Jabra Enhance Select 500 vs Meta Ray-Ban Glasses (Gen 2)

The Jabra Enhance Select 500 is a premium behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid priced at $1,995 that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.2/5 in our lab testing. This places it in the top 18% of the OTC hearing aid category, ranking #13 among 65 tested devices. In our testing, speech clarity in quiet environments stands out as a key strength, scoring 4.3/5—a strong result that measures 1.50 points above the category average. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.6/5, ensuring stable performance during everyday movements. Music streaming quality scores 2.9/5, which is 0.98 points above the category average but only mixed in absolute terms. The device shows some limitations worth noting. Speech understanding in noisy environments scores 1.8/5, which is above the category average by 0.31 points but low in absolute terms—a common challenge across OTC devices. Own-voice comfort scores 2.2/5, falling 0.31 points below the category average, which may be noticeable for users sensitive to how their own voice sounds. This two-time Expert's Choice Award winner (2023, 2024) offers rechargeable batteries and streaming compatibility with both iPhone and Android devices, including hands-free calling. Consumers seeking similar sound quality at a lower price point may want to compare the Jabra Enhance Select 300 or Lucid Engage. The Enhance Select 500 is best suited for those prioritizing strong speech clarity in quieter settings and reliable streaming performance within the premium OTC segment.

The Meta Ray-Ban Glasses (Gen 2) is a budget-priced amplification product in the hearing glasses style, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.8/5 in our lab testing. Priced at $375, this device ranks #2 of 8 in the Amplification Product category. In our testing, this product demonstrated exceptional strengths in music streaming quality, scoring 4.3/5—a remarkable 3.14 points above the category average. Own-voice comfort was equally impressive at 4.7/5, exceeding the category average by over 2 points. These results suggest Meta has prioritized the audio experience that their glasses are known for, delivering strong fidelity for streamed content and minimal occlusion-related discomfort. However, speech performance presents a more mixed picture. Speech in quiet scored 2.7/5, which is above the category average by 0.62 points but only mixed in absolute terms. Speech in noise measured 1.6/5—still above average for the category, but low overall. The most notable weakness is feedback handling at 1.9/5, falling 2.38 points below the category average. The Meta Ray-Ban Glasses (Gen 2) are best suited for users who prioritize music streaming quality and comfort over maximum speech clarity. Those seeking amplification primarily for challenging listening environments may want to consider alternatives with stronger speech-in-noise performance.