Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Philips 9050 Issues and LE Adapter Issues

47 replies1.7k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Reply

What a wonderful community to have found! I’m new here and genuinely grateful for any wisdom or advice you’re all willing to share.

I’ve just started on my hearing aids journey and as my recent tests indicate I have moderate to severe hearing loss.

I first noticed my hearing was failing about ten years ago, but I just couldn’t bring myself to commit to the $8,000 price tag that some local hearing clinics were recommending.

Then, a few months ago, I shared my dilemma on Facebook — and was absolutely overwhelmed by how many people pointed me straight to Costco.

I took their advice, signed up for a new membership, and headed straight to the hearing department. From my very first appointment and testing through to my recent fitting, the staff and Doctor of Audiology have been exceptional.

So at one third of the price and those amazing warranties I easily pulled the trigger on a set of Philips 9050s. When I left Costco that day this old bear cried hearing everything said by my loved ones that I had struggled to hear for years.

But not everything is working out perfectly for me. I need to turn the 9050s down at least 1 or 2 levels from the programmed “normal” setting as I find the setup way too sharp/bright.

I’ve tried to adjust this in the App’s EQ but there is not much difference. Also, the two other pre-programmed settings (Speech in noise and HiFi Music) are absolutely terrible.

I have my follow-up appointment with my Doctor of Audiology at Costco in 30 days.

One other concern I’ve been navigating is the compatibility issue. I spend a good portion of my day connected online, and unfortunately neither my 2025 NUC9 Mini PC nor my 2025 Lenovo Laptop support LE Audio.

To work around the PC compatibility issue, I picked up an LE Audio Adapter — but unfortunately the right channel simply wouldn’t work. After running through extensive troubleshooting with both ChatGPT and Gemini, they both pointed me toward getting a replacement, which I did. The replacement connected both channels right away, which felt promising — but my optimism was short lived. As I continued using it, the channels began alternating, cutting in and out, and the sound would often disappear completely The LE Audio device intermittently unpairs and I have to place my in the charger and start the 1-2 minute re-pair every hour or so just to get back to the cutting in and out. This is obviously unsustainable.

These issues have me considering changing to another Costco set of HAs. Based on what I have read in this Hearing Aid Forum the Sennheiser Sonite R may be an option.

I’d welcome and appreciate any advice as to how to move forward.

I’m in Vancouver, Canada if that makes a difference.

17 people in this conversation15 min readJump to latest

Hi northbear,

Thank you for your info. I will attempt to switch these out for yours if I can.

The unit they have been giving me has very generic packaging, but I have determined it is a “Minami Acoustics Easy LE Adapter Model: DLE0101A

Edited

Are you trying to use the mode or the mode? What brand and model of phone are you using?

I have always used Auracast mode and it works just fine with the FlooGoo, Homespot, and Avantree transmitters.

Occasionally, my left hearing aid doesn’t connect when a Auracast broadcast is first connected, but I just push the button on the hearing aid until the orange light comes on, wait a minute and press the button again until the green light comes on, and the hearing aid connects to the Auracast broadcast. At that point, I no longer have any connection issue.

Well it seems like the FlooGoo would be the best choice for , outside of what you are currently using. It may be a bit more complicated, but a lot of us are using it so that may be helpful.

I have a Pixel 6a and a Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 has a LE Audio switch, however since I have never used LE Audio with out , I don’t know if it makes any difference. It doesn’t seem like it should.

If I can find some time this weekend, I’ll try the FlooGoo transmitter with the Pixel 6a to see if not having the LE Audio switch makes any difference.

Are you using Win 11? If so, check settings - bluetooth and devices - devices. Page down to ‘Use when available’. If it’s not ‘on’, can you turn it on?

Have you called Costco to see if you can get in for an adjustment sooner than 30 days? If not, it’s probably worth a call.

@philbob57 Thank you for the suggestions.

Yes, I have checked that setting. The Adapter does pair after 1-2 minutes and I can get both channels goin for a brief time before things start cutting out and dropping etc.

I will return the Philips Easy LE Adapter to Costco as I have already ordered the FlooGoo FMA120. It should arrive within 2 weeks so I can test it out before the appointment in 30 days.

In reply to @user990

@user990 said:

The Pixel 10 has a LE Audio switch, however since I have never used LE Audio with out Auracast, I don’t know if it makes any difference

The transmitter looks like a wired headset to the phone. The phone wouldn’t even need Bluetooth at all.

OP will need to find an adapter for the FMA-120, so that’s quite a chunk of hardware hanging off the bottom of their phone. The Avantree Aura is a tiny little unit that wouldn’t get in the way as much. I’ve only used the version of the Aura- not the unicast version- so I wouldn’t like to say for sure that it will do what OP wants.

@seven said:

both

I have used Oticon for 6 years. When they started to fail, I decided to try Costco due to their competitive pricing. I had a very extensive hearing test after which I was told Jabra or Phillips would be best for me. I chose Phillips because of their connection to Oticon. The first couple of weeks were tough. I had a hard time hearing low talkers and loud talkers sounded very tinny. I went for an adjustment with little change. Just when I was ready to turn them in and switch to Jabra, I went for another adjustment with great success. I hear clearly and am very happy with my choice.

Edited

I just tried connecting the FlooGoo transmitter in . The phone is never used, so it doesn’t matter if there is an LE Audio switch in the phone.

The dongle needed to be installed into the USB A port. I wouldn’t work with my USB C adapter.

You of course have to download the FlooGoo app for Windows.

Make sure you select the high quality button in the FlooGoo app. and then follow their instructions for pairing.

I didn’t get any sound from the first pairing, and the FlooGoo app showed it was not transmitting audio. So I went into the Window sound settings and everything looked good to me. So I unpaired the hearing aids and cleared them from the FlooGoo app. I then repaired the hearing aids to the FlooGoo app and the FlooGoo app now was showing audio transmitting. I now have sound to my Philips 9050 hearing aids.

The buttons on the Philips hearing aid only control the volume. There doesn’t appear to be a way to switch modes to a streaming mode using the hearing aid buttons. So the sound isn’t going to be the greatest for music. I don’t know if a better sound card in the computer would help any, but I don’t think so.

Edit: Thinking about this, I’m using open domes, so music probably isn’t going to sound good no matter what.

One more thing, the hearing aids appear to remember the last program setting. So if you are looking for a little better sound, you might try leaving the hearing aids in a HiFi program setting if you have one installed, before disconnecting the Bluetooth connection between your hearing aids and phone. Then connect to the FlooGoo transmitter using LE Audio.

Mine was the same, the after tests had everything loud and tinny. Ask the audiologist to set them up with the Philips programing. All was better.

Having said that, mine have performed poorly so I stopped wearing them. Costco folks not to willing to devote time.

Edited

I think my Phillips 9050 sound pretty good. The Costco fitter did a very good job using to get the first fit spot-on for me. There is just a little fine tuning that could be done, but I think most folks would be very happy with a first fit if it turned out as good as my first fit.

You can try going if you want to give it a go. The folks in the DIY section of this website can help with what you need to buy and download to program your own hearing aids.

Otherwise, if you are not going to use the hearing aids, return them for a refund.

Related discussions