Jabra Enhance Select 700 vs Phonak Sphere Infinio

The Jabra Enhance Select 700 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid available for $1,795, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5 in our lab testing. This places it in the top 24% of OTC hearing aids tested, ranking #16 of 63 devices in the category. In our testing, this behind-the-ear device demonstrated notable strengths in own-voice comfort, scoring 3.7/5—a solid result that sits 1.21 points above the category average. This suggests users may experience less of the "talking in a barrel" sensation common with some hearing aids. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, indicating strong resistance to whistling during typical daily movements. Speech clarity presents a mixed picture. Speech in quiet environments scored a solid 3.1/5, which is 0.46 points above the category average. However, speech in noise scored just 0.8/5, falling 0.33 points below average—a notable limitation for users who frequently encounter noisy environments like restaurants or social gatherings. Music streaming scored 2.5/5, above the category average but only mixed in absolute terms. At this price point, buyers should note that several alternatives in the same price range delivered higher overall scores in our testing, including the Jabra Enhance Select 300 and 500 models. The Enhance Select 700 may appeal to those prioritizing own-voice comfort and feedback-free performance, but users needing strong speech-in-noise performance should consider alternatives.

The Phonak Sphere Infinio is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.6/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing. Priced at $4,898, it ranks #2 among 36 tested prescription hearing aids, placing it in the top 3% of its category. In our testing, the Sphere Infinio demonstrated exceptional speech performance. Speech in noise scored 4.6/5, a full 3.05 points above the category average of 1.55/5—a standout result that sets this device apart from most competitors. Speech in quiet also excelled at 4.8/5, landing 1.37 points above average. These results suggest the Sphere Infinio may be particularly well-suited for users who prioritize understanding conversation in challenging listening environments like restaurants or group gatherings. Music streaming performance is strong at 4.0/5, sitting 1.36 points above the category average. The device supports both iPhone and Android streaming and features rechargeable batteries. However, own-voice comfort scored 2.3/5, which is mixed in absolute terms and 0.45 points below average. Feedback handling scored a solid 3.6/5 in absolute terms, though this falls 1.11 points below the category average of 4.71/5. The Sphere Infinio competes directly with other premium options like the Oticon Intent (4.75/5) and Signia Active Pro IX (4.61/5). Its exceptional speech-in-noise performance makes it a compelling choice for users who frequently encounter noisy environments, though those sensitive to own-voice quality or feedback stability may want to discuss these tradeoffs with their hearing care provider.