Check out our comparison of the Jabra Enhance Select 500 vs Sennheiser Sonite Rise. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.
Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.
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.
Read full reviewThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Jabra Enhance Select 500 offers above-average sound performance, though similar results are available at lower price points in the OTC category.
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.
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.
Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.
Compatible accessories for each hearing aid
A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.
Small enough to clip onto your shirt collar, it streams phone calls and audio to your hearing aids from any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or smartphone.
The TV Connector is a small accessory that sends audio from a TV or other audio source directly to compatible hearing aids. It connects to the audio source using either an optical TOSLINK cable or a 3.5 mm analog cable, and it is powered through micro-USB. Once set up, it can stream audio wirelessly to paired hearing aids from up to about 15 m / 50 ft away, although walls, furniture, or other obstacles may reduce the range. In everyday use, the device is meant to work mostly in the background: when the TV or audio source is on, it transmits sound to the hearing aids; when no audio is detected, it goes into standby. Users can adjust the streamed audio volume using buttons on the device, and compatible hearing aids may also allow balancing TV sound against surrounding environmental sound. It supports Dolby Audio, stereo, and mono signals, but not DTS, so some TVs may require an audio-setting change or use of the analog cable instead.
A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.
Small enough to clip onto your shirt collar, it streams phone calls and audio to your hearing aids from any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or smartphone.
The Remote Control is a handheld accessory for compatible hearing aids that lets the user adjust volume and switch between hearing aid programs without using the hearing aids themselves or an app. It has separate volume up and down buttons, a program-change button, an on/off slider, an indicator light, and a battery door. It must be paired with the hearing aids before use, but pairing is only needed once; after that, it reconnects automatically. The remote uses a replaceable CR2032 lithium button-cell battery rather than a rechargeable battery. Each press of the program button moves the hearing aids to the next available program, while the plus and minus buttons raise or lower volume. Changes are applied to both hearing aids at the same time, and the hearing aids may play a confirmation beep depending on how they are configured. The guide also notes that its Bluetooth range is about 1 m, so it is meant for close-range control rather than long-distance operation.
A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.
The PartnerMic is a small clip-on microphone designed to be worn by a conversation partner so their voice can be streamed directly to compatible hearing aids. It is intended for situations where the listener wants clearer access to one person’s speech, especially when distance or background noise makes conversation harder. The microphone can be clipped to clothing or worn on a lanyard, with the guide recommending placement about 20 cm / 8 inches below the speaker’s mouth and no more than 50 cm / 20 inches away. The device has a built-in rechargeable battery, charges by USB-C, and typically takes about 2 hours to charge. It pairs once with the hearing aids and then reconnects after being turned off and on. Its streaming range is up to 25 m / 80 ft, though walls, furniture, and even the human body can reduce stability or cause dropouts. Volume is adjusted through the hearing aids or the companion app rather than directly on the microphone.
The Easy Line Remote app is a smartphone app for compatible hearing aids that lets users adjust their hearing settings and view basic hearing-related health data. It can be used to change volume, switch listening programs, adjust features such as noise reduction and microphone directionality, and fine-tune sound using equalizer presets or manual bass, middle, and treble sliders. The app also supports remote appointments with a hearing care professional, allowing hearing aid adjustments to be made during a live video call. Depending on the hearing aid model, it may track health-related information such as step count, wearing time, goals, and activity levels. It can also show battery level and device status, configure touch controls, set cleaning reminders, and provide information about connected hearing aids and accessories.
Small enough to clip onto your shirt collar, it streams phone calls and audio to your hearing aids from any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or smartphone.
A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.
Streams stereo sound from the television directly to your hearing aids from up to 22 feet away.
The TV Connector is a small accessory that sends audio from a TV or other audio source directly to compatible hearing aids. It connects to the audio source using either an optical TOSLINK cable or a 3.5 mm analog cable, and it is powered through micro-USB. Once set up, it can stream audio wirelessly to paired hearing aids from up to about 15 m / 50 ft away, although walls, furniture, or other obstacles may reduce the range. In everyday use, the device is meant to work mostly in the background: when the TV or audio source is on, it transmits sound to the hearing aids; when no audio is detected, it goes into standby. Users can adjust the streamed audio volume using buttons on the device, and compatible hearing aids may also allow balancing TV sound against surrounding environmental sound. It supports Dolby Audio, stereo, and mono signals, but not DTS, so some TVs may require an audio-setting change or use of the analog cable instead.