Jabra Enhance Select 500 vs. Orka Two

The Jabra Enhance Select 500 earned a SoundGrade of A and ranked in the top 5% of devices tested by HearAdvisor. With GN Resound technology, it has an IP68 rating, 30-hour battery life, and reliable Bluetooth. While streaming audio quality was not high-fidelity, the Jabra Enhance App offers good audio personalization. The device includes telehealth and remote programming, though support response times were slower than expected. Lightweight and compact, with larger buttons for ease of use, the receiver-in-canal design may take some adjustment.

The Orka Two hearing aids offer sleek, modern design and advanced wireless features, including Bluetooth connectivity and hands-free calling for both iOS and Android devices.

The Jabra Enhance Select 500 achieved a SoundGrade of A and ranked #9 in the OTC Hearing Aid category, placing it in the top 14% of the 56 OTC devices tested by HearAdvisor.

The Orka Two achieved a SoundGrade of B and ranked in the top 62% in the Prescription Hearing Aid category. While solid, this mid-tier positioning means several competitors in the same price range deliver stronger overall sound performance in HearAdvisor's standardized testing.

Quality is fantastic when it comes to Jabra hearing aids as they share technology from GN Resound. Select 500 have a solid ingress rating of IP68 and the portable charging case will have no problems handling daily use.

Orka Two have a published ingress rating of IPX6, meaning they have some moisture protection but they are not waterproof. They appear very well built, nearly on par with prescription hearing aids.

Jabra have stepped up their game with a 30 hour battery life, ensuring you get through the day even with streaming. The case also holds enough power for 3 addition charges which is plenty for a weekend excursion.

Orka Two are rechargeable and you can expect up to 12 hours of battery life per charge. This is less than many modern hearing aids and may limit all-day use for some. The case does offer on-the-go power which takes only 1.5 hours for a full recharge.

Bluetooth was straightforward and reliable, working seamlessly without any issues. While the streamed audio quality has improved, it needs work before I'd consider it hi-fidelity.

Orka has made sure their hearing aid offers excellent Bluetooth features for both iOS and Android users. You can expect wireless streaming, app control, and hands free calls across both platforms.

The Jabra Enhance App mirrors the useful features available in Resounds medical hearing aid app. I found it to offer plenty of options to personalize audio quality beyond the custom programming.

Orka Two's app is a nice addition with many useful features, such as personalization through an app-based hearing assessment.

I found 500 very comfortable given their shockingly small and lightweight design. The button are also larger than many OTC products making setting changes easier.

Orka Two are very comfortable thanks to their smaller size and ergonomic design. Their team of hearing care professionals can also assist you in optimizing comfort based on the available earwire and ear tip sizes.

Jabra has done a nice job redesigning prescription technology for the direct-to-consumer market. Select 500 is sleek, with a range of stylish colors, and sat discretely behind my ear.

These hearing aids appear very modern and have a sleek design similar to Apple products.

The Jabra Enhance Select 500 offers above-average sound performance, though similar results are available at lower price points in the OTC category.

The Orka Two offers moderate value, though higher-scoring devices are available at this price point.

500 are easy to use, though receiver-in-canal devices might take a bit of practice. Pro support can assist, and the easy charging case makes on-the-go charging a breeze.

Orka Two are fairly easy to use, though the receiver-in-canal style may require some practice for people just starting out. While these hearing aids do not have physical buttons, the portable charging case does offering you options beyond their nifty tap-controls.

Jabra has arguably the best pro support offering among OTC devices, providing telehealth with hearing care providers, remote programming, and tech support. However, the support I received while trying Select 500 was slower than expected.

Orka offer relatively good pro support for an OTC company. You receive unlimited remote support and adjustments from their team of licensed hearing care professionals.