Jabra Enhance Select 700 vs MDHearing Volt

The Jabra Enhance Select 700 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid available at $1,795, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.8/5 in our lab testing. This behind-the-ear device ranks #26 of 65 OTC hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 38% of the category. In our testing, the Enhance Select 700 shows notable strengths in own-voice comfort, scoring 3.7/5—a solid result that sits 1.19 points above the category average. This makes it a comfortable choice for users sensitive to the "hollow" sound of their own voice that some hearing aids produce. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning users can expect stable performance without whistling during typical daily activities. Speech clarity in quiet environments is solid at 3.1/5, coming in 0.27 points above the category average. However, speech understanding in noisy settings is a weakness, scoring just 1.0/5—falling 0.48 points below the category average. Users who frequently encounter restaurants, group gatherings, or other challenging listening environments may find this limitation significant. Music streaming quality is mixed at 2.5/5, though still 0.58 points above the category average. At this price point, buyers should note that several same-priced alternatives deliver stronger overall performance, including the Lucid Tala (4.63/5) and Audicus Omni 2 (4.61/5). The Enhance Select 700 is best suited for users who prioritize own-voice comfort and feedback-free wear over speech-in-noise performance, and who value Jabra's established brand and support ecosystem.

The MDHearing Volt is a budget-priced prescription hearing aid available for $397, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.1/5 in our lab testing. This behind-the-ear, rechargeable device ranks #32 of 36 prescription hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 86% of its category. In our standardized testing, the Volt demonstrates excellent feedback handling at 5.0/5, scoring 0.29 points above the category average. This represents a genuine strength, as the device remained stable under our challenge protocols without audible squealing or whistling. However, speech performance presents significant limitations: speech in quiet scored 1.8/5 (1.57 points below the category average of 3.32), while speech in noise scored 1.0/5 (0.96 points below the 1.96 average). Own-voice comfort measured 2.6/5, a mixed result that falls 0.15 points below the category average. Music streaming is notably limited at 0.0/5, scoring 2.64 points below the category average—users prioritizing phone streaming should consider alternatives. The Volt showed no improvement between Initial and Tuned fits, with both configurations yielding identical scores of 3.1/5. The MDHearing Volt may suit budget-conscious consumers who prioritize basic amplification and excellent feedback stability over speech clarity or streaming features. However, shoppers in this price range should note that alternatives like the RxEars Rxi offer substantially higher performance at similar pricing.