Eargo 5 Hero
Home/Leaderboard/Review

Eargo 5 Expert Review

Premium OTCReleased 2021

Our lab tested the Eargo 5 using standardized acoustic measurements on a head-and-torso simulator. This independent review presents objective performance data across five sound quality metrics, with both initial and professionally tuned fit conditions evaluated.

Dr. Steve TaddeiDr. Steve Taddei, Au.D. — Lab Director & Reviewer
Dr. Abram BaileyDr. Abram Bailey, Au.D. — Fact Checker / Editor
How We Test
Eargo 5 Hero
HearAdvisor
Eargo 5
3.6HearAdvisor SoundScoreGrade B
As it sounds out of the box
Bottom Line

The Eargo 5 is a discreet invisible-in-ear OTC aid with solid speech clarity in quiet, best suited for those prioritizing cosmetic discretion.

Top 52% of OTC Hearing Aid
Strengths
  • Strong feedback handling
  • Above-average speech in quiet+0.75 vs category
  • Virtually invisible in-ear design
Drawbacks
  • No music streaming capability
  • Low speech-in-noise performance
  • Premium price for mid-tier sound quality
Measured Performance

SoundScore: 5 Acoustic Dimensions

The metrics below show how the Eargo 5 performed across speech in quiet, speech in noise, own voice comfort, music quality, and feedback management. The purple SoundScore graph is the overall result, and the five graphs after it break it into individual measurements for the selected fit. Each curve shows how scores are spread across all tested hearing aids, and the dot and number mark the score for Eargo 5.

SoundScore
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 0 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 0 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 0 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 0 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 0 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 0 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 7 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 5 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 8 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 18 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 13 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 13 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 16 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 14 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 14 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 3 products scored from 4.75 to 5.00
  • 2 products scored from 5.00 to 5.25
  • 0 products scored from 5.25 to 5.50
  • 0 products scored from 5.50 to 5.75
  • 0 products scored from 5.75 to 6.00
  • 1 product scored from 6.00 to 6.05
6.0
Choose your fit

Every hearing aid is lab-tested in two states — as it sounds out of the box, and after professional tuning. Switch fits to update the five metric graphs below.

As it sounds out of the box
Speech in quiet
New
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 14 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 1 product scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 3 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 4 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 6 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 9 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 11 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 5 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 5 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 9 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 14 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 12 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 10 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 4 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 5 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 1 product scored from 4.75 to 5.00
  • 0 products scored from 5.00 to 5.25
  • 1 product scored from 5.25 to 5.40
5.4

How clearly speech comes through in calm, one-on-one surroundings.

Speech in noise
New
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 43 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 17 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 11 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 10 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 6 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 7 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 7 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 4 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 5 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 0 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 3 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 0 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 0 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 0 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 0 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 0 products scored from 4.75 to 5.00
  • 0 products scored from 5.00 to 5.25
  • 0 products scored from 5.25 to 5.50
  • 0 products scored from 5.50 to 5.75
  • 0 products scored from 5.75 to 6.00
  • 0 products scored from 6.00 to 6.25
  • 1 product scored from 6.25 to 6.40
6.4

Speech understanding against loud background noise — the toughest everyday test.

Own voice
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 1 product scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 4 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 2 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 3 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 2 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 10 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 10 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 13 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 7 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 12 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 12 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 11 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 4 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 8 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 1 product scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 3 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 2 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 7 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 1 product scored from 4.75 to 4.80
4.8

How natural your own voice sounds while wearing the aids, without a boomy, plugged-up quality.

Music streaming
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 0 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 0 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 1 product scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 2 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 4 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 5 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 6 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 2 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 6 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 7 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 6 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 6 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 16 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 7 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 3 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 1 product scored from 4.75 to 5.00
5.0

Sound quality of music streamed to the hearing aids over Bluetooth.

Feedback handling
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 0 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 0 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 0 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 1 product scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 1 product scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 0 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 3 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 0 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 0 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 2 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 1 product scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 6 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 13 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 6 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 17 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 64 products scored from 4.75 to 5.00
5.0

Resistance to the whistling and squealing caused by acoustic feedback.

Lab Assessment

Eargo 5 Performance Verdict

The Eargo 5 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid ($1,450) featuring an invisible-in-ear design with rechargeable batteries. In our lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.6/5, placing it in the top 52% of the OTC hearing aid category.

This device demonstrates solid performance for speech understanding in quiet environments, scoring 3.5/5—0.75 points above the category average of 2.79/5. Own-voice comfort also measures above average at 2.8/5 (+0.29 vs category), though this remains mixed in absolute terms. Feedback handling is strong at 4.2/5, providing reliable stability during wear.

However, the Eargo 5 shows notable limitations in other areas. Speech in noise performance is low at 1.4/5, slightly below the category average. Most significantly, music streaming scored 0.0/5, falling 1.92 points below the category average—this device does not support audio streaming functionality.

The invisible-in-ear form factor appeals to users prioritizing discretion, and the closed sleeve coupling remains consistent between initial and tuned fits. Tuning provided modest improvement, moving from a normalized Initial Score of 3.5/5 to a Tuned Score of 3.7/5. Given its premium price point, consumers may want to compare against alternatives like the Sony CRE-C10 or Nuance Audio Glasses, which offer similar or better sound performance at lower price points. The Eargo 5 is best suited for users who prioritize cosmetic discretion and primarily need help with speech in quieter settings.

Eargo 5 Hero
Eargo 5
VerdictListening TestGraphAudioLab NotesSpecsMore
Reliable & Repeatable Lab Results

Quality data starts with quality recordings. HearAdvisor worked with GRAS to build a no-compromise front end so every test is repeatable and reliable.

Learn more
Steve in HearAdvisor Lab

Blind Comparison

Hear the Eargo 5 Against Other Devices

Compare the Eargo 5 to other hearing aids through recordings captured under identical acoustic conditions in our lab. Products are revealed only after you complete your evaluation, and anonymized responses contribute to ongoing research.

Loading listening test...

Amplification Analysis

Eargo 5 Insertion Gain Measurements

The graph below displays the measured amplification the Eargo 5 provides across frequencies compared to established prescription targets. This insertion gain data reveals how closely the device matches evidence-based fitting formulas at different input levels.

Graph

Audio Samples

Eargo 5 Processed Sound Recordings

These recordings capture how the Eargo 5 processes sound, recorded through a calibrated manikin ear in our lab. A reference recording lets you compare the processed output against the original unaltered signal.

Eargo 5 Audio Samples

How this hearing aid sounds in our lab scenes. Compare it out of the box and after professional tuning.

Before you listen

  1. Use good-quality headphones.
  2. Take out your hearing aids while you compare.
  3. Play the to set a comfortable level, then leave it.
  4. Switch recordings while it plays. You won't lose your place.

Scene type: Conversation

Scene: Cafe 1

As tested out of the box
0:00
–:––

144 lab recordings of this product. They demonstrate relative processing in our lab and cannot predict an individual fitting outcome.

Test Documentation

Eargo 5 Fit Observations and Configuration

Our technicians documented observations during both initial and tuned fitting sessions with the Eargo 5. The notes below detail the test configuration and any fit-related findings recorded during measurement.

Lab Notes

Initial fit observations

In its initial fit configuration using closed sleeve coupling, the Eargo 5 achieved a normalized Initial Score of 3.5/5. Speech in quiet measured 3.3/5, well above the category average, while speech in noise was low at 1.3/5. Feedback handling performed strongly at 4.1/5, and own-voice comfort registered at 2.8/5. Music streaming was not functional, scoring 0.0/5. The out-of-box experience delivers reasonable speech clarity in calm environments but struggles with background noise.

Tuned fit observations

The tuned fit retained closed sleeve coupling and achieved a normalized Tuned Score of 3.7/5—a modest 0.1-point improvement over initial fit. Speech in quiet improved slightly to 3.5/5, and speech in noise reached 1.4/5. Feedback handling strengthened to 4.2/5, while own-voice comfort remained unchanged at 2.8/5. Music streaming remained non-functional at 0.0/5. Tuning provided incremental gains but did not address the device's core limitations in noise performance or streaming capability.

Test configuration

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Sleeve Closed
Sleeve Closed
Specs
Invisible in Ear
Invisible in Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries

Popular Comparisons

View all
Eargo 5
Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco
Vs Rexton

Eargo 5 vs Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco

Compare performance and audio samples
Eargo 5
Autiphon U0 Series
Vs Autiphon

Eargo 5 vs Autiphon U0 Series

Compare performance and audio samples
Eargo 5
Go Hearing Go Prime
Vs Go

Eargo 5 vs Go Hearing Go Prime

Compare performance and audio samples
Stay Updated

Subscribe to our newsletter

HearAdvisor will send out a newsletter once a month to share the latest test results and audio files.

By clicking Sign Up you’re confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.