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Expert
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Yeasound RIC700 Expert Review

Budget OTC
Released 
2024

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Summary

The Yeasound RIC700 is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid that earned an A grade in HearAdvisor's lab testing, placing it in the top 18% of the OTC hearing aid category. At $599, this behind-the-ear device delivers notably strong speech performance, particularly in quiet environments where it scored 1.38 points above the category average.

Speech clarity is the RIC700's standout strength. In our testing, it performed well above average for speech in both quiet and noisy conditions, making it a solid choice for users prioritizing conversational clarity. Feedback handling was also excellent, scoring at or near the top of the scale in both fit conditions—users shouldn't experience whistling issues during normal use.

The device does show some weaknesses worth noting. Own-voice comfort scored below the category average, likely due to occlusion effects from the closed vented dome coupling. Music streaming quality also measured below average, so users who frequently stream audio content may want to consider alternatives. Within its price range, competitors like the Sony CRE-E10 and Elehear Beyond Pro outperform the RIC700 on overall sound scores.

The Yeasound RIC700 is best suited for users who prioritize speech understanding over music quality and streaming features. Those seeking similar performance at a lower cost might consider the Elehear Beyond at $399, which offers comparable sound quality while saving $200.

In the initial fit condition using a closed vented dome, the Yeasound RIC700 showed strong performance in speech clarity, scoring 4.0/5 in quiet—well above the category average. Speech in noise measured 1.7/5, still above average for OTC devices. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5. The main weakness was own-voice comfort at 2.0/5, reflecting noticeable occlusion that some users may find bothersome. Music streaming scored 2.7/5. The overall fit score of 3.02/5 represents above-average out-of-box performance.

The tuned fit condition maintained the same closed vented dome coupling, resulting in minimal changes from the initial fit. Speech in noise improved slightly to 2.0/5, while speech in quiet remained steady at 4.0/5. Feedback handling decreased marginally to 4.6/5 but remained above average. Own-voice comfort stayed at 2.0/5, indicating that occlusion issues persist even with adjustment. Music streaming improved slightly to 2.9/5. The overall fit score of 3.08/5 represents only a 0.06-point gain, suggesting the initial fit already captures most of this device's capability.

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Lab Review Scores

A
SoundGrade
Initial Score
4.1
Tuned Score
4.2
Expert
Choice
Speech in quiet
best
4.0
5.0
Own voice
best
2.0
5.0
Speech in noise
best
1.7
5.0
Feedback handling
best
5.0
5.0
Music streaming
best
2.7
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!
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Lab notes

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Initial Fitting
Closed Vented Dome
Tuned Fitting
Closed Vented Dome

Specs

Behind Ear
Behind Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries
iPhone Streaming
iPhone Streaming
Android Streaming
Android Streaming
Hands-Free
Hands-Free