Eargo 7 vs. Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus

Eargo 7 provides clear speech for those with mild hearing loss, especially in quieter settings, but lacks wireless streaming.

The Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus is a pair of true wireless stereo earbuds designed to enhance speech clarity in noisy environments, featuring advanced speech amplification, beamforming directional microphones, and active noise cancellation. While not classified as hearing aids, these earbuds offer customizable sound settings through an app and are best suited for those with normal or mild hearing loss looking for improved communication in challenging listening situations.

The Eargo 7 achieved a SoundGrade of B and ranked in the top 59% in the OTC Hearing Aid category. While this places it in the upper half of OTC devices tested, its overall sound score of 3.09/5 falls below the category average of 3.43, reflecting weaknesses in noise handling and feedback performance.

Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus achieved a SoundScore of 4.07/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #4 of 8 Amplification Product devices tested. The Amplification Product category average SoundScore was 2.91/5.

Eargo 7 hearing aids appear to be well build with an IPX7 rating, making them sufficiently durable against moisture which is important given their deep ear canal placement. The portable charging case is also a nice addition and should protect Eargo well when not in use.

Conversation Clear Plus advanced earbuds have a lower ingress rating of IPx4, indicating modest water resistance. However I found their build quality decent and they do come with a nice case for storage and charging.

Eargo are extremely small making their 16 hour rechargeable battery life impressive. The case offers additional on-the-go power and I found the magnetic charging bays a nice easy to use addition.

There is much to like about these advanced earbuds, but I found the 9 hours battery life disappointing. Given their shorter life, and 5 hour recharge time, you will likely have to use them situationally throughout your day. The included portable charger is a nice addition though adding an extra 27 hours of use.

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I found Conversation Clear Plus to deliver excellent audio quality while streaming and during hands-free calls, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app also offers a "blend" feature which streaming which is a nice touch.

I found Eargo's app to be packed full of useful features like the Sound Match hearing assessment and automatic noise reduction controls. You have plenty of options for personalization though adjustments are not always reliable as Eargo relies on phone speaker commands instead of Bluetooth.

Sennheiser's Sound Control mobile app offers several useful features without being overly complicated. There is also an onboarding process that helps personalize their sound quality to your preferences, which is a nice feature even though these are technically not hearing aids.

Comfort will vary by individuals depending on your tolerance to a deeper fitting hearing aid. Overall, I found them moderately comfortable through they can cause a tickling ear sensation due to their fit.

The Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus advanced earbuds are comfortable to wear, though they're slightly larger in the ear compared to other earbuds. You might feel slightly plugged when wearing them, but that's common for this type of earbud and helps improve their sound quality.

Eargo's instant-fit, completely-in-the-canal, style is unique discrete. If you are interested in a nearly-invisible OTC hearing aid you will love their design.

Conversation Clear Plus have a unique look that stands out. I did find them slightly larger than other earbuds on the market but it was not an issue as they are comfortable and not trying to be discrete.

The Eargo 7 has a value rating of 2.1, reflecting its premium pricing relative to sound performance compared to other products tested.

Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus has a value score of 3.7/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Handling can be challenging with Eargo 7 due to the small size and reliance on tap controls. Furthermore, Eargo relies on acoustic indicators for wireless communication, which is less reliable than Bluetooth and caused me several problems.

I found Conversation Clear Plus easy to use and experienced no issues when it came time to recharge them. Both the physical buttons and Sound Control mobile app worked as expected without being complicated or limiting.

Eargo is one of the first direct to consumer hearing aids, but support is unfortunately limited to to their Client Care team and personal hearing professionals. While Eargo claims they work alongside audiologists, it is not the same as direct professional hearing care.

As Conversation Clear Plus are not hearing aids, Sennheiser has not invested in remote care from hearing care providers. You can however reach their technical support staff over email or phone.