Cearvol Wave vs. Lucid Hearing Tala

The Cearvol Wave is a budget-friendly OTC hearing aid with a visible in-ear design, Bluetooth streaming, app-based personalization, AUX-IN support, and a charging case that can double as a remote microphone. The main trade-off is own-voice comfort, where users may notice a more plugged-up or boomy sound. A full HearingTracker review is still pending.

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.

Cearvol Wave achieved a SoundScore of 4.4/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.49/5.

Lucid Tala achieved a SoundScore of 4.6/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #3 of 63 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.49/5.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cearvol Wave has a value score of 4.9/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Lucid Tala has a value score of 3.7/5 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.

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.

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.

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.