Technically, Costco won’t be carrying the LiNX 9. They’ll have their own version which is a close match, but not identical. The BTE form factor will have a t-coil, but the RIC will not. If you want t-coil and RIC, you should get the KS 5.
Besides the tinnitus and Iphone, what differentiates it from the KS5 in a meaningful way?
These may or may not be meaningful to you: New case design, more powerful processing chip, new antenna system, frequency lowering technology, auto acclimatization, and ability to use an ultra-power receiver. It won’t have the tinnitus sound generator.
I emailed ReSound in respect of the fact I have only recently bought my current generation Linx 961’s and now the Linx2 is about to be released. Per my previous post, I wanted to know if there will be an upgrade program in place - either very heavily subsidized or free, given the fact I just shelled out NZD$9000 less than 6 months ago for the 961’s. They have not replied after 3 days.
So I then called the NZ ReSound office and spoke with them and asked the same questions. I was told by their Marketing guy (who apparently spoke to his Marketing people at HQ) that the Linx2 will be released in NZ on 11 April and when it is released it will be up to the individual resellers to decide what - if anything - they will offer to existing Linx customers. Not good enough I’m afraid. I’ve worked for lots of companies where we have always offered free or heavily discounted upgrades for the latest model to customers who have recently purchased the then current model. I’m pretty pissed with the response and I’ll be damned if I’m going to part with ANOTHER $9000 (if I had that much money…).
Can someone who is high up the food chain at ReSound please offer their comments? I have not been wearing my HA’s for the last 3 months due to the fact I am very frustrated with not being able to hear people to the side of me nor in noisy environments. I’m fully aware this is an ongoing process but it is taking up too much of my time going back and forth to the audi for adjustments and then waiting 2 weeks before I can see her again. I know I would probably be going thru the same thing had I selected another model/brand.
Based on the little I know about the Linx2 it seems it will help me - especially with the sound focus feature in the new version of the Smart App (BTW the new version of the Smart App is available now for those who don’t know :p).
On another note, Apple is rumored to be releasing iOS 8.2 on Monday (US time) which promises to resolve issues with BT, calendars, and numerous other things. The changelog is here: http://bgr.com/2015/03/05/ios-8-2-release-download-change-log-notes/
Under ‘Stability Enhancements’ it mentions connectivity with Made for iPhone HA is improved, and under ‘Bug Fixes’ it fixes a BT calling issue where no audio is heard until the call is answered. The new Smart App also promise faster connection time between the HA and the iPhone but I haven’t tested this as yet. Has anyone else had the opportunity?
Cheers,
Richard
It sounds like they may be saying they will accept a return, although they can’t come out and say that. You could take their response and talk to your pro about it and ask for a return, but I would do it now before any more time passes.
I had a return one time that was a couple of months past the 90 day trial period because I made the case that what they sold me was not powerful enough. So to return it the pro called the manufacturer right there in front of me on speakerphone to get a return number. The rep knew when it was purchased (about 5 months earlier) but didn’t even question my pro on why she was asking for a return.
Remember your pro is Resounds customer. You are not really their customer. It is like the relationship between General Motors and their dealers.
Thanks Don - I’m seeing my audi (yet again) later this week so I will ask her.
Cheers,
Richard
Hi: I just (2 weeks ago) got the Resound Linx and when I went to pick them up, I asked about the new one which my audi had not heard about. She called Resound and was told that it was only for the ringing in the ears and that I didn’t need to be upgraded. Last week I was looking at the tutorial on the app and there was this new feature mentioned that I couldn’t find on my app. I had an appointment with my audi and she called them again. Low and behold, the person she had spoken to at my last visit (when I picked up the new aids) was incorrect! Needless to say, my audi was not happy about this, but as of now, they are allowing us to return the aids and get the newer version with no price difference. There is also an upgrade to the software that the audi has to get as well. I am only the second person she has put in these aids, so we’ll see how it goes. Does anyone have the new ones yet? The only issues I’ve had so far is that the aids sometimes turn to mute and unmute with no warning. Nothing that bad tho’.
That’s good to hear re getting the LINX2 at no price difference.
I wonder if the software upgrade is another new one or the one that was released about Oct/Nov last year. Does anyone know?
I see good ole Apple has released iOS 8.2. They say it has “improved connectivity for paired made for iPhone hearing aids”. I have an iPhone 6 with iOS 8.1.3 and Smart App version 3.0.0. I downloaded the 3.0.0 version of the Smart App a few days back and it seems to be better, plus, you get the mute button back. It also has a display to show the progress of finding or pairing with the aids. I don’t have any problems with it per se. The 2 problems I am having is that wi-fi drops all the time and I have to toggle it off and then on again. Also, if I leave my iPhone in the bedroom and walk to the kitchen, the Smart App disconnects from my Linx HAs (I know this because I get the exclamation mark in the App) and I then have to close the App, toggle Bluetooth off then on and restart the Smart App to get them connected again if I need to make an adjustment. I am not lazy and can do this, I just don’t think I should have to do it. Shouldn’t they reconnect automatically? Any comments form anyone that has downloaded iOS 8.2 are welcomed…
Hi Cicada,
I downloaded and installed iOS 8.2 last night (what a mission - but that’s another story…). Thus far I have not tried it on my HAs due to the issues I’m having with them (see post further up). After tomorrow when I get (another) adjustment made on the Linx then I will try it out using the iOS 8.2, Smart App 3 and iPhone 6 combo.
I did notice on the Smart App that connection time to the HA was considerably faster, as well as the audio kicking in when it switches to the HA when making a call. I didn’t receive any calls tho so I don’t know if incoming audio connects faster. I haven’t come across the WiFi issue you’re having. Yet.
Cheers,
Richard
Hi all,
Just an update on my audi appointment this morning. I mentioned to her about the issues I am having with being able to hear voices (not the ones in my head lol) and she made some adjustments for me. She switched me back from the tulips to the open domes as the tulips are quite uncomfortable. She raised the soft speech in the All Around and Restaurant settings another couple of notches for me also. Hopefully this works this time.
In respect of the Linx2, she will contact the local rep (who is also the NZ manager) and invite him along to our next adjustment so he can hear/see the issues I am having and hopefully (fingers crossed), authorize a return on my existing 961s for the new Linx2. I mentioned that had I known the 2 was coming out I would have held off buying these ones.
The Smart App, iOS 8.2 and iPhone 6 combo seems to be working well - connection is fast and audio connects noticeably quicker on incoming and outgoing cellular calls and FaceTime. Even when playing back audio messages received thru iMessage the connection seems to be superfast, so in regard to this side of things I am very happy. No problems discovered yet, but it is only the first day…
Cheers,
Richard
I tried the Lynx for a couple of days. I consume a lot of audiobooks. I have the Resound Forza with phone clip+ that works very well.
The Lynx/iPhone sounded very shrill and noisy, almost unusable.
I then paired the clip+ to the Lynx. The audio sound was much better but not quite as good as with the Forza; maybe force a habit??
I did not try the Lynx/iPhone away from home where we have a lot of 2.4GHz devices…
I will be trying the Lynx2 and will report afterwards.
I sent the following to ReSound tech support (who has done a good job of corresponding):
After just a little use, I thought I’d share my 8.2 experience.It does seem to recognize the HA’s more quickly with phone calls, apps and triple-clicks.
Wifi is still a complete incompatible setting when streaming or phone use.
Major distortion of streaming signal and frequent drops are common if wifi is enabled.
If you adjust bass, treble and HA volume in the “Smart” app the settings will reset if streaming is paused even briefly.
Even with wifi disabled and the app settings adjusted, the streaming quality is the worst I’ve ever experienced in any earbud or headphone.
When will linx be available at Costco?
We don’t have a definitive answer, but people have talked to their Costco fitters who have said that they expect the KS6 to come out soon and to contain direct iPhone connectivity, suggesting it will be some version of the LiNX.
Costco to offer Linx April 1, 2015? According to Hearing Blog article: http://thehearingblog.com/archives/3848
Sounds wonderful if it is true. Comments???
I seriously hope its not an April fools joke.
I went to the above link. It is interesting at a lot of levels. The author is irate that the price of hearing aids is going down. In the article he states that Costco’s cost is the same as those of the traditional shops. I’d think that’d put a bit more flexibility in the traditional market. One of the links there show how it could be accomplished.
Every so often markets are disrupted and the traditional “right way” get destroyed. Electronics has provided both growth and destruction across many product lines. It is Darwinian growth heralding adopt or perish. If I were a clinic owner, I seriously look at that second article entitled Signal & Noise.
That first article represent the imbedded mentality that wants nothing to ever change. It is a stop gap measure that will leave those in the industry who believe in it weaker in the long run.
LOOKS LIKE 2 New Versions
Audiologically, the new LiNX² has little difference to the earlier LiNX: They will be selling two versions at the Big Box store, an MFi “LiNX 6″ in between the 5 & 7 versions, and a “LiNX 8″ in between the 7 & 9 versions.
davino, a few questions for you (or others) from a newbie.
- Is the WIFI interference/distortion you are experiencing (during streaming or phone use) only occurring when your HAs are linked to an I-phone with WIFI enabled … or also when you are in a WIFI “area” or “zone”?
- Can you comment on the quality of streaming outdoors in a WIFI-free area (like when on a walk in the country)?
- Can you completely disable the interface with the I-Phone? (For example, to use the Resound Clip instead?) If so, how is that sound quality? Do you lose other HA features/functions by disabling the I-Phone interface (e.g., the ability to adjust HA volume)?
- When linked to the I-Phone, have you experienced interference from other I-Phone apps? (Have such apps been identified for disabling?)
Thanks!
I agree with what jbaugh says about the wi-fi issue being a problem on the 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi band. I was having all kinds of issues with streaming music cutting out all the time. I have a dual band network also and switched the iPhone to the 5 Ghz band and the issues with streaming have pretty much gone away. The iPhone connects to the app better and faster, the app finds the iPhone quickly when they have been separated. The sound is clearer after turning off the mics and adjusting the bass and treble up. App version is
and iOS version is 8.1 ( I never had the courage to go to 8.2 ). Apple has released iOS 8.3, so I am interested to see if anyone has downloaded it and how it works with the Linx 961’s. Comments appreciated…