Matthew DeCarlo
What’s that you say? If your ears aren’t what they used to be but you don’t need full-blown hearing aids yet, the Eargo Neo HiFi can spare you the embarrassment of asking someone to repeat themselves for the fourth time. And they’ll never even know you’re wearing them.
Eargo specializes in making gear for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and the medical devices company has just expanded its product line with a new flagship model. Compared to previous iterations—of which there have been three since 2017—the Eargo Neo HiFi brings better sound quality and increased personalization options through the Eargo mobile app.
More specifically, Eargo says the Neo HiFis feature more bandwidth, improved feedback cancellation, and an algorithm that reduces wind noise for those times when you’re talking to someone outside. Unlike hearing aids, Eargos fit inside your ear canal so they’re barely visible, if at all. But again, they aren’t as powerful. They’re more like the reading glasses of hearing aids if you will.
Along with improving the sound quality with those new features, Eargo is working on a mobile companion app that will let you customize your settings for specific environments. You’ll be able to boost treble or bass levels, activate or deactivate profiles, and report back to Eargo’s licensed hearing staff who can use that data to dial things in better for you. They’ll hone the settings and push them back to your device with an update. (Note: Only the iOS app is available at launch but an Android app is coming in late January.)
Eargo
Beyond boosting the sound quality, Eargo made its latest design more comfortable to stuff in your ears thanks to patented “Flexi TetraPalms” earpieces that look less prickly than the “Flexi Fibers” on the company’s 2018 Eargo Max. You can wear the Neo HiFis all day courtesy of a 20-hour battery life, and they come with a charging case that can keep them topped off for about a week before you’ll have to find another power source.
If you’re not sure whether your hearing is bad enough for a pair of Eargos, the company will check your hearing and help you figure things out. You can work with Eargo directly and won’t need to consult an audiologist or take an audiogram before making any moves. The company will even send you a free non-functioning sample so you can see how they feel in your ears before you take the plunge.
And that’s probably a good thing because they cost $2,650 with an introductory offer that ends on March 31, at which point the price will jump to $2,950. Financing options are available for as low as $123 a month, the device ships with a 45-day money-back guarantee as well as a two-year warranty (up from one year on previous models), and you’ll get lifetime support from Eargo’s hearing pros.
While $2,650 might seem like a lot, hearing aids typically cost $2,000 to $4,000 and you can easily spend more. Insurance doesn’t usually cover much either. It may also be worth mentioning that with the arrival of Eargo’s new Neo HiFis, the company’s previous iterations have seen price reductions. The older and less comfortable looking Eargo Max model can be had for $1,850, while the non-HiFi Eargo Neo version is now $2,350. Both of those are also available with financing. If you’re interested, this blog post has a more in-depth breakdown of the differences between the Eargo Max and Eargo Neo.
Hearing loss is the third most common medical condition in the United States, affecting more than 42 million adults and we estimate approximately 45% of adults over 60. Despite significant individual and societal impact, Eargo estimates only 26% of this population owned a hearing aid. There are a number of reasons for this, but among the most prominent are social stigma, high cost, and a disempowering consumer experience that treats buyers like patients with limited autonomy. Eargo address these issues head-on…
Source: Eargo via WireCutter
