Jabra Enhance Select 500 vs Phonak Sphere Infinio

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 Phonak Sphere Infinio is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $4,898. In our lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 5.0/5, placing it at #2 among 39 prescription hearing aids tested—within the top 3% of its category. The standout performance comes in speech clarity. Speech in noise scores an excellent 4.7/5, a remarkable 2.59 points above the category average of 2.11/5. Speech in quiet also impresses at 4.5/5, sitting 1.07 points above average. For anyone who struggles to follow conversations in restaurants, gatherings, or busy environments, this device delivers measurably superior intelligibility compared to most alternatives we've tested. Music streaming quality is strong at 4.0/5, exceeding the category average by 1.24 points—a meaningful advantage for users who value audio fidelity when streaming from phones. However, own-voice comfort is mixed at 2.3/5, falling 0.40 points below the category average, which may affect how natural your own speech sounds. Feedback handling, while solid in absolute terms at 3.6/5, sits 1.12 points below the category average of 4.72/5. The Sphere Infinio is best suited for users prioritizing exceptional speech understanding, particularly in challenging noise environments, and who are willing to invest at the premium tier. Those especially sensitive to own-voice quality or requiring maximum feedback stability may want to compare alternatives like the similarly-priced Oticon Intent or the lower-priced Phonak Audéo EON Sphere.