Best OTC Hearing Aid in 2023: The Lexie B2, Powered by Bose Technology

The Lexie B2 OTC hearing aid is the best in 2023 so far– and it’s certainly our top pick. This is mostly due to the Bose audio technology that is incorporated into the device.

However, we did find a few issues with the product worth mentioning.

Let’s first do a quick round-up of our review and then dig a little deeper in case you want to ensure this is– or isn’t– the best OTC hearing aid available for purchase online.

As usual, we will review this product using our 5 categories, which are: Wearability, Features, Performance, Customer Support, and Upfront Costs.

Here is a quick summary of the ratings we gave the Lexie B2, Powered by Bose.

How We Test Products

Unless specified otherwise, we do not review products without using them and performing our tests on calibrated audiology test equipment. We also thoroughly read the instructions included with the products and allow several people with different size ears to try them (after sanitizing the devices first, of course). We also make sure to call customer support and assess how well the manufacturer assists us with a hypothetical problem.

Lexie B2: Wearability

Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

Pros

-The Lexie B1 and B2 are both RIC-style hearing aids, which is the most popular style among all aids purchased in the US.

-The aids are small and discrete, with good form factor.

-The aids are comfortable and easy to insert for all the ears we tested.

-Users can exchange their devices for different wire lengths and have an assortment of domes, providing options for fit and feel.

-The B1 and B2 cosmetically look good and are nearly invisible on any user with longer hair.

-Packaging includes a measuring tool, which comes in handy when speaking with customer support if aids do not fit well.

Cons

-The RIC style may be problematic for some ears, in which case a device that fits all-in-the-ear would typically do the job.

Discussion:

The Lexie B2 is available as a “receiver-in-the-canal” or “RIC” styled device. This means the aid itself is worn behind the ear, with only a wire leading down to a small speaker that fits inside the ear canal. On the tip of the speaker is a dome, which is added for comfort, but this also affects the acoustics of the sound from the aid. (Various-sized domes are included in the packaging of the device and more can be purchased online).

The RIC-styled Lexie B2 is small and has a good form factor. For all the ears we tested, it fit well and was reportedly comfortable by all the users, granted different users preferred very different-sized domes.

 The product is only available in a soft grey color (at the time of this review), but this will likely change in the next year.

The aids come with a wire length that is generally good for most people. However, those users with smaller or larger ears will need to call customer support at Lexie (or wherever they purchased the aids) and request a pair of devices with a shorter or longer wire. This is made easier with the inclusion of an easy-to-use ear measuring tool included with the aids.

Overall, the RIC-style of hearing aid is the most popular in the US, and in most markets around the world. This is for its good cosmetic appeal, and ease of modification (such as a change in wire length or dome size) making it appropriate for most ears.

However, some people may find this style problematic. Without diving too deep into ear anatomy, suffice it to say that it’s good you get a 45-day trial period with the option of a full refund if the aid is not comfortable or doesn’t fit well. Sometimes you just must try it to see if it works for you.

Lexie B2: Features

Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Pros

-Quality soft-touch plastic on the aids and the charger, very much like other high-quality Bose products.

-Connecting with the smartphone is simple and the instructions are easy to follow.

-The Lexie app is intuitive and allows for easy volume and tone control.

-The aids have a push button volume control on each aid, allowing volume control without having to use the app.

-The app has a balance control feature, which allows users to adjust the volume for each individual ear.

-The Lexie B1 and B2 have noise reduction and environmental/situational preset controls that are easily accessed in the app.

-The aids have effective feedback (hearing aid noise, whistling) control for most volume levels.

-The aids are fully rechargeable with a very robust battery life between charges. (We will address battery life in the Performance section).

-The product comes with a useful fitting tool, a cleaning tool, and different sizes of domes. Wax filters that protect the speakers are replaceable and extra filters are included.

-Also, the user manual is the best we’ve seen so far. The instruction booklet and troubleshooting guide were well-written, and clear, and will reward anyone who actually reads it.

Cons

-In our testing, the aids tended to disconnect from the smartphone a few times with use; however, reconnection was straightforward.

-As with all aids in the RIC-style category, there is a fairly weak low-frequency (bass) response. This can be compensated for, to a degree, with the use of thicker, tighter-fitting domes (which are included in the packaging).

-The Lexie B1 and B2 aids do not stream phone calls or music.

Discussion:

The Lexie B2 and its cousin, the B1, are loaded with essential features compared to most OTC hearing aids on the market. These devices have reliable Bluetooth connectivity with any smartphone and utilize an app for advanced volume, balance, and tonality controls.

The app also allows the user to switch between different environmental/situational presets that include adjustments of tonality as well as digital noise reduction.

Also, the aids have good feedback control at higher volume levels, though this is limited if the user requires higher than 70% volume levels. This can be modified with the use of the included thicker and tighter domes.

Lastly, the B2 rechargeability is a plus, especially for users with dexterity or vision problems. Changing small batteries can be problematic for some people.

Overall, we feel the Lexie B1 and, especially the B2, have the essential features that will benefit users. The major downside for us was the lack of streaming capabilities. The Lexie devices do not allow for hands-free phone calls or streaming of audio, like music or podcasts from a smartphone. We expect these features to eventually become available in the coming years, however.

Lexie B2: Performance

Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

Pros

-Device outputs were consistently good at all volume levels—matching closely to industry standard prescriptive targets (NAL-NL2) for a mild (flat 40 dB HL) hearing loss.

-The high-frequency response (treble) of the Lexie B2 we tested was excellent and lives up to the idea that OTC hearing aids can be appropriate for users with mild-to-moderate hearing loss—though feedback may become an issue at higher volume levels.

Cons

-There were some subtle inconsistencies between the electroacoustic responses between the two devices at high volume levels, but this was small and can be compensated for by the user with the app balance control.

-The low-frequency (bass) response was fairly weak, which is affected by dome size and thickness. The low-frequency response improved, predictably, in our occluded testing. This is a consistent issue with the RIC style of devices.

Discussion:

The hearing aids were assessed using a probe microphone inserted in the ear, along with the hearing aid speaker. A calibrated speech sound was played at different loudness levels: 55-, 65-, and 80-dB SPL. The hearing aid outputs were measured by the probe and compared to an industry-standardized calculation that is the basis for determining prescriptions in hearing clinics. The calculated standard is commonly referred to as NAL-NL2. This procedure is called a “speech map.”

Below are snapshots from our testing using the speech map measurement procedure. Output curves represent device outputs for soft, medium, and loud sounds compared to NAL-NL2 targets, which are calculated based on a flat (high and low frequency) 40 dB HL (mild) hearing loss.

The thin lines show the actual outputs of the aids for each ear (red=right; blue=left) compared to the dotted lines, which are the calculated targets. The “targets” are what the prescription should be based on a given hearing loss. (In this case, and as mentioned above, is a high and low frequency 40 dB HL (mild) hearing loss.

Each set of curves below were the responses based on adjustments to the hearing aids.

Hearing Aid Testing

Hearing aids are set to default volume and tone (treble vs. bass).

Comment: The high-frequency response (right-hand side of each set of curves) of the hearing aids is very good. In fact, they are right on target. You can see where the thin lines drop below the dotted lines on the left-hand side of each set of curves, which shows a drop in the low-frequency (bass) response.

Hearing aids are set to loud ¾ volume (75 out of 100), with default tone treble vs. bass).

Comment: As expected with an increased volume level, all frequencies increased greatly. This makes the hearing aids likely appropriate for up to a moderate hearing loss. However, we note that the response curves for the aid in the right ear (left-hand side of the graphic) are quite different compared to the left ear. This is often seen with audio devices at high volume levels. Audiologists adjust for this when testing prescription hearing aids. With the Lexie B2, the user will have to use the volume balance control feature in the app if they notice a loudness difference between the ears.

Hearing aids are set to default volume (50) with maximum treble.

Comment: As seen with the loud volume curves above, with default volume (50) and maximum high-frequency (treble), there is a measurable increase in high-frequency outputs, without any effect on the lows.  Once again, we note that there is some asymmetry in the response of the hearing aids when compared to each other.

Hearing aids set to default volume (50) with maximum bass (un-occluded).

Comment: With default volume (50) and the tone control set all the way to the low-frequency (bass) side, we see a remarkable decrease in high-frequency output (as expected) with a measurable, though fairly weak, increase in the low-frequency (bass) response. This weak, low-frequency (bass) response is likely due to the use of the small domes, which provide no occlusion of the ear canal. Below is the result from testing with full occlusion.

Hearing aids set to default volume (50) with maximum bass (occluded)

Comment: With default volume (50) and the tone control set all the way to the low-frequency (bass) side, and with both ears fully occluded with a silicone putty, we see a considerable increase in low-frequency (bass) response. This shows the effect that occlusion has on the low-frequency (bass) response of hearing aids and earphones. Comfort is a factor that must be balanced with occlusion. The thicker and tighter the domes are in the ears, the better the bass response, but also the more potentially uncomfortable the devices are to wear.

Lexie B2: Customer Support

Our Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Pros

-Lexie sales and technical support are excellent- with short wait times on the phone

-Full support with a person on the phone and not a pre-recorded message or chat-bot

-Lexie offers the options for Zoom or Facetime interaction with customers

-Supplies, repairs, and warranty fulfillment are available through the Lexie website

-Lexie website also includes video tutorials

-Written instructions were clear and easy to follow

Cons

-The technical support person we spoke with had a foreign accent, which may be a problem for some people with hearing loss (though she was very helpful)

Discussion:

As audiologists, we have come to fully realize the importance of support for patients who are first-time hearing aid users. It’s a myth that good hearing aids are simply “fit and go.” No matter how good the products are, there will be issues.

For example, a new user may have difficulty with the physical fit of the devices, or they may struggle with adjusting the aids, connecting them with a smartphone, or having the devices repaired in a timely and cost-effective manner. In all these cases, it is important to have good instructional information at hand. Also, it is important to have access to live- human- customer support.

We feel that the Lexie products are superior in this regard. The written instructions as well as the accessible support videos were easy to follow and helpful. More importantly, the live customer support directly from Lexie was priceless.

Finally, we feel that Lexie was helpful when we returned the products for a refund. This was a no-hassle process.

Lexie B2: Upfront Costs

Our Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

Pros

-If purchasing through the Lexie website, you can opt for paying all at once or signing up for a monthly subscription-like payment plan.

-Lexie offers a generous 45-day trial plan with no hassle or judgment if the user decides to return the devices.

-The buyer can use their HAS (health savings account), HRA (health reimbursement account) and FSA (flexible spending account) to purchase the devices

Cons

-The Lexie B2 OTC hearing aids list at a whopping $999.00. This is more expensive than its cousin, the B1 ($799.00), which is non-rechargeable, but otherwise sports the same technology. We feel this is a high price compared to other OTC hearing aids on the market, but the high-value proposition is the highest we’ve seen so far.

Discussion:

The Lexie B1 and B2 OTC hearing aids offer technology that is compatible with prescription hearing aids that are dispensed in clinics. The higher price tag for the Bose-powered Lexie products is, nonetheless, a high-value proposition. The technology provided to the end user in these products is considerably high and will accurately address the needs of individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Long term, users of these products can expect some additional costs. These include the purchase of more cleaning tools, domes, and wax filters.  These products can be purchased directly from the Lexie website.

If you have the Lexie B1, which uses disposable batteries, they can be purchased for a song directly from Amazon. There you can also find cleaning tools, wax filters, and domes. However, for those components, we recommend ordering directly from Lexie. This ensures that you are stocking up with the correct fitting accessories.

Conclusion: Lexie B2-An Audiologist’s Perspective

Overall Rating: 4.3 out of 5.0

Our overall rating is based on the overall fit and feel of the aids, electroacoustic performance, and superior customer support.

It’s exciting to see this new category of wearable hearing tech hit the market. Bose is a company that has made a name for itself in consumer audio, and now that influence is being seen with the new Lexie B1 and B2 OTC hearing aids.   

The Lexie B1 and B2 are a little pricey for what a consumer might expect; however, we were impressed with the overall quality of the devices, which we feel will bring a justified value to anyone who purchases them.

From a clinical audiology perspective, the Lexie B1 and B2 OTC hearing aids have a quality fit and feel and are loaded with features that make adjustments of the sound by the end user easy and accessible. Also, we feel that the 45-day trial period- during which the consumer can return the aids for a full refund- offers considerable buyer protection.

The real concern with hearing aids of any kind isn’t whether they will work, but whether they will work in the way the user wants, or needs, them to work.

As mentioned in this review, the RIC style of hearing aids is appropriate for most people; however, there are some individuals who may not do so well with them. This could be for any number of reasons. The main thing to keep in mind is that it’s best to try what you think would work for you, and if it doesn’t, make use of the refund privilege, and then try something else.

If you feel discouraged, all you must do is make an appointment with a hearing healthcare professional for more detailed information.