Yeasound RIC800 Hearing Aids Review: Good Audio, Glitchy App
Key takeaways
- WIREDBetter hearing assistance than expected at this price.
- Yeasound’s BTE hearing aids currently come in two versions.
- Physical controls are limited to two buttons on the back side of each unit.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Courtesy of Yeasound Triangle Up Buy Now Multiple Buying Options Available$699 $599 at Yeasound$699 $599 at Amazon Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Rating:6/10
WIREDBetter hearing assistance than expected at this price. Reliable streaming performance. Integrated audio exam is especially quick and easy.TIREDFrequent trouble with app/Bluetooth disconnects. Some muffling in mids and lows. Battery life didn’t measure up to claims. Audiogram can’t be fine-tuned well.While the bulk of innovation in the over-the-counter hearing aid market revolves around more modern in-ear models, a new brand called Yeasound is proving there’s still some life left in the traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid space. The company is relatively new, but it’s actually a subsidiary of Yealink, a Chinese telecom producer that’s been making headsets and phone hardware for 25 years.
Yeasound’s BTE hearing aids currently come in two versions. I tested the higher-end RIC800 model, which includes AI-powered noise reduction, an automatic speech-focusing system, and support for Android in addition to iOS. (The RIC700 is Apple-compatible only.)