Sound recordings were collected by our partner HearAdvisor using real hearing aids that were specifically programmed to meet the needs of someone with mild sloping to moderate hearing loss. This type of hearing loss was chosen because it is a very common pattern of age-related hearing loss. However, keep in mind that if you have more or less hearing loss, or a different pattern of hearing loss, HearAdvisor's audio samples will not be representative of the sound you would hear with hearing aids configured for your own unique hearing loss. Remember, nothing beats a real trial with real hearing hearing aids.
Editorial
Expert Vetting: Our Hearing Aid Review Process
)
)
Updated on Jan 25, 2026
:format(webp))
HearingTracker, in partnership with HearAdvisor, is proud to be at the forefront of hearing device evaluation, testing the latest prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and personal sound amplification products (PSAPs)—as well as hearable devices like the Apple AirPods Pro 2. Our testing methods not only conform to industry standards but also incorporate bleeding-edge scientific techniques to deliver objective1 hearing aid ratings and realistic sound samples.
Real-world spatial sound testing
A key part of our hearing aid evaluation process involves testing hearing aids in a realistic sound field with spatially-accurate sound recordings. Our ambisonic recordings were produced in a variety of real-world acoustic spaces, including busy restaurants and office environments. This allows us to replicate the sound environments you might encounter in your daily life while wearing hearing aids.
:format(webp))
Custom-built audio lab
Our custom-built acoustic test lab is another asset that strengthens our testing process. It is designed specifically to eliminate reverberations, colorations, and any unwanted sound. This results in a controlled testing environment that allows for precise and reliable outcomes.
To ensure real-world sound quality during tests, we use speakers that are calibrated to be extraordinarily “flat.” This minimizes inaccuracies in audio reproduction, providing more authentic and precise sound samples.
Understanding the SoundScore
The SoundScore is a performance metric used to evaluate the sound performance of hearing aids across different listening environments. These tests focus on how well hearing aids perform in three key areas:
- Speech in Quiet: Measures how well the hearing aid amplifies speech in quiet conditions.
- Speech in Noise: Assesses the hearing aid's ability to filter and enhance speech in noisy environments.
- Streaming Music: Evaluates the quality of audio when streaming music via Bluetooth or similar technologies.
The SoundScore is also impacted by potential drawbacks of the hearing aid in terms of sound quality. These include:
- Own Voice: Will your own voice sound boomy when you speak while wearing the hearing aids?
- Feedback Handling: Will the hearing aids squeel or whistle while wearing them?
:format(webp))
Ultimately, sound performance testing in the lab yields a SoundScore between 0 and 5 that is the lab's best scientific guess as to the expected sound performance of the device for the average user with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. A score of 5 would indicate that the device has the top score of any device tested, and other devices are normalized based on the top performer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about our audio recordings
To hear your best with common age-related hearing loss, it's important that hearing aids provide adequate high-frequency (high tone) amplification. Emphasizing the high frequencies can alter the sound quality substantially, leading to a less natural sound on first impression. But ultimately, replacing those missing high frequency sounds (that haven't been heard clearly in so long) is the key to understanding speech better.
So while you're listening to these sound samples, remember that what sounds best from a sound quality perspective may not align with what provides the greatest benefit to speech clarity. If you're an experienced hearing aid user, you'll know well that hearing aids can seem unnatural and overly bright initially, but over time you acclimatize and retrain your brain to hear in a more natural way.
We also encourage your to go beyond the sound samples, and click through to view the HearAdvisor ratings for performance in quiet and noisy settings, as well as ratings for own voice quality, feedback issues, and audio streaming quality. HearAdvisor's ratings are critical to understanding the benefit side of the equation.
"Open-fit" hearing aids are hearing aids that leave your ear canal open. All of the prescription devices tested to date by HearAdvisor are considered open-fit hearing aids. "Closed-fit" hearing aids are those that seal off your ear canal with either a tight custom mold or rubber / silicone ear tip that lets little to no air in or out. Devices such as the Sony CRE-C10, Jabra Enhance Plus, and Apple AirPods Pro 2 are considered closed-fit devices.
The open-fit configuration has several implications for sound quality, benefit with hearing aids, sound localization, and hearing in noise:
1. Sound Quality: In the real world, open-fit hearing aids generally provide a more natural sound quality because they do not block the ear canal. By combining natural and amplified sound, open-fit hearing aids create a more balanced listening experience.
2. The Occlusion Effect: Open-fit hearing aids prevent the occlusion effect, which is the sensation of hearing your own voice as if speaking into a barrel.
3. Benefit with Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids are particularly beneficial for individuals with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss. This is because they can amplify high-frequency sounds while still allowing low-frequency sounds to enter the ear naturally. This configuration helps users maintain a sense of spatial awareness and natural sound quality, making the transition to using hearing aids easier.
4. Sound Localization: Sound localization is the ability to determine the source and direction of a sound. Open-fit hearing aids allow for a better sense of sound localization compared to traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids because they do not block the ear canal. By allowing natural sound to enter the ear, users can better utilize their residual hearing and spatial cues to localize sounds.
5. Hearing in Noise: Open-fit hearing aids can struggle in noisy environments because they allow background noise to enter the ear along with the amplified signal. To address this issue, many open-fit hearing aids incorporate advanced features like directional microphones and AI noise removal to improve speech understanding in noisy situations. While these technologies can help, users with more severe hearing loss or those who struggle in very noisy environments may find traditional BTE or in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids with a closed fit more beneficial.
6. Wireless streaming: Open-fit hearing aids allow sound to escape from the ear canal due to their open design. This can result in a decrease in overall sound quality, particularly at higher volumes or with bass-heavy audio content. Closed-fit hearing aids provide better sound isolation, which can lead to richer and fuller sound quality during streaming. However, keep in mind that situational awareness will suffer with closed-fit hearing aids as they will more effectively block outside sounds.
While open-fit hearing aids offer several advantages over closed-fit hearing aids, they may not be the best choice for everyone, especially those with severe hearing loss or who need better performance in noisy environments. We recommend working closely with an audiologist to determine the most appropriate hearing aid style and features for your individual needs.
When listening to the audio samples below, you may be tempted to believe that over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, like the Jabra Enhance Plus, are just as good as prescription (Rx) hearing aids. In some cases, OTC hearing aids can offer the same performance as prescription devices, but there are some important caveats to consider:
- Mild-to-moderate hearing loss: OTC hearing aids are specifically geared for users with no greater than mild-to-moderate hearing loss. When optimized for users with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, some OTC devices are capable of performing at or close to the level of Rx devices. However, had HearAdvisor tested devices programmed for a more severe hearing loss, the OTC devices would have been completely ineffective. The Rx devices tested are capable of providing much more amplification in order to meet the needs of users with severe or even profound hearing loss.
- Tuned Fit: HearAdvisor optimized the amplification of OTC and Rx devices in a lab using sophisticated tools to assist with applying appropriate sound levels for the target hearing loss. Most end users are unlikely to achieve such perfectly-beneficial settings on their own with OTC devices. On the other hand, if you seek an audiologist who performs real-ear measurements, it's likely that you can achieve HearAdvisor's Tuned Fit settings with Rx devices.
The HearingTracker Score
The SoundScore is only one part of HearingTracker's overall score, which factors in the results of a rigorous wear and use evaluation. Our review team wears each pair of hearing aids for at least a week and reviews key aspects like build quality, battery performance, Bluetooth connectivity and stability, comfort, and real-world handling. We also rate devices based on value, professional support, and app features.
:format(webp))
This holistic approach ensures that our ratings reflect not just the technical performance, but also the user experience and practical considerations that matter most when choosing the right hearing aid.
In the product card below, you'll see a HearingTracker Score of 4.8 (out of 5) in the upper left hand corner followed by an "Expert Review" section below which details all the ratings for the Phonak Audéo Infinio. Please note that SoundScore is the most heavily weighted rating in the calculation of the overall product score.
From $4,598per pair
Phonak’s Infinio Sphere delivers genuinely standout speech clarity in loud, noisy places thanks to its DEEPSONIC “Sphere mode,” but you’ll trade some discretion and may wrestle with fit or Bluetooth pairing to get that top-tier performance.
Expert Review
How we score the HearingTracker categories (beyond SoundScore)
Sound performance (our SoundScore) is the most heavily weighted part of the overall HearingTracker Score, but it isn’t the whole story. Hearing aids are worn every day in messy real life—sweat, rain, earwax, accidental drops, finicky wireless connections, and tiny controls that need to work for people with low vision or limited dexterity. The categories below capture those “ownership” factors using a mix of published specifications and hands-on evaluation.
Unless noted otherwise, categories are scored on a 1–5 scale where 5 = excellent and 1 = poor.
Build Quality
This score reflects durability and long-term reliability. We look at the manufacturer’s published ingress protection ratings (solids and liquids) and convert the combined IP value into a 1–5 score by placing it into equal brackets (based on a maximum possible combined score of 14 from IP6X + IPX8). We then rate key physical components from hands-on testing—main device housing, buttons/switches, battery door/compartment, speaker/receiver and earpiece, and the case/charger—each on a 1–5 scale. The final Build Quality score is the average across these components.
Battery
This score is about “all-day practicality”—how long the aids last, how manageable charging is, and whether they’re convenient away from home. We combine three components using a weighted average: reported battery life (65% weight), reported charge time (20%), and portable charging/power bank capability (15%). Battery life uses manufacturer-reported hours and is mapped to a 1–5 scale where 0–6 hours = 1, 6–12 = 2, 12–18 = 3, 18–24 = 4, and over 24 = 5. Charge time is mapped so that 4+ hours = 1, 3–4 = 2, 2–3 = 3, 1–2 = 4, and 0–1 = 5. Power bank capability is treated as a simple convenience bonus: if the charging case provides additional on-the-go charges, it earns the top score for that component; if not, it earns zero for that component.
Bluetooth
This score reflects core wireless audio/calling capability (separate from app controls). We award points for three common features and sum them to a maximum of 5: hands-free calling earns 1 point if supported; iOS streaming capability earns 2 points if supported; and Android (ASHA) streaming capability earns 2 points if supported.
App Features
This score captures both what the app can do and how usable it feels. We start with a simple feature checklist where each item earns 1 point if present: gain control, personalization/self-fit or in-situ testing, multi-band frequency adjustment (two or more meaningful bands, or a functional tonal tilt), noise control (directionality and/or noise reduction adjustment), and at least one additional lifestyle feature (for example tinnitus tools or health/fitness-related features). That feature score (0–5) is then averaged with a subjective Ease of Use rating (1–5) based on hands-on testing of the app’s clarity, stability, and day-to-day practicality.
Pro Support
This score reflects how much clinical guidance is available after purchase—important because hearing aids are medical devices. We assign points and sum to a maximum of 5: in-person hearing care provider support earns 2 points if available; remote hearing care provider support earns 1 point; remote technician support earns 1 point; and remote programming and/or firmware updates earns 1 point.
Comfort
This is a subjective rating of wear comfort over time. We score comfort from hands-on wear experience and also consider consistent patterns in user feedback, since comfort issues often emerge after extended daily use.
Handling
This is a subjective rating of how easy the devices are to manage—putting them on and taking them off, cleaning, inserting domes/molds, using buttons, and charging/battery changes. We pay special attention to real-world usability for people with limited dexterity or vision, informed by both hands-on testing and user feedback.
Design
This score reflects the physical design and aesthetic. Because preference varies (some people want maximum discreteness; others prefer bold style), we focus on overall modernity, finish quality, and how thoughtfully the device is designed. Smaller can be a plus, but miniaturization alone doesn’t determine the score.
Value
This score is our estimate of “what you get for the price,” relative to the overall market. We start with a base quality estimate derived from the product’s other ratings (with sound performance weighted most heavily), then apply a price-based adjustment that rewards products priced below the typical market level and penalizes products priced above it. Because hearing aid pricing is not evenly distributed, we treat price comparisons on a logarithmic scale so unusually high or low prices don’t distort the results. The final Value rating is capped at 5.0 and is automatically recalculated when prices change (since the market baseline shifts) or when any underlying quality score changes.
Ethics Statement
At HearingTracker, we are committed to providing honest, unbiased, and expert-driven hearing aid reviews. Our evaluations are based on rigorous hands-on testing, real-world wear trials, and objective sound performance measurements conducted in collaboration with HearAdvisor. While we may earn revenue when users click on our links or purchase products through our site, this does not influence our review process or ratings. Our primary goal is to empower consumers with accurate and transparent information to help them make informed decisions about their hearing care.
Learn More
To learn more about the HearingTracker team, please visit our about page. We would also welcome your feedback and questions over on our contact page.
Abram Bailey, AuD
Founder and PresidentDr. Bailey is a leading expert on consumer technology in the audiology industry. He is a staunch advocate for patient-centered hearing care and audiological best practices, and welcomes any technological innovation that improves access to quality hearing outcomes. Dr. Bailey holds an Au.D. from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Dr Steve Taddei
Doctor of AudiologySteve Taddei, Au.D., merges his audio engineering degree from Columbia College Chicago with his doctorate in audiology from Northern Illinois University to advance hearing technologies and raise hearing loss awareness as the Lab Director at HearAdvisor. He also contributes consumer-focused hearing aid and earplug reviews at HearingTracker.com, and inspires future professionals through his adjunct faculty roles at several colleges, encouraging the next generation to discover and pursue their passions.