Cearvol Wave vs. JLab Hear OTC

Cearvol Wave is an affordable earbud-style OTC hearing aid with Bluetooth streaming, self-fitting controls, wired audio input, and a touchscreen charging case. Current lab results show useful speech benefit and good music streaming, with a B SoundGrade. Shorter runtime, a plugged-up own voice, and remote-microphone delay are its main compromises.

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.

Cearvol Wave achieved a SoundScore of 3.9/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #22 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

JLab Hear OTC achieved a SoundScore of 3.5/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #36 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

We found Cearvol Wave to feel well built, especially the portable charging case, though they have a lower IPx5 rating. This suggests you should take extra care and limit exposing them to moisture and debris.

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.

Wave's battery life falls below many other hearing aids with a max use time of up to 10 hours per charge. You can expect shorter run times in their Restaurant program and with heavy use of Wave's wireless audio features. While this could be better, Wave offer a quick-charge feature where 15 minute in the case gives you an additional 3 hours of use.

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.

Cearvol Wave are Bluetooth compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling. The case also offers unique additional wireless features.

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

We found the Cearvol mobile app to offer many useful features for general sound customization. The user-interface could be modernized, though the large numbers and icons make it easier to see what you are adjusting.

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.

I found Wave comfortable to wear with a nice "twist-in" feel. My main complaint is that they protrude slightly from the ear which can make them more prone to catching on things.

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.

Wave offer a modern earbud-like design. This, along with their black and silver color, make them very noticeable in your ears. Depending on your preferences this can be a pro or a con.

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

Cearvol Wave has a value score of 4.8/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

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

Handling is one area where Wave shine. The portable charging case includes a touch-screen and doubles as a wireless remote control for your hearing aids. It also offers additional features like a remote microphone and direct audio input.

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

Cearvol mention offering both remote and online support from hearing care providers. You also have 24/5 access to their support specialists. In my experiences, they are quick to respond and you can easily receive help from a human.

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