Jabra Enhance Pro 20 at Costco vs Sontro Soundwave

The Jabra Enhance Pro 20 at Costco is a prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid available for $1,600, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.0/5 in our lab testing. This places it in the top 61% of the 36 prescription hearing aids we've evaluated. In our testing, this device shows a mixed performance profile. Own-voice comfort is a clear strength, scoring 3.5/5—0.75 points above the category average—making it a solid choice for users who prioritize natural sound quality when speaking. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.8/5, slightly above the category average, indicating stable performance during typical daily activities. However, speech-in-noise performance is notably limited, scoring just 1.1/5—0.82 points below the category average of 1.96. This is a meaningful weakness for users who frequently encounter noisy environments like restaurants or social gatherings. Speech in quiet is solid at 3.2/5, though slightly below the category average. Music streaming scores 2.8/5, above average but only mixed in absolute terms. At this price point, buyers should consider alternatives. The Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco scores 4.58/5 in the same price range, while lower-priced options like the Lexie B3 (4.76/5) offer stronger overall performance. The Jabra Enhance Pro 20 may suit users who prioritize own-voice comfort and feedback stability over challenging listening environments, but those needing robust noise handling should explore other options.

The Sontro Soundwave is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid priced at $849, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.1/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing. This behind-the-ear device uses disposable batteries and ranks #61 of 65 OTC hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 92% of its category. In our lab testing, the Soundwave shows a notable strength in own-voice comfort, scoring 3.6/5—a solid result that sits 1.09 points above the category average. This suggests users may experience less of the "talking in a barrel" sensation that can occur with some hearing aids. However, the device faces challenges in other key areas. Speech in quiet scores 2.7/5 (mixed, 0.12 points below average), while speech in noise registers at 1.2/5 (low, 0.28 points below average), indicating potential difficulty in challenging listening environments. The most significant limitations appear in music streaming and feedback handling. Music streaming scores 0.0/5, falling 1.92 points below the category average—a notable weakness for users who value audio entertainment. Feedback handling scores 2.5/5, which is 2.04 points below the category average of 4.54/5, suggesting the device may be more prone to whistling issues. At this price point, competitors offer substantially stronger performance. Devices like the Sony CRE-E10 and Lexie B2 Plus deliver significantly higher sound scores in the same price range. The Sontro Soundwave may suit those prioritizing own-voice comfort over speech clarity and streaming quality, but most users would benefit from exploring higher-performing alternatives at similar or lower prices.