Costco Kirkland Signature 9.0 (Product Information)

Hi. Just got my KS9s on trial and I have a couple of questions.
I have an iphone that has MFI feature in its Accessibility settings. But it can’t find the KS9. Info shows that MFI worked with the KS6 and KS8 but I am guessing this is not the normal manufacturer improvement and that the KS9 is a different manufacturer than the KS8.

Other question is I was surprised to find that I cannot access any of the programs used by Autosense - not via the hearing aid and not thru the App. Just surprising.

They don’t work with MFI. Just go into bluetooth and pair like any other bluetooth device.

ok - got it. Was wondering cause the MFI offers some nice capabilities.

Hey @yogarocks. I’m using KS9 in the classroom everyday. Those are challenging spaces for hearing at any time. I have found the auto program to be excellent at adjusting for levels of noise with no intervention from myself. In a gym, where things can get noisy fast, the focus narrows easily so that I can hear those in front of me well.
The app I find is pretty basic but I don’t use it much because the auto program adjusts so well most of the time.
As far as follow up visits, I have not had any issues over the years on previous aids booking an appointment for adjustments at Costco. You might not get in for an appointment right away but the cost of the KS9 compared to other places makes it well worth my while to plan ahead when a visit is needed.

iOS 13.1.3 was automatically downloaded to my XR awhile ago.

Thank you very much for that suggestion,ThomF!
Yesterday, was my first followup appointment at Costco for my KS9s, at which time I was also able to pick up the TV streamer which I had purchased with the HAs but which was on backorder, and last night we watched a movie on TV with it, but I was frankly unsure whether or not it was streaming into my KS9s or I was simply hearing it well over the HA mikes. It was a British accent feature so it was bound to be challenging but I think I followed the dialogue with a little help from closed captioning which I usually tend to keep on as a backup for comprehension. I look forward to our next movie with the TV streamer. I did have the Costco rep add it to the Programs so that I could be sure I had selected it, although she said it should/would automatically switch to streamer as soon as the TV’s audio came on and/or I entered the room with it on.
Your suggestion to get another one to connect with my laptop sounds like a very good idea; they are on backorder at my Costco so there will be a wait.
I wonder why I see so many reports of sound breaking up when using laptops’ built-in bluetooth to the HAs. I see this being reported both on the KS9s and on the Phonak Marvels even though the latter have multi-connect Bluetooth.
PS - It’s very odd that right now the laptop’s Bluetooth is piping into my KS9s very consistently and clearly, whereas the last few days it was constantly breaking up.

Hey @yogarocks, I don’t find myself adjusting volume up and down in class very much. The automatic program chooses the best program for the environment that I am in at the time.
I was in for an adjustment today at Costco, and the audiologist had data logging set on for my aids. It had tracked the environment and all changes that I had manually made during the previous month. For me it showed that “noise, loud noise & car” programs were turned down 2 notches by me manually. With 1 click of a button, he made those recorded adjustments the new defaults for my automatic programming. Pretty remarkable. In theory, the data logging of changes should bring things to where I like them and not have a need for any changes in the future.
Bluetooth is only used for direct streaming to my aids from my phone at this time. Needless to say, I don’t have a playlist running during class.

Good tips! I will try this!
Thanks!

@rdboukes said:

Automatic, Quiet, Noise, Loud Noise, and of course streaming.

I thought I understood her to say that I could only have 3 manuals, and that Mute, which I requested, counted as one of the three. Hmmm. I will have to double-check the next time I see her.

wmmc… I didn’t know it did data tracking… really interesting and that those adjustments were made. I would think that things are turned down or up in different settings but that’s great if yours are applied universally within automatic and applicable…

rdboukes or anyone… when you have different settings that are manual do you have to be on bluetooth to access those… I think for my current hearing aid that’s not Costco I have to be on bluetooth as it’s listed in the mifi hearings and won’t detect the different settings like meetings outdoors or streaming unless I use bluetooth. Just curious on that…

Right bluetooth not needed.

Correct, the Automatic program and potentially three manual programs are contained and switched with a long push of the high side, or of course can be selected from the Easyline app. A low side long push can be used for Mute, these apparently must be asked for, to get them. I believe through experience the HA dispensers do not offer the choices, you must ask for them. There are seven manual programs along with streaming voice, and streaming music as parts of the automatic program. Three of the seven can be individually added. For example I have Automatic, Quite, Noise, Loud Noise, and Mute which isn’t counted as a program, but very useful. You can use the Mute while streaming and eliminate surround sounds.

RDB

I have a friend with single sided hearing loss. Can the KS9s route sounds from one side to the other or would he need another brand or type of hearing aid?

While they are linked to each other they are programed for each ear’s loss, and suggest he get tested, they will then program a trial set to give him the experience. He can then order or not, no charge, or order and try them for up to 6 months for full refund. Easy choice.

RDB