Here are the most important physical features of Eargo hearing aids: 

• Black in color: By mimicking the natural shadow of the ear canal, the black color of Eargo’s devices makes them harder to detect when fully inserted. 

• “Fishing Lure” design: Eargo designers took inspiration from a fishing lure when modeling their CIC hearing aids. 

• “Petal Tip” ear inserts: These are the soft, flexible silicone tips that hold Eargo devices in place within the ear canal. According to Eargo, the open petal tips reduce the feeling of occlusion (i.e., the plugged ear sensation) that can make your own voice sound strange. More traditional closed petal tips are also available.

• Pull-cord for removal: Eargo devices feature a clear pull-cord for easy removal.

• Bluetooth earbud design: The Eargo LINK looks almost exactly like a normal pair of cordless, Bluetooth earbuds. 

Eargo’s Automatic Personalized Hearing Aid Adjustments 

Similar to the MDHearing VOLT MAX, the Eargo 6, 7, and SE models include “Sound Match” technology, which checks your unique hearing loss and automatically adjusts the hearing aids to match your needs. This self-adjustment process from Eargo is done from the comfort of your home without any office visits. 

Here's how it works:

1. In-app sound test: Eargo users complete a hearing check in the Eargo app. This determines the frequencies and volumes they have difficulty hearing.

2. Automatic adjustment: Based on the results of the hearing check, the app automatically adjusts the hearing aid settings.

3. Customization: Eargo users can then fine-tune their settings within the app to ensure optimal hearing performance.

In addition to the above features, your Eargo hearing aids may also include:

• Four preset “sound amplification programs”: These include settings for TV, Restaurant, Phone, and Meetings.

• Feedback reduction: This reduces high-pitched squealing noises that can happen while using the hearing aids.

• Background noise reduction: This reduces background noise to help focus on voices in noisy environments.

• Flat response setting: When activated, this amplifies all sound frequencies equally.   

• Mute setting: This turns off all hearing aid amplification.

• Bluetooth music streaming: The Eargo LINK allows you to stream music, phone calls, and sounds from your smartphone. 

WARNING: To manually change sound amplification profiles, Eargo users have to tap the side of their ears. This might sound convenient, but hitting your ear each time you want to change a setting can be bothersome. 

Eargo Smartphone App

Each Eargo hearing aid connects to a Smartphone App. The Eargo App gives users access to frequently asked questions, how-to videos, user guides, and a store to purchase parts and accessories. Depending on the model, the app may also let you make various adjustments to your hearing aid settings, making the Eargo App an important part of the Eargo hearing aid experience. 

Eargo Customer Support

All Eargo customers have access to remote lifetime support from audiologist-trained professionals based in the United States. However, Eargo support personnel cannot make fine-tuning adjustments based on your hearing test results from an audiologist. Also, they cannot remotely tune your hearing aids from a distance. 

While the Eargo support team has a good reputation for helpfulness and responsiveness, it is primarily there to help customers with technical issues related to setting up and using their hearing aids and the Eargo Smartphone App, and less focused on providing hearing care consultations.

This is in stark comparison to the support provided by MDHearing. As a complete remote-healthcare solution, MDHearing customers can receive a free, phone- or video-based consultation with a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist who will provide advice on hearing care treatment options. Furthermore, MDHearing VOLT MAX customers can send a clinic hearing test result to MDHearing, and MDHearing will remotely tune their hearing aids using the same standards that hearing clinics use. 

MDHearing customers also have lifetime access to phone, email, and text support from MDHearing’s team of audiologists and licensed hearing professionals. 

Eargo Rechargeable Batteries

All Eargo hearing aid models are rechargeable. According to the Eargo website, a single battery charge lasts between 9 and 16 hours depending on the model. Each set of Eargo hearing aids comes with a portable charging case. These cases can provide from two to four days worth of charges to the hearing aids depending on the models.

Here are the battery details for each model: 

• Eargo 7: Up to 16 hours of listening time and up to 2 recharges from a fully charged case

• Eargo 6: Up to 16 hours of listening time and up to 2 recharges from a fully charged case 

• Eargo SE: Up to 16 hours of listening time and up to 5 recharges from a fully charged case

• Eargo LINK: Up to 9 hours of listening time and up to 4 recharges from a fully charged case

Eargo Models, Prices, and Reviews

In this section, we look closer at the four models that Eargo features on its website: 

Eargo 6 Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aid

Currently priced at $2,250 a pair, the Eargo 6 is an FDA-registered self-fitting OTC hearing aid designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. As a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design, this hearing aid disappears completely inside the ear canal making it difficult to detect. 

Here’s a complete list of Eargo 6 characteristics and features:

• FDA-registered hearing aids that meet the FDA’s OTC requirements.

• Rechargeable batteries provide up to 16 hours of use with a portable charging case that offers up to two additional full charges.

• Digital hearing aid technology that offers noise reduction, feedback reduction, and automatically changes the hearing aid settings to match varying sound environments.

• Water and sweat resistance with an IPX7 rating to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

• Completely-in-the-canal design meant to be virtually invisible when worn.

• Smartphone app integration allows for app-based hearing aid adjustments. 

• “Sound Match” technology in the Eargo App checks your unique hearing loss and automatically adjusts your hearing aids to match your needs.

• “Sound Adjust” technology, which according to Eargo, “identifies the user’s surroundings and instantly modifies the hearing device’s settings to ensure optimal benefit, without requiring manual input from the wearer.”

• Access to U.S-based support to assist with adjustments and troubleshooting. 

• 1-year warranty period.

• Eargo offers a 45-day “Right to Return” period that begins the day the Eargos are delivered.

User Reviews: The Eargo 6 has received a mix of positive and negative reviews on Amazon:

• Negative: “It is hard to believe that I just purchased this last year, as one of the two earpieces has already stopped working – and this for the second time…  I will not even be requesting a replacement this time, because of my general disappointment with how these things performed (or rather, underperformed)… In August of this year, I took a job as a full-time college professor, and started using the earpieces during my classes, but again, this was only a few days a week, and a few hours at a time. During that period, I became even more acutely aware of the product’s limited ability to help me hear questions from my students in the classroom. And then, a few weeks ago, the left earpiece stopped working again, for the second time. Even when both earpieces were working, I was annoyed by the fact that they have a tendency to move up into the ear canal, and I regularly found myself struggling (sometimes in a near panic mode) to get a hold of the tiny filament that would enable me to get the device out of my ear. I really regret making such an expensive purchase, given how terribly it failed me.” –JRev3, November 22, 2023

• Positive: “I bought the Eargo 6 because I was having a difficult time hearing the people I work with and my board of directors and they worked great for that. People who I struggled to understand now come through clearly in both individual settings and in meetings. I have not had equal success in other settings like restaurants or my car where you have a ton of outside noise. I've also been very impressed with Eargo's level of support. They provide help with the initial set-up and then a call with an audiologist that I found very helpful, she even provided a text number if I have additional questions or issues. I've only had my Eargos for about a month but so far I am very pleased.” –Randall Broderesen, March 22, 2023

Overview of Eargo 6: The discreet CIC design and advanced features of the Eargo 6 make it an exciting hearing aid option. However, the price of $2,250 a pair is extremely high. When compared to MDHearing models, users pay only $297-$597 a pair to receive a similar sound quality experience, plus access to remote consultations with a licensed hearing care professional. When compared to the MDHearing VOLT MAX, users pay only $597 a pair to receive the same type of hearing check and automatic adjustment technology as the Eargo 6. The VOLT MAX also provides custom remote adjustments of the hearing aids based on a professional audiogram while saving users approximately $1,500. 

Eargo 7 Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aid

Currently priced at $2,950 a pair, the FDA-registered Eargo 7 self-fitting OTC hearing aid was designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. As a completely-in-the-canal style, the Eargo 7 is similar to the Eargo 6. In fact, they’re virtually identical on the outside.

What differentiates them is happening on the inside. According to a recent Wired Magazine article, Eargo said “in an interview that the only real differences among the 5, 6, and 7 are all internal technology tweaks: Each generation handles audio processing and filtering better, and noise reduction has improved each time.” Here are some test results from HearingTracker that show the performance improvements of Eargo 7 compared to Eargo 6.  

Here’s a complete list of Eargo 7 characteristics and features:

• Significantly upgraded technology, audio processing, and filtering compared to Eargo 6.

• FDA-registered hearing aids that meet the FDA’s OTC requirements.

• Rechargeable batteries provide up to 16 hours of use with a portable charging case that offers up to two additional full charges.

• Digital hearing aid technology that offers noise reduction features. 

• Water and sweat resistance with an IPX7 rating to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

• Completely-in-the-canal design meant to be virtually invisible when worn.

• Smartphone app integration allows for app-based hearing aid adjustments.

• “Sound Match” technology in the Eargo App checks your unique hearing loss and automatically adjusts your hearing aids to match your needs.

• “Sound Adjust” technology, according to Eargo, “identifies the user’s surroundings and instantly modifies the hearing device’s settings to ensure optimal benefit, without requiring manual input from the wearer.”

• Eargo 7 users can fine-tune their settings within the app for optimal hearing performance.

• Access to U.S-based support to assist with adjustments and troubleshooting.

• 2-year warranty period.

• Eargo offers a 45-day “Right to Return” period that begins the day the Eargos are delivered.

User Reviews: The Eargo 7 has received a mix of positive and negative reviews on Amazon:

• Mixed Positive/Negative: “These are terrific hearing aids - except their battery life is an ongoing problem. I had tried an 'behind the ear' model from Jabra Enhanced, but found them too difficult to use due to the fact that I wear glasses. So - I got a pair of Eargo 7s. Great sound, virtually invisible. Initially, the battery life was 15-16 hours. Then, after around 9-10 months, the battery life on the left hearing aid suddenly dropped to 12 hours. Then, a few weeks later, 10 hours. I contacted customer support, and they had me do the 'deep clean and reboot the software' routine. No change. SO - they sent me a replacement left-sided device. Now, the RIGHT-sided device has started to lose battery life. It's down to 12 hours. As another reviewer pointed out...that is simply not acceptable. Eargo needs to get this battery issue corrected. Spending 3K on new hearing aids once a year isn't an option.” –MRatner, April 29, 2024

• Negative: “A lot of money for less than 2 years use. Batteries started to last less and less, Called Eargo I was informed they couldn't be replaced.”  –Rob & Kim Briggs, April 15, 2024

Overview of Eargo 7: This hearing aid offers a comfortable design and advanced features, but the price of $2,950 a pair makes them extremely expensive considering the affordable alternatives from MDHearing. 

In fact, the MDHearing VOLT MAX provides the same level of technology and performance—with an app-based hearing check and automatic adjustments of the hearing aid according to your hearing profile—yet the VOLT MAX is only $597 a pair. The biggest difference is that the VOLT MAX is a behind-the-ear (BTE) design compared to the Eargo 7’s completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design. 

Considering these points, budget-conscious patients who prefer the BTE design may want to consider how they can save over $2,000 by choosing MDHearing—and they’ll still receive the same level of performance and technology.

Eargo SE OTC Hearing Aid

Currently priced at $1,650 a pair, the FDA-registered Eargo SE self-fitting OTC hearing aid is designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. As a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) style, the Eargo SE provides advanced features at a more affordable price compared to its counterparts.

Here’s a complete list of Eargo SE characteristics and features:

• FDA-registered hearing aids that meet the FDA’s OTC requirements.

• Rechargeable batteries provide up to 16 hours of continuous use with a portable charging case offering up to five additional full charges.

• Digital hearing aid technology offering noise reduction features.

• Water and sweat resistance with an IP54 rating, providing protection against splashes and sweat.

• Completely-in-the-canal design.

• Smartphone app integration that allows for app-based hearing aid adjustments.

• “Sound Match” technology in the Eargo App checks your unique hearing loss and automatically adjusts your hearing aids to match your needs.

• Manual adjustments for 4 different sound listening environments.

• Access to U.S-based support for adjustments and troubleshooting.

• 1-year warranty period.

• 45-day “Right to Return” period that begins the day the Eargos are delivered.

User Reviews: The Eargo SE has received a mix of positive and negative reviews on BestBuy:

• Positive Review: “I am a 69 year old Triathlete and, needless to say, I was very reluctant to purchase hearing aids I so desperately needed because of the stigma of appearing old!  I finally went to an audiologist who recommended a $6K pair of hearing aids and I said there must be a better way.  I found EARGO online after doing my research and decided to try them out.  They have exceeded my expectations.  They are very small, easy to insert and barely noticeable.  I have been wearing them for a month and my kids don’t even know yet that I have hearing aids.  In addition to them being barely noticeable, the sound quality is excellent and I feel like Superman sometimes.  I am hearing things that I haven’t heard in years, like my wife talking from the next room! I highly recommend EARGOs for their size, value and quality!” –TerryS, June 2024

• Negative Review: “Just not to be. I am returning my second pair today. While I liked these a lot, I just could not get the right one to fit comfortably in the ear. I worked with customer service and tried different things with no luck. Also, in both sets, the right earpiece went bad within a week. By bad I mean the volume went like half what was supposed to be.``  –Bella, June 2024

Overview of Eargo SE: As Eargo’s base model option, the SE offers a comfortable design, but less advanced features compared to the other options from Eargo. Also, even though it’s the base model, it still comes with a relatively high price of $1,650 a pair. For budget-conscious hearing loss patients, the dramatically more affordable alternatives from MDHearing offer high-quality technology and performance.

Eargo LINK

The Eargo LINK is an earbud-style OTC hearing aid with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity technology that is currently priced at $799 a pair. Unlike the Eargo 6, 7 and SE, the LINK offers Bluetooth sound streaming for hands-free phone calls, music streaming, and sound streaming from Bluetooth-connected devices. 

That being said, this hearing aid does not appear to provide the same level of advanced hearing aid features as the other Eargo models. In fact, Eargo’s marketing literature doesn’t clearly state the hearing aid features that this device provides in detail. What we do know is that the Eargo LINK does not include an app-based hearing check or automatic adjustments to your unique hearing profile.

• FDA-registered hearing aids that meet the FDA’s OTC requirements.

• Stream phone calls, music, and sound from devices with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.

• Digital hearing aid technology with Active Noise Cancellation, Noise Reduction, and Feedback Cancellation.

• Smartphone app to change hearing aid settings and other adjustments.

• Rechargeable batteries with up to 9 hours of runtime and a portable battery charging case that offers up to 4 additional charges.

• Sweat and splash-resistant with an IP54 rating.

• Lifetime support for adjustments and troubleshooting.

• 1-year warranty period.

• Eargo offers a 45-day “Right to Return” period that begins the day the Eargos are delivered.

User Reviews: The Eargo LINK has received mostly positive reviews on Amazon:

• Positive: “I totally recommend these hearing aids, Link by Eargo. I was desperate for a hearing aid that was reasonably priced and was covered by my insurance company, and these were! The customer service is great… and the product is easy to use and easy to wear and clean. I love them and highly recommend them!!” –Deborah Grunn, April 11, 2024

• Positive: “Easy to set up. Very good streaming via Bluetooth and 4 volume settings make these a good alternative to prescription hearing aids.” –JKL, June 10, 2024

• Positive: “My Background: As a Navy Hospital Corpsman and paramedic, years of loud noise exposure led me to moderate-to-severe hearing loss. I wear expensive, top-of-the-line hearing aids. If your primary hearing aids require service or you experience an unexpected issue, the Link by Eargo can serve as a reliable backup. Overall: While not a replacement for powerful hearing aids, the Link by Eargo offers several advantages: Excellent sound quality at lower volumes (ideal for those with mild-moderate hearing loss); dual functionality: hearing aid mode and listening mode; reliable backup option for those with primary hearing aids.” –James, March 21, 2024

Overview of Eargo Link: The Eargo LINK offers an affordable option for those seeking Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids with hands-free phone calls and music streaming. Priced at $799 a pair, it’s the most inexpensive Eargo option with essential hearing aid functionalities. 

Still, the LINK model lacks the higher level hearing aid technology found in the Eargo 6, 7, and SE models. With positive user reviews, this hearing aid might be an interesting bet for those who are interested in Bluetooth-enabled headphones with an added hearing aid functionality. Also, as one reviewer suggested, these could be a nice pair of aids to have on hand as a backup option when your primary hearing aids need repair. 

Finally, despite the interesting music streaming features found in the LINK, we still recommend that hearing loss patients choose a hearing aid with higher performance and technology, especially when such models are available more affordably from MDHearing. 

An Affordable Eargo Alternative: MDHearing

In this section we see how Eargo and MDHearing compare in terms of price, technology, and telehealth services.

Similarities Between Eargo vs. MDHearing

Let’s take a look at what Eargo and MDHearing have in common:

• FDA-Registered: Both MDHearing and Eargo are FDA-registered hearing aids, which means they are real hearing aids designed to effectively treat mild to moderate hearing loss conditions.  

• No Office Visit Required: Both hearing aid brands empower hearing loss patients to treat their hearing loss without visiting a hearing clinic. Both manufacturers allow you to order hearing aids from home over the internet and set them up independently or with assistance from a phone-based hearing aid specialist.

• Smartphone App Compatible: Both manufacturers sell hearing aid models with smartphone app features.

• In-the-ear design offerings: Both offer CIC models designed to completely disappear inside the ear canal. 

Differences Between Eargo vs. MDHearing:

Here's what we found makes MDHearing and Eargo different:

Remote Fine-Tuning and Customization Capabilities

The MDHearing VOLT MAX includes remote fine-tuning and customization features that the Eargo hearing aids don’t have. VOLT MAX users can send their hearing test results and have their aids adjusted according to their unique hearing loss profiles. These remote adjustment capabilities by hearing professionals allow MDHearing customers to receive clinic quality care without the clinic visits and they really set MDHearing apart from Eargo.

Volume Control

Eargo hearing aids don’t include volume adjustment buttons. As a result, Eargo customers are limited to tapping the side of their ear to cycle through preset environment settings. In our opinion, this is a weakness of Eargo aids because it doesn’t allow users to carry out precise on-the-go volume adjustments in the moment. 

If you’re in a noisy area, you might need to quickly lower the volume below the options provided in the presets. In this case, your only option is to remove the hearing aids entirely. It’s the same case if you want to make conversation sounds a little bit louder; you won’t be able to do it.

By contrast, MDHearing aids provide complete control at the precise levels you decide. You can adjust the volume on your MDHearing aids with the convenient volume buttons on the aid, or from your MDHearing Smartphone App if you have the VOLT MAX. 

In-the-Ear vs. Behind-the-Ear

All Eargo hearing aids are In-The-Ear (ITE) style devices without any options for Behind-the-Ear (BTE) models. This means that the entire device goes into your ear canal—or in the case of the LINK, it sits inside the bowl of the ear and is still visible. In-the-ear models are nice because it makes them more discreet and invisible. However, they are more limited in fitting different ear anatomies. They’re also exposed to more sweat and wax buildup, which can damage the microphone ports and battery charging points. This means that you will need to regularly and thoroughly clean your Eargo aids to keep them working. 

By contrast, all MDHearing offers both BTE and ITE models, giving customers the option to choose a hearing aid that fits their ear best and is easier to care for. With the BTE models, the digital components rest behind the ear where they stay safe from destructive earwax or moisture. Even if the clear, thin tubing gets plugged, it’s simple to clean or replace. With MDHearing, replacement tubing, tips, and other MDHearing accessories are very affordable.

Check out this how-to article on cleaning your hearing aids. 

Eargo’s Aggravating “Ear Tap”

Eargo models rely on an “ear tap” to cycle through pre-set hearing environment settings while you’re wearing them—or you can make adjustments using the smartphone app. The ear tap process is aggravating for some users, and it doesn't always work the way they want it to. 

By comparison, MDHearing models feature push-button controls to adjust key settings. This allows you to quickly change the volume or sound environment settings as needed.   

Price

This last category is a big one. Eargo hearing aids range in price from $799 to $2,950 a pair. For the same price as Eargo’s higher-end models, you could go to a traditional hearing clinic for a pair of custom-fitted hearing aids—fit to your exact ear canal shape. Perhaps the “tiny tech” and “invisibility” of Eargo is a selling point for many hearing loss patients. However, it’s important to consider the reason you’re buying hearing aids in the first place: You want the best treatment for your hearing loss possible!  

With MDHearing, you pay dramatically less money, yet you receive high-quality hearing loss treatment, precise and customizable volume control, and on-the-go sound environment and microphone directionality adjustments. Even better, MDHearing’s models start at just $297 a pair. MDHearing’s highest-tech model—the VOLT MAX—is also inexpensive, priced at $597 a pair. Moreover, the VOLT MAX offers advanced fine-tuning capabilities so you can adjust it to your exact hearing loss situation based on professional hearing test results if you have them.

Remote Hearing Care

Another important feature that sets MDHearing apart from Eargo, is its remote hearing care process which comes free of charge with your hearing aids. Customers can take MDHearing’s free online hearing test, consult with a licensed hearing professional to receive hearing treatment recommendations, and have their hearing aids delivered without ever leaving the comfort of home. 

Additionally, patients with a professional audiogram or hearing test who purchase the MDHearing VOLT MAX can send the results to MDHearing. From there, MDHearing will remotely adjust their hearing aid settings with the same level of specificity that a professional hearing clinic would use. 

By contrast, Eargo doesn’t offer remote hearing adjustments, nor does it offer consultations with licensed audiologists and hearing specialists.

Final Thoughts on Eargo and MDHearing

By now you should have a clear understanding of the Eargo hearing aid brand and what they offer in terms of style and technology. You should also have an idea for how Eargo and MDHearing compare. 

If it were up to us, you know which hearing aid brand we think you should choose! But you don’t have to take our word for it. Both Eargo and MDHearing come with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee. So why not order a pair of each? You can decide which is better for your needs and send back the other pair for a complete refund.

Interested in starting a risk-free trial with MDHearing?
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