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Dissatisfied with 9050s

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I have worn hearing aids for 20+ years. Most recently had the KS8 for 4 years. Was an easy fit with those and very little follow-up. I saw the 9050s were available and had very good reviews especially for speech in noise. I went and got them and have used them for 3 weeks. Pretty disappointed so far. I’ve had one follow-up to tune. I don’t think my tech has much experience (1+ years) and it didn’t sound like anyone at the Costco location had a lot of experience with the 9050s (understandable since they are new?).

At first, they were just overall too loud. Got that adjusted but a primary problem is noise in cars. At the follow-up the tech tried to adjust for it but it doesn’t seem any better. I believe it is mostly wind noise. Just the dominant sound over everything else including conversations in the car. Sometimes the wind noise goes in and out, but it is constant. If I turn the volume down two notches it is fine, but then I can’t make out anything if someone speaks to me. I tried switching to other programs like speech in noise, but it seemed even worse.

Anyone have this problem and know the fix?

Also, very disappointed in music quality. In the car the different frequencies of music fade in and out of each hearing aid differently. And initially I had a lot of trouble with feedback - hearing it struggling with feedback and noticing the little chirps. Feedback is better now after I switch from the 8mm to 10mm base vented domes.

Appreciate any input or suggestions you may have. I’d love to get these working better.

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Your loss is quite similar to mine. I returned the 9050’s because I prefer my KS10’s more open sound compared to the Philips. Neither did I like the single control button, right side for volume up left side for down, or using the connect clip for streaming. So holding off now until the end of this year to see what transpires between Costco and Sonova.

KS8 was made by Rexton. Good chance you’ll like the sound of the Rexton Reach better.

@Jamie said:

At first, they were just overall too loud. Got that adjusted but a primary problem is noise in cars. At the follow-up the tech tried to adjust for it but it doesn’t seem any better. I believe it is mostly wind noise. Just the dominant sound over everything else including conversations in the car. Sometimes the wind noise goes in and out, but it is constant. If I turn the volume down two notches it is fine, but then I can’t make out anything if someone speaks to me. I tried switching to other programs like speech in noise, but it seemed even worse.

Anyone have this problem and know the fix?

Also, very disappointed in music quality. In the car the different frequencies of music fade in and out of each hearing aid differently. And initially I had a lot of trouble with feedback - hearing it struggling with feedback and noticing the little chirps. Feedback is better now after I switch from the 8mm to 10mm base vented domes.

Appreciate any input or suggestions you may have. I’d love to get these working better.

I’m surprised to hear that you have trouble with wind noise in the 9050. The 9040 and 9050 have the Wind Noise Management feature that they inherited from the Oticon Real and Intent wind handling technology. I don’t have the 9040 or 9050, but I have the Oticon Real and ever since Oticon Real (then now the Intent) started having its wind handling feature, I’ve NEVER ever heard about any Oticon wearers complaining about the wind noise handling anymore since the Real. This same technology is in the 9040 and 9050. The Costco should know where to turn it on, but if not, below is a screenshot showing the feature on the right side of the screen called Sound Protect Wind Noise Management. Make sure the have the Costco HIS have this turned on. Oticon users who have the Real and Intent who ride bikes or have windows down in their cars have reported that wind noise is no longer an issue for them since this feature became available.

Are you using the HiFi Music program when you listen to the music? Some people like it, others don’t. Try this program for music, and if you don’t like it, try the regular program for music. You said “in the car”, different frequencies of music fade in and out differently. I’m not sure if this is due to the music reproduction by the hearing aids. This sounds more like a feedback or wind issue.

As for feedback, if you hear too many little chirps, try asking the Costco HIS to set the SoundMap Feedback Canceller to Medium from Maximum. This should help reduce the chirps or whistling. See second screenshot below.

As for noise reduction, there’s a slew of different parameters the Costco HIS can make to get it to work better for you, as seen in the third screenshot below.

It just seems like the Costco HIS you have is just not very knowledgeable about programming the 9050 for you.

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Thank you! This is very helpful. I’ll work with my Costco to review and adjust.

I have not checked or asked but I did wonder if the directional mic functionality was too aggressive on the General program for music in the car and it’s trying to find the voice to focus on and since there are four speakers in cars it is not working well. I did try the Music program and I think it was better but too loud at the moment. I’m not sure what happened when they adjusted gain at my initial follow-up for General, but it didn’t seem to bring down any of the other three programs.

You don’t have to be using the Hifi Music program to listen to music. It does tend to give a boost to the mid frequencies, which might cause you to feel like it’s too loud compared to the General default program. You can make a custom program for music that is a copy of the General program, except that you change the directionality setting to fixed omnidirectional so that it’s forced to pick up all the sounds 360 degrees around you instead of trying to focus and hunt the speakers in the car down using directionality. Then use this custom program to listen to music or having a conversation in the car with your 4 speakers.

Also, if any of the programs feel too loud for you, the volume button is your temporary best friend to bring it down until your next adjustment when the can bring the overall volume of that program down for you more permanently.

@Jamie said:

I have worn hearing aids for 20+ years. Most recently had the KS8 for 4 years. Was an easy fit with those and very little follow-up. I saw the 9050s were available and had very good reviews especially for speech in noise. I went and got them and have used them for 3 weeks. Pretty disappointed so far. I’ve had one follow-up to tune. I don’t think my tech has much experience (1+ years) and it didn’t sound like anyone at the Costco location had a lot of experience with the 9050s (understandable since they are new?).

I bought Phillips Hearlink 9040 ’s last July (my 4th set from Costco). Unfortunately, they sounded worse than the KS10’s they were to replace. After several adjustments by the local Costco HA specialists (including the most experienced one) I returned them under the Costco 6 month return policy.

Both the 9040’s and the KS10’s sounded better streaming then through their microphones (for example I like to listen to “Lunchtime with the Cleveland Orchestra” @ noon Eastern Time weekdays from WCLV.org1.) But the KS10’s were noticeably better.

My hearing is considerably worse than yours. In November, I was evaluated and found qualified for one cochlear implant at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. The surgery was 2 1/2 weeks ago and I am scheduled to have the implants activated & programed in 3 days. I chose an Advanced Bionics implant, which will work with a high-power Phonak HA.

Right now, I am using only the R KS10 because the residual hearing in my L ear is gone.

Best wishes,
Fred

@FredO said:

In November, I was evaluated and found qualified for one cochlear implant at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. The surgery was 2 1/2 weeks ago and I am scheduled to have the implants activated & programed in 3 days.

Congratulations
Keep us posted.
Good luck

I have very much the same experience that you’re describing. i have an Android phone so leaned to the 9050s for the hands-free capabilities and the TV adapter, and both of those have been game-changers for me. The day-to-day is meh so far.

My only programs are General, Speech in Noise, Theater, Classroom (MT) and TV Adapter.The speech in noise program is completely unusable for me in any setting, I get the same behavior you describe.

Thanks for the tip about Wind Noise Management, @Volusiano, I will have that checked out.

I initially had 8mm domes but just got custom molds last week. Domes tend to work their way out of my ears and I’m constantly pushing them back in. The custom molds are better and when they’re solidly in place the sound quality improves, but I still need to nudge them back into my canal a few times a day.

Am due to reconnect with my Costco about how the molds are working out and tweaking things so will be interested to see how this plays out…

Edited

In reply to @BarryH

You can have the button programmed to work for both volume and channel change, a short press changes volume and longer press changes channels. Very handy to be able to do both without using the phone app which I seldom use at all.

Edited

I also have the noise in car issue. I had the “automobile” channel added but it seems to bring up the radio slightly but the road and tire noise is still there. I suspect there’s nothing but noise cancelling earphones to eliminate that kind of noise. Also, noise can be coming from your air conditioner/heater fans that can be very annoying. I also have the “noise” channel" which seems to basically turn down the volume all the way but can be useful in a car noise situation.

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