Jabra Enhance Hearing Aids Review 2024
Jabra Enhance offers advanced over-the-counter hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss with excellent ongoing support, starting at $995 per pair.
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Jabra Enhance sells behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids online, directly to consumers. Like all over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, the FDA-compliant devices are for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Jabra Enhance OTC hearing aids have solid technology behind them, provide excellent sound quality, and offer online support from hearing pros. They’re a great choice for seniors with mild to moderate hearing loss who are purchasing hearing aids for the first time.
Jabra Enhance hearing aids are made by GN Hearing, the same company that manufactures prescription ReSound hearing aids. ReSound’s underlying hearing aid technology has an excellent reputation, so Jabra Enhance’s decision to offer the same technology at a lower price point is a major win for hearing aid users. I gave Jabra Enhance a 4.8-star rating and a spot on our best hearing aids list, thanks to its value, long-term support from audiologists, useful mobile app, and excellent features for mild or moderate hearing loss. Read on as I detail my personal experience with Jabra Enhance hearing aids!
The Online Buying Process
Compared to prescription hearing aids that are purchased in person, Jabra Enhance’s buying process is streamlined, accessible, and convenient. You do everything from the comfort of your own home without the need for multiple office visits. Plus, the Jabra Enhance audiology care team is available seven days a week to answer any questions.
When I visited the Jabra Enhance website to purchase hearing aids, I started by filling out a comprehensive hearing and lifestyle questionnaire. Then I took a basic online hearing test designed by a Jabra Enhance audiologist.
Jabra Enhance also offers the option to upload a scanned audiogram, which is a printout you get after a hearing screening in a doctor’s office.
I wanted to see how accurate Jabra Enhance’s online testing platform is, so I tried it for myself. The test is straightforward and easy. Most importantly, it’s accurate. I received results very similar to what I know my hearing to be.
The results page is not a typical audiogram but rather a functional descriptor of hearing. I like that though. One of the things I spend a lot of time doing in clinical practice is explaining audiogram graphs to my patients. The functional descriptor is much more user-friendly.
Finally, I could click on a video about my type and pattern of hearing loss, and Jabra Enhance’s head of audiology would explain my results. Even though it isn’t an individualized explanation, it’s very helpful. Jabra Enhance also gets a thumbs-up for open captioning their videos.
FYI: Near the end of 2022, Lively teamed up with fellow hearing aid company Jabra and rebranded to Jabra Enhance. Together, the two brands hope to make hearing aids more affordable and accessible for those experiencing hearing loss.
Working With a Jabra Audiologist
Every Jabra Enhance hearing aid comes with your choice package: Basic or Premium. The Premium package provides unlimited virtual support from an audiologist. I think the level of care is worth the extra $200 the Premium package costs. You’ll need to have Zoom set up on your phone or computer to have the meetings. You can also get input by posing questions on the Jabra Enhance app.
During my first consultation, which took place on Zoom, an audiologist looked at the hearing aids in my ears on screen to determine if they fit well and were inserted properly. She helped me change my connection wires to ensure the best possible fit. She also worked with me on programming my hearing aids, both on the devices themselves and through the app. If you need help installing the Jabra Enhance app on your phone, they’ll help with that too.
One of the nice things about this level of hands-on support is your ability to always request sessions with the same audiologist. That type of care may not be the same as seeing someone in person, but it’s as close as you can get with an OTC hearing aid.
Of course, Zoom calls don’t take the place of medical examinations, so you should absolutely consider in-person appointments if your hearing changes or you suddenly have issues with balance or dizziness.
Did You Know? Ménière’s disease is a common cause of tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo. If left untreated, the symptoms can become permanent. 1
Jabra Enhance Pricing
To ease the pocketbook, Jabra Enhance offers its hearing aids at a pretty significant discount compared to the ReSound-branded version you get through hearing care practitioners, such as audiologists. They also provide financing options, which is great for older adults who prefer not to fork over the full amount up front.
Did You Know? According to Jabra Enhance, more than 95 percent of customers report better hearing after wearing Jabra Enhance hearing aids.
Jabra Enhance prices range between $995 and $1,995 per pair. If you have an HSA or FSA account, you’ll most likely be able to use it to pay for your hearing aids.
For people on a tight budget, this price range may be cost prohibitive. There are OTC hearing aids that cost less, such as MDHearing or Lexie, but those brands may not offer as much support or technological advancement as Jabra hearing aids do.
When thinking about cost, remember how expensive prescription hearing aids are. Some cost $8,000 per pair. The important thing is to minimize the impact of cost on your hearing abilities. Life is simply better when you can engage fully. Hearing well helps you do that.
When buying Jabra Enhance hearing aids, you’ll have your choice of a Basic or Premium package with the hearing aid model you choose. The Premium package costs $200 more than the Basic option for each model. For the extra $200, you’ll receive three years of unlimited online support with a remote audiology care team, a three-year warranty, three years of loss and damage protection, and hearing aids programmed to your personal hearing test results.
If you go with the Basic package, you won’t receive any follow-up care, and the warranty and loss and damage protections are shortened to one year. Hearing aids in the Basic package are preprogrammed for common types of hearing loss, not customized to your hearing test results. For all those reasons, I recommend the Premium package. The $200 is well worth the level of care you receive.
The long-term support and customization are very valuable, especially since hearing can change over time. You also get a 100-day risk-free trial to try the devices with any package. That’s a major plus, considering it can take time to adjust to hearing aids.
For more pricing information and to find out how to get the best deal with Jabra Enhance, visit our Jabra Enhance hearing aid pricing guide.
Jabra Enhance provides a 100-day free trial, three years of follow-up care, and excellent value, making it one of our top picks for hearing aids.
Jabra Enhance Hearing Aids at a Glance
Hearing aid model | Price | Battery life | Hands-free calling | Style | Other features |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enhance Select 50R | $995 to $1,195 | Up to 24 hours | No | BTE | Bluetooth |
Enhance Select 300 | $1,495 to $1,695 | Up to 24 hours | Yes, for iPhone 11 or newer | BTE | Advanced acoustics, best hearing in noise, Bluetooth |
Enhance Select 500 | $1,795 to $1,995 | Up to 24 hours | Yes, for iPhone 11 or newer and compatible Android devices | BTE | Soundscape technology, tap control, and Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast connectivity |
Jabra Enhance offers three BTE (receiver in ear) hearing aid models: Enhance Select 50R, Enhance Select 300, and Enhance Select 500. Their hearing aid models feature directional microphones for noise reduction, automatic and manual programs, and feedback control. They also have enough adjustment channels to allow Jabra Enhance audiologists to expertly match the shape and severity of your hearing loss, from mild to moderate.
Jabra Enhance's nearly invisible hearing aids also feature direct stereo streaming with Apple devices and most Android devices. That means you can stream calls, music, audio from Netflix shows, and more directly to your hearing aids. It's a great feature, especially for older adults who enjoy listening to music or podcasts while they exercise or commute.
FYI: Check out Jabra Enhance’s handy chart, which makes checking hearing aid compatibility with your phone a breeze.
Below, we’ll take a brief look at Jabra Enhance’s hearing aid models.
Enhance Select 50R
Overview
The Enhance Select 50R is a rechargeable hearing aid. It provides good speech clarity and noise reduction, so the devices are great for everyday listening. I would rank the Enhance Select 50R at the bottom of the list of Jabra Enhance’s three hearing aids when it comes to features. However, it is an excellent choice for those on a budget.
Price
At only $1,195 per pair for the Premium package or $995 for the Basic option, the Enhance Select 50R is the company’s most affordable hearing aid. Pay as little as $39 per month with a financing plan for the Premium package or $33 per month with the Basic package. Similar to Jabra Enhance’s other models, these hearing aids come with a charging case and 100-day risk-free trial. The Basic package offers a one-year warranty and one year of loss and damage protection. The Premium package ups those numbers to three years and also includes three years of follow-up care.
Enhance Select 300
Overview
Jabra Enhance’s midtier hearing aid, the Enhance Select 300, features the company’s most advanced technology for natural sound and effortless listening. Of all of Jabra’s offerings, the 300 is the best option for reducing wind and road noise. If you’re chatting with a friend while walking, outdoor noises won’t get in your way.
I took the Enhance Select 300 for a test drive on a relatively windy day. I was able to use the noise filter to drown out extraneous sounds, and I could listen to a conversation without difficulty.
The Enhance Select 300 also provides the crispest sound quality, including for human speech. With these hearing aids, I could home in on face-to-face conversations with relative ease, even in noisy environments.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for an iPhone that offers hearing aid compatibility, check out our guide to the best made-for-iPhone hearing aids.
Working with a Jabra audiologist elevated my experience of buying OTC hearing aids. If you’re new to hearing aids, working with a hearing professional can be a game changer. The audiologist I met with via Zoom helped me fit and program my hearing aids. This type of support ensured I had the best listening experience possible.
Premium features include a Music Mode that improves the quality of live and streamed music, hands-free calling for most iOS and Android phones, and automatic volume control. I tested the hands-free feature by making a call while wearing my hearing aids. The sound quality was natural. Buzzing, humming, and feedback were not a problem. This model is a mini design, built for all-day comfort and discretion.
Price
Enhance Select 300 hearing aids cost $1,695 per pair for the Premium package, or $55 per month, with financing options. You can bring the price down to $1,495 per pair ($49 per month with financing) for the Basic package. The purchase price includes a charging case, cleaning tools, and a large selection of domes.
Enhance Select 500
Overview
The Enhance Select 500 is Jabra’s smallest hearing aid to date. It includes the same next-level features that set the 300 apart from the pack, such as Soundscape technology. This technological breakthrough enables natural sound quality that requires less straining in noise, wind, and other types of challenging listening environments. The 500 also enables increased awareness of sounds generated in back and to the sides of the listener.
Like the 300, the Enhance Select 500 connects to Jabra’s easy-to-use app that lets you control your own settings for volume and program changes, including music mode. In addition, the 500 has tap control that enables you to answer phone calls by tapping on your hearing aid or ear. This is a useful feature that other Jabra Enhance hearing aids don’t offer, although we’ve seen it on a few other OTC hearing aids, such as the Eargo 7.
If you purchase the Premium package, you’ll have unlimited access to professional audiological support through the app, by phone, and via Zoom for three years.
Another major difference between the 500 and Jabra Enhance’s other offerings is streaming connectivity through Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast technology for Android phones and devices that support it. This next-generation technology, although not widely available, will soon become a highly popular option. Auracast improves connectivity, audio quality, and battery life.
Price
Jabra Enhance Select 500 hearing aids cost $1,995 for the Premium package and $1,795 for the Basic package. If you qualify, financing is available for both options.
The Premium package includes:
- Custom-programmed hearing aids
- Charger case, charger, and accessories
- Three years of professional hearing care
- Three-year warranty
The Basic package includes:
- Preprogrammed hearing aids
- Charger case, charger, and accessories
- One-year warranty
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Smartphone Apps and Accessories
I installed the Jabra Enhance Select app on my phone and found it easy to use, although screen freezing occurred on occasion. I told my Jabra Enhance audiologist about it, and she recommended I force-close and reopen the app, which helped.
Using the mobile app, I was able to alter the volume of my hearing aids. I could also make adjustments by using the noise filter and speech clarity function in these programs:
- All-Around: For daily use at home, at work, and during everyday activities
- Restaurant: For noisier environments
- Music: For listening to live or streamed media
- Outdoors: For use outside in windy or noisy environments
The Music program also lets you boost or lower bass, medium, or treble notes to your liking.
On the hearing aid accessory side, Jabra Enhance offers a wireless TV Streamer for $299, MultiMic for $275, and Phone Clip+ for $199.
All those accessories use 2.4 GHz wireless technology. They enable users to hear and understand speech more accurately, even when there’s background noise. The accessories also give you added freedom. You can’t always control your listening environment. Say you want to watch TV at a friend’s house or the game at a sports bar. Even when the source (e.g., a TV) is beyond the ideal sweet spot for hearing aids (6 feet), the sound is still clearer.
Jabra accessories are easy to configure and use. They are, in my clinical experience, quite durable and provide a lot of benefits. Plus, the accessory prices are in the average range for hearing aid accessories. You won’t need to break the bank to get some extra hearing support if you need it.
How Jabra Enhance Compares to Other Hearing Aid Brands
If you’re new to hearing aids, I strongly suggest shopping around before you buy. You may wish to look at prescription hearing aids and other OTC brands before you make your choice. Some brands, such as Eargo, will send you a nonworking hearing aid sample prior to purchase so you can check out their fit and wearability.
Jabra Hearing aids are in the moderate price range compared to other OTC brands, such as MDHearing, Eargo, and Lexie. How do they compare?
Jabra Enhance vs. MDHearing
Jabra Hearing aids are in the moderate price range when compared to other OTC brands, such as MDHearing, Eargo, and Lexie. So, how do they compare?
If you’re looking for a nearly invisible hearing aid, MDHearing may be a better choice than Jabra Enhance. The company’s NEO XS model has a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design, so it’s virtually undetectable. Still, I felt my Jabra Enhance devices were quite discreet.
Like Jabra Enhance, MDHearing offers superior background noise reduction and a comfortable, all-day wearing experience. They also offer free lifetime support (longer than Jabra Enhance’s three years) and a 100 percent money-back guarantee. MDHearing’s prices are comparable to Jabra Enhance, but their sales offer steep discounts. You can check out our MDHearing review to learn more.
Jabra Enhance vs. Eargo
Eargo hearing aids are also practically invisible. They also have a unique petal dome designed for comfort, but our team has found that they’re not comfortable for small ears. Eargo devices are also known for producing rich, full, and crisp sound. The devices come with lifetime support from hearing professionals. Read our Eargo review for more information.
Jabra Enhance vs. Lexie
Lexie offers a budget BTE hearing aid with a self-fitting option that is comparable to the Jabra 50R. Lexie hearing aid features, however, aren’t quite as advanced as Jabra Enhance.
All these OTC hearing aid brands have mobile apps you can use to make hearing adjustments. Hearing professionals can be reached through each brand’s app.
Jabra vs. Prescription Hearing Aid Brands
If you have severe or profound hearing loss, you won’t be a viable candidate for any brand of OTC hearing aid. More powerful hearing aids for severe hearing loss are available from brands such as Phonak and Oticon. You can read our Phonak review and Oticon review to learn more.
Many people also find that working in person with an audiologist on their hearing aid choice and maintenance is essential for providing the best level of care. Prescription hearing aids may also be better for you if you have one-sided hearing loss or need a sound library for tinnitus masking.
Prescription hearing aids, however, prescription hearing aids are much more expensive than OTC hearing aids. If you’re on a tight budget and have mild to moderate hearing loss, Jabra Enhance’s OTC hearing aids may be your best bet.
Compare Jabra to Other Providers
Final Thoughts on Jabra Enhance
If you have mild to moderate hearing loss and are thinking about diving in with your first hearing aid, I recommend checking out Jabra Enhance. The company’s advanced hearing aid technology and accessories will help you field phone calls, communicate in noisy restaurants, and go about day-to-day life with more confidence and comfort. Jabra Enhance sets itself apart by including three years of online support with a remote audiologist for Premium packages.
Methodology: How We Tested and Reviewed Jabra Enhance
When it comes to hearing aids, older adults are concerned with a wide range of issues, from cost to fit. With that in mind, I researched what’s new about Jabra Enhance hearing aids online. I received, wore, and tested every available Jabra Enhance style. I spent lots of time asking questions of the Jabra Enhance audiological team. I also used the hearing aids in various environments, from indoor TV watching to outdoor city walking.
I noted features such as ease of use, battery life, and app connectivity, and paid special attention to important attributes such as sound clarity, straining reduction, comfort, and programmability. Our team also consulted with audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman to learn about her and her patients’ experience with Jabra Enhance.
Here’s what my testing process consisted of:
- I spent time researching Jabra Enhance hearing aids online. I considered features and costs, including up-front fees and seasonal promotions.
- I took Jabra Enhance’s online hearing test and compared my results to results from a test with an audiologist. Then I ordered my hearing aids.
- Once I received the devices, I unboxed them and followed the setup instructions. I fully charged the hearing aids and timed how long it took.
- I downloaded the Jabra Enhance app and synced it to my hearing aids while they were still in their charging cases.
- I set up orientation appointments with members of the Jabra Enhance audiology team. I attended orientation meetings via Zoom and had follow-up meetings via phone. During the first Zoom meeting, the audiologist analyzed the way the hearing aids fit to determine if additional accessories or alterations were needed.
- I played around with adjusting the sound and settings, and I learned how to use the app for ongoing adjustments.
- I wore each pair of hearing aids in a variety of listening environments. I talked on the phone, watched TV, and streamed music while wearing them. I also wore them on walks and in restaurants.
Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Ménière’s Disease.