Sonova
Swiss hearing-care group providing hearing aids, cochlear implants, audiological services, and consumer hearing products.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Sonova is an internationally active Swiss hearing-care group headquartered in Stäfa. Its business covers the development, manufacture, distribution, and retail provision of technologies and services intended to help people with hearing loss communicate and participate in everyday life. The group’s principal activities span hearing instruments, cochlear implants, audiological care, and consumer hearing products. The company traces its roots to AG für Elektroakustik, established in Zürich in 1947. Ernst Rihs acquired a majority interest in 1965, and the business was renamed Phonak AG in 1977. A holding company, Phonak Holding AG, was established in 1985, and headquarters moved from Zürich to Stäfa in 1987. The group became publicly traded on the Swiss exchange in 1994. On 1 August 2007, the holding company adopted the Sonova name, while Phonak remained a major product and operating brand. Sonova’s portfolio is organized around several complementary businesses. Phonak develops hearing aids, wireless accessories, and communication systems, including technologies that can connect hearing devices with phones, televisions, remote microphones, and other audio sources. Unitron is another hearing-instrument brand, with origins in Canada and distribution in numerous international markets. Advanced Bionics, acquired by Sonova in a transaction announced in 2009 and completed in January 2010, supplies cochlear implants and sound processors for children and adults. AudioNova expands the group’s direct-to-consumer and professional audiology presence through hearing-care retail outlets. Sonova also added the consumer business previously associated with Sennheiser, completed in 2022, to its Consumer Hearing activities. The group combines technology development with wholesale distribution, audiological services, and selected retail operations. Its research and development footprint includes facilities in Switzerland, Canada, and the United States, while manufacturing has been located in Switzerland, China, and Vietnam. Products and services reach customers through Sonova companies, professional hearing-care networks, retail outlets, and independent sales partners. Sonova’s growth has been shaped by acquisitions that broadened its capabilities beyond traditional hearing aids. Advanced Bionics added an implantable-hearing platform, while Hansaton strengthened the group’s hearing-instrument business and AudioNova increased its European retail scale. The integration of Phonak connectivity technologies into Advanced Bionics processors illustrates Sonova’s strategy of combining capabilities across brands. The group continues to position itself as a broad hearing-care platform rather than solely as a hearing-aid manufacturer, serving medical, professional, retail, and consumer-audio needs.
History
Sonova’s history begins with AG für Elektroakustik, a Zürich-based company established in 1947 with the participation of Ernst Rihs. Rihs became the company’s majority shareholder in 1965. The business adopted the name Phonak AG in 1977, establishing the Phonak identity that would later become one of the group’s principal hearing-aid brands. Phonak Holding AG was created in 1985 as the holding structure for the wider Phonak group. Two years later, the corporate headquarters moved from Zürich to Stäfa, where Sonova remains headquartered. The company entered the Swiss public market in 1994. On 1 August 2007, Phonak Holding AG changed its name to Sonova Holding AG. The renaming applied to the holding company and some subsidiaries, while Phonak continued as a product and operating brand. A major expansion into implantable hearing began with Sonova’s agreement to acquire Advanced Bionics in November 2009. The acquisition was completed in January 2010. Advanced Bionics brought cochlear-implant research, manufacturing, and clinical products for adults and children into the group. Following the acquisition, the companies worked on integrating Phonak wireless and connectivity technologies with Advanced Bionics processors and related systems. Sonova subsequently expanded its hearing-instrument and service infrastructure. In 2015 it acquired Hansaton Akustik GmbH, a family-run wholesale hearing-instrument company based in Hamburg. In 2016 Sonova agreed to acquire AudioNova International, a major European hearing-aid retailer, and completed the transaction in September of that year. AudioNova became part of Sonova’s retail and audiological-care network, complementing the group’s manufacturing and wholesale activities. The group’s technology portfolio has included digital hearing aids, wireless communication systems, cochlear implants, and sound processors. Phonak’s work in wireless connectivity has been used in products and accessories designed to connect hearing devices with speech, mobile devices, entertainment equipment, and remote microphones. In 2016 Phonak launched its first rechargeable hearing-aid device. Advanced Bionics introduced products such as the Sky CI M sound processor for children, which used elements of Phonak’s Marvel platform and Roger technology. Sonova also became active in consumer audio. In 2021 it agreed to acquire Sennheiser’s consumer business, while Sennheiser concentrated on its professional business. The transaction was completed in early 2022, and the business became part of Sonova’s Consumer Hearing division. The group operates through hearing-instrument, audiological-care, consumer-hearing, and cochlear-implant activities. Its companies and brands serve international markets through research facilities, manufacturing sites, wholesale channels, retail outlets, and independent professional partners. The company’s development has therefore moved from a Swiss hearing-instrument origin toward a diversified global hearing-care platform.
- 2022
Sennheiser Consumer Hearing becomes part of Sonova
[1]Sonova completes its acquisition of Sennheiser’s consumer business.
- 2016
AudioNova joins Sonova
[1]Sonova completes the acquisition of AudioNova International, expanding its hearing-care retail network.
- 2015
Hansaton acquisition
[1]Sonova completes its acquisition of Hansaton Akustik GmbH.
- 2010
Advanced Bionics joins the group
[1]Sonova completes its acquisition of Advanced Bionics, extending the group into cochlear implants.
- 2007
Phonak Holding becomes Sonova Holding
[1]The holding company changes its name to Sonova Holding AG, while Phonak remains a key product brand.
- 1994
Public listing
[1]The company is floated on the Swiss exchange.
- 1987
Headquarters move to Stäfa
[1]The corporate headquarters move from Zürich to Stäfa, Switzerland.
- 1985
Phonak Holding AG is formed
[1]A holding company is established for the Phonak group.
- 1977
The company adopts the Phonak name
[1]The operating business is renamed Phonak AG.
- 1965
Ernst Rihs becomes majority shareholder
[1]Ernst Rihs acquires a majority interest in the company.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated global hearing-care group combining hearing technology, implantable devices, audiological retail, and consumer audio.
Hearing instruments and wireless communication
Phonak
Phonak is Sonova’s principal hearing-technology brand. It develops digital hearing aids and wireless communication systems, including solutions that connect hearing devices with remote microphones, phones, televisions, and other audio sources. Phonak technology has also been integrated into selected Advanced Bionics cochlear-implant processors. The brand introduced its first rechargeable hearing-aid device in 2016.
Hearing instruments · 1964
Unitron
Unitron is a hearing-aid manufacturer with origins in Newfoundland, Canada. It operates internationally and supplies hearing instruments through professional hearing-care channels in numerous countries. Within Sonova’s portfolio, Unitron provides a distinct hearing-aid brand alongside Phonak.
Cochlear implants · 1993
Advanced Bionics
Advanced Bionics develops cochlear implants and sound processors for children and adults. It became a Sonova subsidiary after the acquisition completed in 2010. Its products have incorporated connectivity and wireless technologies associated with Phonak, including Bluetooth, Roger, FM, and related communication capabilities.
Audiological care and retail
AudioNova
AudioNova is a hearing-care retail and audiology network acquired by Sonova in 2016. It provides hearing assessments, professional audiological services, hearing-aid fitting, and related customer support through retail locations in European and other selected markets.
Consumer audio and hearing products · 2022
Sennheiser Consumer Hearing
Sennheiser’s consumer business became part of Sonova in early 2022. It broadens Sonova’s consumer-hearing activities with audio products sold under the Sennheiser brand, while the professional business remains outside the acquired consumer operation.
Cochlear-implant sound processor · 2020
Sky CI M
Sky CI M is an Advanced Bionics sound processor designed for children with cochlear implants. The product uses elements of Phonak’s Marvel platform and incorporates Roger technology to support wireless communication and listening in challenging environments.
Controversies
2020
Ultra 3D implant quality issue
Advanced Bionics recalled a batch of Ultra 3D cochlear implants because of poor performance. The issue was associated with later competitive and market consequences for the implant business.
2010
HiRes 90K cochlear-implant recall and litigation
Advanced Bionics recalled more than one batch of HiRes 90K implants after reports of malfunctions associated with overstimulation. In litigation described in relation to the recall, a court found the company negligent in a patient case and awarded damages; the company challenged the punitive-damages aspect of the judgment.
Brand decisions
2021
Acquire Sennheiser Consumer BusinessM&ABackground
Sennheiser was seeking a buyer for its consumer business while concentrating on professional audio.
Action taken
Sonova agreed to acquire the consumer business and completed the transaction in early 2022.
Aftermath
The acquired operation became part of Sonova’s Consumer Hearing department.
2016
Expand into hearing-care retail through AudioNovaM&ABackground
Sonova aimed to strengthen its direct hearing-care and audiology presence in European markets.
Action taken
Sonova completed the acquisition of AudioNova International in September 2016.
Aftermath
AudioNova became part of Sonova’s retail and audiological-care network.
Reported transaction value. €830 million (2016 acquisition)
2010
Complete the Advanced Bionics acquisitionM&ABackground
Sonova sought to expand from hearing instruments into implantable hearing technology.
Action taken
Sonova completed its acquisition of Advanced Bionics after announcing the transaction in November 2009.
Aftermath
The group gained a cochlear-implant business and later combined Advanced Bionics products with selected Phonak connectivity technologies.
2007
Adopt the Sonova corporate nameStrategyBackground
The group had expanded beyond a single Phonak operating identity and used a holding structure for multiple businesses.
Action taken
Phonak Holding AG changed its name to Sonova Holding AG, while Phonak remained a principal product brand.
Aftermath
Sonova became the group-level corporate identity for a portfolio of hearing-care businesses.
Recent events
- 2021
Sonova agrees to acquire Sennheiser Consumer Business[1]
M&A
Sonova announced an agreement to acquire Sennheiser’s consumer business as Sennheiser focused more closely on its professional operations. The transaction was completed in early 2022.
- 2020
Advanced Bionics introduces Sky CI M sound processor[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Advanced Bionics introduced the Sky CI M processor for children, incorporating elements of Phonak’s Marvel platform and Roger connectivity technology.
- 2016
Sonova completes AudioNova acquisition[1]
M&A
Sonova completed the acquisition of AudioNova International, adding a large European hearing-aid retail and audiology network to its operations.
- 2015
Sonova completes Hansaton acquisition[1]
M&A
Sonova completed its acquisition of Hansaton Akustik GmbH, a Hamburg-based hearing-instrument wholesaler, after announcing the transaction earlier in the year.
- 2009
Sonova announces acquisition of Advanced Bionics[1]
M&A
Sonova announced an agreement to acquire Advanced Bionics, a California-based developer and manufacturer of cochlear implants. The transaction was completed in January 2010.
Sources9 sources
- 1Sonovaen.wikipedia.org
- 2Sonova corporate websitesonova.com
- 3入手耳機最後機會 Sennheiser 出售消費品業務-ePrice.HKeprice.com.hk
- 4森海塞尔消费者部门被全球最大助听器制造商 Sonova 收购itbear.com.cn
- 5森海塞尔正式出售消费业务 收购方为被瑞士助听器巨头finance.sina.com.cn
- 6Sennheiser Acquired By a Hearing Aid Companypcmag.com
- 7Sennheiser acquired by hearing aid maker Sonovaindiatoday.in
- 8Sonova acquires Sennheiser consumer business - LSi Onlinelsionline.com
- 9Sonova unveils new AI-powered hearing-aid platform to support growth targetsthestar.com.my
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