Founded in 2018, Orka Labs feels like a larger and more established hearing aid company than it is, with sophisticated hardware now in its second edition.
The Orka Two is something of a mix between prescription and over-the-counter hearing aids. The devices are registered as prescription aids but are sold online as OTC products. Professional medical consultations and adjustments are possible (and included in the price), but are not required if you choose to go it alone.
The hardware takes a traditional form, a behind-the-ear model with receivers that snake into the ear canal via flexible wires. Although they’re a bit oversized compared to similar designs (and quite heavy at 3.8 grams each), they’re distinguished by their glossy AirPod white color and curved teardrop design. The devices have no physical controls, which further enhances their elegance. For behind-the-ear hearing aids, these look about as good as you can expect – and much better than the usual industrial gray hearing aids that are so commonplace these days.
As with most over-ear devices, I found the fit to be a bit awkward and required considerable fiddling to place them properly in my ears. The usual collection of open and closed tips is included. While I usually find medium sized tips fit me perfectly, I found all but the smallest ones to be uncomfortably large.
Photo: Orka
In keeping with its hybrid design, Orka offers two ways to configure the units. A powerful hearing test is integrated into the app, which allows you to quickly make the appropriate settings. Alternatively, if you have a professional audiogram, you can take a photo and upload it via the app. Orka’s in-house audiologists will then adjust your aids accordingly (on one working day). Any adjustments can be made by emailing Orka or calling Orka to make adjustments. However, the company notes that its Remote Consultation feature, which allows you to make an appointment directly from the app, is currently being revised and is offline.
Orka’s app is so simple it’s foolproof and has two main modes of operation. “Normal” is the low ambient noise mode based on the settings you made via your audiogram or in-situ hearing test, while “In Noise” is pretty self-explanatory. Here Orka takes a more aggressive approach to settings, using an AI algorithm to dynamically adjust its settings based on your environment. A beamforming option in In Noise mode allows you to target your hearing to a single person or “everyone.” The volume can be adjusted universally or individually for each ear.
As already mentioned, there are no physical controls on the devices. What’s unusual are hardware controls on the charging case (which is enough for about three charges). Here you will find a program button that switches through the two operating modes and another pair of buttons for adjusting the volume. Pay close attention: paradoxically, the volume up button is on the left side and the volume down button is on the right. Despite the reversal, I ultimately found the case-mounted buttons much more convenient than fumbling behind my ears to find the right buttons. For users with limited mobility, this could be crucial.