Eargo 6 Hearing Aid Reviews
Reviews, Prices, and Sound Samples
New product release
The latest product from Eargo is the new Eargo 7.
In January 2022, Eargo launched the Eargo 6—a rechargeable completely-in-canal hearing aid with Sound Adjust, a new feature that provides automatic sound adjustments. Eargo claims the new hearing aid also has improved performance in background noise and water resistance.
How much does Eargo cost?
The Eargo 6 product bundle costs $2,950 and includes two hearing aids, a charger, a 2-year warranty, and lifetime customer support. Like other Eargo hearing aids, Eargo 6 is intended to help people with mild to moderately-severe high-frequency hearing loss.
Highlights of Eargo 6
- Small direct-to-consumer CIC hearing aid
- New Sound Adjust technology
- Improved noise reduction
- New water-resistance rating of IPX7
- New “mask mode” (also available in Eargo 5)
- Sound Match™ technology offering hearing test via Eargo mobile app
- Inductive rechargeable batteries
Eargo 6 expert review
HearingTracker audiologist Matthew Allsop recently had a chance to review a pair of Eargo 6 hearing aids. He even had his father try them out. Check out his expert review and buying recommendation:
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Connectivity and streaming
Like Eargo’s previous hearing aids, Eargo 6 does not support streaming audio from Bluetooth-enabled devices. If you do receive a phone call while wearing Eargo, you would simply hold the phone to your ear and take the call as you normally would. Eargo 6, like Eargo’s other products, come with both open and closed ear tips. However, even with closed ear tips, as they are not custom fit, the hearing aids will generally provide a more “open-fitting”, meaning your ear canal is not sealed off by the device. More open fits have a higher risk of acoustic feedback whenever an object (like a phone) gets too close to your ear. It may help to hold the phone at an angle or slight distance from the ear to minimize any feedback. However, Eargo 6 and other Eargo products also incorporate a feedback reduction system to help minimize feedback, so depending on your hearing aid settings, feedback may not be an issue.
Sound Adjust
Previous Eargo Products allowed you to adjust your hearing aids to your listening environment by changing the program with a tap of the ear or via an available app. Within the app you could also adjust treble and bass to change the sound of the devices. In other words, you manually adjusted the hearing aids depending on your listening situation. Now, with Eargo 6 and the introduction of “Sound Adjust” the hearing aids will automatically make programming changes depending on your listening environment. For example, if the hearing aid automatically senses a noisy environment, the noise reduction algorithm may engage along with other programming changes. What changes are made exactly based upon the listening environment is not disclosed by Eargo. The environmental classification feature is common to most digital hearing aids on the market but is new to the Eargo and is only available within the Eargo 6 product. Like all automatic classification systems within hearing aids, the intent of the feature is to improve overall listening comfort and ease of use.
Improved Noise Reduction
Eargo 6 features an improved noise reduction system compared to previous products in that it acts on environmental noise more quickly and works in conjunction with the new Sound Adjust feature. Eargo notes that this results in a more robust noise reduction system compared to Eargo 5. They also note that the algorithm “reduces loud background noise and noise between pauses in speech, while leaving the speech energy unaffected.” The goal of any noise reduction algorithm is to help improve listening comfort in loud environments such as noisy restaurants.
It should also be noted that none of the Eargo product offerings offer directional microphones. Directional microphones are one of the best ways to minimize environmental noise for a hearing aid wearer and have the proven ability to improve speech understanding in many noisy situations. However, adding directional microphones to a hearing aid requires space for the microphone ports on the faceplate of the hearing aid as well as space for the electronics within the casing. Unfortunately, CIC hearing aids usually do not have the real-estate to incorporate directional microphones. It's a trade-off of cosmetics over added microphones and functionality. Still, the good news is that because the hearing aids are seated within your ear canal, the sounds that reach the microphones is already naturally sound treated by your ear (pinna and concha) providing a limited amount of natural directionality. While this is beneficial, it’s unlikely that the natural directionality of your ear would be as helpful as today’s current directional microphones which employ sophisticated programming to make the best of noise reduction strategies.
Water Resistance
Eargo 6 now boasts an “ingress protection” or IP rating of IPX 7 which means the hearing aids can survive water exposure for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter or less. While this doesn’t mean you should go swimming with your hearing aids in place, it does mean that if you drop them in water or forget you have them on when you get in the shower, the odds are, they will continue to work. Previous Eargo products do not carry an IP rating.
New Mask Mode
Now available in both the new Eargo 6 as well as the Eargo 5, mask mode is a feature intended to improve speech understanding when the person you are speaking with is wearing a mask. Several hearing aid companies have introduced a similar feature because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As we have all experienced, masks can make it difficult to follow a conversation and this is especially true for those affected with hearing loss. The new mask mode provides a high-frequency boost where speech sounds are often muffled by the mask.
Sound Match
Sound Match is a feature introduced with Eargo 5 and continues with Eargo 6. After completing a 10-minute tone-based hearing test using your Eargo devices, Sound Match creates a unique sound profile for each hearing aid. The purpose of the test is to better meet your individual hearing needs. As the hearing test is conducted through the hearing aids themselves, the results will reflect your individual ear shape as well as the acoustics of your selected ear tips. Once you’ve completed Sound Match, the app provides a “normal” program from which any other program changes are based.
Eargo Sound Match
Customer support and warranty
Eargo provides lifetime professional support for its hearing devices. Support is provided via the phone or smart phone app (depending on model chosen) by Hearing Care Professionals (HCPs) at the company who can answer your questions and recommend sound settings. All Eargo hearing instruments come with a 45-day full-refund policy. So, if for whatever reason you are not satisfied with the Eargo product, you can return it without a cost to you.
Eargo warranties the Eargo 6 hearing aid for 2 years; all other products carry a 1-year warranty. Should your hearing aid(s) need replacing during the warranty period there is no charge. However, if you are outside of your warranty period, Eargo will replace your hearing aid for a $249 charge. Eargo does not repair their hearing aids, they simply provide a replacement when needed.
The Eargo App
With Eargo 6 and 5, you can use the mobile phone app as a remote control for muting your hearing aids, changing listening programs, adjusting volume, tone, and background noise level. You can also change listening programs by tapping your ear if you prefer that over the app. As with their previous models, product support is provided for the lifetime of the hearing aid. With Eargo 6, 5, and Neo Hi Fi products, customer support can be accessed via the app, over the phone, or via online chat. You can schedule an appointment with an Eargo hearing professional via the app at any time. With Eargo 6 and 5 the company also provides “field upgrades” to the charger and hearing aids, which means those devices may receive future software enhancements.
The Eargo App for iOS
Eargo financing
Eargo provides an option to finance your hearing aid purchase through Ally Lending over 12 or 24 months with interest rates ranging from 0% to 29.99% APR. Before purchasing with the financing option, be sure to read this article, by Laura Wadsten at The Capitol Forum, in which Wadsten raises some concerns about the financing option and accuses Eargo of slow-walking customer service requests within its 45-day return window. HearingTracker has not independently verified these claims.
Iterative improvements
Through the years the company has continued to improve its signature CIC form factor, making it smaller and improving the “off-the-shelf” fit of the instruments. They have also continued to improve the sound processing. With Eargo 6 the primary improvements seen over Eargo 5 are the previously discussed enhanced noise reduction algorithm, improved water-resistance rating and the new automatic sound processing feature, Sound Adjust. The size of the hearing aid, the ear tips and the rechargeability features remain unchanged from the Eargo 5 device and, importantly, Bluetooth features remain absent.
Eargo product overview
Eargo sells four different products—the Eargo Max, launched in 2018, the Eargo Neo HiFi launched in 2020, the Eargo 5 launched in 2021 and Eargo 6 launched in 2022. All Eargo hearing aids are intended to fit mild to moderately-severe high-frequency hearing loss and can be ordered online or by phone.
The 2022 Eargo product lineup.
Eargo Max
Eargo Max is the company’s oldest platform and is considered their entry level hearing aid; however, it is also the least expensive aid in their portfolio priced at $1450 for a set of hearing aids. The High Frequency Average (HFA) gain is 26 dB with a 50 dB SPL input. This makes the hearing aid suitable for mild to moderately-severe high-frequency hearing losses. It includes 4 different sound profiles which are essentially volume changes but also includes noise reduction, feedback control and voice indicators for program number notification. Program changes are made by double tapping the ear with a flat, open hand.
Eargo Max does not have an accompanying smart phone app or any available remote control, so this is the only way to change the programs (volume). The pressure change created by moving your hand is sensed by the hearing aids and allows for the program change. There is not a physical button to press on the hearing instruments. Although there is no app and limited control of the device, there is still support which can be found online via a library of video tutorials or you can online chat or call and speak to an Eargo professional to help troubleshoot or setup your devices. Eargo Max has a standard 1-year warranty.
Eargo Neo HiFi
This device, introduced in 2020 also provides HFA gain of 26 dB but the company notes “increased frequency bandwidth” compared to previous generations as well as an improved feedback control and a wind noise algorithm. A step up in technology from the Eargo Max, this product is priced at $1950 for a pair of hearing aids. They again redesigned the ear tips using “tetrapalms” which may help improve comfort and sound quality for the Eargo Neo HiFi.
A smart phone app is available where you can choose listening settings and disable programs and you can also modify bass and treble. However, there is no program change via the app so the ear double tap is still required to change programs. Eargo Neo HiFi has a standard 1-year warranty.
Eargo 5
Eargo 5 was introduced in 2021, and was Eargo’s first product to make available an advanced mobile phone app and Sound Match technology. The Eargo 5 app is also shared with the new Eargo 6 product and works as a remote for changing programs, volume and treble/bass tone controls. You can also increase or decrease the noise filter as well as mute/unmute the hearing aids. For a simple program change, you can tap your ear if you prefer that method. As with their other models, product support is available as long as you own the hearing aid and but with Eargo 5 can be accessed within the mobile app.
Eargo 5 also provided a smaller form factor compared to previous generations, improved ear tips and introduced inductive rechargeability. The gain of the product however, hasn’t changed and remains at 26 dB (HFA 50).
This product is currently priced at $2450 and is standard with a 1-year warranty.
Why you should consider Eargo
- Cost-effective hearing loss solution with a range of models at different price points.
- 45-day trial period with full refund if hearing aids are returned.
- Quick turn-around when ordering the product—receive it within 2-3 days of ordering.
- Cosmetically appealing CIC design; black coloring helps to hide the instrument within the shadows of the ear canal.
- Traditional hearing test not required increasing accessibility to hearing healthcare.
- In-office visits not required for adjustments which can be advantageous to those with transportation or mobility issues and during challenges like we’ve recently seen with the pandemic. However, this is also available from other hearing aid manufacturers.
- Robust online and personalized professional support via phone call, online chat, or remote care.
- Professional support for the life of the hearing aids.
- Rechargeable devices for ease of use and good battery life on a single charge (up to 16 hours). Portable charging case will provide daily recharges for approximately 3-5 days.
- Large print left/right indicators on the hearing aids make it easy to know which device is for which ear.
- Available free, non-working sample aid to test the fit of the instruments.
- Multiple listening programs available, personalization and automatic sound processing available with greater flexibility in the higher price point hearing aids.
Potential negatives of Eargo
- No connectivity/streaming of audio from your devices such as mobile phone, TV, tablet, etc.
- Hearing aids are sold in pairs, so if you have a unilateral loss, this hearing aid may not be ideal.
- Not suitable for more significant hearing loss such as seen with flat hearing losses (hearing loss across frequency range) or more severe to profound hearing losses.
- Directional microphones not available with the product line.
- Not appropriate for young children.
- While the price point is attractive, more sophisticated, professionally fit hearing aids are also available at a similar price or even for less.
- Although you can provide a professional audiological exam to Eargo for program selection of the instruments, fine tuning is much more limited than with traditional hearing aids. The online hearing test (or in situ test via Sound Match in the Eargo 6 and 5) evaluates a narrow range of hearing frequencies and there is no understanding of how well you perceive speech in quiet and in noise, or your loudness tolerance across frequencies.
- Not a custom fit, so the hearing aids may be physically uncomfortable for some people. Eargo notes a higher return rate than that seen with traditional hearing aids and it is likely that the fit plays a factor here. However, a free fit trial with a non-working device is available.
- Although more closed domes are available, the ear tips are not custom and are meant to provide a more “open” fit. Open fits provide more comfort for your own voice but they are also more prone to feedback and low frequency gain will be limited.
- Other than the Eargo 6 and 5 which use inductive charging, properly positioning the older hearing aids in the charger may be problematic for some. However, this is true of other rechargeable hearing aids as well.
- No accessories available to connect to TVs, tablets, etc. Mobile app available for 3 highest tier products but somewhat limited functionality.
- No tinnitus features
- No telecoil availability
Eargo vs traditional hearing aids
While Eargo’s direct-to-consumer model does have the potential to improve access to hearing healthcare, it is possible to find in-person care at a similar price point or, for even less. And for many, depending on the quality of care delivered, in-person care will likely lead to better hearing outcomes.
A professional hearing test is not required to order and fit any Eargo device. Even if one is provided to Eargo, or the online or in-app test is conducted, limited information is utilized for fitting the hearing aid. In other words, only a handful of tones are tested and used to determine the initial settings of the hearing aids.
Compare this with a full spectrum of sound tested by an HCP. The HCP will not only test your response to tones across the frequency range, but also test your speech understanding in quiet and possibly also in noise. In addition, the HCP will examine your ears, discuss your health history, hearing concerns, and lifestyle and listening needs.
All of this information is used to help the HCP guide you to an appropriate amplification choice including the possible use of accessories such as a remote microphone or TV connector. The HCP may even see that you may be a candidate for other technology such as a cochlear implant and/or may refer you to other professionals such as an Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) physician if needed.
The recommended protocol when fitting hearing aids is to test your hearing aids while on your ear and match to a well-researched prescription target. The hearing aids can then be adjusted to match target and can be further programmed over time to maximize both your comfort and hearing performance. Unless you take your Eargo devices into a local audiologist, real-ear measurements and target matching simply isn’t possible. And, even if you do attempt to match targets, the limited tonal controls would likely make precisely matching a prescriptive target impossible.
If we look more closely at the cost of the Eargo 6 device, we see that the current cost is $2950 for a pair. Eargo devices, as the article notes, do not provide many of the standard features of modern digital hearing aids such as Bluetooth connectivity and variable directionality. As such, Eargo devices would be considered more mid-level or entry-level technology.
For example, we recently priced the cost of a pair of rechargeable mid-level hearing aids from a leading manufacturer at $2798. These hearing aids are sold through an HCP, allow for connectivity to both Apple and Android devices, are rechargeable and include a 3-year warranty. Similarly, Costco pricing for their Kirkland signature brand, a high-end level of technology, is $1399 a pair and also includes a charger. Both of these examples show that in-person care can be found at a lower price point while providing a higher level of technology.
So, while there are certainly advantages to the Eargo devices, mainly the ease of ordering the hearing aids and their cosmetic appeal, other more sophisticated options that provide professional in-person support may be preferred especially when cost is no longer a factor. Put another way, in-person care from a professional may be preferred to ensure that you are getting the most from your hearing healthcare investment.
Bottom Line
Eargo hearing aids offer a direct-to-consumer approach to hearing healthcare and may serve as a good entry-point for hearing aids for those with mild to moderately-severe high-frequency hearing loss. They also offer a highly cosmetically appealing hearing aid. However, as with all products, there are pros and cons, and Eargo’s novel delivery model may present additional challenges for some, especially for those with more significant hearing losses or who require wireless connectivity features and/or accessories to accommodate their listening needs.
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HearAdvisor partners with HearingTracker to provide objective laboratory performance data. All hearing aids are fitted and performance-tested for mild sloping to moderate hearing loss. All audio samples cutoff above 10kHz. *Specific model tested: Eargo 6.