Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Philips HearLink 9050 to hit Costco soon? With similar tech to Oticon Intent?

This topic is closed.

492 replies46.6k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Edited

The app is up-to-date. Perhaps it doesn’t show up for the 9040 hearing aids.

Note, my Pixel 6a does say LE audio under the Bluetooth connection screen. Maybe I’ll see if Costco will let me demo the 9050.

@user990 said:

Note, my Pixel 6a does say LE audio under the Bluetooth connection screen. Maybe I’ll see if Costco will let me demo the 9050.

I have the 6a, and can confirm it is NOT ready. I’m wearing the Oticon Intent, and the LE Audio option is greyed out.
LE Audio is supported on the 7, 8 series, and 9 series only, per Google.

OK, it’s not big deal to me. I don’t use Bluetooth with my 9040 aids since I wear open domes. I’m just curious.

Edited

I’m curiously following this thread after reading what felt like hundreds of pages of posts. I have the Oticon OPN 1, and wanted to initially upgrade to the Intents then discovered the Philips 9050.

Like many in this thread, I’m skewed to the side of believing these are going to be identical to the Intents and the reason the prices are so low are due to (a) Costco’s volume (B) Costco’s different demographics that majority wont consider a $6-8k alternative. I’m simply describing white labeling or private labeling.

Of course this could be wrong but there’s so much precedent for this.

  • trader joes does this with so many of its packaged food. It is cheaper rebrands or more expensive products under their own private label

  • Maytag, whirlpool etc are the same company and have the same core appliances just at different price points

  • monoprice is well known for rebranding more expensive products under its own brand

  • klipsch is well known for doing this with its speakers

That said, again, this isn’t a guarantee it’s the same. I just don’t agree with other posts discounting this as a distinct possibility as if there is no precedent for it. There is precedent and it’s a profitable strategy. It is well know to know be a guarantee of cannibalization.

I think the logic you’re trying to lay out here has already been hashed to death already. So you’re probably just trying to convince yourself here and really nobody else (that the 9050 is the same as the Intent 1). If that’s the case, just believe in your logic and buy the 9050 already.

Even if you have doubt in your logic, just remember that regardless of any lingering doubt, the 9050 hands-down has the better value than the Oticon Intent 1 many times over. Just the value proposition alone is worth going for the 9050. Who really cares even if they’re different as long as the value proposition of one really already overwhelms the other in the first place.

@Volusiano said:

I think the logic you’re trying to lay out here has already been hashed to death already. So you’re probably just trying to convince yourself here and really nobody else

With respect, dial it down a bit. I am not on here likely as much as you so do not read everything in this topic let alone forum. I suspect many fall into the same camp as I do. Let’s have a community of respect please.

Edited

Unlike what you think, I’m in the same boat as you are. I’m using the Oticon OPN 1 currently, and as much as I think I know about the Oticon Intent 1, and as much as I think I understand the differences between the Oticon Intent and the Philips 9050 (and I really do believe they are different), when it comes down to my own money and when I need to replace my OPN 1, I will not choose the Oticon Intent 1 but I will choose the Philips 9050. Because like I told you, it’s the best value hearing aids hands-down when compared to the Oticon Intent 1. The only difference is that I don’t need to be convinced that they are exactly the same (and I don’t think they are). But I will still buy the 9050 over the Intent 1 in a heart beat if I have to spend my hard-earned money because at $1500, the 9050 is a much, much better value than the Intent at $6K and up.

This doesn’t mean that I’m dissing folks who decided to buy the Oticon Intent either. I totally respect their choice and their own perception of value. If I can afford it, I probably would buy the Intent as well. But because I can’t justify it, I would buy the 9050. There’s nothing wrong with either choices. But it’s not necessary to compare the choices either. That’s just my personal opinion that I’m expressing here. Not disrespecting anybody.

Just as an FYI, my brother just bought his own 9050 based on my recommendation from Costco and he seems quite happy with it. He was going to go for the Jabra based on his Costco’s ’s recommendation, but I told him to try the 9050, which he did and decided to stick with it.

If I take your intent at face value then I would just offer feedback that your responses can come across harsh and unwelcoming. I don’t know how else to interpret the tone of this other than that: if I’m wrong I apologize:

I think the logic you’re trying to lay out here has already been hashed to death already. So you’re probably just trying to convince yourself here and really nobody else

Online communities thrive on strangers being civil and welcoming. Otherwise it’s hard to even participate.

If this request resonates then great. If not, feel free to ignore it. I won’t harp on it any further.

I would say this HAS been hashed to death. I am convinced they are more similar to demant’s other brands than Oticon. There is no evidence they are the same as the flagship products from the mfr, unlike Jabra and Rexton from Costco. The differences between demant’s three major brands is likely just the firmware. The fitting software tells the story on what is going on. But @Volusiano is right on the money about value from the Philips. But do search a bit as the discussion is already here online and a lot of reasoning has been applied. But there may have been more heat than light generated. And you poured a little gasoline on it.

WH

@WhiteHat said:

I would say this HAS been hashed to death.

Exactly. They are similar, equivalent even, but not the same. They might share most, if not all, of the hardware, but the firmware and some of the features are definitely different, as you would have noticed if you’ve tried programming both with Genie 2 (Oticon) and Hearlink (Philips).

Physically identical enough so they don’t have to increase costs by making two sets of parts. Functionally different enough so they can plausibly claim the Oticon is superior. No-one will ever put it to rigorous testing anyway, so it doesn’t matter if the differences are clinically significant- just that they’re there.

My guess anyway. I’ve got one arriving in a couple of weeks.

I have the Opn S2 and will upgrade within a year. The value tradeoff between Costco and my local audiologist extends to other than the price of the hearing aids. I have a 1 1/2 hour drive to a Costco vs. 5 minutes for local support. My audi cleans the wax from my ears every 4 months; she has made repeated adjustments to my aids for playing musical instruments; she has provided a loaner whenever there was a problem with one of the . When I had battery problems with the original Opn 2, she negotiated a free upgrade to the Opn S2 even a year after initial purchase. I understand that Costco locks their hearing aids, limiting where I can get help. I’m not knocking Costco, but rather giving a shout out to the alternative that for some may justify the price difference.

In reply to @Hearinghelp1

I’ve been using the 9050 for a week now, and they’re a huge improvement over the 9040. If you’re within the 6-month window for your 9040, I highly recommend upgrading to the 9050. Plus, Costco doesn’t hassle you about the reason for your exchange. Just let the return person know that you’re within the 6-month window and want to swap for the newer 9050 model. It’s that simple!.

I’m having trouble pairing my 9050 with my Dell laptop. According to Dell Technical Support, it should work, and I can see the name of my hearing aid when I try to pair, but it just won’t connect. Has anyone else faced this issue and found a solution for pairing the 9050 with a laptop that has the correct Windows version? I’ll keep trying and update here if I manage to get it working.

In reply to @IanY77

@IanY77 said:

Can any Canadian member her tell me if they’ve shown up here yet? My insurance is rolling over in two weeks, and I’ll probably at least trial these.

Can confirm from that they are available at Costco in Canada, just ordered mine!

In reply to @Volusiano

I upgraded from 9030’s to the 9050’s and the difference is huge to me. I had an excellent fitter at Costco who was meticulous on the and frequency tuning. She told me I wouldn’t need all the programs I had with the 9030’s (she put them in for me anyway) and would stay with the General program and she was pretty much right. Very pleased with the 9050’'s.

Related discussions