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Audicus Omni 2 vs. JLab Hear OTC

Check out our comparison of the Audicus Omni 2 vs JLab Hear OTC. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.

Score
4.2
Audicus Omni 2 Rechargeable
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Audicus

Omni 2 Rechargeable

SoundScore 4.3/5
$1,798 per pair
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Score
3.9
JLab Hear OTC
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JLab

Hear OTC

SoundScore 3.6/5
$99.99 per pair
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Omni 2
$1,798 per pair
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Hear OTC
$99.99 per pair
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Product Overview

Omni 2
Hear OTC
Form Factor
Form FactorThis type of hearing aid sits behind the ear. A wire runs along the top of the ear and down to a speaker sitting inside the ear canal. An custom-fitted mold may be required.
Form FactorNon-custom earbud style device.
Expert Rating
Score
4.2
Score
3.9
User Rating
—
3.01 reviews
Hearing Loss LevelHearing Loss LevelThis represents HearingTracker's best guess on suitability. Please consult a licensed audiologist to confirm your own candidacy for this device.
MildModerateSevere
MildModerate
Product Features
Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroidTelecoilIP68
Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroid

Expert Ratings

Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.

Omni 2
Hear OTC

HearingTracker Score

Omni 2
4.2ABOVE AVERAGE

Audicus Omni 2 is a polished “premium OTC” RIC built on proven Sonova/Unitron tech, with a smaller design, strong speech enhancement in quieter settings, reliable universal Bluetooth and hands-free calling, and a simple, capable app, but its rechargeable battery life is only middling and the remote-care model feels more limited and less modern than some top direct-to-consumer competitors.

Read full review
Hear OTC
3.9ABOVE AVERAGE

The JLab HEAR OTC Hearing Aid offers an affordable and user-friendly solution for those with mild to moderate hearing loss, featuring customizable sound settings and a sleek design. Extensive testing reveals its effective performance in various environments, making it a reliable choice for everyday use.

Read full review

HearAdvisor SoundScore

Omni 2
4.3ABOVE AVERAGE

Audicus Omni 2 achieved a SoundScore of 4.32/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #8 of 61 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.47/5.

Hear OTC
3.6AVERAGE

JLab Hear OTC achieved a SoundScore of 3.65/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #26 of 61 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.47/5.

Build Quality

Omni 2
4.8EXCELLENT

I found the build quality of Omni Series 2 top-notch which is consistent with a prescription hearing aid redesigned for the OTC market. With a durable ingress rating of IP68, these hearing aids should last many years with a good maintenance regiment.

Hear OTC
3.8BELOW AVERAGE

The portable charger is flimsy and HEAR have a lower egress rating of IPX4. However, with some extra care and cleaning they should hold up to regular daily use.

Battery

Omni 2
4.0AVERAGE

Omni Series 2 have a 16 hour battery life, which less than many other prescription level hearing aids. However, Audicus also offers a disposable battery option which you may prefer based on your needs and preferences.

Hear OTC
3.0BELOW AVERAGE

HEAR do not offer enough power for all-day use with a battery life of 10 hours (less with streaming). The battery life is however respectable for a wireless earbud.

Bluetooth

Omni 2
5.0EXCELLENT

Omni Series 2 are Made for All (MFA) with Universal Bluetooth compatibility for iOS and Android devices. I found the Bluetooth features highly reliable and easy to use, just as you would expect with reputable hearing aids. Various wireless accessories are also available which can be very useful.

Hear OTC
5.0EXCELLENT

HEAR offer wireless connectivity for both iOS and Android users. I personally experienced stable streaming and phone calls with my iPhone 12.

App Features

Omni 2
4.3AVERAGE

The app is user-friendly, with many handy features such as hearing based personalization and multi-band adjustments. You should find plenty of tools to tailor Omni 2 to your preferences.

Hear OTC
3.3BELOW AVERAGE

The JLab Hearing Health app offers a nice feature set for personalization. Some elements could be more user friendly, but it makes sense after a little troubleshooting.

Comfort

Omni 2
5.0EXCELLENT

I found Omni Series 2 very comfortable with their slim design and modern earwire design. You will also have plenty of options to improve fit and sound with different ear tips, earwire sizes, and expert remote support.

Hear OTC
4.5EXCELLENT

HEAR are comfortable and had good retention in my ears. They completely seal your ear when worn properly but feel less “plugging” as they are lightweight.

Design

Omni 2
4.7EXCELLENT

Sleek and modern, Omni Series 2 feature a contemporary earwire receiver design and come with a strong charging case. This showcases Audicus's, and their parent company Sonova's, renowned quality.

Hear OTC
4.0BELOW AVERAGE

This is highly personalized, but HEAR look like modern earbuds and distance themselves from the negative stigma some attribute to hearing aids.

Value

Omni 2
3.7AVERAGE

Audicus Omni 2 has a value score of 3.7/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Hear OTC
5.0EXCELLENT

JLab Hear OTC has a value score of 5.0/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Handling

Omni 2
4.5EXCELLENT

Overall, my experience using Omni 2 was straightforward with no major issues. There are many options for personalizing Omni 2, such as the app and remote case, which were easy to use and worth taking advantage of to get the most out these hearing aids.

Hear OTC
4.0AVERAGE

I ran into a few issues with my initial Bluetooth pairing but HEAR and the touch controls work well otherwise.

Pro Support

Omni 2
3.0ABOVE AVERAGE

Audicus provides superior support compared to many OTC hearing aid companies, offering remote phone and email assistance from hearing experts. While the remote programming works effectively, it feels a bit outdated compared to what other modern prescription hearing aids offer.

Hear OTC
1.0BELOW AVERAGE

JLab falls short on actual hearing care as help is limited to their online Help Center and or standard Customer Support.

Lab Recordings

Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.

Omni 2
Hear OTC
Busy CafeBusy CafeSpeech intelligibility improvement in loud environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Omni 2
Hear OTC
Quiet OfficeQuiet OfficeSpeech intelligibility improvement in quiet and moderate environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Omni 2
Hear OTC
Streaming MusicStreaming MusicStreaming music provides a full range of bass and treble
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Omni 2
Hear OTC

HearingTracker partners with HearAdvisor to provide recordings and performance data from an acoustic laboratory that follows standard scientific procedures. All hearing aids are fitted and performance-tested for mild sloping to moderate hearing loss. All audio samples cutoff above 10kHz.

Accessories

Compatible accessories for each hearing aid

Omni 2
Hear OTC
Battery Charger

Battery Charger

Charges hearing aids.

None
Remote Control

Hearing Remote App+2

An app for iPhones and Android smartphones that not only lets you change programs, control volume and adjust the sound quality of your hearing aids, but also receive fine tuning adjustments from your hearing care provider all from the comfort of your own home.

None
Remote Microphone

Partner Mic

None
TV Streamer

TV Connector

Streams TV audio via Bluetooth.

None

Hardware

Omni 2
Hear OTC
Bluetooth® AudioBluetooth® AudioThis hearing aid is capable of streaming Bluetooth® audio certain phones and/or devices.
  • Bluetooth® (A2DP)
  • Bluetooth® (A2DP)
  • SBC
  • AAC
Disposable BatteriesDisposable BatteriesCommon disposable batteries last anywhere from a few days to two weeks or more. For more information Google "how long do hearing aid batteries last" and click on the Hearing Tracker link.
312
No
Hands-Free CallingHands-Free CallingIt is possible to have a hands-free phone call with this hearing aid. You are not required to hold the phone up to your mouth.
  • Bluetooth® (HFP)
  • Bluetooth® (HFP)
IP RatingIP RatingIP Ratings rate sealing effectiveness of hearing aids against intrusion from foreign solid matter (dirt, dust) and moisture.
IP68
IPx4
Push ButtonPush ButtonThe hearing aid features a push button which allows toggling across different sound processing programs
  • Program control
  • Volume Control
  • Audio Stream Mix
No
Rechargeable BatteriesRechargeable BatteriesCharge your batteries overnight in a docking station and get a full day's use (in most cases) of battery life the following day.
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion
Tap ControlsTap ControlsThe hearing aid may be controlled by physically tapping it with your fingers.
  • Voice assistant
  • Accept/end calls
  • Pause/Resume
  • Change program
  • Accept/end calls
TelecoilTelecoilThe hearing aid is able to pick up audio from landline telephones or public audio systems without using its acoustic microphones. This minimizes background noise and improves clarity and understanding, even over great distances. At performing arts venues, events, government meetings, etc., look for assistive listening systems (hearing loop, FM, and infrared systems), which must be provided at no cost under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other international regulations.
Yes
No
Volume RockerVolume RockerA volume rocker or wheel to allows the adjustment of volume with a finger.
Yes
No

Software Features

Omni 2
Hear OTC
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)ANC is different than typical hearing aid noise reduction in that it reduces both steady state and dynamic background noise using sound wave inversion.
No
Yes
Adjustment BandsAdjustment BandsThese are frequency-divided sections that can be adjusted in a hearing aid in order to amplify sounds. Although there are rarely more than 10 frequencies measured in a hearing assessment, having more bands that can be adjusted may allow for improved speech understanding and user comfort.
20
No
Adjustment SynchronizationAdjustment SynchronizationThis feature allows for a more pleasant listening experience by ensuring that both hearing aids process sound the same way. If one hearing aid changes its processing in response to noise or speech, it will send a wireless signal to the other hearing aid so both process sound in the same way.
DuoLinkDuoLinkWirelessly adjust both hearing devices at the same time, just by adjusting one aid.
No
DirectionalityDirectionalityDepending on the types and number of microphones a hearing aid has, the hearing aid may be able to boost sounds from specific directions (by reducing sounds from other directions). This can be helpful to focus on a speaker directly in front of the hearing aid user, as well as to give the user information about where different sounds are coming from.
Auto TargetAuto TargetA feature that, according to Audicus, finds and enhances speech even in your most challenging environments.AutoFocusAutoFocusA feature that enhances speech even in your client's most challenging environments.
Yes
Ear SimulationEar SimulationThe outer ear, or pinna, can have a significant effect on the frequency shape of sound arriving at your inner ear. Some hearing aids mimic the "pinna effect" when producing sound, to deliver more natural sound to the listener.
Pinna EffectPinna EffectPinna Effect recreates the natural acoustics of the ear’s pinna, providing a much more true-to-life directionality, particularly in the high frequencies.
No
Environmental AdaptationEnvironmental AdaptationThe hearing aid can detect different acoustical environments, like speech in noise, and adjust the sound of the hearing aid accordingly to drive comfort or speech understanding, etc.
Yes
No
Feedback SuppressionFeedback SuppressionIf any sound amplified by the hearing aid escapes the ear canal, it may reach the hearing aid’s own microphone and cause a harsh whistling noise. Some hearing aids are able to recognize when this feedback occurs and reduce or eliminate it.
Feedback managerFeedback managerIf any sound amplified by the hearing aid escapes the ear canal, it may reach the hearing aid’s own microphone and cause a harsh whistling noise. Some hearing aids are able to recognize when this feedback occurs and reduce or eliminate it.
Yes
Frequency LoweringFrequency LoweringUnderstanding certain speech sounds is dependent on the high frequency parts of these sounds. For individuals with high frequency hearing loss, this feature can take high frequency speech information and move it to lower frequencies where it will be audible.
Frequency compression 2Frequency compression 2Understanding certain speech sounds is dependent on the high frequency parts of these sounds. For individuals with high frequency hearing loss, this feature can take high frequency speech information and move it to lower frequencies where it will be audible.
No
Noise ReductionNoise ReductionThis feature uses modern hearing aids’ processing power to examine the incoming sound signal, determine if noise is present and reduce the volume of the troublesome sound to increase comfort.
Dynamic Noise ReductionDynamic Noise ReductionThis feature uses modern hearing aids’ processing power to examine the incoming sound signal, determine if noise is present and reduce the volume of the troublesome sound to increase comfort.
No
Phone in StereoPhone in StereoThis feature allows input from a phone presented to one hearing aid to be transmitted to both hearing aids at the same time, improving speech understanding.
Binaural PhoneBinaural PhonePhone in both ears automatically.
No
Soft Speech BoostSoft Speech BoostMore aggressive amplification for softer speech sounds
Soft speech liftSoft speech liftMore aggressive amplification for softer speech sounds
No
Spatial AwarenessSpatial AwarenessListening to sound through hearing aids is not a natural experience, and your ability to tell where a sound is coming from may be impacted by the way sounds are amplified with hearing aids. Some hearing aids attempt to fix this problem by preserving cues to sound localization like between-ear level differences, etc.
Yes
No
Sudden Loud Noise ReductionSudden Loud Noise ReductionThis feature detects loud sounds and reduces their volume to a comfortable level. Though not a replacement for hearing protection, this technology can greatly improve listener comfort.
Pulse ProtectPulse ProtectImpulse noise removal feature
No
Tinnitus ReliefTinnitus ReliefTinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be addressed by hearing aids in several different ways, such as introducing a soft therapeutic signal or targeted notched noise.
Tinnitus maskerTinnitus maskerUnitron’s tinnitus masker is a noise generator, intended to provide a sound enrichment source that stimulates the auditory system. The tinnitus masker is intended to be used as part of a comprehensive tinnitus therapy program that works to distract the wearer’s attention away from the sound of their tinnitus.
No
Unique Amplification StrategyUnique Amplification StrategyHearing aids all process sounds a little bit differently. Sometimes it varies even within one model.
Speech IntensifierSpeech IntensifierEnhances general speech signal for better understanding
No
Wind Noise ReductionWind Noise ReductionAs wind blows against the microphones of hearing aids, unpleasant noise may be generated. Some hearing aids have the ability to recognize this wind noise and reduce its level. Such reductions may also affect the audibility of desired sounds, like speech.
Wind controlWind controlAs wind blows against the microphones of hearing aids, unpleasant noise may be generated. Some hearing aids have the ability to recognize this wind noise and reduce its level. Such reductions may also affect the audibility of desired sounds, like speech.
No