Elehear Beyond vs Yeasound RIC800

The Elehear Beyond is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid that delivers A-grade performance in our lab testing, ranking #8 among 65 OTC hearing aids tested. At $431, this 2024 behind-the-ear device earned our Expert's Choice Award and represents strong value in the entry-level price tier. In our testing, the Beyond demonstrated particular strength in speech clarity in quiet environments, scoring 4.3/5—a strong result that sits 1.48 points above the OTC category average. Music streaming quality also impressed at 3.8/5, exceeding the category average by 1.88 points. Speech understanding in noisy settings scored 2.3/5, which is above the category average of 1.48/5 but remains mixed in absolute terms—a common challenge across OTC devices. Feedback handling proved excellent at 4.5/5, essentially matching the category average. Own-voice comfort scored 2.6/5, slightly above the OTC average but mixed overall—users sensitive to their own voice may notice some occlusion effects. The device uses a rechargeable battery and supports streaming to both iPhone and Android devices with hands-free functionality. The Elehear Beyond is well-suited for budget-conscious consumers seeking reliable speech clarity in quieter listening situations and quality audio streaming. Those who frequently encounter challenging noise environments may find the speech-in-noise performance adequate but not exceptional. Within its price range, the Beyond outperforms competitors including the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Zepp Clarity Omni on overall sound quality.

The Yeasound RIC800 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.8/5 in our lab testing, placing it #2 among 65 OTC devices tested. At $659, this behind-the-ear rechargeable device delivers performance that significantly outpaces the category average of 3.71/5. Speech clarity is a standout strength. The RIC800 scores 4.4/5 for speech in quiet—a strong result that sits 1.63 points above the OTC category average. Speech in noise performance is more mixed at 2.4/5, though this still lands 0.93 points above the typical OTC device. Music streaming is where this device truly excels, scoring 4.3/5 and outperforming the category average by a substantial 2.38 points—making it one of the better choices for consumers who frequently stream audio from their phone. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning users shouldn't encounter whistling issues during normal wear. The tradeoff comes with own-voice comfort, which scores 2.1/5—a mixed result that falls 0.41 points below the category average. Some users may notice their own voice sounds more hollow or boomy than expected. The RIC800 earned a 2025 Expert's Choice Award and supports both iPhone and Android streaming. For consumers seeking strong speech performance and exceptional streaming quality in the OTC space, this device represents a compelling option. Those particularly sensitive to own-voice quality may want to compare alternatives, but overall performance places the RIC800 among the top tier of OTC hearing aids we've tested.