Roger Microphones vs Hearing Loops: What’s the Difference and Which Is Better?

If you find it difficult to understand speech in background noise or over distance, you may have come across both hearing loops and Phonak Roger.

Both are forms of assistive listening technology designed to make speech easier to access, but they work in very different ways.

So what's the difference, and which is better?

The answer depends largely on where you want to listen, who you want to hear and what hearing equipment you already use.

What Is a Hearing Loop?

A hearing loop, also called an induction loop, is an assistive listening system commonly installed in public buildings.

You may have seen the familiar hearing loop symbol at:

• Reception desks
• Banks
• Theatres
• Churches
• Conference venues
• Council buildings
• Shops
• Hospitals
• Meeting rooms

A loop system takes audio from a microphone or other source and creates a magnetic signal within a defined area.

A compatible hearing aid or cochlear implant can receive this signal through its telecoil, often referred to as the T setting.

This allows the listener to receive the audio through their hearing device rather than relying entirely on sound travelling through the room.

What Is Phonak Roger?

Phonak Roger is a family of wireless remote microphone systems.

Instead of installing a system around an entire room, a Roger microphone is positioned close to the person or people you want to hear.

Their speech is then transmitted wirelessly towards the listener's hearing equipment or compatible Roger receiver.

Products such as Roger On, Roger Select, Roger Table Mic and Roger Touchscreen Mic are designed for different listening situations.

Roger is particularly useful where two common causes of listening difficulty are present:

distance and background noise.

The Biggest Difference: The Room vs the Speaker

One simple way of understanding the difference is:

A hearing loop generally makes audio available within a particular looped area.

Roger brings a microphone closer to the person you specifically want to hear.

Imagine sitting in a busy meeting.

With Roger, a microphone can be worn by the main speaker or placed on the meeting table.

This reduces the importance of the physical distance between the listener and speaker.

A traditional hearing loop works differently. Audio from the venue's microphone or sound system is transmitted through the installed loop.

Both approaches can be extremely useful - but in different circumstances.

Roger vs Hearing Loop: Quick Comparison

Which Is Better for Background Noise?

This is one of Roger's strongest applications.

Hearing in background noise isn't simply about making sound louder.

If the person you want to hear and the background noise are both amplified, speech can remain difficult to understand.

Remote microphone systems tackle the problem differently.

The microphone is moved closer to the person speaking.

Their voice is captured at source and transmitted towards the listener, reducing the effect that distance and surrounding noise have on the speech signal.

This makes Roger particularly useful in situations such as:

• Restaurants
• Meetings
• Classrooms
• Conferences
• Group discussions
• Social gatherings
• Training sessions

A hearing loop can also provide excellent speech access where the desired speaker is speaking into the venue's microphone.

Which Is Better for Meetings?

For many personal workplace situations, Roger is the more flexible option.

A Roger On can be worn by a presenter, pointed towards a speaker or placed on a table.

For larger table-based meetings, dedicated table microphone solutions can also be used.

The system moves with the individual, so the same equipment can potentially be used in different meeting rooms, offices and locations.

A hearing loop can be an excellent solution for a permanently equipped meeting or conference room, particularly where accessibility needs to be provided for many different visitors.

The two technologies therefore solve slightly different problems.

Which Is Better for Public Venues?

Historically, hearing loops have been one of the most common assistive listening technologies used in public venues.

They remain extremely useful, particularly for hearing aid users with telecoils.

However, venue accessibility technology is evolving.

Newer wireless technologies, including Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, are beginning to create additional ways of broadcasting accessible audio within public spaces.

The future is therefore likely to involve several technologies rather than one universal solution.

The important consideration for venues is making audio accessible to as many people as reasonably possible.

Which Is Better for Schools?

Remote microphone technology is particularly well suited to education.

A teacher can wear a microphone such as the Roger Touchscreen Mic, allowing their voice to be transmitted to the child's compatible receiver or hearing technology.

Additional microphones can also help with classroom discussions.

Alternatively, Roger can form part of a soundfield system, distributing the teacher's voice throughout the classroom.

This makes classroom systems considerably more flexible than simply increasing the volume at the front of the room.

Do You Need Hearing Aids to Use Roger?

Not necessarily.

Roger is widely used with hearing aids and cochlear implants, but there are also dedicated Roger receivers.

For example, Roger Focus II is a wearable Roger receiver designed for children who may have normal hearing but experience particular listening or attention-related challenges.

The appropriate solution depends on the individual and should be considered carefully, particularly for children.

Can Roger Work With Non-Phonak Hearing Aids?

Yes, in many cases.

Roger isn't exclusively limited to Phonak hearing aids.

The Roger NeckLoop, for example, can work with telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants from different manufacturers.

Other Roger receiver options are also available.

Compatibility should always be checked against the exact hearing device before purchasing.

Can Roger and a Telecoil Work Together?

Yes.

This is where the distinction between Roger and hearing loops becomes particularly interesting.

A telecoil doesn't have to be used only with a fixed hearing loop.

The Roger NeckLoop receives the wireless Roger signal and passes it to compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants using their telecoil.

This can provide a useful bridge between newer personal remote microphone technology and existing telecoil-equipped hearing devices.

Which Is More Portable?

Roger.

A personal Roger system can travel with the user.

Someone might use the same system:

• At work
• During training
• At a conference
• In a restaurant
• At home
• At university
• While travelling

A permanently installed hearing loop stays with the venue.

This is why the two systems shouldn't necessarily be viewed as competitors.

A hearing loop provides venue accessibility.

Roger provides personal listening support.

What About Auracast?

Auracast is an emerging Bluetooth technology that allows audio to be broadcast wirelessly to compatible devices.

Potential receiving devices can include compatible hearing aids, earbuds, headphones and dedicated receivers.

This makes Auracast particularly interesting for venues because it could significantly broaden access to broadcast audio.

However, Auracast does not make existing technology immediately obsolete.

There are millions of hearing aids using telecoils, while Roger remains particularly useful as a personal remote microphone solution.

For the foreseeable future, hearing loops, Roger and Auracast are likely to coexist.

So Which Should I Choose?

Consider Roger if your main difficulty is:

• Hearing a particular person in background noise
• Hearing someone across a room
• Meetings
• Classroom listening
• Lectures
• Group conversations
• Moving between different environments

Consider a hearing loop if:

• You are providing accessibility within a permanent venue
• Users already have telecoil-enabled hearing devices
• Audio needs to be broadcast from an existing microphone or PA system
• The listening area is relatively fixed

For some environments, neither solution should automatically be selected without first considering who will use the system and what devices they use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Roger a hearing loop?

No. Roger uses wireless digital transmission rather than creating an induction loop around a room.

Is Roger better than a hearing loop?

Neither is universally better. Roger is particularly effective as a personal remote microphone system, while hearing loops remain useful for providing accessible audio across fixed public spaces.

Does Roger require a telecoil?

Not always. Some Roger configurations connect directly or through dedicated receivers. Roger NeckLoop specifically uses the telecoil within a compatible hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Can I use Roger with NHS hearing aids?

Potentially. It depends on the exact hearing aid and available connection method.

Can people without hearing aids use Roger?

Yes, appropriate dedicated receivers are available for certain applications.

Are hearing loops becoming obsolete?

No. Telecoil hearing loops remain widely used. However, newer technologies such as Auracast are creating additional options for accessible audio in public spaces.

Finding the Right Assistive Listening System

There is no single hearing technology that is best for every situation.

The right solution depends on the listener, their existing hearing equipment and, most importantly, the environment in which they are struggling to hear.

Zova Sound Solutions provides a wide range of personal and venue assistive listening technology, including Phonak Roger systems, receivers, classroom systems and Auracast venue solutions.

If you're unsure which technology is appropriate or whether a particular system will work with your hearing devices, contact us before ordering and we'll help you explore the available options.