Olive Union Air vs Yeasound RIC800

The Olive Union Air is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.0/5 in our lab testing, placing it in the top 31% of OTC devices. At $250, it offers strong value for consumers seeking an affordable entry into hearing amplification. In our testing, the Olive Union Air demonstrates notable strengths in music streaming, scoring 3.6/5—a solid 1.67 points above the OTC category average. This makes it a standout choice for users who prioritize phone audio and media consumption. Speech understanding in quiet environments also performs well at 3.3/5, sitting 0.46 points above the category average. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning users can expect stable performance without whistling during normal use. The device shows limitations in challenging listening situations. Speech in noise scores 1.0/5, falling 0.48 points below the category average—a common weakness among budget OTC devices that may frustrate users in restaurants or group conversations. Own-voice comfort is mixed at 2.2/5, slightly below the category average, which some users may notice when speaking. The Olive Union Air is best suited for budget-conscious consumers who primarily need amplification in quieter settings and value strong streaming audio quality. Those who frequently encounter noisy environments may want to consider alternatives with better noise performance.

The Yeasound RIC800 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.8/5 in our lab testing, placing it #2 among 65 OTC devices tested. At $659, this behind-the-ear rechargeable device delivers performance that significantly outpaces the category average of 3.71/5. Speech clarity is a standout strength. The RIC800 scores 4.4/5 for speech in quiet—a strong result that sits 1.63 points above the OTC category average. Speech in noise performance is more mixed at 2.4/5, though this still lands 0.93 points above the typical OTC device. Music streaming is where this device truly excels, scoring 4.3/5 and outperforming the category average by a substantial 2.38 points—making it one of the better choices for consumers who frequently stream audio from their phone. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning users shouldn't encounter whistling issues during normal wear. The tradeoff comes with own-voice comfort, which scores 2.1/5—a mixed result that falls 0.41 points below the category average. Some users may notice their own voice sounds more hollow or boomy than expected. The RIC800 earned a 2025 Expert's Choice Award and supports both iPhone and Android streaming. For consumers seeking strong speech performance and exceptional streaming quality in the OTC space, this device represents a compelling option. Those particularly sensitive to own-voice quality may want to compare alternatives, but overall performance places the RIC800 among the top tier of OTC hearing aids we've tested.