Hear.com Horizon Go IX vs Oticon Intent

The Hear.com Horizon Go IX is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $6,500. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.2/5, ranking #14 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates strong speech performance in our testing. Speech in quiet scores a strong 4.0/5, sitting 0.57 points above the category average. Speech in noise performance is particularly notable at 0.57 points above average, though the absolute score of 2.7/5 reflects the inherent difficulty of understanding speech in challenging acoustic environments. Feedback handling scores a strong 4.4/5 in absolute terms, though this falls 0.31 points below the category average. Own-voice comfort presents a notable limitation, scoring 1.8/5—a low absolute score that also sits 0.95 points below the category average. Users who are sensitive to how their own voice sounds may want to discuss this with their hearing care provider. Music streaming performance is mixed at 2.7/5, essentially matching the category average. The Horizon Go IX has received HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024. However, shoppers in this premium price tier should note that several competitors offer higher overall scores, including the Oticon Intent (4.75/5) and Phonak Sphere Infinio (4.65/5). Those seeking similar sound quality at a lower price point may want to consider alternatives like the Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco, which scores 4.51/5.

The Oticon Intent is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $4,898. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5, ranking #1 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested—placing it in the top tier of the category. Speech performance is a standout strength. Speech in quiet scores an excellent 4.6/5, running 1.17 points above the category average. Speech in noise reaches a solid 3.7/5, which is 2.15 points above average—a meaningful advantage for challenging listening environments. Music streaming also performs well at 4.0/5, sitting 1.36 points above the category norm. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, slightly above the already-high category average. The notable weakness is own-voice comfort, which scores a low 1.3/5—falling 1.45 points below the category average. Users who are sensitive to the sound of their own voice may find this less comfortable than competing devices. The Oticon Intent is best suited for listeners who prioritize speech clarity across varied environments and streaming quality, and who can tolerate potential own-voice occlusion effects. At premium pricing, it competes with devices like the Phonak Sphere Infinio (4.65/5) and Signia Active Pro IX (4.61/5). This device earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024.