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Jabra Enhance, Lowell, Mass, has introduced its new flagship over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid, the Jabra Enhance Select 700, a micro receiver-in-ear (RIE) device that sets a new bar for small, advanced OTC hearing aid technology. Priced at $1,995, the Select 700 replaces the outgoing Select 500 and now sits atop Jabra’s product lineup, joining the Jabra Enhance Select 300 ($1,695) and Select 50R ($1,195) models. The Select 700 is smaller than the Select 500, making it Jabra’s most discreet rechargeable RIE model yet—while packing in the company’s most sophisticated features to date.
Jabra Hearing President Steve Jacobs told HearingTracker, “In terms of technology, we’ve always tried to offer a product for every budget and lifestyle. The Select 700 is really for people who want the very best in an OTC hearing aid, while the Select 300 and 50R provide exceptional technology at a lower price.”
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At the core of the Select 700 is Jabra’s next-generation SoundScape™ system, now featuring Auto Focus, a significant upgrade over the Select 500. Auto Focus intelligently adjusts to the wearer’s acoustic environment by automatically directing the microphones and modifying noise reduction in real time. This is designed to result in clearer speech understanding and greater comfort in noisy settings—whether at a crowded restaurant, on a busy street, or during a lively family gathering.
A unique aspect of Auto Focus is its adjustable directional mix, which combines omnidirectional and directional processing by frequency. High-pitched sounds, like speech, can be processed directionally so wearers can localize who is speaking, while lower-frequency sounds (background noise, footsteps, traffic hum) remain omnidirectional to preserve situational awareness. The aim of this nuanced approach is to help Select 700 users enjoy both focus and awareness without feeling isolated from their surroundings.
“Nearly four out of five hearing aid wearers report difficulty understanding speech in noisy places,” says Jacobs. “With the Select 700, we’ve focused on solving that problem by sharpening speech clarity and softening background noise, giving users a smoother, more natural listening experience wherever they go.”
In addition, Jabra has fine-tuned its sudden noise protection and noise reduction system for Select 700, allowing adjustment of the noise reduction to more enhanced levels than were possible with the Select 500. This results in a more comfortable, natural listening experience that can be better tailored to individual user needs.
The Select 700’s micro RIE design is not only the smallest and lightest Jabra has ever produced but also among the most discreet rechargeable OTC hearing aids on the market. The devices carry an IP68 rating—the “gold standard” for hearing aid ingress protection (IP) against moisture and dirt—and feature a protective nano-coating on every component.
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A single 3-hour charge provides more than 24 hours of use, and its portable charger stores up to three additional full charges, allowing wearers to go several days without plugging in. Jabra has also made quick charging a breeze: a 10-minute charge gives you 2 more hours of power; a 1-hour charge provides 12 more hours of power.
In addition to improved sound processing, the Select 700 expands Jabra’s connectivity features. Wearers can take hands-free phone calls with a simple double-tap on their ear, thanks to built-in TapControl, and the system now supports a wider range of Android and Apple devices.
The hearing aids are also ready for the next wave of wireless technology, supporting Bluetooth LE Audio for higher-quality, lower-latency streaming and extended battery life, as well as Auracast™ broadcast audio—a feature that lets users tune into Auracast-equipped public audio streams in airports, lecture halls, and concert venues as this technology rolls out.
While a telecoil is not included in the Select 700, users can access telecoil loop systems via Jabra Enhance's MultiMic accessory.
Until recently, Jabra Enhance offered a two-tiered system where you paid an extra $200 for online professional care. Although HearingTracker is a big supporter of consumer choice, we’ve noted in our Jabra Enhance product reviews that choosing to skip the professional care package was a “penny-wise pound-foolish” deal for buyers who wanted well-programmed hearing aids.
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Apparently, Jabra agreed. Now, all Jabra Enhance Select purchases come with 3 years of remote audiology care. Users get professional fitting and ongoing adjustments from Jabra’s team of licensed hearing care professionals, who can fine-tune the devices based on audiograms or online hearing test results. Unlimited programming updates are included, ensuring the hearing aids remain optimized as your hearing needs change.
Jacobs points out that the vast majority of Jabra Enhance purchasers were already opting for the professional care package. “I think somewhere around 90% of people were choosing the product with the care package,” he told HearingTracker. “So that and reducing the complexity of the purchase were also real drivers for why it was the right thing for us to do.”
One major benefit of Jabra Enhance is that it leverages advanced technology from other brands within the GN Hearing Group that includes the ReSound and Beltone prescription hearing aids. Although Jabra aids usually lack some of the sophisticated technology found in the prescription models, they are excellent examples of repurposing technology for the OTC market. This is one reason the Jabra Enhance 500 and 300 have been among the top-10 best-performing OTC hearing aids, as tested by the HearAdvisor lab, and the 50R is also well rated.
From our observations, the previous Select 500 model appeared to be based on technology similar to ReSound Nexia, while the Select 300 and 50R are based on technology found in ReSound Omnia and Key, respectively. Although we have not yet obtained a Select 700, we believe it most likely borrows technology from ReSound Vivia or Savi.
The Jabra Enhance Select 700 is available now through JabraEnhance.com in six colors—Sparkling Silver, Sand, Gold, Bronze, Warm Gray, and a new Red color—and will roll out to select retail partners in early October.
Karl Strom ist der Chefredakteur von HearingTracker. Er war Gründungsredakteur von The Hearing Review und berichtet seit über 30 Jahren über die Hörhilfenindustrie.
