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3 days with the Soundgear Amp

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As the title says, it’s been about 3 days with my SG Amp hearing aids. Overall, they are a huge improvement over my Eargo 7’s which I’ve used for a few years. They have improved my hearing in just about every situation with the exception of a very environment with two other couples. Using Edge , I was able to hear and participate in conversations but not to the level I expected, understanding that my expectations may be too high. Having said that, the other couples did not seem to have a problem with the conversation. I don’t expect perfection and as I said, they have helped in every other situation so overall, I am happy.

I should add that the two specialists I worked with at Costco were great. I have a follow up in a couple of weeks so hopefully a few tweeks might improve my situation even more. One issue I was not aware of which is my fault for not asking. While the Amps are ready to go with , Costco has not approved its use in the SG app. This is according to a SG representative. I should add that she did say they hope there will be an update in April. A bought a few devices to try at home but none of them worked so hopefully this will no longer be an issue in the next month.

The only other issue, which is not unexpected is the sound quality of the bluetooth connection. Talking on the phone is good enough but streaming talk and music is not great. Not a deal breaker for me but something that is important to me. My understanding is that this not unlike most other brands out there other than perhaps Widex.

It’s great having a 6 month trial but if Costco will allow it, I was thinking of buying a second pair of a different brand so I can actually compare them. I am hearing over there later to see if i can a larger dome to try as well. Very small ear canals but the domes that they provided will slip out, only a bit, from time to time. I want to see if a better but not complete seal will improve sound quality. Sorry, a little long winded but thought it might help others lookig at the Amps.

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Good to hear more feedback about the SoundGear. At the (approximately) 4.5-month mark of wearing my new Rexton Reach ’s from Costco, I tried the SoundGear, which were just rolling out at a few stores across the U.S. (I did this because my first ever HAs, 11 years ago, were Starkey Muses, and I had liked them. Starkey makes SoundGear.) I liked them, plus the ability to customize using the SoundGear phone app via bluetooth gave me a lot of additional potential control. If you are an older person who hopes to keep your HAs longer than 3-4 years, being able to do a lot of tweaking, should your ears continue their decline, is an attractive feature.

So yes, at close to 5 months, I returned the Rextons and purchased the SoundGears. I’ve had them a week now, and I’m very happy with them. Still playing around with some of the features…

Funny thing, the at Costco told me that because I had returned the Rextons and purchased the SoundGears, I only had one more opportunity to return my HAs and purchase a different brand. Wait, what?! I can actually also return these after 6 months and Costco will let me buy 1 more set of HAs? Wow, talk about a generous return policy.

Something else I noticed, when my SoundGears arrived and the HIS adjusted them. Maybe it’s just my mis-remembering, but it seems that the HIS - who also fitted/adjusted my Rextons when I first got them - took much more time making adjustments for the SoundGears than he did for the Rextons. What those exact adjustments were, I don’t know. It was more than just “which 4 programs do you want me to add?” I’m guessing the difference is partly due to the unique features/capabilities of each HA brand and model and also partly down to the instructions provided by each manufacturer regarding what settings to adjust at that first fitting.

Anyway, I’m very pleased with the SoundGear aids.

Glad to hear you like the SoundGear aids and your info on the Costco return policy. I posted this same initial post on the Costco facebook group and one guy got upset at my thought about getting another pair at some point to compare, saying that it make the cost of Costco hearing aids go up. My biggest concern is the Edge option. I was just at another restaurant picking up some excellent bbq and hit the Edge button and while the noise level went down so did my ability to hear voices (listneing for names to be called for pick up). I go back to Costco in a couple of weeks so hopefully there is something they can do to adjust it.

  1. I’ve never heard of Costco approving a app. When I tried the SGs, the helped me load the app on my phone and left me to use it. It was pretty intuitive, though not perfectly so. IOW, the Starkey rep you talked to is probably blowing smoke.
  2. Remember: HAs don’t restore hearing to one’s original acuity. They improve current acuity, but they are not perfect.
  3. 3 years ago I returned rechargeable Jabras for disposable battery Jabras. I was told I might have a problem if I returned the 2nd pair, but the sales document had the same 180-day refund period. I’m sure Costco would have honored that, but maybe they’d have refused to sell me another pair. I did consider exchanging the Jabras for Philips 9040s (sic), but I really like th Multi-Mic, which wouldn’t work with the Philips aids. My bet is that Costco would have happily sold me the 9040s.
  4. My bet is that the costs of returns are already priced into the Costco HAs. Given Costco’s marketplace success, I don’t think they’re stupid, and returns are a fact of retail life.
Edited

According to the SG rep, Costco approves the features that are included with the ’s they sell. The Assistant is not approved yet but should be in April. This is all I can go on. Will be dropping by Costco in the next day or two to see if I can try some larger domes and will ask. Does your SG app have the Auracast Assistant?

I ended up with Jabras, not SG’s. If SGs get into all Costco’s, and if Google and Jabra can’t get my phone to work, I might switch to SGs.

In reply to @mbakes

I’m using the Phillips 9050 hearing aids. I like the sound they provide. I’m going to do a bit fine tuning when I get some more time. They do have which I’m using.

I suggest you ask for sport locks to help keep your domes in place if you don’t already have them installed on your hearing aids.

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In reply to @mbakes

Keep us posted on your visit, mbakes.
When I first went to Costco, looking for hearing aids, I was actually disappointed that they did not have from Starkey. Eventually I opted for the Rexton Reaches. It was a lucky fluke that one of our local stores was among the first stores doing the SoundGear roll-out. And as soon as I heard about the roll-out, I asked to trial those HAs, just in case I liked them more than I liked the Rextons (which were adequate but not great in noise).
If I’m paying $1600-$1700+ for a pair of hearing aids, I want the aids that work best for me. If that means taking back the aids I’ve been wearing for a few months, and getting something that just arrived and that suits me better, so be it. And as a satisfied customer, I tell others who are looking for hearing aids to consider Costco. For me, their policies not only got them a customer (me), it’s getting them referrals as well.

@mbakes said:

sound quality of the bluetooth connection

.

I have the Soundgear AMP Custom Mold, with replaceable batteries.

I am disappointed with the dropouts of the Bluetooth connection while the iPhone is in my pocket.

Turning my head to left or right causes the farthest hearing aid to have reduced sounds.

Even a cross-body strap that pins the iPhone to my chest is not good enough.

The best is to hold the iPhone at reading level, away from the body.

I can’t do that while walking the dog twice daily‼️

Do the other hearing aids have the same problem with Bluetooth reception❓

I can’t believe that a MFI certified device passed the testing.

AirPods definitely don’t have this problem.

I’ve had mine more than 3 months at this point. The dropouts improved a bit when I update my iphone firmware. I’ve been using a C82 Aura and stream using . It works great indoors and most of time outdoors. Sometimes when walking outdoors the soun will distort but usually corrects itself. Still not as good as airpods pro 3’s but very good.

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