Costco Kirkland Signature 5.0

@NateS said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

Could I eliminate the cost of the Phone Clip+ and substitute a generic BT>FM transmitter with tunable frequency?

Does anybody know what FM frequency the KS5 receivers are set to?

Regards, Nate

Nope. It is not just about the frequency. You know how a Bluetooth connection is secure and even though there could be several Bluetooth transmitter/receivers in an area, each device only responds to the other device it is connected to? It would be similar with the Resound hearing aids. An FM transmitter could not just insert itself into the Bluetooth-like connection.

Have a quick question on these hearing aids which I am considering. How close to the hearing aid do you have to keep the Phone Clip/Transmitter? Can I keep it on my belt or in my pants pocket? Instead of the little cones on the end can I get ear molds? Can they be controlled with an iPhone through their hearing aid feature?

If I lay the phone clip+ on a table I can get 10 feet away or more and they work fine. In a pants pocket the orientation interferes a little with reception. Shirt pocket works great for streaming. I keep mine on the lanyard, under my shirt. For phone use the phone clip+ has the microphone so it needs to be up pretty close to your mouth.

You can have a custom mold made. I had some made and they made deep impressions so mine sit very deep in my ears and I don’t have much occlusion at all (I’m using the larger vent).

The Linx is the only model where you don’t have to have the Phone Clip+ and Costco doesn’t have their version of that yet, but I understand it is coming. Currently you would have to have the phone clip+.

Remember, with the “made for iphone” model where you don’t have the phone clip+, you still have to talk into the iphone microphone, so it is not really hands-free for phone calls. It can transmit to the hearing aids directly without the phone clip+.

@Don said:

If I lay the phone clip+ on a table I can get 10 feet away or more and they work fine. In a pants pocket the orientation interferes a little with reception. Shirt pocket works great for streaming. I keep mine on the lanyard, under my shirt. For phone use the phone clip+ has the microphone so it needs to be up pretty close to your mouth.

You can have a custom mold made. I had some made and they made deep impressions so mine sit very deep in my ears and I don’t have much occlusion at all (I’m using the larger vent).

The Linx is the only model where you don’t have to have the Phone Clip+ and Costco doesn’t have their version of that yet, but I understand it is coming. Currently you would have to have the phone clip+.

Remember, with the “made for iphone” model where you don’t have the phone clip+, you still have to talk into the iphone microphone, so it is not really hands-free for phone calls. It can transmit to the hearing aids directly without the phone clip+.

Hey thanks a lot Don, really appreciate it. I wonder how long before Costco has it. I would really like a pair of them but not at $5,000+ depending on where I get them. The $1,900 at Costco is more like it. I really don’t talk on the phone all that much. Like everyone else I text more than talk but I do want to be able to control aspects of the hearing aid with my iPhone.

One more question. If I am not interested in phone calling coming in through my HA do I still need to call the clip around with me? Can I adjust the hearing aids with the iPhone?

Well, at first I didn’t like the streaming quality when listening to music or watching a video, but now after getting used to it I don’t notice it and music sounds OK. I like the fact that I can work at my desk and listen to music or whatever, with no wires and earbuds.

One thing about this experience I want to mention. It seems that the hearing aid batteries have two levels of voltage and when they start to wear out they drop in voltage and at that point the hearing aids do not connect to the Phone Clip+ but the batteries still have enough juice left to run the hearing aids for a few hours (or a day) longer. It is frustrating when the connection drops so now what I do is just replace the batteries when they get to the point they will not connect, even though they will still run the hearing aids for a while longer.

I’ve had my Kirkland 5 hearing aids for 3 months, everything, including the remote, is working great.

Edit: Costco gives you 3 months to return your HAs if you don’t like them, and guarantee them for 2 years (best I can remember).
strange that the HA fitter would advise against buying any HA, what’s that about?

Yesterday, oct 25, I replaced my Oticon Epoc HA pair with a pair of Kirkland Signature 5. I had my chart done the previous day when I was at an ENT MD office. The nearest Costco is 2 hours away, but I happened to be there on business. I called on my way down, spoke to Erik at the Winterpark FL Costco, and he fit me in into the remaining opening the following day. That Costco has three staff fitting hearing aids.

Erik confirmed my chart, programmed my HA including the four environment programs I knew I needed; lastly, he attached a siemens apparatus to me that checked and confirmed my HA. Eric impressed me as knowledgeable and in tune with my needs as any audiologist. I’ll be back at that Costco and an appointment with Eric in several weeks when business requires me to return to that location. My 24 hour experience with the Kirkland 5 HA leaves me impressed, liking them. I should have upgraded long ago.

While at Winterpark Costco, I ordered a new pair of progressive glasses at 1/3 the retail price for the same item in my hometown.

COSTCO, excellent service; high value products.

I’m new to all of this and grateful to find this forum. Perhaps someone has had this experience. I picked up KS5s at Costco last week, the hearing center tech seemed sharp and helpful. We tried different lengths of receiver tube and dome sizes. After the appointment, I found myself constantly pushing the speaker back into the ear canal. In gearing up for wearing hearing aids, this is one issue that never occurred to me. Has anyone else had this problem?

When I was being fitted, the tech also showed me a “new” Bernafon Juna 9 that boasts a curved receiver tube that, I must say, seemed to fit better but, of course, costs $700 more. My second question is, Is anyone familiar with this Bernafon aid? Apparently, it’s so new that I can’t find reviews. Thank you very much!

You can get a plastic wire called a sports lock which curls up in your concha and helps keep the receiver from slipping out. Costco started selling the Juna earlier this month; it replaces the Acriva.

Many thanks, rasmus_braun. I have that wire but it didn’t prevent the speaker from coming out. I’ve read on another thread about the success of custom molds but I’m completely unfamiliar with that process or how it’s done. Have you heard any good or bad feedback about the Bernafon Juna 9? Is Bernafon considered a good company? I know they’re Swiss.

RonLF, Costco will take the impressions for you but, they do not make the earmold product in-store. Takes a few days to a week to get them back once the impressions are make.
When I first started wearing BTE ha’s, the only choice was the molds and I never had a problem. When I first learned about Costco, bought my first set of ha’s from them, I thought I’d try doing without the molds. After about a month, I was back in Costco getting the impressions make! No way I could ever get used to ha’s without the molds, they drove me crazier!
PS: you didn’t ask but, I believe the cost for a pair of molds was just under $100 but, don’t quote me on that, it’s been awhile and I have severe CRS!

Molds are $40 each at Costco.

Thanks very much OkieBob,
My hearing loss, at 67, is probably about average. Is has been suggested that molds are preferable to persons with moderate to severe loss. Is this accurate? I just don’t know. My Costco tech so much as told me that I was not a good candidate for molds and to find a good receiver tube/dome fit. The Bernafon Juna has that simple curve in the tube that makes the dome stay in place. The closest Costco is 200 miles away in Albuquerque. I’m headed down there from SW Colorado on Friday with fingers crossed. Thanks again for the info.

Thanks jay_man2!