GoHearing Ultra vs Sontro Soundwave

The GoHearing Ultra is a budget-priced behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.1/5 in our lab testing. At $499, it sits in the most affordable price tier of the OTC market, though its overall sound performance ranks #58 of 65 devices in its category. In our testing, the Ultra shows a distinctive performance profile with significant strengths and weaknesses. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, scoring 0.46 points above the category average—users can expect stable operation without whistling during typical wear. Music streaming quality is also a genuine strength at 3.6/5, performing 1.68 points above average, making it notably better for phone audio than most OTC devices. However, speech clarity scores reveal meaningful limitations. Speech in quiet environments measured just 1.0/5, which is 1.79 points below the category average and low in absolute terms. Speech in noise similarly scored 1.0/5, falling 0.48 points below average. Own-voice comfort rated 1.9/5, also below the category norm. These results suggest the Ultra may struggle to deliver the speech audibility improvements that many users prioritize. The GoHearing Ultra may suit budget-conscious consumers who primarily want reliable streaming audio and feedback-free operation, and who have modest expectations for speech enhancement. However, several competitors in the same price range—including the Elehear Beyond and Apple AirPods Pro 2—deliver substantially stronger overall sound performance. Users prioritizing speech clarity should consider these alternatives despite similar pricing.

The Sontro Soundwave is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.0/5 in our lab testing. At $849, this behind-the-ear device uses disposable batteries and sits in the lower tier of OTC performance, ranking #61 of 65 devices in its category. The Soundwave's strongest attribute is own-voice comfort, scoring 3.6/5—a solid result that sits 1.09 points above the OTC category average. This makes it relatively comfortable for wearers who are sensitive to hearing their own voice sound unnatural or boomy. However, other performance areas present significant limitations. Speech clarity scores are below average in both quiet and noisy environments. Speech in quiet scores 2.7/5 (0.12 points below average), while speech in noise drops to 1.2/5 (0.28 points below average). Feedback handling is a notable weakness at 2.5/5, falling 2.04 points below the category average of 4.54/5. Perhaps most limiting is the music streaming score of 0.0/5, indicating this device does not support phone audio streaming—a feature many competitors in this price range offer. Consumers prioritizing own-voice comfort on a moderate budget may find the Soundwave acceptable, but those seeking strong speech clarity or streaming capability should consider alternatives. Several higher-performing OTC devices are available at similar or lower price points, including options like the Lexie Lumen or HearingAssist Control that deliver comparable or better overall sound quality.