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JLab Hear OTC vs. Rexton Reach

Check out our comparison of the JLab Hear OTC vs Rexton Reach. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.

Score
3.9
JLab Hear OTC
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JLab

Hear OTC

SoundScore 3.6/5
$99.99 per pair
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Score
4.6
Rexton Reach R-LI T 80
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Rexton

Reach R-LI T 80

SoundScore 4.5/5
$1,599.99 per pair
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Hear OTC
$99.99 per pair
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Reach
$1,599.99 per pair
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Product Overview

Hear OTC
Reach
Form Factor
Form FactorNon-custom earbud style device.
Form FactorThis type of hearing aid sits behind the ear. A wire runs along the top of the ear and down to a speaker sitting inside the ear canal. An custom-fitted mold may be required.
Expert Rating
Score
3.9
Score
4.6
User Rating
3.01 reviews
3.34 reviews
Hearing Loss LevelHearing Loss LevelThis represents HearingTracker's best guess on suitability. Please consult a licensed audiologist to confirm your own candidacy for this device.
MildModerate
MildModerateSevere
Product Features
Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroid
Hands-freeRechargeableAndroidTelecoilIP68

Expert Ratings

Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.

Hear OTC
Reach

HearingTracker Score

Hear OTC
3.9ABOVE AVERAGE

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.

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Reach
4.6EXCELLENT

Given its premium features, outstanding battery life, and strong Bluetooth connectivity, it delivers excellent value for the money.

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HearAdvisor SoundScore

Hear OTC
3.6AVERAGE

JLab Hear OTC achieved a SoundScore of 3.65/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #26 of 61 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.47/5.

Reach
4.5EXCELLENT

Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco achieved a SoundScore of 4.54/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #6 of 35 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.91/5.

Build Quality

Hear OTC
3.8BELOW AVERAGE

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.

Reach
4.9EXCELLENT

Rexton Reach T80 have an impressive build quality, featuring a top-of-the-line IP68 ingress rating. They also come with a robust portable charging case.

Battery

Hear OTC
3.0BELOW AVERAGE

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.

Reach
4.4ABOVE AVERAGE

Reach offer an impressive 39 hours of use per charge, which is plenty to get you through the day. Recharging takes 3 to 4 hours, which is longer than some other models, but this isn't a significant drawback given their exceptional battery life.

Bluetooth

Hear OTC
5.0EXCELLENT

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

Reach
5.0EXCELLENT

Rexton Reach are Bluetooth compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling.

App Features

Hear OTC
3.3BELOW AVERAGE

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.

Reach
5.0EXCELLENT

The Rexton app stands out with its user-friendly interface and modern, appealing design. It includes practical features like the ability to control the focus of your hearing aids and a mask mode to enhance speech clarity.

Comfort

Hear OTC
4.5EXCELLENT

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.

Reach
5.0EXCELLENT

I found Rexton Reach R-Li T80 to be very comfortable thanks to their ergonomic shape and earwire design. Your hearing care provider should ensure they are fitted for optimal comfort and hearing benefit.

Design

Hear OTC
4.0BELOW AVERAGE

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

Reach
4.8EXCELLENT

Rexton Reach features a modern, sleek design and are available in a variety of colors, from discreet to bold.

Value

Hear OTC
5.0EXCELLENT

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

Reach
4.3ABOVE AVERAGE

Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco has a value score of 4.3/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Handling

Hear OTC
4.0AVERAGE

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

Reach
4.5EXCELLENT

I did not run into any issues while using these hearing aids. They are very easy to use once set up by your hearing care provider. First-time users may need some practice to get accustomed to inserting the receiver-in-ear style properly.

Pro Support

Hear OTC
1.0BELOW AVERAGE

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

Reach
5.0EXCELLENT

You should receive quality hearing care and support from your provider. The Rexton App should also enhance your experience.

Lab Recordings

Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.

Hear OTC
Reach
Busy CafeBusy CafeSpeech intelligibility improvement in loud environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Hear OTC
Reach
Quiet OfficeQuiet OfficeSpeech intelligibility improvement in quiet and moderate environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Hear OTC
Reach
Streaming MusicStreaming MusicStreaming music provides a full range of bass and treble
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Hear OTC
Reach

HearingTracker partners with HearAdvisor to provide recordings and performance data from an acoustic laboratory that follows standard scientific procedures. All hearing aids are fitted and performance-tested for mild sloping to moderate hearing loss. All audio samples cutoff above 10kHz.

Accessories

Compatible accessories for each hearing aid

Hear OTC
Reach
Battery Charger
None

Travel Charger+1

This is a compact, portable charger designed for Rexton Reach R-Li T, Bicore C R-Li, and C R-Li T hearing aids. It fits in your pocket and holds enough power for three full charges, so you don’t need to find an outlet while you're out. It fully charges the hearing aids in four hours, but if you're in a hurry, a 30-minute charge gives you five hours of use. It also makes inserting and removing the hearing aids easy and automatically turns them on and off when placed in or taken out of the charger. It uses a USB-C power adapter.

Charging+ Station+1

This charger is designed for Rexton Reach R-Li T, Bicore C R-Li, and C R-Li T hearing aids, offering more than just power. While it fully charges the hearing aids in four hours (or gives five hours of use with a 30-minute charge), it also includes a built-in drying cycle and UV sanitization to keep them clean and moisture-free. It makes inserting and removing the hearing aids easy and automatically turns them on and off when placed in or taken out.

Smartphone App
None

App

The Rexton app is basically a remote control for your hearing aids that runs on your phone. It lets you tweak volume, change listening settings, and even fine-tune sound balance. You can also get real-time help from either your audiologist or an AI assistant called Rexton Assist. If your hearing aids support it, you can adjust directional hearing to focus on specific sounds, stream audio from accessories like a TV transmitter, and even get remote adjustments via TeleCare. The app works with both iPhone and Android, and setup involves a simple Bluetooth pairing process.

Smartphone Streamer + Hands FreeSmartphone Streamer + Hands FreeStreams audio from calls to hearing aids, but also picks up your voice and sends your voice to the caller.
None

Smart Mic

This compact remote microphone is compatible with Rexton Reach, Bicore, Rugged, and M-Core Li hearing aids, offering hands-free phone calls and live conversation streaming directly to your hearing aids. It doubles as a remote control for adjusting settings and can function as a conference microphone for clearer group discussions. It also streams audio from Bluetooth-enabled devices, allowing you to listen to music in stereo quality.

TV Streamer
None

Smart Transmitter 2.4+1

This TV and stereo streaming device works with Rexton Reach, Bicore, Rugged, and M-Core Li hearing aids, sending audio directly to your hearing aids without needing extra accessories. It lets you listen at your preferred volume while others adjust the TV to their own liking. Pairing is simple, no separate remote is required, and multiple Rexton hearing aid users can connect at the same time.

Hardware

Hear OTC
Reach
Bluetooth® AudioBluetooth® AudioThis hearing aid is capable of streaming Bluetooth® audio certain phones and/or devices.
  • Bluetooth® (A2DP)
  • SBC
  • AAC
  • Made for iPhone (MFi)
  • Android (ASHA)
  • Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE)
GyroscopeGyroscopeThis hearing aid is able to determine orientation using embedded sensors.
No
Yes
Hands-Free CallingHands-Free CallingIt is possible to have a hands-free phone call with this hearing aid. You are not required to hold the phone up to your mouth.
  • Bluetooth® (HFP)
  • Made for iPhone (MFi)
  • Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE)
IP RatingIP RatingIP Ratings rate sealing effectiveness of hearing aids against intrusion from foreign solid matter (dirt, dust) and moisture.
IPx4
IP68
Rechargeable BatteriesRechargeable BatteriesCharge your batteries overnight in a docking station and get a full day's use (in most cases) of battery life the following day.
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion
Tap ControlsTap ControlsThe hearing aid may be controlled by physically tapping it with your fingers.
  • Change program
  • Accept/end calls
No
TelecoilTelecoilThe hearing aid is able to pick up audio from landline telephones or public audio systems without using its acoustic microphones. This minimizes background noise and improves clarity and understanding, even over great distances. At performing arts venues, events, government meetings, etc., look for assistive listening systems (hearing loop, FM, and infrared systems), which must be provided at no cost under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other international regulations.
No
Yes
Volume RockerVolume RockerA volume rocker or wheel to allows the adjustment of volume with a finger.
No
Yes

Software Features

Hear OTC
Reach
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)ANC is different than typical hearing aid noise reduction in that it reduces both steady state and dynamic background noise using sound wave inversion.
Yes
No
Adjustment BandsAdjustment BandsThese are frequency-divided sections that can be adjusted in a hearing aid in order to amplify sounds. Although there are rarely more than 10 frequencies measured in a hearing assessment, having more bands that can be adjusted may allow for improved speech understanding and user comfort.
No
20
DirectionalityDirectionalityDepending on the types and number of microphones a hearing aid has, the hearing aid may be able to boost sounds from specific directions (by reducing sounds from other directions). This can be helpful to focus on a speaker directly in front of the hearing aid user, as well as to give the user information about where different sounds are coming from.
Yes
Advanced DirectionalityAdvanced DirectionalityAccording to documentation, Reach also offers iOmni Sound Locator, iFocus 360, and Auto Stereo iLock (narrow). Our editors could not find more information on these features.Automatic AdaptiveAutomatic AdaptiveDepending on the types and number of microphones a hearing aid has, the hearing aid may be able to boost sounds from specific directions (by reducing sounds from other directions). This can be helpful to focus on a speaker directly in front of the hearing aid user, as well as to give the user information about where different sounds are coming from.Multi-Voice FocusMulti-Voice FocusMulti-Voice Focus scans the surrounding environment 1000 times a second with four independent focus beams. This enables it to constantly adapt to the changing dynamics of the conversation and make the experience fluid and comfortable. It will boost the prominence of those in the group who are speaking while keeping track of those who are silent, and all without switching between modes, and with no delays.Speech Preservation TechnologySpeech Preservation TechnologyUses directional analysis to separate speech from noise, allowing independent processing of both signals before they are mixed together.
Echo ReductionEcho ReductionThis feature improves speech audibility by reducing the “blurring” of speech sounds that can occur in the presence of echoes.
No
Yes
Environmental AdaptationEnvironmental AdaptationThe hearing aid can detect different acoustical environments, like speech in noise, and adjust the sound of the hearing aid accordingly to drive comfort or speech understanding, etc.
No
SoundPro 3.0SoundPro 3.0SoundPro 3.0 automatically steers all sound processing features, including the new Multi-Voice Focus inputs, based on the analysis of the acoustic scene.
Extended bandwidthExtended bandwidthHearing aid provides amplification at frequencies (pitches) higher than the typical hearing aid.
No
Yes
Feedback SuppressionFeedback SuppressionIf any sound amplified by the hearing aid escapes the ear canal, it may reach the hearing aid’s own microphone and cause a harsh whistling noise. Some hearing aids are able to recognize when this feedback occurs and reduce or eliminate it.
Yes
Yes
Listening ProgramsListening ProgramsNumber of manually accessible listening programs (using push button, remote, app, or other switching method)
No
6
New User AdaptationNew User AdaptationProvider may set the hearing aid to gradually get louder over the first few weeks or months of a new hearing aid fitting. This can be convenient for new users who want to experience maximum benefit without making a lot of trips to the provider for tune ups.
No
Smart Automatic AcclimatizationSmart Automatic AcclimatizationProvider may set the hearing aid to gradually get louder over the first few weeks or months of a new hearing aid fitting. This can be convenient for new users who want to experience maximum benefit without making a lot of trips to the provider for tune ups.
Noise ReductionNoise ReductionThis feature uses modern hearing aids’ processing power to examine the incoming sound signal, determine if noise is present and reduce the volume of the troublesome sound to increase comfort.
No
Yes
Own Voice ComfortOwn Voice ComfortAmplification is applied differently to your own voice versus the other voices around you. This allows adequate amplification of people you want to hear and no over-amplification of your own voice.
No
My Voice 2.0My Voice 2.0My Voice 2.0 is a hearing aid feature that identifies when the wearer is speaking by analyzing how sound reaches the hearing aids' microphones based on head shape and microphone placement. When the wearer speaks, the hearing aids adjust their processing specifically for the user's voice, making it sound more natural and less amplified.
Processing ChannelsProcessing ChannelsThese are all the frequency-divided sections the hearing aid is able to examine at a single time. The hearing aid uses this information to determine whether the contents of each section are noise, speech, or something else and amplify the sound in each section accordingly.
No
48
Tinnitus ReliefTinnitus ReliefTinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be addressed by hearing aids in several different ways, such as introducing a soft therapeutic signal or targeted notched noise.
No
Sound therapy and notchSound therapy and notchTinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be addressed by hearing aids in several different ways, such as introducing a soft therapeutic signal or targeted notched noise.
Unique Amplification StrategyUnique Amplification StrategyHearing aids all process sounds a little bit differently. Sometimes it varies even within one model.
No
Motion SensorMotion SensorDetects your movements in real-time and, using Rexton’s High Resolution Soundpro technology, automatically adapts its sound settings to your hearing situation.Voice StabilizerVoice StabilizerVoice Stabilizer controls the compression to secure that all voices within the focus beam are amplified in the best linear ways when the sound goes too loud. It keeps the signal-to-noise ratio positive to help users focusing on the signal with most contrast. Benefit: voices remain untouched while surrounding noise is managed.
Wind Noise ReductionWind Noise ReductionAs wind blows against the microphones of hearing aids, unpleasant noise may be generated. Some hearing aids have the ability to recognize this wind noise and reduce its level. Such reductions may also affect the audibility of desired sounds, like speech.
No
Yes