Eargo 6 Hero

Eargo 6 Expert Review

Premium OTC
Released 
2022

Summary

The Eargo 6 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid ($2,250) that earned a B grade in HearAdvisor's lab testing, ranking in the top 55% of the OTC hearing aid category. This invisible-in-ear device prioritizes discretion with its compact, rechargeable design that sits entirely within the ear canal.

In our lab testing, the Eargo 6 demonstrated above-average own-voice comfort, scoring 0.39 points better than the category average—a notable strength for users sensitive to the "talking in a barrel" sensation that can accompany hearing aids. Speech in quiet also measured slightly above average. However, speech-in-noise performance was a significant weakness, scoring 0.60 points below the category average, which may limit effectiveness in challenging listening environments like restaurants or group conversations.

Feedback handling proved problematic in our standardized tests, measuring 1.20 points below the OTC category average. The device does not support audio streaming, so music streaming quality could not be evaluated—a limitation worth noting for users who value this feature.

At its premium price point, the Eargo 6 faces stiff competition. Our testing found several devices delivering comparable or better sound performance at significantly lower prices, including the Sony CRE-C10 ($798) and the Eargo 5 ($1,450). The Eargo 6 may appeal to users who prioritize invisible styling and own-voice comfort over speech-in-noise performance, but value-conscious consumers should explore alternatives.

In the initial fit condition using closed sleeves, the Eargo 6 delivered below-average overall performance in our lab testing. Speech in quiet scored 2.50/5, while speech in noise was notably weak at 0.70/5. The closed sleeve coupling contributed to above-average own-voice comfort (2.90/5), reducing the occlusion effect that can make one's own voice sound boomy or hollow. Feedback handling measured 4.40/5 in this configuration. The overall initial fit score of 2.02/5 fell below the category average, suggesting that out-of-box performance may not meet expectations without adjustment.

The tuned fit condition maintained the same closed sleeve coupling as the initial fit, resulting in minimal performance change—the fit score actually decreased slightly by 0.02 points to 1.99/5. Speech in quiet improved modestly to 2.90/5, but speech in noise remained weak at 0.60/5. Notably, feedback handling decreased significantly to 3.30/5 when tuned for better target matching, indicating a trade-off between audibility and stability. Own-voice comfort remained consistent at 2.90/5. The limited improvement from tuning suggests the device has constrained optimization headroom.

Lab Review Scores

B
SoundGrade
Initial Score
3.1
Tuned Score
3.1
Speech in quiet
best
2.5
5.0
Own voice
best
2.9
5.0
Speech in noise
best
0.7
5.0
Feedback handling
best
4.4
5.0
Music streaming
best
0.0
5.0

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Lab recordings

Adjust volume to make "No hearing aids" as loud as it would be in the real world, without hearing aids. Remove hearing aids while auditioning. High-quality headphones will improve results!
Eargo 6 Lab

Lab notes

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Initial Fitting
Sleeve Closed
Tuned Fitting
Sleeve Closed

Specs

Invisible in Ear
Invisible in Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries