Fortell AI Hearing Aids vs Yeasound RIC800

The Fortell AI Hearing Aids are a premium prescription behind-the-ear device priced at $6,800, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 6.0/5 in HearAdvisor lab testing—an exceptional result that places this device at the top of the prescription hearing aid category. Speech performance is where the Fortell AI truly distinguishes itself. Speech in noise scores an outstanding 6.0/5, a full 3.89 points above the category average of 2.11/5—the kind of margin that represents a meaningful difference in challenging listening environments like restaurants or group conversations. Speech in quiet also excels at 4.6/5, sitting 1.20 points above the category average. Music streaming performs strongly at 4.2/5, coming in 1.44 points above average for the category. The device does have a notable limitation: own-voice comfort scores just 1.5/5, falling 1.20 points below the category average. This low absolute score suggests wearers may notice occlusion effects when speaking. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.8/5, essentially matching the category average. Best suited for: Users who prioritize understanding speech in difficult listening situations and value streaming quality, and who can tolerate potential own-voice occlusion. Given the premium price point, buyers should weigh whether the exceptional speech-in-noise performance justifies the investment compared to alternatives like the Oticon Intent or Oticon Zeal, which offer strong performance at lower price points.

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.