Sontro Soundwave vs Starkey Evolv AI

The Sontro Soundwave is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid priced at $849, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.1/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing. This behind-the-ear device uses disposable batteries and ranks #61 of 65 OTC hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 92% of its category. In our lab testing, the Soundwave shows a notable strength in own-voice comfort, scoring 3.6/5—a solid result that sits 1.09 points above the category average. This suggests users may experience less of the "talking in a barrel" sensation that can occur with some hearing aids. However, the device faces challenges in other key areas. Speech in quiet scores 2.7/5 (mixed, 0.12 points below average), while speech in noise registers at 1.2/5 (low, 0.28 points below average), indicating potential difficulty in challenging listening environments. The most significant limitations appear in music streaming and feedback handling. Music streaming scores 0.0/5, falling 1.92 points below the category average—a notable weakness for users who value audio entertainment. Feedback handling scores 2.5/5, which is 2.04 points below the category average of 4.54/5, suggesting the device may be more prone to whistling issues. At this price point, competitors offer substantially stronger performance. Devices like the Sony CRE-E10 and Lexie B2 Plus deliver significantly higher sound scores in the same price range. The Sontro Soundwave may suit those prioritizing own-voice comfort over speech clarity and streaming quality, but most users would benefit from exploring higher-performing alternatives at similar or lower prices.

The Starkey Evolv AI is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2022, currently available at $4,598. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5, ranking #28 of 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device shows notable strengths in specific performance areas. Music streaming quality stands out at 3.7/5, scoring 1.06 points above the category average—making it a solid choice for users who prioritize audio entertainment. Speech in noise performance reaches 2.8/5, which is 0.81 points above the category average, though the absolute score reflects mixed real-world performance in challenging listening environments. Speech in quiet is solid at 3.4/5, slightly above average. The Evolv AI does show weaknesses in two key areas. Own voice comfort scores 2.1/5, falling 0.65 points below the category average, which may affect how natural your own speech sounds. Feedback handling, while solid in absolute terms at 3.5/5, runs 1.21 points below the category average of 4.71/5—meaning competitors in this price tier generally offer better feedback suppression. At this premium price point, several alternatives deliver stronger overall performance, including the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent. However, the Evolv AI's Expert's Choice Award recognition in 2023 and 2024 reflects its practical strengths. This hearing aid may suit users who prioritize music streaming quality and improved speech understanding in noise over own-voice comfort, and who value Starkey's feature set including rechargeable batteries and hands-free calling for both iPhone and Android.