Our lab tested the Jabra Enhance Select 500 using calibrated acoustic measurements and standardized protocols. This independent review presents objective performance data across five key metrics to help you evaluate this premium behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid.
Dr. Steve Taddei, Au.D. — Lab Director & Reviewer
Dr. Abram Bailey, Au.D. — Fact Checker / Editor
The Jabra Enhance Select 500 delivers strong speech clarity in quiet settings and excellent feedback control, best suited for premium OTC buyers prioritizing conversation quality.
Top 18% of OTC Hearing AidThe card below displays scores for speech-in-quiet, speech-in-noise, feedback control, music streaming, and own-voice comfort measured in our acoustic test chamber. 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 Jabra Enhance Select 500.
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.
How clearly speech comes through in calm, one-on-one surroundings.
Speech understanding against loud background noise — the toughest everyday test.
How natural your own voice sounds while wearing the aids, without a boomy, plugged-up quality.
Sound quality of music streamed to the hearing aids over Bluetooth.
Resistance to the whistling and squealing caused by acoustic feedback.
Independent Assessment
Quality data starts with quality recordings. HearAdvisor worked with GRAS to build a no-compromise front end so every test is repeatable and reliable.
Amplification Analysis
The graph below shows how much amplification the Enhance Select 500 provides at each frequency compared to established prescription targets. This insertion gain measurement reveals how closely the device matches the expected output for standardized hearing profiles.
Audio Evidence
The recordings below were captured through our acoustic manikin under controlled laboratory conditions. You can compare what the Enhance Select 500 picks up against our reference recording to evaluate sound character and clarity.
How this hearing aid sounds in our lab scenes. Compare it out of the box and after professional tuning.
Scene type: Conversation
164 lab recordings of this product. They demonstrate relative processing in our lab and cannot predict an individual fitting outcome.
Test Documentation
The notes below document our observations for both Initial and Tuned fit conditions along with the test configuration used during measurement. These details provide context for interpreting the performance data presented throughout this review.
In our initial fit testing using an open dome with medium-power receiver, the Jabra Enhance Select 500 achieves a normalized Initial Score of 4.1/5. Speech in quiet performs well at 3.6/5, while own-voice comfort is a strength at 4.3/5 with this open coupling configuration. Speech in noise measures 1.5/5, and music streaming scores 1.9/5. Feedback handling is solid at 4.3/5, indicating stable out-of-box performance without adjustment.
After professional tuning with a tulip dome configuration, the normalized Tuned Score improves to 4.3/5—a 0.2-point gain over initial fit. Speech in quiet rises to a strong 4.3/5, and music streaming improves notably to 2.9/5. Feedback handling reaches an excellent 4.6/5. The more occluding tulip dome contributes to reduced own-voice comfort at 2.2/5, a common trade-off when optimizing for speech audibility. Speech in noise shows modest improvement at 1.8/5.
Initial Fitting | Tuned Fitting | |
|---|---|---|
| Ear Coupling | Open Dome | Tulip Dome |
| Receiver | Medium-power | Medium-power |
| Fitting Formula | Proprietary manufacturer default | Proprietary manufacturer default |
| Listening Program | All-Around (Automatic) | All-Around (Automatic) |
| Volume Setting | 50% (Default Half volume) | 80% (4/5 volume) |
| Software Version | Unknown | Unknown |
| Tuning Adjustments | Programmed to N3 audiogram, Other settings at manufacturer defaults | Programmed to N3 audiogram, 3-Band equalizer adjusted, Other settings at manufacturer defaults |
| Notes | Jabra audiology team perform initial programming. | — |
