Lexie B2 Plus vs Otofonix Groove

The Lexie B2 Plus is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.4/5, placing it in the top 9% of OTC devices tested in our lab. At $899, this behind-the-ear style device delivers strong performance in several key areas while showing some limitations worth considering. In our testing, the Lexie B2 Plus excels in speech clarity for quiet environments, scoring a strong 4.3/5—significantly above the OTC category average by 1.49 points. Own-voice comfort is a particular standout at 4.8/5, well above the category average by 2.29 points, meaning wearers are unlikely to experience the hollow or booming quality of their own voice that can make some hearing aids uncomfortable. Speech in noise performance scores 2.1/5, which is above the OTC category average by 0.58 points but remains mixed in absolute terms—typical for this device class. Music streaming scores 2.6/5, similarly above average by 0.68 points while remaining modest overall. Feedback handling at 2.8/5 falls below the category average by 1.74 points, which may require attention during phone calls or when wearing hats. The Lexie B2 Plus is a solid choice for users prioritizing speech clarity in quieter settings and natural own-voice comfort. It features rechargeable batteries and streaming compatibility with both iPhone and Android devices. This two-time Expert's Choice Award winner (2023, 2024) competes against devices like the higher-scoring Sony CRE-E10 in its price range, but offers a compelling balance of comfort and core speech performance.

The Otofonix Groove is a behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid priced at $795, earning a C grade with a SoundScore of 2.7/5 in our lab testing. This rechargeable BTE device ranks 36th out of 36 tested prescription hearing aids, placing it in the bottom tier of its category. In our testing, the Groove demonstrated one clear strength: excellent feedback handling at 5.0/5, scoring 0.29 points above the category average. The device remained stable during our standardized challenge motions with no audible feedback issues. However, speech performance was significantly limited, with both speech in quiet and speech in noise scoring 1.0/5—falling 2.32 and 0.96 points below their respective category averages. Music streaming quality scored 0.0/5, which is 2.64 points below the prescription category average. Own-voice comfort was also low at 0.4/5 in the tuned configuration, 2.35 points below average, suggesting notable occlusion-related concerns. The normalized Initial Score of 2.7/5 and Tuned Score of 2.6/5 indicate that professional fitting adjustments did not improve overall performance. Given its positioning at the bottom of the prescription hearing aid category and the availability of lower-priced alternatives that scored higher in our testing, the Otofonix Groove may be difficult to recommend for most users seeking balanced sound quality across listening situations.