Eargo 5 vs Yeasound RIC800

The Eargo 5 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid ($1,450) featuring an invisible-in-ear design with rechargeable batteries. In our lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.6/5, placing it in the top 52% of the OTC hearing aid category. This device demonstrates solid performance for speech understanding in quiet environments, scoring 3.5/5—0.75 points above the category average of 2.79/5. Own-voice comfort also measures above average at 2.8/5 (+0.29 vs category), though this remains mixed in absolute terms. Feedback handling is strong at 4.2/5, providing reliable stability during wear. However, the Eargo 5 shows notable limitations in other areas. Speech in noise performance is low at 1.4/5, slightly below the category average. Most significantly, music streaming scored 0.0/5, falling 1.92 points below the category average—this device does not support audio streaming functionality. The invisible-in-ear form factor appeals to users prioritizing discretion, and the closed sleeve coupling remains consistent between initial and tuned fits. Tuning provided modest improvement, moving from a normalized Initial Score of 3.5/5 to a Tuned Score of 3.7/5. Given its premium price point, consumers may want to compare against alternatives like the Sony CRE-C10 or Nuance Audio Glasses, which offer similar or better sound performance at lower price points. The Eargo 5 is best suited for users who prioritize cosmetic discretion and primarily need help with speech in quieter settings.

The Yeasound RIC800 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5 in our lab testing, placing it in the top 2% of the OTC hearing aid category and ranking #2 out of 65 devices tested. Priced at $659, this behind-the-ear rechargeable device delivers strong performance that competes favorably against other options in its price range. In our testing, the RIC800 demonstrated strong speech clarity in quiet environments, scoring 4.4/5—a full 1.63 points above the category average of 2.79. Speech understanding in noisy situations scored 2.4/5, which is 0.93 points above the category average but remains mixed in absolute terms. This pattern is common even among higher-scoring OTC devices, where challenging noise environments continue to be difficult. Streaming quality stands out as a particular strength, scoring 4.3/5—an impressive 2.38 points above the category average of 1.92. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5. However, own-voice comfort scored 2.1/5, falling 0.41 points below the category average, which some users may notice during conversations. The RIC800 supports both iPhone and Android streaming and features rechargeable batteries. It earned a 2025 Expert's Choice Award. Among similarly priced competitors like the Sony CRE-E10 (4.66/5) and Lexie B2 Plus (4.41/5), the Yeasound RIC800 leads in overall sound performance. This device is best suited for those prioritizing speech clarity and music streaming quality who can accept some own-voice trade-offs.