Costco Kirkland Signature 9.0 (Product Information)

@PhotoCasey said:

However since these aid are almost invisible you might get locked up for talking to yourself. LOL

You mean like those Apple AirPod users?

I have Kirkland 5.0s and am embarking on an evaluation of the latest and best reviewed hearing aids. I want to benchmark the Kirkland R9 against the Phonak Marvel and possibly the one or two others. I have an excellent Costco fitter(He used to have his own practice) who has told me not to bother with upgrading these past 4 years. I will meet with him and a local audiologist to get recommendations. MY plan is 2 start consecutive trials and swap in/swap out the aids is the same hearing situations. Anyone tried this? Other ideas?

It seems to me that it is important to ensure the REM adjustments are done for each set that you try. I would also ask them to set up the most likely to be used programs for each set as well.

Is there any point of trialing both the KS9 and the Phonak Marvel? Are they not essentially the same thing?

I agree about the need to get REM on any aid. I’ve never worked with a non-Costco audiologist before but the one I am seeing has an excellent reputation…we will see. I know the Costco guy will do REM. I am not sure what to expect from the audiologist as they state I will walkout with a trial pair for 7 days with no financial commitment required. If not REM, I will insist on it or buy a pair and enter their relative puny trail period.
Yes, the RS9 is a defeatured Marvel V90 Marvel. But I want to try some features unique to the Marvel. Plus I am not sure if they really are identical in most regards. Both the Telecoil and Roger support are not yet available so I am somewhat concerned about not being able to benchmark them. BTW, I am a typical senior(77) with mild to moderate hearing loss…and I never got Telecoil to do much of anything on my R5s.

Thanks…I had seen that…there is a very good chance that I will not want or need or want to spend the money on those Marvel unique features. I am ok with batteries, never got Telecoil to do much for me, don’t use a mobile phone as my primary phone, don’t have tinnitus problems. I am curious about Roger though.

I think if I wanted to compare something to the KS9 (Marvel) it might be the KS8 if you can still get it (Signia 7Nx), and perhaps also the Oticon S.

I may try the Oticon OPN s.

The KS8 certainly is better than the KS7. Same manufacturer (Rexton/Signia) but the KS8 is a full generation newer with significant improvements. No argument the KS8 is better. It is MFi and does streaming well with an iPhone. It also added Own Voice Processing, and the 3D Classifier, and a few other bells and whistles.

The KS9 is a switch in manufacturer. Much harder to compare. The Phonak seems to have fewer program options. I am not sure I like all the things I hear about the streaming capability with Android and iPhone. I also get the feeling the feedback suppression may be a little suspect with residual artifacts (trilling). That said I don’t think the KS8 is the greatest for feedback suppression either.

I suspect I could wangle a return of my KS8’s, get KS9’s, and come out of it a few bucks ahead. However I am having a hard time convincing myself all the hassle would be worth it. If my molds fail to deal with the feedback issues I might consider it a little more seriously.

Just had a thought for those desiring external microphones. What about combining the tv streamer with a mic w/ aux output?

Positives:
You may have the TV streamer already
The aux microphones are inexpensive and fairly highly rated
No lag on the TV streamer
Low hearing aid battery use
Still allows you to receive phone calls (bluetooth is open)
Negatives (probably deal-breakers for some of you):
TV streamer must either be plugged into an outlet, portable power pack, or usb (laptop, etc)
It is not a wireless solution, so lapel mikes wouldn’t work on a moving speaker. More of a table-top solution
If speaker is already using an amplification system you may be able to plug the TV streamer into one of the outputs

Feel free to add more positives, negatives, or point out any fatal flaws I’m missing. This is essentially my plan for when I help with worship at my church, by plugging it into the sound system.

My wife also has the iPhone 8plus. She was very happy with the KS9 Bluetooth using her phone.
She will be getting her KS9 aids Wednesday the 7th. More results about these aids then.

You’re right, look at

Resources for Hearing Care Professionals | Phonak

Phonak provides the tools and resources to support hearing care professionals in providing best practice.

Roger support coming Fall 2019

But is that for the K9’s as well? Or just for the actual Marvels?

@khonderd No, look at Abram’s post:

@AbramBaileyAuD said:

• KS9 has no rechargeable option
• KS9 has no telecoil option
• KS9 has no tinnitus therapy option
• KS9 not getting RogerDirect support
• KS9 won’t get Marvel 2.0* upgrade in August

Hearing someone at the other end of a large dinner table has been a challenge. As I understand, users of KS 8 can use their iphone as a mic placing it in the far half of the table. Can any user of KS 9 please confirm if KS 9 does that too?