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Phonak returns to Costco - Rexton dropped

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the Sonova group offered to produce the same technology for a lower price. Costo accepted because he is looking at maximum money saving.

This is hugely exciting as a KS10 user who is invested in the Sonova ecosystem. I’m now out of warranty so an upgrade path that isn’t ruinously expensive would be ace.

I can only wonder if Sonova really would allow Sphere (or Sphere-lite?) to be marketed through Costco. There must be a LOT of R&D spend invested they want to recoup. But then, Costco purchasing power is probably on par with some nations medical services…

I’m seeing Coral the audiologist at Costco Edinburgh on Wednesday. I will make some enquires, but I doubt she will even be aware of the Sennheiser Sonite.

Edited

In reply to @garethjwells

@garethjwells said:

This is hugely exciting as a KS10 user who is invested in the Sonova ecosystem. I’m now out of warranty so an upgrade path that isn’t ruinously expensive would be ace.

I can only wonder if Sonova really would allow Sphere (or Sphere-lite?) to be marketed through Costco. There must be a LOT of R&D spend invested they want to recoup. But then, Costco purchasing power is probably on par with some nations medical services…

I think there is little doubt that these Sennheiser hearing aids will not have Sphere. They will be the Infinio version without Sphere. I thought that this was the obvious long term plan from the beginning when Infinio was marketed atq a price only a couple of hundred dollars less than Infinio + Sphere. Who would buy a Phonak hearing aid without Sphere to save only $200?

The point was to mark it up to then mark it down and make it appear to be a cost savings at a lower price. Then I saw that my insurance company was offering Infinio but not Infinio + Sphere and it became obvious that Infinio, an updated version of Lumity, was designed for the discount market right from the beginning. Best of both worlds for Sonova.

Has anyone found a comparison of Rexton Reach to the Sennheiser Infinio?
I just traded in my Jabra pro 20 after 2 month for Rexton Reach 2 weeks ago. In my case the Rexton is far superior than the Jabra espically zeroing in on voices in noisy resturants.

Edited

Just use the Phonak Lumity, seems it’s just a name change anyway.

Edit: I changed to correct that.

From my observation it seems this is the Lumity L90. Exact same feature set. And if you look closely at the picture of the aids it’s NOT an Infinio.

It will probably be a couple of weeks before I have mine, but I’m not expecting more than a Lumity. Costco tried beating them up on pricing to sell the L90 as the KS11 and Sonova just pulled their products from Costco. They took a lot of heat from their dealers that they were selling the best product to Costco. Now they’re taking heat from the shareholders at the loss of 20% revenue.

My guess is, (pure speculation here), is the conversation went like this - “hey Costco, we’ll give you those exact same aids, our top of the line, for the lower price you asked for, as a Sennheiser branded aid”. Costco said OK, and then a month after they sign the deal with Costco they introduce Infinio.

I confirmed today this is indeed the Lumity L90.

Furthermore I learned that Costco did not want Sonova back unless they had a proven platform that would have no issues like they were plagued with on the KS10. Sonova sold Costco on the Lumity’s proven track record, AND the fact that this hearing aid takes the same receivers and domes they have in stock to service the KS9 and KS10.

The Infinio Sphere needs a lot more work. I’m guessing Costco wil get the Sphere when the next model comes out.

@cjj777 said:

I confirmed today this is indeed the Lumity L90.

The Infinio Sphere needs a lot more work. I’m guessing Costco wil get the Sphere when the next model comes out.

Yes, a comparison of the dimensions alone confirms that it is the Lumity.

I don’t know anything about the Infinio series other than what I’ve read. So I’m curious about your comment that the Infinio Sphere needs a lot more work. What does it need?

It appears that only some Costco will be switching from Rexton to Sennheiser. From reports so far.

Costco is still selling the Rexton Reach 2 years after the original post. In the words of Mark Twain, “News of my demise has been greatly exaggerated.”

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