphones. The company provides specialized services including Real Life Fitting (unique surround sound simulation for hearing aid calibration), Otoscan digital ear scanning, pediatric hearing fitting, free hearing tests, 60-day trials, and repair services. A full accessory line complements the offering, including hearing aid batteries, cerumen filters, cleaning products (sprays, tablets, ultrasonic cleaner, vacuum cleaner, drying stations with UV), signal/alert systems, swim and flight protection, and custom hearing protection (Loop Switch 2, Music Safe, Sanohra Music, PELTOR).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids (Im-Ohr-Hörgeräte) Custom in-ear hearing aids worn directly in the ear canal, offering near-natural sound capture with a cosmetically small and nearly invisible design; fitted and serviced at the Basel practice.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (Hinter-dem-Ohr-Hörgeräte) Hearing aids with electronics housed behind the ear, including receiver-in-canal (RIC/ex-Hörer) models for open fit wearing with clearer, more direct sound; fitted and serviced at the Basel practice.
• Earborn Custom In-Ear Headphones Custom-made wireless in-ear headphones individually crafted for each ear using high-end hearing aid technology, featuring Balanced Armature drivers for studio-quality sound and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity; Hörberatung Basel takes the ear impression and the Earborn partner manufactures the finished headphones.
• Real Life Fitting Service Hearing aid fitting service using 5 surround sound systems to reproduce real-life sound environments (e.g., tram braking, restaurant glass clinking) for accurate hearing aid calibration; all films shot in the Basel region.
• Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting (Kinderanpassung) Specialized hearing aid fitting service for children with expertise in hearing and speech development; includes collaboration with parents, ENT doctors, speech therapists, and teachers.
• Otoscan 3D Ear Scanning Service 3D ear scanning service for creating precise ear impressions used in otoplastics, hearing protection, and swim protection; more precise and comfortable than conventional methods and able to take measurements deep in the ear near the eardrum.
• Free Hearing Test (Gratis Hörtest) Complimentary hearing screening service available without obligation, providing a professional hearing analysis as part of the practice's service offering.
• 60-Day Hearing Aid Trial No-obligation 60-day trial period that allows customers to test hearing aids before deciding whether to purchase them.
• Hearing Aid Repair Service Repair service for hearing aids with electronics repairs up to CHF 300 and shell/earpiece repairs up to CHF 250; possible cost participation by social security (SUVA/IV) under certain conditions.
• Aftercare Service Packages (up to 6 years) Service packages providing guaranteed follow-up care and maintenance for up to 6 years following a hearing aid purchase at the practice.
• Loop Switch 2 Earplugs Modern earplugs with switchable attenuation modes for everyday use, concerts, travel, focused work, or loud environments; maintains speech clarity while providing hearing protection.
• Music Safe Hearing Protection Music-optimized hearing protection with built-in filter for musicians and music lovers; soft lamellae conform to the ear canal.
• Sanohra Music Hearing Protection Custom hearing protection for musicians that evenly reduces sound pressure by 23 dB while maintaining high fidelity and preserving instrument and vocal timbre.
• 3M PELTOR Kid Hearing Protectors Headset hearing protector specifically designed for sensitive children's ears up to 7 years, with SNR = 27 dB attenuation, signal-strong colors, and child-friendly comfort.
• Hearing Aid Batteries Replacement batteries for hearing aids in various types (10, 13, 312, 675) and pack sizes from Rayovac and Renata manufacturers, sold through the online shop.
• Cerumen Filters Cerumen protection filters including Ceru-Stop, Phonak CeruShield, and HF series filters (HF3, HF4 Quickguard) to protect hearing aids from earwax.
• Hearing Aid Cleaning Products Comprehensive cleaning product line including Otofloss, cleaning spray, cleaning tablets, cleaning containers, drying containers, drying capsules, Dry-Cap UV2 and Dry-Sun UV 2.1 drying stations, u-sonic ultrasonic cleaner, and Vacuum-Cleaner for hearing aids.
• Alert/Signal Systems Alert systems including Bellman Vibio and Bellman Visit alarm clocks with vibration and flash notification for hearing-impaired users.
• Sanohra Swim Ear Protection Earplugs for swimming, bathing, and showering providing optimal ear protection for sensitive ears; available for adults and children.
• Sanohra Fly Flight Ear Protection Flight ear protection for air travel, sold through the online shop.
• Hearing Aid Mask Holder Silicone face mask extension hook to prevent hearing aid loss when wearing protective masks; adjustable with 3 hooks on each side.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-day no-obligation hearing aid trial
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• All local ENT doctors (Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Ärzte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHörberatung Basel maintains intensive, trusting long-term collaboration with all ENT doctors in the Basel region. These medical professionals refer patients for hearing assessments and hearing aid fitting, and work with the company throughout the patient's hearing care journey. This referral relationship is described as essential to the company's service model.
• Speech therapists (Logopäden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor pediatric hearing care, Hörberatung Basel works closely with speech therapists (Logopäden) as part of the child's multidisciplinary care team, ensuring comprehensive support for speech and language development.
• Earborn (Swiss manufacturer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHörberatung Basel partners with the Swiss company Earborn (earborn.ch) to offer custom wireless in-ear headphones. Hörberatung Basel takes ear impressions and sends them to Earborn, which manufactures the custom headphones. Customers then order their custom Earborn headphones and earbuds (in their choice of color) online and receive them within a few weeks.
• Akustika (acoustics network)minorOthersHörberatung Basel Ch. Schwob AG is certified under the Akustika quality label (hoerberatungbasel.ch displays the Akustika certification logo), indicating membership in a Swiss acoustics professional network with quality standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Demant: Danish-listed parent of Oticon, one of the world's leading hearing aid brands retailed by Hörberatung Basel. As a manufacturer-incumbent, Demant shapes the technology roadmap, pricing, and DTC strategies that affect retail intermediaries like the subject company.
• WS Audiology: Formed by the merger of Widex (Danish) and Sivantos (Signia), WS Audiology is a top-tier hearing aid manufacturer whose Widex and Signia brands are both retailed by Hörberatung Basel. Relevant as an industry-shaping incumbent rather than a direct retail competitor.
• Sonova: Swiss-listed parent company of Phonak, the largest hearing aid manufacturer globally. As a broad incumbent, Sonova sits upstream of Hörberatung Basel's value chain — the practice retails Phonak devices — making it a key supplier and indirect comparable on industry economics.
• GN Store Nord (GN Hearing): Danish-listed parent of ReSound, a major hearing aid brand Hörberatung Basel retails. Comparable as a manufacturer-incumbent whose product strategy, DTC initiatives, and pricing policies directly affect the practice's economics.
• Starkey Hearing Technologies: US-based hearing aid manufacturer whose Starkey brand (including the Omega AI product line retailed by Hörberatung Basel) competes directly with Phonak, Oticon, and Signia. Relevant as a manufacturer-incumbent shaping the AI-powered hearing aid segment.
• Beltone: US-based hearing care retail network with manufacturer backing, operating a similar multi-brand fitting and aftercare model to Hörberatung Basel but at chain scale. Comparable as a broad incumbent illustrating how a hybrid retail/manufacturer model captures value in hearing care.

Direct peers

• KIND Hörgeräte: Germany's largest hearing care retail chain with hundreds of acoustician-owned stores. KIND is a close comparable to Hörberatung Basel in its specialist-store, multi-brand fitting model, and serves as a useful benchmark for what scaled, multi-site hearing retail looks like in a German-speaking market.
• Amplifon: Global hearing care retail chain headquartered in Italy with significant operations across Europe including Switzerland. Amplifon operates the same multi-brand fitting and aftercare model as Hörberatung Basel but at vastly larger scale, making it the most relevant comparable for assessing unit economics and growth trajectories in hearing aid retail.
• Neuroth: Austrian-founded hearing care specialist with Swiss operations offering hearing aids, hearing protection, and pediatric audiology across the DACH region. Direct comparable in customer segments (elderly, musicians, children) and service model (multi-brand fitting with aftercare).

Regional players

• Audika: French-origin hearing care retail chain now operating in Switzerland, offering hearing tests, fittings, and aftercare services. A regional comparable in Switzerland serving similar elderly and hearing-loss demographics, though primarily competing in French-speaking cantons.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=NnoYsGpT4gM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/h%C3%B6rberatung-basel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Hörberatung Basel