Earlier this year, Elehear, an over-the-counter hearing aid brand, introduced their Alpha Pro hearing aids, receiving positive feedback. These devices, suited for individuals with mild hearing loss, follow a traditional behind-the-ear design and include an online audiologist session to assist new users. Additionally, they feature a “remote sound” function, allowing users to place their phone near an audio source and stream the sound directly to the hearing aids. Priced at $459, they were considered well-valued and earned a runner-up position in the Best Hearing Aids guide.
Following this release, Elehear has launched the Elehear Beyond hearing aids. These new devices offer an expanded operational frequency range, improved noise cancelation, and a tinnitus mode, seemingly presenting an enhancement over the Alpha Pro model. However, after several weeks of testing, it became apparent that these improvements did not necessarily translate to a better experience.
The hardware of the Beyond hearing aids represents a significant change, particularly in size. Weighing 4.75 grams each, they are notably larger and heavier than Jabra’s Enhance Select 500 hearing aids, which weigh 2.56 grams each. Both models maintain the traditional behind-the-ear design, but the Beyond aids’ substantial size resulted in a noticeable protrusion when worn.
Regarding audio quality, the Beyond hearing aids delivered underwhelming performance. Upon initial use, a discernible background noise was present, even at low amplification levels. The noise resembled the sound of an old desk fan operating nearby, characterized more accurately as a rattle than a hiss.
