Compare the Best Hearing Aids
Other Hearing Aids to Consider
We’ve reviewed dozens of hearing aids, and many of them are nearly as worthy as our top-tier selections. Here are several alternatives to consider:
Prescription Hearing Aids
Oticon Zeal for $6,500+: The smallest prescription hearing aid we’ve reviewed, Oticon’s Zeal (8/10, WIRED Recommends) fits almost completely inside the ear canal and is held in place by a sliver of wire that doubles as an antenna. Sound quality is almost as good as any traditional behind-the-ear hearing aid, but be warned, the price is through the roof. If absolute discretion is of utmost value to you, it makes sense to give this unique model a test drive.
GN ReSound Vivia for $5,000+: ReSound’s new Vivia line of prescription hearing aids are on par in both design (at a svelte 2.56 grams) and quality with the Starkey Edge AI models, providing a pristine audio experience that is tuned perfectly and utterly free of hiss and feedback. The “intelligence-augmented” devices work well in either noise or more intimate one-on-one settings, and GN’s Smart 3D app couldn’t be easier to master. Support for Bluetooth Auracast is also included, so wearers can now pipe media (like the audio from the TV at a bar) directly to the aids. They aren’t cheap, so getting some advance ears-on time with them is essential for prospective buyers.
Phonak Virto R Infinio for $4,000+: Phonak’s Virto R Infinio (8/10, WIRED Recommends) and pricey prescription hearing aids like the GN ReSound above have a custom fit process that helps make them some of the best-fitting hearing aids on the market. They’re immensely comfortable to wear for long periods, and you’ll get pretty good audio quality for in-the-ear hearing aids. It’s just a shame there’s no battery in the charging case to extend the run time.
Phonak Audeo Infinio Ultra Sphere for $4,000+: The Phonak Ultra Sphere (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t spherical at all; the name instead refers to Phonak’s Spheric Speech Clarity system, designed to improve the quality of conversation support no matter where a speaker is standing. It’s an effective product, though the larger size—required to accommodate an extra microprocessor—makes for a device that is more obtrusive than you might like. Be sure to check out peripherals like Phonak’s Roger On system, which serves as a powerful remote microphone and can dramatically enhance the utility of these hearing aids.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Jabra Enhance Select 50R for $1,195: If you don’t mind losing a few features (including a charging travel case), the Select 50R (8/10, WIRED Recommends) can give you most of the features of Jabra’s top-tier hearing aids for quite a bit less. You’ll still shell out four figures for what amounts to hearing aids with a traditional behind-the-ear design, and the extra fraction of a gram in weight is noticeable. The audio quality is still there—almost, anyway—and users with more modest hearing-support needs probably won’t find much of a difference in overall impact.
Sony CRE-E10 for $900: The CRE-E10 (7/10, WIRED Review) aren’t so much of an upgrade to the C20 we recommend above, but a different class of product. They’re much more visible, though they look like a standard pair of Bluetooth earbuds. The E10 provide a comfortable fit but can get tiring after a long day. At least they use a rechargeable battery (via USB-C) with up to 26 hours on a single charge. You can control them only through Sony’s app, and the hearing test lets you tune the frequency response of the aids. The audio experience is excellent at low volumes, though these aids have a bit of an echo and some additional noise. Still, I found it manageable. They do a decent job streaming media and calls via Bluetooth.
Audien Hearing Atom X for $389: The most interesting feature of Audien’s Atom X (6/10, WIRED Review) is the case—there’s an embedded display that lets you tweak volume and change modes, no need to use an app or fuss with buttons. Audien has also reduced the hiss from these affordable buds. Unfortunately, the hearing aids aren’t tunable and provide blunt amplification, so you can’t shape the frequencies to where you need the most help. I suggest trying a pair of AirPods Pro 3 first.
Avoid These Hearing Aids
Just as important as what hearing aids to buy are what hearing aids not to buy. While some of these devices are affordable, most are lacking in quality or style. After our testing, we don’t wholly recommend these hearing aids. (Poor hearing aids can harm your hearing.)
Audien Atom One: I had high hopes for these, but they’re impossibly cheap. The Atom One (5/10, WIRED Review) come up short on smart features, as there’s no way to fine-tune these devices.
Elehear Beyond Pro: There are improvements here in audio quality over the older Elehear Beyond, but the core problem with the Beyond Pro (6/10, WIRED Review) hearing aids is that they’re just too bulky and uncomfortable to wear. They also come with a price hike that’s tough to swallow.
Lexie Lumen: These are comically large and dated. The case was physically falling apart during testing, which I wouldn’t expect from hearing aids at this price. Though they sound fine, they’re far from subtle and were plagued with connectivity bugs.
Ceretone Core One: The mandatory app required to control the Ceretone Core One (5/10, WIRED Review) hearing aids is so basic that it’s useless. You can’t tune the frequencies, and the listening experience is quite blunt. They’re also not comfortable to wear for long periods.
Ceretone Core One Pro: The Core One Pro (5/10, WIRED Review) change things up so much that they’re no longer compatible with Ceretone’s app. Instead, you’ll control them through the buttons on the case. Unfortunately, you still can’t tune them to an audiogram, so they amplify everything bluntly, and they’re not very effective as hearing aids.
MDHearing Neo and Neo XS: Never mind the Joe Namath endorsement, these in-ear aids are incredibly uncomfortable and feature a wildly dated design sensibility. Screeching feedback at the slightest touch makes them untenable for even short-term use.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: wired.com
