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Otofonix Groove Expert Review

Mid-Priced RxReleased 2021

Our independent lab evaluation of the Otofonix Groove measures this behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid across standardized speech clarity, feedback control, and streaming performance tests. Below you will find our complete findings from acoustic manikin testing.

Dr. Steve TaddeiDr. Steve Taddei, Au.D.Lab Director & Reviewer
Dr. Abram BaileyDr. Abram Bailey, Au.D.Fact Checker / Editor
How We Test
Otofonix Groove Hero
HearAdvisor
Otofonix Groove
2.7HearAdvisor SoundScoreGrade C
As it sounds out of the box
Bottom Line

The Otofonix Groove offers excellent feedback handling but struggles with core speech clarity and music, limiting its appeal for most users.

Top 97% of Prescription Hearing Aid
Strengths
  • Excellent feedback handling
  • Rechargeable batteries for convenience
  • Mid-range price point at $795
Drawbacks
  • Low speech in quiet performance
  • No music streaming capability
  • Poor own voice quality
Metric Breakdown

SoundScore: 5 Acoustic Dimensions

Our testing protocol evaluates speech in quiet, speech in noise, own voice comfort, feedback control, and music streaming. The score card below displays the Groove's performance on each individual metric. 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 Otofonix Groove.

SoundScore
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  • 18 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 13 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
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  • 16 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 13 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
  • 1 product scored from 5.00 to 5.02
5.02
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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5.0

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

Speech in noise
New
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5.0

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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  • 6 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 14 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
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5.0

Resistance to the whistling and squealing caused by acoustic feedback.

Lab Assessment

Where the Otofonix Groove Lands in Our Testing

The Otofonix Groove is a behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid priced at $795, earning a C grade with a SoundScore of 2.7/5 in our lab testing. This rechargeable BTE device ranks 36th out of 36 tested prescription hearing aids, placing it in the bottom tier of its category.

In our testing, the Groove demonstrated one clear strength: excellent feedback handling at 5.0/5, scoring 0.29 points above the category average. The device remained stable during our standardized challenge motions with no audible feedback issues. However, speech performance was significantly limited, with both speech in quiet and speech in noise scoring 1.0/5—falling 2.32 and 0.96 points below their respective category averages.

Music streaming quality scored 0.0/5, which is 2.64 points below the prescription category average. Own-voice comfort was also low at 0.4/5 in the tuned configuration, 2.35 points below average, suggesting notable occlusion-related concerns. The normalized Initial Score of 2.7/5 and Tuned Score of 2.6/5 indicate that professional fitting adjustments did not improve overall performance.

Given its positioning at the bottom of the prescription hearing aid category and the availability of lower-priced alternatives that scored higher in our testing, the Otofonix Groove may be difficult to recommend for most users seeking balanced sound quality across listening situations.

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

Amplification Analysis

Otofonix Groove Insertion Gain Measurements

Insertion gain graphs show how much amplification a hearing aid provides at each frequency compared to prescriptive targets. The visualization below displays the Groove's measured output against the expected fitting curve.

Graph

Audio Samples

Listen to the Otofonix Groove Through Our Test Manikin

We capture audio samples through an acoustic manikin fitted with each hearing aid under controlled conditions. Below you can compare recordings from the Groove against our unaided reference.

Otofonix Groove 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

Quiet room

As tested out of the box
0:00
–:––

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

Test Configuration

Otofonix Groove Lab Testing Documentation

Our lab notes document the specific settings, firmware versions, and fitting parameters used during evaluation. The details below record exactly how the Groove was configured for our measurements.

Lab Notes

Initial fit observations

In the initial fit configuration with a power dome with slits, the Otofonix Groove achieved a normalized Initial Score of 2.7/5. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5. However, speech performance was low, with both speech in quiet and speech in noise at 1.0/5—well below category averages. Own-voice comfort measured 1.8/5, and music streaming scored 0.0/5. This out-of-box setup showed significant gaps in core speech intelligibility metrics compared to other prescription devices in our testing.

Tuned fit observations

After professional fitting adjustments using a closed dome, the Groove achieved a normalized Tuned Score of 2.6/5—a slight decrease from the initial configuration. Speech metrics remained unchanged at 1.0/5 for both quiet and noisy conditions. Feedback handling maintained its excellent 5.0/5 rating. However, own-voice comfort dropped significantly to 0.4/5 with the more occluding coupling. Music streaming remained at 0.0/5. The tuned fit did not yield performance improvements in our testing protocol.

Test configuration

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Power Dome with Slits
Closed Dome
Specs
Behind Ear
Behind Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries
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