Jabra Enhance Select 700 vs Starkey Evolv AI

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 showed notable strengths in comfort-related metrics. Own-voice comfort scored a solid 3.7/5, measuring 1.19 points above the category average—a meaningful advantage for wearers sensitive to the sound of their own voice. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, well above the 4.54 category average, indicating reliable stability during typical wear. Speech performance presented a mixed picture. Speech in quiet scored a solid 3.1/5, sitting 0.27 points above average. However, speech in noise was a weakness at 1.0/5, falling 0.48 points below the category average—an important consideration if challenging listening environments are a priority. Music streaming scored 2.5/5, which is above the category average by 0.58 points but only mixed in absolute terms. At this price point, several alternatives delivered stronger overall performance in our testing, including the Lucid Tala (4.61/5) and Audicus Omni 2 (4.59/5). The Jabra Enhance Select 300 and Lucid Engage also achieved higher scores at lower prices. The Enhance Select 700 may suit those prioritizing own-voice comfort and feedback stability over speech-in-noise performance, but shoppers should weigh these trade-offs carefully given the premium pricing.

The Starkey Evolv AI is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2022, currently available at $4,598. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5, ranking #30 of 39 prescription hearing aids tested. This device shows notable strengths in specific performance areas. Music streaming quality scores a solid 3.7/5, which is +0.94 points above the category average—a meaningful advantage for users who frequently stream audio from their phone. Speech in noise performance also stands out at 2.8/5, sitting +0.66 points above the category average, though this remains a mixed absolute score. Speech in quiet is solid at 3.4/5, essentially matching the category average. The Evolv AI does show some limitations in our testing. Own voice comfort scores 2.1/5, falling -0.60 points below the category average, which may affect how natural your own speech sounds. Feedback handling presents a more significant gap: while the 3.5/5 score is solid in absolute terms, it sits -1.22 points below the category average of 4.72/5, meaning competing prescription devices generally perform better in feedback stability tests. Professional fitting makes a meaningful difference with this device. The normalized Initial Score of 3.8/5 improves to 4.2/5 after tuning, a +0.4 point gain primarily driven by improvements in speech clarity metrics. At this premium price point, several competitors like the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent deliver higher overall scores. The Evolv AI is best suited for users who prioritize music streaming quality and speech understanding in noise, and who have access to professional fitting services to optimize performance.