Jabra Enhance Select 700 vs Resound Vivia 9 60S microRIE

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 Resound Vivia 9 60S microRIE is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2025, currently available at $3,798. In HearAdvisor lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5, ranking #20 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates notable strengths in speech clarity during quiet listening situations, scoring 4.0/5—a strong result that sits 0.57 points above the category average. Own-voice comfort is another highlight, measuring 0.65 points above average at 3.4/5, which may appeal to users sensitive to how their own speech sounds while wearing hearing aids. However, the Vivia 9 shows limitations in challenging acoustic environments. Speech-in-noise performance scores just 1.3/5, falling 0.25 points below the category average—a consideration for those frequently in noisy restaurants or social gatherings. Feedback handling, while strong in absolute terms at 4.2/5, measures 0.51 points below what other prescription devices achieve on average. Music streaming performance is mixed at 2.6/5, essentially matching the category norm. The Vivia 9 includes modern conveniences: rechargeable batteries, direct streaming to both iPhone and Android devices, and hands-free calling capability. Buyers seeking top-tier performance in this price range may want to compare alternatives like the Oticon Intent or Phonak Sphere Infinio, which scored notably higher in our testing. The Vivia 9 is best suited for users who prioritize clear speech in quieter settings and natural own-voice perception over challenging noise performance.