Resound Vivia 9 60S microRIE vs Starkey Evolv AI

The ReSound Vivia 9 60S microRIE is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2025, currently available at $3,798. In our lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5, ranking #29 of 39 prescription hearing aids tested. This device shows a mixed performance profile. Its standout strength is own-voice comfort, scoring 3.4/5—a solid result that sits 0.70 points above the category average. Speech clarity in quiet environments also performs at category average with a score of 3.4/5. Feedback handling is strong in absolute terms at 4.2/5, though this falls 0.52 points below the category average, reflecting the high bar set by competing prescription devices. The Vivia 9's most notable weakness is speech understanding in noisy environments, where it scored just 1.1/5—a low result that trails the category average by 0.96 points. Music streaming performance is mixed at 2.6/5, sitting slightly below average. These limitations are worth considering given the premium price positioning. For listeners who prioritize comfortable own-voice perception and primarily encounter quieter listening situations, the Vivia 9 may be suitable. However, those frequently in challenging noise environments should note that several alternatives in this price range—including the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent—deliver stronger overall performance in our testing. Budget-conscious shoppers may also find comparable sound quality at lower price points with options like the Jabra Enhance Pro 20 at Costco.

The Starkey Evolv AI is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2022, currently available at $4,598. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5, ranking #30 of 39 prescription hearing aids tested. This device shows notable strengths in specific performance areas. Music streaming quality scores a solid 3.7/5, which is +0.94 points above the category average—a meaningful advantage for users who frequently stream audio from their phone. Speech in noise performance also stands out at 2.8/5, sitting +0.66 points above the category average, though this remains a mixed absolute score. Speech in quiet is solid at 3.4/5, essentially matching the category average. The Evolv AI does show some limitations in our testing. Own voice comfort scores 2.1/5, falling -0.60 points below the category average, which may affect how natural your own speech sounds. Feedback handling presents a more significant gap: while the 3.5/5 score is solid in absolute terms, it sits -1.22 points below the category average of 4.72/5, meaning competing prescription devices generally perform better in feedback stability tests. Professional fitting makes a meaningful difference with this device. The normalized Initial Score of 3.8/5 improves to 4.2/5 after tuning, a +0.4 point gain primarily driven by improvements in speech clarity metrics. At this premium price point, several competitors like the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent deliver higher overall scores. The Evolv AI is best suited for users who prioritize music streaming quality and speech understanding in noise, and who have access to professional fitting services to optimize performance.