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Audicus Spirit vs. Lucid Hearing Tala

Check out our comparison of the Audicus Spirit vs Lucid Hearing Tala. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.

Audicus Spirit
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Audicus

Spirit

$1,798 per pair
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Score
4.0
Lucid Hearing Tala
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Lucid Hearing

Tala

SoundScore 4.6/5
$1,299.99 per pair
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Spirit
$1,798 per pair
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Tala
$1,299.99 per pair
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Product Overview

Spirit
Tala
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
N/A
Score
4.0
User Rating
4.02 reviews
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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.
MildModerate
MildModerate
Product Features
RechargeableiPhoneAndroidTelecoilIP68
Hands-freeRechargeableAndroidIP22

Expert Ratings

Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.

Spirit
Tala

HearingTracker Score

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
4.0ABOVE AVERAGE

While it features customizable sound settings through the Lucid Hearing app and boasts a 16-hour battery life, it lacks ear-level controls and has subpar Bluetooth audio quality, making it a mixed bag for users.

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HearAdvisor SoundScore

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
4.6EXCELLENT

Lucid Tala achieved a SoundScore of 4.64/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #3 of 61 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.47/5.

Build Quality

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
3.5BELOW AVERAGE

Tala is an impressive OTC hearing aid though it does not seem to have the best build quality. I found the plastic casing of Tala and the charging case

Battery

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
3.1BELOW AVERAGE

Tala hearing aids packs some impressive features, but the build quality isn't great. Both the hearing aids and portable charger appear to be made of thin plastic, which aligns with its lower ingress rating of IP22.

Bluetooth

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
5.0EXCELLENT

I was pleased to learn that Tala offer audio streaming and hands-free calls for both iOS and Android, but make sure you purchase the right version as they are mobile OS specific. While the audio quality is not great, it is still a great feature to have.

App Features

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
3.8BELOW AVERAGE

Lucid's app offers many useful features, like the 7-band equalizer LucidShape, and recently received an update improving the overall appearance. You will definitely want to use the app to get the most out of Tala hearing aids.

Comfort

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
4.0AVERAGE

I found Tala lightweight and had no issues with them fitting and staying in my ears. They are not as occluding as some other earbud-like hearing aids so I felt less plugged, though this can hurt audio performance in various ways.

Design

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
3.9BELOW AVERAGE

Tala hearing aids have an interesting earbud-like design that stands out, but it is not the most modern-looking option available. Its bright white color also makes it very noticeable in ear which can be good or bad depending on your preferences.

Value

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
3.7AVERAGE

Lucid Tala has a value score of 3.7/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Handling

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
5.0EXCELLENT

Tala are easy to use, but they lack physical buttons, so you'll need to use the app for adjustments. The included case also works well, but be careful to place the left and right hearing aids in the correct charging slots.

Pro Support

Spirit

Not yet rated by our experts

Tala
2.0BELOW AVERAGE

Lucid is a step above some other OTC companies as they offer lifetime support from licensed professionals. This is not the same as in person can but it is a great addition even for those familiar with hearing aids.

Lab Recordings

Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.

Spirit
Tala
Busy CafeBusy CafeSpeech intelligibility improvement in loud environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Spirit

Lab recordings not yet available

Tala
Quiet OfficeQuiet OfficeSpeech intelligibility improvement in quiet and moderate environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Spirit

Lab recordings not yet available

Tala
Streaming MusicStreaming MusicStreaming music provides a full range of bass and treble
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Spirit

Lab recordings not yet available

Tala

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

Spirit
Tala
Remote Control

RemoteControl

Hearing Remote App+1

None
Remote Microphone

Partner Mic

None
TV Streamer

TV Connector

Streams TV audio via Bluetooth.

None

Hardware

Spirit
Tala
Bluetooth® AudioBluetooth® AudioThis hearing aid is capable of streaming Bluetooth® audio certain phones and/or devices.
  • Bluetooth® (A2DP)
  • Made for iPhone (MFi)
  • Android (ASHA)
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.
No
  • Made for iPhone (MFi)
  • Android (ASHA)
IP RatingIP RatingIP Ratings rate sealing effectiveness of hearing aids against intrusion from foreign solid matter (dirt, dust) and moisture.
IP68
IP22
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
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

Spirit
Tala
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.
14
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.
Binural synchronizationBinural synchronizationBinaural synchronization of hearing aids for volume and program control
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.
No
Precision Directional Listening System (PDL™)Precision Directional Listening System (PDL™)With Tala, the directional microphones focus on what’s in front of you, effectively reducing background noise and enhancing speech intelligibility.
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.
Universal auto-adaptive programUniversal auto-adaptive programDefault universal auto-adaptive program adjusts to environments, amplifying close sounds while eliminating background noise
No
Listening ProgramsListening ProgramsNumber of manually accessible listening programs (using push button, remote, app, or other switching method)
4
No
Processing ChannelsProcessing ChannelsThese are all the frequency-divided sections the hearing aid is able to examine at a single time. The hearing aid uses this information to determine whether the contents of each section are noise, speech, or something else and amplify the sound in each section accordingly.
14
No
Self-fittingSelf-fittingThis hearing aid allows you to fit yourself without professional assistance. Typically found in OTC products.
No
  • Tuned based on audio preference selections
  • Tuned by user directly
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 MaskerTinnitus, 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.
No