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Costco Kirkland Signature 5.0

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I’ve heard a weird bing or two, too. And at least twice the aids went into Comfort Phone mode, even though I was nowhere near a telephone receiver, and have that feature completely disabled.

I just returned my KS 5.0s because I’m simply happier with the overall “realistic” sound quality in the KS 4.0s. Perhaps I didn’t give the new ones enough time, but I was really bothered by switching batteries every 4-5 days, compared to the rechargeables in the KS 4.0s. Plus the smaller size, even if it is slight. They told me at Costco that a remote w/ a visible LCD (like the one that comes with the KS 5.0s )will be out in December for the KS 4.0s for around $80. That helped with my decision, since the new remote is much better, having the visual info.

In reply to @palmfish

@palmfish said:

No, this was different. It just went, “bing - bing.” Thats all…

but why would it only happen in one ear then, if it wasn’t the battery warning tone? Apart from my battery warning tone, my hearing aids work as a pair and will both change together if they go into certain program’s etc.

In reply to @MoHearing

@MoHearing said:

I just returned my KS 5.0s because I’m simply happier with the overall “realistic” sound quality in the KS 4.0s. Perhaps I didn’t give the new ones enough time, but I was really bothered by switching batteries every 4-5 days, compared to the rechargeables in the KS 4.0s. Plus the smaller size, even if it is slight. They told me at Costco that a remote w/ a visible LCD (like the one that comes with the KS 5.0s )will be out in December for the KS 4.0s for around $80. That helped with my decision, since the new remote is much better, having the visual info.

I’m going pretty crazy with this Rexon Quintra vs. Kirkland 5.0. Sounds like a consensus on more realistic tone to the Rexons? I like the longer battery life on the Rexon if that is really the case. Leaning towards Quintra. May wait until the first of the year so I can use my medical pre-tax account or whatever that is called. I need to up it the $1,000 or so that I will spend on the Quintras after insurance. I am a school teacher and just about use my hearing aids exclusively at school. Tough environment. Wonder if I can deduct them as a work expense. Any thoughts?

What you are getting is a consensus that previous wearers of Rextons prefer them, not that they are truly more natural sounding. The overwhelming majority in this thread like the KS5s from ReSound. It’s not surprising that once you get used to a certain manufacturer, you tend to prefer that sound. I’ve worn ReSound aids for several years, and am perfectly happy with the Kirkland 5.0 aids.

As I read this thread and my questions on other threads I gather that people who are going with the KS5’s are really “settling” with quality and probably due to the price of the units. You can buy the KS5’s for $1900 vs. Phonak Boleros Q90’s for $5,000+. That difference is a lot of wood.

Edited

Having read your previous posts here and elsewhere, it appears that you have an unexplained reluctance to actually go into the Costco Hearing Center and try these hearing aids.

I don’t understand how you can draw conclusions about how the hearing aids will perform for you by simply reading a few posts from other forum members and then trying to conjure up your impression or guess as to what motivated them to purchase the KS5s.

Something is holding you back. Perhaps it is something the audiologist/vendor you visited elsewhere who disparaged the Costco concept as competition he would rather not have?

You are never going to know whether or not the KS5s or any other are going to work for you without trying them personally. I would suggest that you either overcome your timidity and try them, at least walking around in the store with no financial commitment, -or- just forget about them and go back to your independent vendor and make your choice from what he wants to sell you.

Best wishes, Nate :smiley:

In reply to @WillyA

@WillyA said:

As I read this thread and my questions on other threads I gather that people who are going with the KS5’s are really “settling” with quality and probably due to the price of the units. You can buy the KS5’s for $1900 vs. Phonak Boleros Q90’s for $5,000+. That difference is a lot of wood.

I’m going to go to Costco this Saturday and I hope I can wear the KS 5.0. I too at first thought that Costco was “settling” but after some research I really think Costco is trying not just to be the cheapest, but the best. They have an economy of scale that gives them the price advantage over small audiologists. And you can’t beat the 90 day free trial. I think Costco may not be 100% the latest and greatest technology, but as far as I can tell, it’s about 95% the latest and greatest. That’s good enough for me.

Not to mention that I personally am stretching to afford $2000 for hearing aids. If all I could get was $5000 hearing aids, I’d have to do without.

I will report back with my Costco experience.

In reply to @WillyA

@WillyA said:

As I read this thread and my questions on other threads I gather that people who are going with the KS5’s are really “settling” with quality and probably due to the price of the units. You can buy the KS5’s for $1900 vs. Phonak Boleros Q90’s for $5,000+. That difference is a lot of wood.

I had been actively awaiting the release of a new Costco / Resound model based on the Verso chip for a year. When I first heard that the new product was based on the Resound Verso 9 - but for $1899 a pair - I simply did not believe it as that was well less than half the cost of the Verso 9 (which is an extremely well received product). I was fully prepared to pay much more than this for a Verso 7 based Costco Product. Why even the Costco Resound Forza (based on the older Alera chip) had been priced at $2399!

I believe it now and could not be happier with my decison.

I feel that some may be bypassing the KS5 because it simply isn’t priced high enough.

In reply to @shelbyb82

WillyA, last time I bought was 5 years ago and I didn’t “settle” as you call it. I went “whole-hog” and spent $6,000 on what was then the top-of-the-line model HAs from a well-known and respected name brand; and I have never been able to get them adjusted so that I could be satisfied with their performance, even though many other people who bought the same HAs rave about their results. I am not blaming anyone for that result, but that’s what happened. Maybe it is because I did not do enough comparison shopping back then between brands and vendor/fitters. Or maybe it was because I didn’t know, and no one back then told me, that I should have had my hearing re-tested from year to year in connection with possible re-adjustments.

This time, I took some good advice and went to Costco and have wound up with hearing aids that delight me with their results, spending $1899 for the pair. I can hear better with them than I have in 5 years with the $6,000 ones.

Your personal experience may well be different. But you cannot find out what is going to work for you by just reading posts like mine and others on forums, and trying to figure out what each poster’s subconscious mind may have motivated their decision. The ideas you may acquire here are just a starting point.

Regards, Nate :smiley:

Nate
If you read my other posts I have certainly been to Costco, trialed the Acriva 9’s. I thought they were poor quality and the specialist at the store was a rookie. Costco claims that the hearing aids they dispense are made by major manufacturers, but they have different names. As reported on this forum, when you think you have an identical unit to the major brand, it is not, it is missing some features.
I have a 2nd appt with a local hearing aid store, who I got through the national discounters programs and will be trying on the Widex Dream series and the Phonak Bolero series ().

My further experience at Costco is that the first pair of the Acriva’s were defective, as told by the hearing aid specialist, when they were returned 7 days later, they were still no good. So I have a sour taste in my mouth on this one.

However, I do have appt at Costco this Friday afternoon to check out the KS5’s after trying on the 2 pair I mentioned above. I am not optimistic, but will try to be objective.

In reply to @NateS

There are several reasons why people may express a preference for one brand over another. The first, as has already been pointed out, is familiarity. If a person has worn Rexton aids previously, they are acclimated to their “sound signature.” Thus, Rexton becomes that person’s reference. Since another Rexton is likely to most closely match what they are used to, there will be a natural preference. Second, the fitter and his/her familiarity with each brands software will influence how well matched the ’s are to the wearer. If the familiar is much more familiar with a certain companies software, then there is a strong likelihood that that brand will be better fit. Third, all else being equal, comparable hearing aids from all the major manufacturers will likely sound very similar. These companies do not “build” their aid from the ground up. They use amplifiers, microphones, speakers (balanced armiture), chips from third party companies. There are only a few companies that make these parts and all of the hearing aid companies go to the them for components.

If you have been driving BMW’s your whole life and you test drive a Volvo, chances are you’re not going to like it. Even though the major components are all supplied by Aisin, Bosch, Mahle, Ate, etc., they look different, feel different, and have their unique pros and cons. One isnt better than the other though.

I wouldn’t discount a surprise factor, hahahaha. Like he said under $2K to $5K for a set of hi’s is quite a bit of wood and that’s he’s trying the K5’s. ~$3K

In reply to @WillyA

@WillyA said:

Costco claims that the hearing aids they dispense are made by major manufacturers, but they have different names. As reported on this forum, when you think you have an identical unit to the major brand, it is not, it is missing some features.
I have a 2nd appt with a local hearing aid store, who I got through the national discounters programs and will be trying on the Widex Dream series and the Phonak Bolero series (RIC).

Costco’s hearing aids are made by the major manufacturers. The fact that they have different names and features is deliberate. It’s to prevent you from price matching. This happens all the time in every industry. It’s just like shopping for carpet or mattresses. Each retailer has different named products and colors, but they’re all made by the same manufacturers. And the Bolero is , by the way.

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