Olive Union Max vs Sony CRE-E10

The Olive Union Max is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid released in 2024, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.5/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing. At $190, it positions itself as an affordable entry point into the OTC hearing aid market. In our testing, the Max demonstrates a distinctive performance profile with notable strengths in music streaming and feedback handling. The music streaming score of 4.0/5 is strong in absolute terms and stands out at 2.08 points above the OTC category average—making it one of the better options for users who prioritize phone audio quality. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, sitting 0.46 points above average, meaning users can expect stable performance without whistling during typical wear. However, speech performance presents limitations. Speech in quiet scores a mixed 2.6/5, falling 0.21 points below the category average. More notably, speech in noise is low at 1.0/5, which is 0.48 points below average—a meaningful gap for users who need help understanding conversation in challenging environments. Own-voice comfort is also low at 1.6/5, trailing the category average by 0.91 points, which may result in noticeable occlusion effects. The Olive Union Max may suit budget-conscious consumers who prioritize music and media streaming over speech clarity in difficult listening situations. Those who frequently navigate noisy environments or need stronger speech support may want to consider alternatives with better speech-in-noise performance.

The Sony CRE-E10 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5, placing it in the top 3% of the 65 OTC hearing aids tested in our lab. At $998, this visible-in-ear style device delivers performance that competes with the best in its category. Speech performance is a standout strength. Speech in quiet scores a strong 4.3/5, sitting 1.46 points above the category average. Speech in noise reaches a solid 3.3/5, which is 1.77 points above average—a meaningful advantage for conversations in challenging environments. Music streaming quality is another highlight at 4.0/5, exceeding the category average by over 2 points, making it a strong choice for users who value audio fidelity when streaming from their iPhone. The device does have limitations. Own voice comfort scores a low 1.7/5, falling 0.81 points below the category average—users sensitive to the sound of their own voice may find this bothersome. Feedback handling is solid in absolute terms at 3.4/5 but sits 1.14 points below the category average, suggesting slightly less stability margin than many OTC competitors. The CRE-E10 is best suited for users who prioritize speech clarity and streaming quality and are less sensitive to own-voice perception. It has earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award for three consecutive years (2023–2025), reflecting its consistent strong performance in lab testing.