The speech in noise score measured for the Eargo Link was 1.00 points above the average of 56 other OTC devices tested. To see more granular sound performance scores, please visit HearAdvisor.com.
The speech in quiet score measured for the Eargo Link was 0.28 points above the average of 56 other OTC devices tested. To see more granular sound performance scores, please visit HearAdvisor.com.
The streaming music score measured for the Eargo Link was 0.96 points above the average of 56 other OTC devices tested. To see more granular sound performance scores, please visit HearAdvisor.com.
Im Blindhörtest vergleichen
Eargo Link mit anderen bei HearAdvisor vergleichen
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Link by Eargo (Eargo Link) was introduced in late-January 2024 at the same time as Eargo SE, and is a self-fitting, earbud-style, rechargeable over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid with wireless streaming capabilities priced at $799.
Eargo Link represents a fairly radical departure from the company’s traditional product line of nearly-invisible completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids like the much more expensive Eargo 7 and Eargo 8 (about $2,700). And, at less than half the price of the recently released Eargo SE ($1,699), Link by Eargo expands the company’s portfolio and commitment to innovative, affordable hearing solutions with robust online support.
This new hybrid earbud/hearing aid features Bluetooth 5.3 capabilities for music and phone call streaming, yet still maintains the company’s hallmark of discreet, low-profile design and reliable online professional support.
Eargo Link has more of the look and feel of a hearable versus a traditional hearing aid, which should make it cater to both younger and older users who have mild-to-moderate hearing loss. And with a $799 price tag, it puts it squarely into the same competitive market as other economical earbud-type OTC hearing aid hybrids like the Jabra Enhance Select 50R ($995), Sony CRE-C10 ($699), and Sennheiser All-Day Clear Slim ($599).
Cool low-profile earbud style looks more like a high-tech hearable than hearing aids
Bluetooth audio streaming for iOS and Android devices, including hands-free calling
Good sound quality and many advanced features, including Active Noise Cancellation, Noise Reduction, and Feedback Cancellation
Ready-to-use out of the box
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Link by Eargo provides good advanced technology and sound quality, including Bluetooth audio streaming and many of the same core hearing aid technologies that you’ll find in other Eargo products and their best OTC competitors. These hearing aids should do well amplifying conversations in quiet and moderately noisy environments and can be particularly useful for situational hearing challenges like meetings, places of worship, and TV listening.
Link by Eargo is a "wear-and-go" type hearing aid that is not programmed for your unique hearing loss profile based on results from a hearing test. Instead, the aids rely on presets that should help you hear better if you have what's considered a "typical" mild-to-moderate hearing loss. If you have a more complex or severe hearing loss profile, you're probably better off with a self-fitting OTC hearing aid or, even better, a prescriptive hearing aid from an audiologist or hearing aid specialist. You can take good online hearing tests to get a ballpark audiogram and estimate of your hearing status. Additionally, many hearing care offices offer free testing (and you keep your audiogram results regardless of a purchase decision).
Be aware that Eargo Link hearing aids offer 9 hours of use, which is shorter than most aids, so they may not be the best choice if you're looking for an all-day hearing solution.
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Founded in San Jose, Calif, in 2010, Eargo is one of the best-known OTC hearing aid manufacturers. In fact, it was offering a quality “online DIY hearing solution” even before the FDA established the OTC category in October 2022 and was among the first to gain FDA clearance for its OTC hearing aids.
Traditionally, Eargo has also had a unique market strategy. Rather than competing with low-priced online hearing aid marketers, Eargo has competed primarily with more expensive custom hearing aids sold in clinics by audiologists and hearing aid specialists. In a recent interview, Eargo told HearingTracker that it does this by combining a unique, advanced OTC product with extensive customer support.
This is what makes Eargo's newest products, Link by Eargo and Eargo SE, such an exciting prospect: they are the company’s first foray into head-to-head price competition with mid- and higher-priced OTC hearing aids—and both new products come with Eargo's outstanding online service and support.
Eargo was a NASDAQ-listed company, but in November 2023, it announced a definitive merger agreement with Patient Square Capital, which then took the company private. The transaction helped Eargo move beyond a 2022 US Department of Justice investigation that alleged Eargo submitted improper insurance reimbursement claims to pay for customers’ hearing aids. Eargo denied the allegations and reached a settlement that did not require an admission of liability. However, this put the company in a financially difficult situation.
In March 2025, Patient Square provided $100 million in new funding for a merger between Eargo and Lexie Hearing. The new combined parent company is called LXE Hearing, but both Eargo and Lexie continue to have their own distinctive branding and products, with Eargo focusing on in-the-ear solutions and Lexie focusing on behind-the-ear solutions.
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Link by Eargo gives you many of the advanced technologies people have come to expect in both hearing aids and audio headphones, including Active Noise Cancellation, Noise Reduction, and Feedback Cancellation. These are also the first Eargo hearing aids to be large enough to have directional microphones, a proven solution for better hearing in noise.
In Eargo Link, there are 4 pre-set listening programs for adjusting the devices to your hearing needs (i.e., Low, Medium, High, and Max), and you can tap on an earbud to change the program step-wise in volume in ears simultaneously. There is also a Mute function.
When in the Hearing Aid Mode, a single tap can bring you back to music and audio streaming. You can also use a single tap to answer a phone call, and a double tap can end a call or reject an incoming call.
As noted above, Link by Eargo does not provide a more advanced self-fit system in which you take a hearing test, and the system programs the aid to compensate for your hearing loss. Rather, it is a "wear-and-go" type aid that relies on preset programs designed for typical mild-to-moderate hearing losses.
The new Eargo Link hearing aid offers up to 9 hours of runtime, depending on the mode. This is significantly shorter than many other prescriptive and OTC hearing aids, arguably placing it between a full-day and situational-use hearing device. It comes with a portable recharging case that holds 4 charge cycles so you can recharge easily on the go. Eargo says it takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge the depleted charger and about 2 hours to charge both the charger and aids.
There have been two “knocks” on past Eargo devices: their lack of Bluetooth audio streaming capabilities for phone calls and media, and (as noted previously) their high price tag relative to other OTC hearing devices. There are good reasons for both. First, to be fair, almost all tiny hearing aids—especially those in the completely-in-canal (CIC) style—do not feature Bluetooth audio streaming; in fact, the only CIC with this that I’m aware of is the Starkey Genesis AI CIC (but it’s not rechargeable). It should also be noted that Eargo hearing aids do use an app, so technically, they are wireless devices.
Second, Eargo will correctly contend that its higher prices are at least partially due to the service it provides customers. Eargo by Link includes lifetime remote support. Online support can be extremely important, particularly if you’re new to hearing aids and/or plan on wearing the devices for several years, which almost certainly means you’ll need replacement parts or guidance in the event of a malfunction or repair.
It’s also worth noting that, like all hearing aids, Eargo Link is not immune to breakage or malfunction. It has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP54, offering some protection against dust and water splashes. However, this is lower than many OTC hearing devices and substantially lower than most quality prescription hearing aids, which have IP68 ratings—the "gold standard" for hearing aids. To ensure its longevity, it's advised you avoid exposing the devices to moist environments and things like driving rainfall or very dirty or dusty environments. The Eargo 1-year warranty includes unlimited repairs, providing peace of mind (visit eargo.com/warranty for full details).
In late-May 2024, Eargo announced a new mobile app that introduces a Transparency Mode as well as new customization options for Link by Eargo. The Transparency Mode, like those of similar audio devices, lets you be aware of your immediate environment while also staying connected to your streaming audio when listening to music, podcasts, etc.
You can now also switch listening modes faster in the app and customize them:
Use the Link by Eargo app to select from Eargo's 4 preset programs and manage the volume levels within each program. You can fine-tune the volume in each program for another 6 dB of gain.
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Additionally, you can also use the app to:
With the above, Eargo also made some other tweaks to improve the usability of Link by Eargo. For example, there is now some lag time between when you remove the devices from the charger and when the tap sensors become active, so you're not inadvertently changing programs when putting the hearing aids in or out of your ears.
As we've noted in some other hearing aid product reviews, tap controls can be tricky and sometimes frustrating to master. Eargo has now provided an option to disable their tap control altogether (meaning you'd just use the app for adjustments). Similarly, if you don't like the indicator tones that let you know when you're changing modes, playing streamed music, etc., you can now deactivate those too.
OVERALL SOUNDSCORE: 3.9 (out of 5) | Initial Score | Tuned Score |
|---|---|---|
Speech in quiet | 3.3 | 2.9 |
Speech in noise | 1.5 | 2.2 |
Feedback handling | 4.6 |
Link by Eargo scored very well at the HearAdvisor independent testing lab with a SoundScore of 3.9—within a whisker (one-tenth of a percent) of getting HearAdvisor’s coveted Expert Choice Award. Essentially, this means it received a B+ instead of an A grade. At this writing, it ranks as the 14th best out of 51 OTC hearing aids tested by HearAdvisor—and is the best overall Eargo device on the lab's SoundGrade Leaderboard.
Taking into account all the factors and wearing metrics (e.g., build quality, battery life, Bluetooth, comfort, value, etc.), HearingTracker gave Link by Eargo an overall score of 3.5.
For the full ratings, real user comments, and to listen to sound samples, please see the bottom of this page.
HearAdvisor on Link by EargoIn the initial fit condition, the Eargo Link performed above average on speech in quiet, above average on speech in noise, above average on feedback handling, above average on occlusion results, and above average on music streaming quality. The overall fit score in the initial condition for the Eargo Link was above average.”
Because Eargo Link is new, we don't many verifiable user reviews other than the generally positive ones shown at the bottom of this page. However, you can grab a set of quality headphones and listen to sound samples from the HearAdvisor Lab yourself or click on the button in the Eargo Link box below.
You can find Link by Eargo at the Eargo website and at retailers like Best Buy and on Amazon for $799. Eargo also has a partnership with Victra, a Verizon-authorized reseller with 1,500 retail outlets that have reportedly trained their staff members about Eargo products. United Healthcare Hearing and NationsBenefits, a leading provider of supplemental benefits for health plans, also offer Eargo Link.
You can try out the Link by Eargo with a 45-day return window. If you return it within that time period, you'll get your money back. So don't throw out the box and any of the supplied materials until you're sure it's right for you.
When you receive your Link by Eargo box, you’ll see that it contains a set of earbuds and a portable charger with a USB-C to USB-A cord. It comes with one pair each of small, medium, and large eartips in both closed and open configurations (i.e., 6 total eartips). In general, if you anticipate using the devices more for amplifying person-to-person conversations in quiet, start by trying the open-vented tips; if you’ll use them more for steamed audio or listening to speech in background noise, start with the closed tips. You can try the various eartip vent types and sizes and then choose which one suits you best.
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The kit includes two user guides: one contains regulatory, warranty, and technical specs, while the other provides practical information on setting up and using the devices. The kit also includes a brush tool for cleaning the earbuds and receiver ports.
Eargo also provides support via several online video tutorials, and trouble-shooting guides. If you get stuck, you can contact one of their team members by phone (855-745-1530) or via web chat.
As a long-time observer of the industry, it appears Eargo is trying to position its Link by Eargo squarely against the other earbud-style rechargeable OTC hearing aids that can range from about $500 to $800. If this is the case, they did a good job. Link by Eargo is a quality "wear-and-go" hearing aid. Although it has a shorter battery life and doesn't feature an in-app customizable fitting system, it should serve well as a quick, mid-range OTC hearing solution for those struggling to hear in some listening situations and who also want good-quality audio streaming from both Apple iOS and Android devices.
Das folgende Zubehör ist mit dem Eargo Link kompatibel.
Charges Link von Eargo OTC-Hörhilfen.
Directional microphones for better hearing in noise
Offers tap controls with the option of using the Eargo app
Eargo is a reputable US company that stands by its products and provides good online support
Portable charging case that holds 4 extra charges
45-day trial period and a 1-year warranty
Does not have a dedicated hearing test that adjusts the hearing aid frequencies to suit your unique hearing loss
Battery life of only 9 hours means that they are not really a full-day hearing solution
While the $800 price tag is on-par with the top OTC hearing aids in the middle price range, it is still more expensive than some comparable earbuds like the JLab Hear OTC or Apple Airpods Pro
An Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP54 means Link by Eargo is splashproof, but it is more susceptible to moisture and dirt/debris than some OTC competitors and has a significantly lower IP rating than quality prescriptive hearing aids
4.7
Own voice | 3.4 | 1.3 |
Music streaming | 2.9 | 4.4 |
Karl Strom ist der Chefredakteur von HearingTracker. Er war Gründungsredakteur von The Hearing Review und berichtet seit über 30 Jahren über die Hörhilfenindustrie.
Verifizierter Händler für Eargo Link.
45-Tage-Rückgaberecht
Eargo ist ein Hörhilfen-Unternehmen mit direktem Kundenkontakt, das sich auf nahezu unsichtbare, wiederaufladbare Hörhilfen spezialisiert, die hauptsächlich für Menschen mit leichtem bis mittlerem Hörverlust entwickelt wurden. Das von einem Team gegründet, das einen Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Chirurgen einschließt, konzentriert sich Eargo darauf, fortschrittliche Technologie mit einem eleganten, diskreten Design und benutzerfreundlichen Funktionen zu kombinieren.
Benachrichtigung bei Preissenkung für dieses Produkt
The Link von Eargo ist ein rezeptfreies Hörhilfsgerät, das diskrete und benutzerfreundliche Hörverstärkung bieten soll. Es verfügt über fortschrittliche Soundverarbeitungstechnologie, wettbewerbsfähige Preisgestaltung und wurde von unabhängigen Laboren positiv für seine Leistung und Zuverlässigkeit bewertet.
The Link von Eargo ist ein rezeptfreies Hörhilfsgerät, das diskrete und benutzerfreundliche Hörverstärkung bieten soll. Es verfügt über fortschrittliche Soundverarbeitungstechnologie, wettbewerbsfähige Preisgestaltung und wurde von unabhängigen Laboren positiv für seine Leistung und Zuverlässigkeit bewertet.
