Does your computer have Bluetooth?
Not sure if it will help in your situation but at home I use Ooma VOIP. To use that service I have an Ooma app installed on my iPhone that I use to phone out without running up my cell phone account time… Works very well. Works anywhere I have free WiFi, but you need good WiFi bandwidth or the audio quality goes down.
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You are right 1.5m. Silly typo.
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tldr (too long; didn’t read) version: Super-happy with my new KS9s.
Received my KS9’s yesterday. Initial thoughts:
- My voice sounds hollow. The specialist suggested I give it a few weeks for my brain to adjust to the new aids. My wife sounded hollow as well, but others have sounded fine.
- Bluetooth setup was simple, but I haven’t made any attempts to connect to anything other than my phone. I don’t anticipate ever needing to.
- My first impression is that I can understand speech better, and perhaps the “hollow” speech is helping that, which is why I’m willing to let it go. I’m noticing it less already with my own voice.
- I got the cShell CIC custom molds ($40 ea). They are very comfortable, but I’ve never had an uncomfortable pair. The uncomfortable ones I’ve gotten over the years were always the full-ear molds.
- I’m hearing sounds I haven’t heard before, and when streaming I’m hearing music I wouldn’t hear when streaming with my old aids (Trax42). I’m about as far from from an audiophile as you can get, but it is a noticeable improvement.
- Was in a loud restaurant last night and was able to hear speech better even before it switched to the “speech in noise” mode. Once it switched it was even more impressive. It didn’t switch as quickly as I would have liked, so I will probably have that added as a manual program.
- Was also in a quieter, board-room setting with a few other guys and noticed I could understand them better without turning up my aids as I have in the past.
- Took my specialist a bit to find the setting to keep the TV Connector from auto-connecting, but he found it. It would have driven me nuts having it auto-connect.
- While speech is more easily understood and I hear more things, it doesn’t appear that anything is louder (crinkling paper, etc) as it has in the past.
- My biggest concern is now battery life. I have the UP receiver so I’m guessing it will blow through the 312 batteries fairly quickly. If I’m not mistaken they released the Marvel 90 13 model a few months after the 312 model, so I’m hoping the same happens with the KS9’s. I’ll update on battery life later this week.
- I ordered two TV Connectors (one for bedroom, one for living room) and will have to play with it more to see if I can set them up as separate programs. Perhaps my specialist needs to set up a second program for the second one.
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If anybody gets any info regarding if any of the Marvel 2.0 updates carry over to KS9, that would be appreciated.
Thank you for the update.
Your impression of the KS9 aids is similar to mine while doing a trial in the store. I was very impressed.
Was there any mention of Bluetooth pairing to 2 devices?
Which phone app were you set up with?
Thanks again for the update.
No talk of multiple bluetooth connections nor the upgraded software. I was set up with the standard “Easy Line Remote” app. If I find a newer app for Marvels I’ll give it a try.
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You might also want to consider adding “Speech in Loud Noise” as a program. It can be even more helpful in loud situations as it really suppresses background noise and streams the important sound directly into both ears to further help with understanding. At minimum, it would be good to compare the benefit you would get from Speech in Noise and Speech in Loud Noise and then decide. . .
Chris
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Actually, that is the program I’m intending to add. In my “book” of a post I misspoke.
The Easy Line Remote app doesn’t give the battery levels like my Trax42 app did. I tried loading the Phonak Remote app, but it just crashes when trying to find the aids (not surprisingly).
So what happens when the battery goes? Does the aid beep regularly until you do something or it completely runs down like the Trax?
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Haven’t reached the point of battery failure yet, but supposedly it beeps once (sounds similar to a car horn) about 30 minutes before failure. The trax annoyed the crap out of me with the beeping every 60 seconds. I get it! Shut up already! Ironically all that extra beeping would probably contribute to the battery drain. [grumble] Good job making me go unhinged. 
I find the battery level indication with zinc air batteries next to useless. I never look at it.
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I just traded up to new KS9’s from my 5+ yr old KS5’s last Friday - four days ago.
I am totally impressed with these KS9 HA’s. I can hear the turning signals, the toliet filling from the next room, the fizz from pouring a coke into a glass with ice, etc. Things I have not heard in years. (I almost jumped out of the chair the first time I heard the ice maker cycle)
I’m also afraid to mention that my tinnitus, which was very bad, is gone some days and very low on other days. ( hope it lasts)
On the Easy Line ios app about the only thing I can do is adjust volume and split the output. No program mode available. I am going back in 2 weeks for a checkup so I will ask about this
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The programs have to be added by your specialist if you want them. It also will include a Bluetooth program if you are connected to bluetooth and TV Connector if connected to that.
Once connected your remote will give you the option of adjusting the balance between environment volume and streamed volume. Your up/down buttons on the hearing aids will also adjust this balance when streaming.
Thanks for the very helpful posts. I picked up my KS9 s two weeks ago. I am due for the two week followup at Costco tomorrow. I think my Costco specialist is probably very competent, although he doesn’t really explain a lot. I suspect he is not yet familiar with the new product. I am a first time HA user and, so far I am very pleased. The App only has the Automatic program. If I go to “Demo Mode” I see Noise, TV Connector, and Bluetooth Streaming are listed. I guess I should ask my Specialist to program Noise and Bluetooth streaming? Bluetooth works great on phone. Tinnitus is mildly diminished. In general, my hearing is improved - corroborated by family. An independent Audiologist suggests Oticon OPN S - for $5,400. The more reviews I read the more I wonder if the KS9s are all I need! I wear them 16 hrs per day without discomfort. Open domes. Perfect Lux Dry storage case for drying. I’d like some advice on asking for those extra programs on the App. Meanwhile, it seems that the Costco option is a great bargain for sophisticated HA’s, and probably all I need. Any thoughts are welcome. I have mild to moderate loss, age related. Probably should have got the HAs a few years ago. Thanks in advance.
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Basically other programs are for situations where the automatic program doesn’t work. If there are no situations that give you problems, automatic may be all you need. At first more programs sound neat, but basically you want them to work seamlessly. Yes, the
KS9 are great value.
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MDB is so correct.
The dream I have is no need for manual programs like cvkemp describes all the time. The KS9 aids are very capable of doing just that.
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When you connect to a bluetooth device you’ll see bluetooth added to the list of programs. I also agree with MDB. You only need the other programs if you aren’t happy with the automatic mode.
On a related note, the modes are all included with the auto program, it just switches between them automatically instead of you doing it manually.
If you watch a lot of TV the TV Connector is great for an additional $99.
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I am waiting to hear what you learn on your followup appointment. I think the Real Ear Mesurement made a BIG difference for me.
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