Hear.com Horizon Go IX vs Lexie Lumen

The Hear.com Horizon Go IX is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2024, listed at $6,500. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.4/5, ranking #17 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates particular strength in speech clarity. Speech in quiet scored a strong 4.0/5, which is +0.72 points above the category average. Speech in noise performance also exceeded the category average by +0.61 points, though at 2.6/5 the absolute score remains mixed—meaning it handles challenging listening environments better than many competitors but still has room for improvement in demanding situations. The most notable limitation is own-voice comfort, scoring 1.8/5—a low result that falls 0.95 points below the category average. Users sensitive to how their own voice sounds may find this particularly noticeable. Feedback handling is strong in absolute terms at 4.4/5, though it sits slightly below the category average by 0.31 points. Music streaming performance is mixed at 2.7/5, essentially matching the category average. At this price point, the Horizon Go IX faces stiff competition. Same-price alternatives like the Phonak Sphere Infinio (5.0/5) and Oticon Intent (4.85/5) deliver higher overall sound performance. Budget-conscious shoppers might also consider options like the Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco, which achieves a higher score at a lower price. The Horizon Go IX is best suited for those prioritizing speech clarity who can accept the own-voice trade-off and prefer the hear.com service model.

The Lexie Lumen is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid that earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.5/5 in our lab testing, placing it in the top 60% of the OTC category. At $299, this behind-the-ear device uses disposable batteries and represents one of the more affordable entry points into amplification. In our standardized testing, the Lumen demonstrated notably strong feedback handling, scoring 5.0/5 in the tuned configuration—0.46 points above the category average. This excellent stability means users can expect minimal whistling during typical daily activities. Speech in noise performance scored 2.0/5, which is above the category average by 0.55 points, though still mixed in absolute terms. The device shows clear limitations in certain areas. Music streaming scored 0.0/5, falling 1.92 points below category average—prospective buyers who prioritize phone streaming for music or media should consider alternatives. Speech in quiet performance is also slightly below average at 2.5/5, a mixed result that may affect understanding in everyday conversation. The Lexie Lumen is best suited for budget-conscious first-time users who prioritize stable, feedback-free amplification over streaming capabilities. However, shoppers in this price range have several higher-performing alternatives available, including the Sony CRE-E10 and Lexie B2 Plus, both of which scored significantly higher in our testing.