I just picked new KS9s this afternoon. 1st impression is very positive. Sound is somewhat different than my 7 yr. old Bernafons and I’m hearing some new sounds but my brain is already adjusting. Word/speech recognition is definitely better and phone streaming is, so far, very good. I’ll followup after I’ve experienced wearing them in different environments.
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Abram at hearing tracker noted that the KS9’s do not have Marvel 2.0. They will essentially be Marvel 1.0 with the same phonak remote app that Marvels had in the beginning but rebranded. If you look up “phonak iOS app” and you get to Apple’s iOS App Store page for all the Phonak/Sonova apps available, you will see an app that is made for KS9. It looks exactly the same as phonak remote except it’s black and white, not phonak green.
Still damn good aids for the money.
Edit - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/easy-line-remote/id1454399128
Yes, I know what Abram said, but not having any one of the Marvel 2.0 features would qualify as not having it. For sure they won’t have the ability to have the mysterous device transfer the essence of a Roger X to them, but perhaps an app upgrade? Won’t know until somebody gets a firmware update and sees if there’s a difference in features.
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If I haven’t missed something we are still needing to know if the KS9 aids will link with Target. Then learning if the new 2.0 update will work with the KS9 aids.
If I only had the Noahlink Wireless.
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I’d phrase it a little differently. 1) We (or at least I) don’t know for sure if Target will detect KS9. 2) Rather or not one is a DIY, Costco will do firmware updates when Target detects one. The question to me is if any of the Marvel 2.0 features will be included in KS9 after any current (or future) firmware updates 3) You having a NoahLink Wireless would certainly facilitate us sorting this out. 
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This brings up another question about Costco firmware updates. Do they get updates the same way Target does? Have other KS aids been updated when that particular aid manufacturer had updates?
I glanced at the screen during my fitting and “Target” was part of the program name that he was using, and the menus all appeared similar the ones I’ve seen online for Target for the Marvels.
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Same here.
The fitter and I were looking and talking about the software while tuning the demo aids.
It was a great experience.
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All I have experience with is my KS7s (Rexton) Whenever I’ve gone in for an adjustment (not often) they’ll hook the hearing aids up to their system. It will detect if a firmware upgrade is available and if so, they’ll do it. I can also check on my own with my minipro and Connexx.
I also looked at the software Costco used to program my KS9s. It was Phonak Target 6.02. Hopefully they will get 6.1 and we can get the BT improvement part of the update.
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Just stumbled on this. When using the app, holding down the slider when in bluetooth or TV Connector modes will mute the environment. Holding it down in Automatic mode mutes all sound.
I had “mute” added to my hearing aids as a long-press down, but didn’t realize I could do it with the app as well.
Costco gets a special installation of Phonak Target. This special version only shows the relevant Costco models and not the entire portfolio of Phonak products.
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Thanks,
Just curious, how are you getting all the answers about Phonak and KS9 aids?
I could tell you but then I’ll have to kill you
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I just got my K9 first time purchased from Costco. You can ask your audilogis/fitter to configure up to 3 manual programming options other than auto. Then from your ios/android app you can switch in between those programs. But that audi was suggesting that the default program is automatic and it would pick up based on environment. I still insisted that I want these and got them configured. I am still observing this HA kind of neutral feedback so far. I upgrading from Phonak Audeo Yes III. Not too excited either. Hope this helps someone who’s trying to figure out if we can have programs in app or not for KS 9.0
Fyi- a long press of one of the hearing aid toggle up switches will change programs as well.
I did not try it because the document that fitter handed me had all Long press options as N/A. Maybe he did not configure it in the software.
Can anyone help me to get Phonak Target 6.0.2 software and what other hardware I would need to program the hearing aids myself. Any links or references would be appreciated. I am trying to google around but no luck so far.
You might be able to get the software but you’ll need a Noahlink wireless which is expensive clinical equipment. It will be far cheaper and simpler to go back to Costco and get the program button enabled.
The program button control is useless without extra programs though!
Thanks for info about Noahlink. I’ve good understanding of software applications being my profession and was easily able to help the audilogist to figure out some things like the program options for mobile that I wanted in the software while I was there. I am ready to invest into this hardware if I could get the software from somewhere. My Costco audilogist although very detail oriented was kind of getting frustrated when I was requesting him to fine tune the adjustments. In the end we actually ended up with programming that I am not comfortable with in real world environment.
Further they’re not willing to give an appointment before 3 weeks. My work requirement demands better hearing and waiting over for appointments to hope for better adjustment and audiologist’s lack of patience to re-configure is not an ideal choice here.
Costco has exceptionally good prices but they may not be capable of providing you with the level of service you are after.
Having said that I would not be satisfied if a clinic didn’t let me return prior to the three week follow up for such a minor adjustment. If you make it clear all you need is program control they may be amenable to helping you out
If the answer is no perhaps you need to consider a clinician that is aligned with your needs.