Oticon Intent vs Yeasound RIC800

The Oticon Intent is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $4,898. With a SoundScore of 4.8/5 and an A grade, it ranks #3 among the 36 prescription hearing aids tested by HearAdvisor, placing it in the top 6% of its category. In our lab testing, the Intent delivers strong speech performance, scoring 1.10 points above the category average for speech in noise and 0.62 points above average for speech in quiet. Music streaming is a particular strength at 4.0/5, which is 1.36 points above the prescription hearing aid average—making it a solid choice for users who frequently stream audio from their phones. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, ensuring stable performance without whistling during everyday activities. The most notable limitation is own-voice comfort, which scores 1.3/5—a low result that falls 1.45 points below the category average. Users sensitive to how their own voice sounds while wearing hearing aids should be aware of this trade-off. The Intent includes rechargeable batteries, both iPhone and Android streaming, and hands-free calling capabilities. It has earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024. This hearing aid is best suited for users prioritizing speech clarity in challenging listening environments and high-quality audio streaming, who can accept the own-voice characteristics. Within its premium price tier, competitors like the Phonak Sphere Infinio (5.0/5) and Oticon Real (4.75/5) offer alternatives worth considering.

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.