Lexie B2 Plus vs Otofonix Encore

The Lexie B2 Plus is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.4/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing, ranking #7 among 65 OTC devices. Priced at $899, this behind-the-ear rechargeable device has earned back-to-back Expert's Choice Awards in 2023 and 2024. In our testing, the B2 Plus demonstrates strong speech-in-quiet performance at 4.3/5, which is 1.49 points above the OTC category average. Own-voice comfort is excellent at 4.8/5, measuring 2.29 points above average—a notable strength that may appeal to users who find their own voice bothersome with other devices. Speech-in-noise scores 2.1/5, which is above the category average by 0.58 points but remains mixed in absolute terms, reflecting the broader challenge OTC devices face in noisy environments. The device does show a weakness in feedback handling, scoring 2.8/5—which is 1.74 points below the category average of 4.54/5. Users may encounter occasional whistling during activities that bring objects close to the ear. Music streaming performance is mixed at 2.6/5, though still 0.68 points above the OTC average. The Lexie B2 Plus offers both iPhone and Android streaming compatibility. It's well-suited for users prioritizing clear speech in quieter settings and natural own-voice perception, though those frequently in noisy environments or concerned about feedback stability may want to consider alternatives like the Sony CRE-E10 in this price range.

The Otofonix Encore is a budget-priced prescription hearing aid available for $295, earning a C grade with a SoundScore of 2.7/5 in our lab testing. This behind-the-ear device ranks #37 of 39 in the Prescription Hearing Aid category, placing it in the bottom tier of its class. In our standardized testing, the Encore demonstrates one clear strength: excellent feedback handling at 4.7/5, which means users are unlikely to experience whistling or squealing during normal use. However, the device shows significant limitations in other areas. Speech intelligibility scores are low in both quiet (1.0/5) and noisy environments (1.0/5), falling 2.40 and 1.11 points below category averages respectively. Music streaming performance scored 0.0/5, indicating this device is not suitable for those who want to stream audio content. The Encore uses disposable batteries and comes in a traditional behind-the-ear style. Notably, our tuned fit testing showed a slight decrease in overall performance compared to the initial fit, with the normalized score dropping from 2.8/5 to 2.4/5. Own-voice comfort also declined substantially when moving to a more occluding coupling. At this price point, consumers may want to consider alternatives. The RxEars Rxi offers substantially better performance at a similar budget price point with a score of 4.07/5. The Otofonix Encore may appeal to buyers seeking a very low-cost entry into prescription hearing aids who prioritize feedback stability, but those needing reliable speech clarity or streaming capabilities should explore other options.