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Hear.com Horizon Go IX Expert Review

Premium RxReleased 2024

HearAdvisor conducted independent laboratory testing on the Hear.com Horizon Go IX, measuring speech clarity, noise performance, and sound quality using standardized acoustic methods. This review presents objective findings from our controlled evaluation of this premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid.

See Price at Hear.com
Dr. Steve TaddeiDr. Steve Taddei, Au.D. — Lab Director & Reviewer
Dr. Abram BaileyDr. Abram Bailey, Au.D. — Fact Checker / Editor
How We Test
Hear.com Horizon Go IX Hero
HearAdvisor
Hear.com Horizon Go IX
4.4HearAdvisor SoundScoreGrade A
As it sounds out of the box
Bottom Line

The Hear.com Horizon Go IX delivers strong speech clarity in quiet environments, best suited for listeners prioritizing conversation over music.

Top 46% of Prescription Hearing Aid
Strengths
  • Strong speech in quiet performance+0.64 vs category
  • Above-average speech in noise handling+0.46 vs category
  • Solid feedback handling
Drawbacks
  • Own voice quality is low0.90 vs category
  • Premium price at $6,500
  • Music streaming only mixed
Performance Breakdown

SoundScore: 5 Acoustic Dimensions

The distribution curves below show how this hearing aid performed on speech in quiet, speech in noise, own voice, feedback control, and music streaming. 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 Hear.com Horizon Go IX.

SoundScore
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6.05
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
New
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6.4

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

Own voice
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5.0

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

How the Horizon Go IX Performed in Independent Testing

The Hear.com Horizon Go IX is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $6,500. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.4/5, ranking #19 among 39 prescription hearing aids tested.

Speech performance is a clear strength for the Horizon Go IX. It scores 4.0/5 in speech-in-quiet conditions—0.64 points above the category average—delivering strong audibility in conversational settings. Speech-in-noise performance also exceeds the category average by 0.46 points, though at 2.6/5 the absolute score remains mixed, meaning challenging listening environments may still pose difficulties.

Own-voice comfort is the device's most notable weakness, scoring just 1.8/5—a low result that falls 0.90 points below the category average. Users sensitive to how their own voice sounds may find this limiting. Feedback handling scores 4.4/5, which is strong in absolute terms, though slightly below the category average of 4.72/5. Music streaming performance is essentially average at 2.7/5.

At this price point, shoppers face stiff competition. Several alternatives in the same premium tier—including the Phonak Sphere Infinio, Oticon Intent, and Widex Allure RIC 440—deliver higher overall scores. Devices like the Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco offer comparable or better sound performance at lower prices. The Horizon Go IX is best suited for users who prioritize speech clarity and have access to this product through hear.com's network, but those flexible on brand should compare alternatives before committing.

Hear.com Horizon Go IX Hero
Hear.com Horizon Go IX
VerdictListening TestGraphAudioLab NotesMore
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

Compare the Horizon Go IX Against Other Hearing Aids

This listening challenge presents recordings from multiple hearing aids captured under identical acoustic conditions, with product identities hidden until completion. Your anonymized responses contribute to ongoing research on perceived sound quality.

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Amplification Analysis

Horizon Go IX Insertion Gain Measurements

The graph below displays measured insertion gain across frequencies compared to prescriptive targets. This visualization shows how closely the Horizon Go IX matches the amplification profile intended for the fitted hearing loss.

Graph

Audio Samples

Listen to Manikin Recordings of the Horizon Go IX

These samples were captured through an acoustic manikin fitted with the Horizon Go IX under controlled laboratory conditions. A reference recording without hearing aid processing is included for direct comparison.

Hear.com Horizon Go IX 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
–:––

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

Test Documentation

Horizon Go IX Fit Observations and Configuration Details

Our technicians documented observations from both Initial and Tuned fit evaluations of the Horizon Go IX. The notes below detail the specific test configuration and fitting parameters used during laboratory measurement.

Lab Notes

Initial fit observations

In initial fit testing with closed sleeve coupling and NAL-NL2 fitting formula, the Horizon Go IX achieved a normalized Initial Score of 4.4/5. Speech-in-quiet started at 3.5/5, with speech-in-noise at 2.3/5. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, and music streaming scored a strong 4.1/5. Own-voice comfort was low at 1.8/5. This configuration delivers solid out-of-box performance with particular strength in feedback stability and streaming quality.

Tuned fit observations

After professional tuning—still using closed sleeve coupling and NAL-NL2—the normalized Tuned Score remained at 4.4/5. Speech-in-quiet improved to 4.0/5 and speech-in-noise to 2.6/5, both gains reflecting better target matching. Feedback handling settled at a still-strong 4.4/5, while music streaming dropped to 2.7/5. Own-voice comfort stayed unchanged at 1.8/5. The tuned fit prioritizes speech audibility gains over streaming fidelity.

Test configuration

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Sleeve Closed
Sleeve Closed
Receiver
119/16
119/16
Fitting Formula
NAL-NL2
NAL-NL2
Listening Program
Universal (Automatic)
Universal (Automatic)
Volume Setting
Manufacturer defaults
Adjusted to match NAL-NL2 targets at 55, 65, and 75 dB SPL
Software Version
Software v9.11.15.112, SiFit v9.11.15.948
Software v9.11.15.112, SiFit v9.11.15.948
Tuning Adjustments
Programmed to N3 audiogram, Feedback calibrated, Experience Level set at "Experienced", Acclimatization Level set at 100%, Other settings at manufacturer defaults
Programmed to N3 audiogram, Feedback calibrated, Experience Level set at "Experienced", Acclimatization Level set at 100%, Other settings at manufacturer defaults
Notes
n/a
n/a

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