Sennheiser Sonite R available now at Costco (select locations)

We’re definitely going to need a Reach vs. Sonite comparison from someone who’s tried both. I’m literally getting my Reach’s tomorrow, and I’ve heard nothing but good things.

Unless the Sonites are an absolute revelation, I’ll keep the Reaches. But if they are game changers, I’ll probably swap them in. I can’t wait to see the reviews.

I don’t see any discrimination as long as the policy applies to everyone. That the key as far as I’m concerned.

However, I don’t know if there is a written Costco policy. There is definitely nothing in the contract that says one way or the other.

@user990 said:

However, I don’t know if there is a written Costco policy

My recollection is that there is a written policy published online for RETURNS.
The url may have changed - I’ll check and report back.

There is NO written policy on EXCHANGES and, when asked Costco employees even in the grocery, etc. departments unusually respond :
“We don’t do Exchanges.” The rote way in which they recite those words tends to make me believe that they are so instructed. I do know that the retail world of which I was once a part tends to use the word to refer only to unworn, unused goods. Thus I speculate that may be another reason why employees may resist using that word; whereas Costco’s policy on RETURNS does not require that the goods be unused or unworn. If you have observed the Return desk when busy, people often are standing line with goods that are being returned after having been used, in fact breakdown after a few months of usage is a common reason for accepting returns. In effect, Costco stands in the place of the manufacturer in order to keep customers happy and coming back.

Sennheiser Sonite R available now at Costco (select locations)

We’re definitely going to need a Reach vs. Sonite comparison from someone who’s tried both. I’m literally getting my Reach’s tomorrow, and I’ve heard nothing but good things. Unless the Sonites are an absolute revelation, I’ll keep the Reaches. But if they are game changers, I’ll probably swap them in. I can’t wait to see the reviews.

I have the Reach and use my KS10’s as backup, I like the sound of the Reach better than my KS10’s more base in streaming and a rich overall sound

Yes, I read most of those posts. Very good assumptions and probably correct.

I am hopeful one of our DIY members buys them and verifies what they are.

I am curious because my wife’s KS9 aids are getting older but still function well. She lost one recently in the flowerbeds. It was missing for 3 days when she found it. During that time we did ponder new aids and it wasn’t a good time for us to buy new aids.

@Raudrive said:

She lost one recently in the flowerbeds. It was missing for 3 days when she found it

Did it grow a clone in the flower bed?

FU to last posting. Been told by Costco senior tech the new Senneheiser is comparable to the Phonak Paradise! Can someone tell me if that’s correct? Would that be the “old” Paradise or an upgrade - has Paradise been upgraded?? No coils in the Senneheiser but yes in the Paradise. I now have the K10s but difficult in restaurants/groups/etc. so thought maybe these new Senneheisers would help. Would like to try them BUT I guess I’d have to buy them to test them. Any help you can offer would be truly appreciated. Thanks.

I have both Lumity R90s and Infinio Sphere I70s (my present insurer only offers the 70 level). I dont often dine in very noisy places, and when I invoke the Sphere setting the improvement seems minimal for me. Other than that, I find the sound quality of the Infinios to be comparable to the Lumitys. IMHO, even if the Sennheiser HAs are comparable to the Lumity line, they’d still be a great choice. I await the Auracast™ firmware upgrade for my Infinios.

@smcc said:

What I have not read yet is any comparison between a 9050 and a Sonite R. (might have missed it, if so, please point me in the right direction).

I didn’t see any responses to this? Any comparisons?

I have tried the Jabra Pro 20’s in a Costco store but was now thinking about 9050’s until I heard about the Sonite R’s. It would be good to understand pros and cons of each as I am fairly new toi hearing aids.

I asked my local Costco rep last week about the Sonite R (they are one of the test stores). Apparently they have sold very few (if any), and did not seem enthusiastic about the product.

Perhaps this is why there are so few first hand accounts.

I believe Costco is the number two provider of hearing aids in the USA. So I would want an account with them if I where selling hearing aids.

@Raudrive said:

Why should someone try a Sennheiser?

If you want hands free calling with old android phones, and compatibility with old tablets, and computers. You want to have Bluetooth classic which the Sennheiser
should have.

You give up the latest improvements in hearing in noise and LE Audio with Auracast.

@smcc said:

What I have not read yet is any comparison between a 9050 and a Sonite R. (might have missed it, if so, please point me in the right direction).

@coastal_california said:

I didn’t see any responses to this? Any comparisons?

I have tried the Jabra Pro 20’s in a Costco store but was now thinking about 9050’s until I heard about the Sonite R’s. It would be good to understand pros and cons of each as I am fairly new toi hearing aids.

Coastal, I did check with the local Costco, and the Sonite’s were not being offered in this area. So, after also trying the Jabra Pro 20’s for a couple of months (didn’t care for their performance in noisy situations, too harsh), I bit the bullet and purchased the 9050’s.
After almost 2 months of wearing the 9050’s, I am very happy with their overall performance. So, while I don’t know how the Sonite’s perform compared to the 9050’s, I am 99.9% satisfied with purchasing the HAs available in my area.
Regarding 9050 pros and cons, just a few thoughts: the domes Costco fitted me with definitely are an improvement over my older ReSound domes, and more comfortable. Maybe because they are fitted a bit deeper in the ear canal?
The Costco audi added several programs to the HAs: Speech in Noise, Automobile, TV, and TV adapter. Haven’t needed to use the Automobile program as I find the HAs General (base) program handles car noise quite well for me. Surprisingly (to me) the HAs really improved listening to the TV.
Speech in Noise was a key performance criteria for me. Was able to successfully participate in the conversations quite well at holiday gatherings (small and larger). I even now wear the HAs while playing Pickleball!
If important, the 9050’s generally work well with my Android phone (had more phone connectivity issues with the Jabra HAs). The 9050s sometimes lose connection if I leave my phone in a different room or doing yardwork, requiring a reconnection (sometimes easy, other times requiring a reboot). Interestingly, the other day I forgot where I left the phone, received a phone call and was able to both answer the call (pressing the HA button on the right ear), and talk while I was searching for my phone (found it downstairs).
Happy New Year!

Sennheiser has a very good name among audiophiles, so there’s that. (I’ll say, though, that Jabra’s good name among audiophiles turned me off, until I found out that Jabras are ReSounds, which has a good name among HA manufacturers.)

When I bough Kirklands, they were several $100 less than the brand name HAs. Once Phonak-branded aids were available at just a liuttle more than Kirklands, I went with the brands that were more associated just with HAs.

I agree that the older tech of the Sennheisers is probably a boon to some HA users. Since every new gen HA is better than the last gen, and since phones have to be upgraded periodically, too, I’d lean toward newer tech, all other things being equal. But I’m glad users of older tech phones can get new HAs.