Oticon Real vs Otofonix Encore

The Oticon Real is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2023, currently available at $4,798. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.8/5, placing it in the top 8% of all prescription hearing aids tested and ranking #4 out of 36 devices in its category. Speech performance is a standout strength. Speech in quiet scores an excellent 4.5/5 on initial fit—0.72 points above the category average—while speech in noise scores 3.0/5, nearly a full point above the category average of 1.96/5. While the speech-in-noise result is above average for the category, it remains mixed in absolute terms at 2.9/5 after tuning, reflecting the inherent challenge of noisy environments for all hearing aids. Music streaming quality starts strong at 4.2/5 on initial fit, though it drops to a mixed 2.8/5 after tuning—still slightly above the category average. Feedback handling scores a solid 4.0/5, which is strong in absolute terms, though it falls 0.71 points below the category average of 4.71/5. Own-voice comfort is mixed at 2.4/5, slightly below the category average. The Oticon Real competes directly with other premium devices like the Phonak Sphere Infinio (5.0/5) and Oticon Intent (4.85/5). It offers versatile connectivity with iPhone and Android streaming plus hands-free capabilities, and supports both rechargeable and disposable batteries. This device is best suited for users prioritizing strong out-of-box speech clarity who want a well-rounded premium hearing aid from a trusted manufacturer.

The Otofonix Encore is a behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid priced at $295, placing it in the budget tier of the prescription category. In our lab testing, it earned a C grade with a SoundScore of 2.7/5, ranking 35th out of 36 prescription hearing aids tested. Sound performance presents significant challenges across most metrics. Speech clarity scores are low in both quiet (1.0/5) and noisy environments (1.0/5), falling 2.32 and 0.96 points below category averages respectively. Music streaming capability is essentially absent at 0.0/5, and own-voice comfort is notably limited at 0.1/5 in the tuned configuration—2.65 points below the category average. The one bright spot is feedback handling, which scores an excellent 4.7/5. While this falls just 0.01 points below the category average, it represents strong absolute performance that should minimize whistling issues during daily use. This device runs on disposable batteries. At this price point, shoppers should be aware that the RxEars Rxi offers substantially better sound performance (4.09/5) in the same price range. The Otofonix Encore may suit budget-conscious consumers who prioritize feedback stability over speech clarity and streaming features, but our testing suggests most users would benefit from considering higher-performing alternatives within this price tier.