RCA Hearing Aids Review

Name: RCA Hearing Aids
Brand: RCA

Prices, Sound Recordings, Models

Review updated May 22, 2024

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$ 399.99 / pair

3.4

85 Reviews

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RCA, originally known as the Radio Corporation of America, was established in 1919 and quickly became a titan in the field of electronics and communications, playing a pivotal role in the development of radio broadcasting, television, and various consumer electronics.

In March 2023, Voxx International Corporation, a leading audio manufacturer, announced a new range of budget-friendly over-the-counter hearing aids under the RCA name. The new RCA hearing aids range from $99 - $399 a pair.

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What Makes RCA hearing aids stand out

RCA devices are laser-focused on price. RCA devices do not offer Bluetooth streaming, app controls, or personalization based on your hearing loss. Instead, the devices have onboard buttons allowing volume and program changes. All RCA hearing aid models are rechargeable with a life of 14-20 hours.
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Our Take

RCA's technology is undoubtedly simple - and by design. We found the overall setup and handling of RCA's devices was straightforward, and the price was impressively low. Still, the sound quality in background noise wasn't great. If you have only a few hundred dollars, we suggest comparing RCA to MDHearing. For folks who are less price-constrained, we suggest you consider Lexie B2 Powered by Bose.

Pros 👍

Affordable
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Easy to set up and use

Rechargeable

Cons 👎

Less advanced sound-quality
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Not-customized to your specific hearing loss

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Soundly Scorecard

Hearing Loss Level 🔊

Mild - Moderate

RCA offers OTC products appropriate for mild-moderate hearing loss levels
If you have more significant hearing loss you might consider local or Telehealth care. Read more about prescription Vs. OTC hearing aids here

Care Type 🏥

Over-The-Counter

Available for purchase online
Does not require a prescription from a doctor
RCA offers limited options for customization

Sound Quality 🔊

Weaker in Background Noise

RCA is less effective than leading prescription devices in background noise (although significantly more affordable)

Comfort 🦻

Somewhat Comfortable For All-Day Wear

Comfortable thin-tube is great for all day wear
We suggest that you change the eartips on this product for additional comfort
RCA's in-ear devices are slightly less comfortable due to "occlusion" (boominess of your voice)

Style 💫

Behind The Ear, In The Ear - Non Molded

RCA offers both behind-the-ear and in-the-ear devices
Devices are slightly larger than other OTC options

Battery 🔋

Rechargeable Only

RCA has built-in rechargeable batteries that last up to 20 hours on a single charge
RCA hearing aids come with a recharge case that carries additional portable charge

Connection 📡

Bluetooth Not Available

RCA devices do not allow Bluetooth streaming or app controls

Dexterity Level 🤏

Average

RCA's behind-the-ear options are reasonably easy to handle but do require the wearer to place the hearing aid behind their ear and insert the receiver into the ear (consistent across all behind-the-ear styles)
RCA devices are rechargeable and do not require battery changes

Waterproof Level 💦

N/A

RCA devices are not advertised as waterproof. Avoid moisture if possible

App features 📱

Does Note Have An App

RCA devices use onboard buttons to change programs and volume

How The Process Works

You can purchase a pair of RCA hearing aids online or over the phone for $99 - $399 a pair. The devices will be shipped to your door along with instructions, charging cases, and supplies.

How To Choose a Style

RCA currently offers three behind-the-ear models and two in-the-ear models. We typically suggest behind-the-ear styles for more comfortable all-day wear. RCA's in-the-ear devices may cause some occlusion (boominess of your own voice) due to their larger ear tips.

Overview
Unboxing
Sound Quality
Overall Thoughts

RCA is an iconic audio and media company with over 100 years of history, so when the brand released a new line of hearing aids in 2023, I was intrigued.

I recently ordered two of their top-selling devices to give them a try for myself. In this review, I'll walk you through what I learned and my overall thoughts.

Unboxing My RCA Hearing Aids

RCA's packaging is compact and well-designed. The product manual and information cards got to the point and were easy to follow.

Battery Life

Both pairs of hearing aids are rechargeable.

The behind-the-ear style gives 16 hours on a single charge
The in-ear model offers 14 hours on a single charge

Setup

The devices themselves are straightforward - no app or customization. Wearers use the onboard buttons to change the volume and programs.

Both RCA devices come with four programs that can be adjusted through a long press of the volume button.

Standard
Restaurant
Outdoor
Music

Volume is adjusted individually per ear. More advanced devices adjust the volume on both sides simultaneously.

Sound Quality Notes

It's not entirely fair to compare RCA's $250 OTC hearing aids to prescription super-devices like Signia IX or even telehealth brands like Jabra Enhance. RCA is clearly built for budget and simplicity. That said, I still took some notes on RCA's sound quality. Note that you can listen to the product for yourself at the top of this page.

Volume

RCA devices max out at a reasonably low volume. That's a good thing from a safety perspective, but it left me wanting more power in a few scenarios.

Sudden Sounds

RCA did a reasonably good job managing sudden loud sounds like a dish dropping. I would put them on par with other budget brands like MDhearing. Lexie B2 Powered by Bose or Jabra Enhance are significantly better at managing these potentially uncomfortable situations (albeit at a premium price).

Background Noise

At times, RCA devices had trouble separating speech from noise. The devices were effective in front of the TV and in quiet conversations but struggled with street noise or in a restaurant setting.

Overall Thoughts

I love this price from Voxx and RCA. RCA can open up the hearing market to more folks at $99 - $399 for a pair. That said, RCA has a ways to go to truly compete on performance with OTC options likeLexie B2 Powered by BoseorJabra Enhance Select.

I hope you've found this review helpful. If you have questions, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

Written by

Blake Cadwell

Reviewed by

Soundly Staff

Soundly conducts in-depth research to guide prospective hearing aid wearers. Our work is funded through reader support. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.