MDHearing Neo XS vs Yeasound RIC800

The MDHearing Neo XS is a budget OTC hearing aid featuring an invisible-in-ear design, priced at $397. In our lab testing, it earned a C grade with a SoundScore of 2.9/5, ranking #63 of 65 devices in the OTC hearing aid category. This device presents a mixed performance profile. Its standout strength is excellent feedback handling at 5.0/5, scoring 0.46 points above the category average—meaning users should experience minimal whistling or squealing during everyday use. Own-voice comfort is also solid at 3.2/5, sitting 0.69 points above average, which suggests the device manages occlusion reasonably well for its invisible design. However, speech clarity is a significant weakness. Speech in quiet scored just 1.0/5, falling 1.77 points below the category average, while speech in noise scored 1.0/5, sitting 0.48 points below average. Music streaming scored 0.0/5, coming in 1.92 points below average—indicating this device is not suitable for audio entertainment. These low absolute scores mean users may struggle to achieve meaningful speech benefit in our standardized test conditions. The invisible-in-ear form factor and rechargeable batteries offer convenience, but buyers should weigh this against the limited speech performance. Several competitors in the same price range—including the Elehear Beyond (4.34/5) and Apple AirPods Pro 2 (4.04/5)—deliver substantially better sound quality. The Neo XS may appeal to those prioritizing discretion and feedback-free wear over speech clarity, but most users seeking improved communication would benefit from exploring higher-performing alternatives.

The Yeasound RIC800 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5 in our lab testing, placing it in the top 2% of the OTC hearing aid category and ranking #2 out of 65 devices tested. Priced at $659, this behind-the-ear rechargeable device delivers strong performance that competes favorably against other options in its price range. In our testing, the RIC800 demonstrated strong speech clarity in quiet environments, scoring 4.4/5—a full 1.63 points above the category average of 2.79. Speech understanding in noisy situations scored 2.4/5, which is 0.93 points above the category average but remains mixed in absolute terms. This pattern is common even among higher-scoring OTC devices, where challenging noise environments continue to be difficult. Streaming quality stands out as a particular strength, scoring 4.3/5—an impressive 2.38 points above the category average of 1.92. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5. However, own-voice comfort scored 2.1/5, falling 0.41 points below the category average, which some users may notice during conversations. The RIC800 supports both iPhone and Android streaming and features rechargeable batteries. It earned a 2025 Expert's Choice Award. Among similarly priced competitors like the Sony CRE-E10 (4.66/5) and Lexie B2 Plus (4.41/5), the Yeasound RIC800 leads in overall sound performance. This device is best suited for those prioritizing speech clarity and music streaming quality who can accept some own-voice trade-offs.