I have severe to profound loss, with quite serious loss in high frequency sounds…that’s why I am interested and so excited in trying out the new Xino model which is the smaller version of the new X series.
Starkey’s website has the data that shows the Xino 110 (upper class) has 20dB noise reduction strength (maximum), while the Xino 90 is 8dB (Moderate), and Xino 70 is 6dB (Light)…if you see my audiogram below, will it contribute greatly to improve my ability to hear clearly in noisy situation? I always have been struggling with hearing in noisy environment such as restaurant, party, etc. I have been told that from frequency 3k to 8k I have no hearing at all…is it true?
Here is my audiogram, … will Xino series 70 with 70dB receiver Absolute Power(AP) be enough for my hearing loss:
How much is the lowest/best price for the custom power mold receiver cost per each mold? (my audi said I need to make custom mold if I decided to get the 60 or 80dB power receiver, he need to made the mold and send it to Starkey for them to make the special mold and put the receiver inside the mold and there is a charge for it, around $200/ each mold )…
How much is the Xino 70 cost in the market (normally / average price)?
Shushi,
Get your earmolds done at Costco they charge $80 for both. You seam to be fishing for the best deal and I don’t think you can beat their price for the molds.
$200 per mold is less than I was quoted. I was quoted $300 per mold, but I traded away a year’s warranty to get it down to something more reasonable.
I am not comfortable with those kind of molds. i.e. the receiver built into the mold and not replaceable. I probably worry overmuch, but I just couldn’t relax knowing that a receiver failure would take 2 weeks to get fix.
It is one of the reasons why I decided on the Futures.
Thanks but is it RIC (receiver in the canal) type of mold? the one that I am quoted for is for Starkey’s RIC Absolute Power RIC mold…do you know how much is it in Costco?
Were you quoted $300 for each mold for Starkey’s Absolute Power RIC custom mold? because that’s what mine was quoted for.
Also is it true that the RIC mold is easy to broke that easily ? can broke like that just by contacted with sweat or perspirant?
Also when you chose Resound Futures, do you have to get custom RIC mold for 70 or 80dB so you have more gain/power that can accommodate your severe hearing loss?
I had the 71 dB receiver in the mold and it looked very robust. I don’t know how fragile the receivers or the cords are, but a fair number of readers here have reported very short lived receivers and/or cords. So I just felt vulnerable, but that might have been irrational.
With the ReSound, I have 65 dB receivers, which seem adequate if not ample. I have custom molds, but the receivers are easily removed from the molds for service.
When they priced out my aids, they first deducted the cost of standard receivers from the aids, and then added the high power receivers and molds as separate line items.
So the cost of the receiver in the mold was $100 each.
Speaking of prices though, personally, I can easily afford what I need, and I don’t mind paying. Even the $6000 I was quoted from the Starkey dealer honestly didn’t trouble me as it easily fits into my budget.
But when the prices are kept secret and car dealer tactics are used, I feel like I’m being used. I hate the idea that prices can’t be even discussed within earshot of another customer (he would take me into the sound-proof room whenever $$$ was discussed)
At Costco, the prices are right there on display. Everybody knows them. Nobody is ashamed of it. Everyone pays the same price; everybody gets the same service.
Not that I think that Costco is necessarily best. But there I was treated with complete fairness by a professional who felt no need to wheel and deal.
The top of the line Xino has version 2.0 of the voice IQ system. This provides way better hearing in a background noise. Only top of the line had this feature.
Starkey would make a good choice for your loss on the basis that you need plenty of power without feedback. No other aid can match Starkey for feedback suppression at this time. That means more usable power, and less distortion.
Another new advancement is Spectral IQ, which gives the aid the ability to transpose some of the high frequencies in a way no other aid has ever done before. This could be very useful for you.
ZCT, thanks…by saying “top of the line Xino” that has 2.0 of the voice IQ system, would that be the Xino 110, 90, or 70? 110 is the most expensive(maybe because more bands available and has maximum feedback cancellation of 20dB power) but I have been told that with my severe loss I don’t need that much features and would be find with just Xino 70, what do you think?
When I read the specification for each model in the Starkey website, it says that the X 110 has 20dB noise reduction strength (maximum), while the X90 is 8dB (Moderate), and X70 is 6dB (Light)…if you see my audiogram , will it contribute greatly to improve my ability to hear clearly in noisy situation? I always have been struggling with hearing in noisy environment such as restaurant, party, etc. I have been told that from frequency 3k to 8k I have no hearing at all…is it true?
Also, from what I see in the website, it says that Wi series has “binaural spatial mapping”. While the X series doesn’t have it, instead, it has something called “live speech mapping”…what is the difference between those two “mapping” feature, and which one is more better/useful to improve hearing in the noise and speech clarity…
I would probably argue, the more severe the loss, the more features like this will benefit. On most hearing aids, top of the line has more bells and whistles that give a good hearing professional more opportunities to make you happy.
The Wi has everything the X series has, but then it also has the wireless capabilities such as binaural spacial mapping, the ability to stream data, and remote programming in the office.
As far as I remember there is nothing the X series has that the Wi series doesn’t have. Wi is basically X with the ability for the aids to talk to each other and other gadgets.
Thanks John, can you please give me the link of the website that has many users shared about their experience on how fragile the RIC (receiver in the canal) cords or receiver inside the mold? Now I am thinking twice on getting the RIC and custom mold receiver inside the mold, because I am afraid I have to spend another $200 / earmold when it broke less than 1-2 years…Do you have severe/profound hearing loss as likely as my audigram that I described on my first post above? saying that you have 71 and 65dB receivers, is it enough to give you power? I am trialing using 50dB receiver with bud tip now and feel frustrated because it can’t give me enough power as BTE hearing aids…
Yes I agree on what you think on fishy dealer tactic…that’s why I am being anxious and cautious that my audi would want take an advantage on me by quoting me more expensive price on the hearing aids or molds…do you happen to know how much is Xino 70 costs per aid?
You know top of the line should be sold with three years factory warranty anyway. This would cover you if the receiver breaks or the cord breaks. I’ve not seen this as a frequent problem.
Keep in mind that with a non-RIC aid, if the receiver breaks, it’s typically going to involve a repair charge and being without the aids for a while.
The posts I’ve read about the reliability of receivers and cords was on this forum. I tried to find a good thread but it’s tough because the subject has come up frequently. So if you search you’ll find many hits. But I wanted to find the one in which the professionals chimed in and put my mind at ease, but I could not find it.
My audiogram is in my signature and as you can see, my loss is severe. The 65dB receivers are fine.
One thing I found a bit difficult to get used is how quiet both the Wi and the Futures are.
I am what my audis call a power junkie. I want loud. So I was shocked at how quiet the world was with the WIs and Futures, but still was able to hear much better with better accuracy, all at a lower perceived volume.
Now, I no longer want the wall of sound I was used to. The world is more comfortable place with this new technology.
That’s not to say some small independent clinic might try and sell them to you. But unless I am mistaken, during the warranty they can switch them out and send the broken ones back to Starkey for credit at no cost to them. They shouldn’t be charging for this service during the warranty period.
Not covering the receivers would be BS. It would be like buying a TV, but the warranty didn’t cover the loudspeakers in it.
There is a way to get this feature on the lower level Xino aids. If you get a remote control, your audie can set up the special features button (star) as a voice IQ program, and you would be able to get up to 20 dB noise reduction even on the lower priced aids
Actually you are partially correct, if memory serves there is a way of doing what you suggest, but not with a Xino, as those aids are not wireless therefore don’t work with a remote.