▼ Summary
– The Enhance Select 700’s main new feature is SoundScape Auto Focus, which improves speech clarity in noise by filtering background sounds and prioritizing voices automatically.
– Auto Focus is built into the hardware, cannot be turned off or adjusted, and is designed to detect voices from any direction, not just in front of the user.
– The reviewer initially struggled with Auto Focus in a noisy restaurant but noted improvement after Jabra provided a programming update via their app.
– The Select 700 includes tiny, replaceable filters over the microphones to help with maintenance, especially for active users or those using hair products.
– Upgrading to the Select 700 is unnecessary for satisfied Select 300 or 500 users, as the Select 300 remains the top pick for most with mild to moderate hearing loss due to its lower price and comparable performance.
What sets the Jabra Enhance Select 700 apart from its predecessor, the Select 500, is its advanced SoundScape Auto Focus technology, engineered to sharpen speech clarity in noisy environments. This system actively filters out background noise while automatically giving priority to human voices. Built directly into the hardware, Auto Focus operates dynamically and can’t be manually switched off or adjusted. Jabra explains that the feature is non-directional, meaning it can identify and enhance voices even when they aren’t coming from directly in front of the wearer.
During initial testing, I encountered some difficulty with Auto Focus in a restaurant where music was playing over the speakers, ironically, the exact type of situation the feature is meant to handle. My wife’s voice wasn’t coming through clearly, so I contacted Jabra support. They quickly sent a programming update through the Jabra app, which improved performance. Since then, the hearing aids have worked more reliably, though like many adaptive technologies, results can still vary depending on the acoustic environment.
Apart from this feature, the overall sound reproduction meets Jabra’s usual high standards. However, I didn’t notice a dramatic improvement in audio quality compared to the earlier Select 500 model.
A subtle but useful hardware update involves the microphones. The Select 700 now includes tiny, replaceable filters covering the microphones, similar to the wax guards used on the receivers. Because the microphones are positioned on the back of the hearing aid rather than inside the ear canal, these filters shouldn’t require frequent replacement. Still, for active individuals or those who use hair styling products regularly, having easily swappable filters can simplify upkeep. Jabra deserves praise for including a generous supply of replacement filters and multiple sizes of ear tips in the packaging.
Ultimately, if you’re satisfied with your Enhance Select 500 or Select 300, there’s no urgent reason to upgrade to the Select 700. The same logic that guided the choice between the 300 and 500 models still holds: at $1,695, the Select 300 costs $300 less than the Select 700’s retail price, and most users with mild to moderate hearing loss are unlikely to perceive a major difference in performance. For this reason, the Jabra Enhance Select 300 remains my top recommendation among over-the-counter hearing aids, while the Select 700 presents a compelling, if more expensive, alternative for those who want the latest features.
(Source: Wired)
