Cearvol Diamond X1 Hero

Cearvol Diamond X1 Expert Review

Budget OTC
Released 
2024

Summary

The Cearvol Diamond X1 is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid that earned a B grade in HearAdvisor's lab testing, placing it in the middle of the pack among OTC devices. At $309.99, it competes in a crowded price segment where several alternatives deliver stronger overall performance.

In our testing, the Diamond X1 showed a notable strength in music streaming quality, scoring well above the category average. This makes it a reasonable choice for users who prioritize listening to audio content through their hearing aids. However, speech performance—the core function most hearing aid users need—fell below average in both quiet and noisy environments across both fit conditions.

The device uses a closed dome coupling in both initial and tuned configurations. While tuning improved speech-in-quiet scores modestly, the gains were limited, and speech-in-noise performance remained below category norms. Own-voice comfort was a significant weakness, scoring well below average due to occlusion effects from the closed coupling.

Budget shoppers in this price range should consider alternatives like the Elehear Beyond, which achieved a substantially higher score of 4.35 at a similar price point. The Diamond X1 may appeal to users who value music streaming and have modest speech understanding needs, but those prioritizing conversation clarity in varied environments will likely find better options among its direct competitors.

In the initial fit condition with closed dome coupling, the Cearvol Diamond X1 delivered below-average performance on speech metrics, with speech-in-quiet and speech-in-noise scores falling short of category norms. The closed dome contributed to noticeable occlusion, resulting in own-voice comfort well below average at 1.70/5. However, music streaming quality was a standout at 4.10/5, performing well above typical OTC devices. Feedback handling matched the category average. The overall initial fit score of 2.31/5 reflects limited speech benefit out of the box.

The tuned fit maintained the same closed dome coupling, yielding modest improvements in speech performance. Speech-in-quiet improved from 2.30 to 2.70, though it remained below average for the category. Speech-in-noise saw minimal gains, rising only to 1.30/5. Own-voice occlusion issues persisted unchanged at 1.70/5, suggesting the closed coupling limits comfort optimization. Music streaming and feedback handling remained consistent with initial fit results. The overall tuned fit score improved slightly to 2.50/5, indicating limited tuning headroom with this device.

Lab Review Scores

B
SoundGrade
Initial Score
3.4
Tuned Score
3.6
Speech in quiet
best
2.3
5.0
Own voice
best
1.7
5.0
Speech in noise
best
1.1
5.0
Feedback handling
best
4.5
5.0
Music streaming
best
4.1
5.0

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Lab recordings

Adjust volume to make "No hearing aids" as loud as it would be in the real world, without hearing aids. Remove hearing aids while auditioning. High-quality headphones will improve results!
Cearvol Diamond X1 Lab

Lab notes

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Initial Fitting
Closed Dome
Tuned Fitting
Closed Dome

Specs

Visible in Ear
Visible in Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries
iPhone Streaming
iPhone Streaming
Android Streaming
Android Streaming