Olive Union Max vs Yeasound RIC800

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 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.