Yeasound RIC800 Hearing Aids Review: Good Music, Glitchy App

When more of over-the-counter innovation hearing aid market is focused on modern types of headphones, a new brand called Yeasound is proving that there is life left in the traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) space. The company is relatively new, but it is a subsidiary of Yealink, a Chinese telecom manufacturer that has been making headphones and phone accessories for 25 years.

Yeasound BTE hearing aids come in two models. I tested the high-end version of the RIC800, which includes AI-powered noise reduction, voice recognition, and support for Android in addition to iOS. (RIC700 is Apple compatible.)

Photo: Chris Null

The parts look the same and weigh the same; I weighed one unit at 2.76 grams, which is slightly heavier than the BTE devices I’ve heard of, such as Jabra Enhance Select 700. Physical controls are limited to two buttons on the back of each unit. This is mainly used to control the volume (independently for each ear) and can also be used for mobile communication via the Internet connection.

Onboard audiogram

A snapshotThe iYeasound app via Christopher Null

The first stop for many users will be the iYeasound mobile app, which offers a simple home screen that puts everything important front and center. The in-app hearing test sets the stage for how the frequency is adjusted. I liked Yeasound’s hearing test, which is very fast compared to others on the market. Although the tests work in the same way, providing pings of different frequency and volume to each ear, eliminates long and unnecessary stops between each test, so you can complete the whole test in about five minutes instead of 10 or more. Results are plotted on a traditional audiogram of the native; my results were a little harsher than my standard prescription, but it was close enough to the OTC product and the random, at-home test. Unfortunately, if you already have an audiogram in hand, it cannot be exported, and Yeasound test results cannot be changed manually except for another test.

With the hearing test done and my audiograph filled out, I was ready to start using Yeasound in earnest.

The main screen of the program offers five types of environment: Updates, Information, Noise, Music, and Outdoor, all of which are self-explanatory. Volume controls for each ear appear below the selector. You won’t find any noise canceling options here, though. For those who need to drill into the Sound Setting system, which is unique to each of the five models except Adaptive. Here you can adjust the average low, mid, and high frequencies (although there’s nothing more to control than that), select one of three levels of noise reduction, and choose between using the omnidirectional, front-facing, and focusing microphones.

A snapshotThe iYeasound app via Christopher Null

The Adaptive mode is where the RIC800’s AI features come in, and if you enable it you leave all the controls listed above, with only the customization provided. This sounds liberating, but I tend to use General mode most of the time, and my editing proves to be more effective than the algorithm, especially when I push the noise cancellation to its maximum. The display had a low noise level – a common problem in Adaptive mode when the volume level is turned up – and seemed to be too low, especially when testing with the ear tips closed. With the ear tips open, the two models were close to recording. (Instructions for open, closed, and hybrid ears are included in the box in various sizes for you to try.)

Overall, I found the audio units helpful if not perfect. The mid-range frequencies are often a bit muddy and choppy, a problem that extends a bit to the lower frequencies. Noise cancellation was surprisingly good, however, and the units could be pushed to high volumes without causing significant distortion.