Phonak Sphere Infinio vs Yeasound RIC800

The Phonak Sphere Infinio is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $4,898. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it achieved a SoundScore of 5.0/5 and an A grade, ranking #1 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device delivers exceptional speech performance, particularly in challenging listening environments. Speech in noise scored an excellent 4.7/5, measuring 2.74 points above the category average—a substantial margin that sets it apart from competitors. Speech in quiet also performed strongly at 4.5/5, sitting 1.15 points above average. Music streaming earned a strong 4.0/5, exceeding the category average by 1.36 points. The Sphere Infinio does show some trade-offs. Feedback handling scored a solid 3.6/5 in absolute terms, though this falls 1.11 points below the category average of 4.71/5. Own-voice comfort scored a mixed 2.3/5, slightly below the category average. These are areas where some competing premium devices perform better. This hearing aid is best suited for those who prioritize speech clarity, especially in noisy environments like restaurants or social gatherings. The behind-the-ear style offers rechargeable batteries and streaming compatibility with both iPhone and Android devices. Among premium-priced competitors like the Oticon Intent (4.85/5) and Oticon Real (4.75/5), the Sphere Infinio leads in overall sound performance, earning HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award for 2024 and 2023.

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.