Eargo 8 vs Signia Active Mini IX

The Eargo 8 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid ($2,399) that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.3/5 in our lab testing. This invisible-in-ear device represents Eargo's 2025 flagship offering, featuring a rechargeable design that sits completely within the ear canal. In our testing, the Eargo 8 showed mixed performance across key metrics. Speech clarity in quiet environments is a relative strength, scoring 0.27 points above the OTC category average. Own-voice comfort also performs well, measuring 0.69 points above average at 3.2/5—a solid result that suggests reduced occlusion effects during conversation. However, speech understanding in noisy environments scored 1.2/5, which is both low in absolute terms and 0.27 points below the category average. The most significant limitation we measured was music streaming, which scored 0.0/5—nearly 2 points below the OTC average. This makes the Eargo 8 unsuitable for users who prioritize streaming audio quality. Feedback handling is strong in absolute terms at 4.2/5, though slightly below the category average. At its premium price point, the Eargo 8 faces stiff competition. Several devices in our database deliver comparable or better sound performance at lower prices, including alternatives from Eargo's own lineup. The Eargo 8 is best suited for users who prioritize invisible cosmetics and own-voice comfort over streaming capability and value, and who primarily need help hearing speech in quieter settings.

The Signia Active Mini IX is a premium prescription hearing aid with a visible-in-ear design, priced at $4,696. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.5/5, ranking #14 of 39 prescription hearing aids tested—placing it in the top 33% of its category. This device demonstrates strong speech clarity performance in our testing. Speech in quiet scored 4.1/5, which is +0.71 points above the category average of 3.40/5. Speech in noise measured 2.6/5—above the category average by +0.46 points, though only mixed in absolute terms at 2.6/5. Music streaming is a notable strength at 3.6/5, outperforming the category average by +0.84 points. Own-voice comfort scored a solid 3.2/5, sitting +0.50 points above average. However, feedback handling represents a limitation for this device, scoring 2.5/5—a mixed result that falls -2.22 points below the category average of 4.72/5. Users sensitive to feedback may want to discuss this with their hearing care provider. The Signia Active Mini IX delivers excellent overall sound performance with particular strengths in speech clarity and streaming audio quality. It's best suited for users who prioritize these capabilities and can work with their provider to manage the feedback handling limitations. The earbud-style design offers a modern, discreet appearance for those who prefer visible-in-ear devices.