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GoHearing Ultra Expert Review

Budget OTCReleased 2022

Our lab evaluated the GoHearing Ultra using standardized acoustic measurements to assess its performance as a budget-priced OTC hearing aid. This independent review presents objective findings across speech clarity, feedback control, and streaming capabilities.

Dr. Steve TaddeiDr. Steve Taddei, Au.D.Lab Director & Reviewer
Dr. Abram BaileyDr. Abram Bailey, Au.D.Fact Checker / Editor
How We Test
GoHearing Ultra Hero
HearAdvisor
GoHearing Ultra
3.1HearAdvisor SoundScoreGrade B
As it sounds out of the box
Bottom Line

The GoHearing Ultra is a budget BTE option best suited for music streaming enthusiasts who prioritize feedback-free listening over speech clarity.

Top 88% of OTC Hearing Aid
Strengths
  • Excellent feedback handling
  • Strong music streaming+1.68 vs category
  • Budget-friendly at $499 with streaming
Drawbacks
  • Low speech in quiet performance
  • Below-average speech in noise0.48 vs category
  • Own voice quality is weak
Performance Metrics

SoundScore: 5 Acoustic Dimensions

Five lab measurements capture speech in quiet, speech in noise, own-voice comfort, feedback control, and music streaming performance. 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 GoHearing Ultra.

SoundScore
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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
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5.4

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

Speech in noise
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6.4

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

Own voice
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4.8

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

Music streaming
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5.0

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

Feedback handling
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5.0

Resistance to the whistling and squealing caused by acoustic feedback.

Lab Assessment

GoHearing Ultra Verdict

The GoHearing Ultra is a budget-priced behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.1/5 in our lab testing. At $499, it sits in the most affordable price tier of the OTC market, though its overall sound performance ranks #58 of 65 devices in its category.

In our testing, the Ultra shows a distinctive performance profile with significant strengths and weaknesses. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, scoring 0.46 points above the category average—users can expect stable operation without whistling during typical wear. Music streaming quality is also a genuine strength at 3.6/5, performing 1.68 points above average, making it notably better for phone audio than most OTC devices.

However, speech clarity scores reveal meaningful limitations. Speech in quiet environments measured just 1.0/5, which is 1.79 points below the category average and low in absolute terms. Speech in noise similarly scored 1.0/5, falling 0.48 points below average. Own-voice comfort rated 1.9/5, also below the category norm. These results suggest the Ultra may struggle to deliver the speech audibility improvements that many users prioritize.

The GoHearing Ultra may suit budget-conscious consumers who primarily want reliable streaming audio and feedback-free operation, and who have modest expectations for speech enhancement. However, several competitors in the same price range—including the Elehear Beyond and Apple AirPods Pro 2—deliver substantially stronger overall sound performance. Users prioritizing speech clarity should consider these alternatives despite similar pricing.

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 GoHearing Ultra Against Other Devices

Compare the GoHearing Ultra to other hearing aids through recordings captured under identical acoustic conditions. Products are revealed only after you complete the comparison, and anonymized responses contribute to ongoing research.

Loading listening test...

Amplification Analysis

GoHearing Ultra Insertion Gain

The graph below plots measured amplification against prescriptive targets across the frequency range. Closer alignment between the measured curve and target indicates more appropriate gain for the intended hearing profile.

Graph

Audio Samples

GoHearing Ultra Manikin Recordings

These recordings were captured through an acoustic manikin fitted with the GoHearing Ultra under controlled conditions. A reference recording without amplification provides a baseline for comparison.

GoHearing Ultra 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

Scene type: Conversation

Scene: Cafe 1

As tested out of the box
0:00
–:––

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

Test Documentation

GoHearing Ultra Lab Notes

Our technicians documented observations during Initial and Tuned fit evaluations of the GoHearing Ultra. The notes below detail the test configuration and any fitting considerations encountered during measurement.

Lab Notes

Initial fit observations

In its out-of-box configuration with open domes, the GoHearing Ultra achieved a normalized Initial Score of 3.1/5. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, and music streaming performed well at 3.6/5. However, speech metrics were notably limited: speech in quiet and speech in noise both measured 1.0/5, well below category averages. Own-voice comfort scored 1.9/5. The open coupling provides a natural sound but does not compensate for the device's fundamental speech processing limitations.

Tuned fit observations

Professional fitting attempts yielded no improvement, with the normalized Tuned Score remaining at 3.1/5. The tuned configuration retained open domes, and all metrics were unchanged from the initial fit: speech in quiet and noise at 1.0/5, feedback handling at 5.0/5, own voice at 1.9/5, and music streaming at 3.6/5. The lack of score improvement suggests limited adjustment capability within the device's fitting system, meaning users should not expect professional optimization to enhance speech clarity performance.

Test configuration

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Open Dome
Open Dome
Specs
Behind Ear
Behind Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries
iPhone Streaming
iPhone Streaming
Android Streaming
Android Streaming
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