I think that’s BT Low Energy vs BT Classic on the Phonak/KS10. BT LE Audio is different from BT LE.
Well if you can find a Costco selling the Sennheiser hearing aids, return the 9050 hearing aids.
Samsung is going to update one of their tablets to LE Audio. However, it appears that Samsung phones have now over taken the Google Pixel line, since Samsung phones can use Auracast.
The PC seems to need at a minimum updated drivers to make LE audio work, and Windows 11. Again the Sennheiser hearing aids may work out better with your current devices if you can find them.
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Yes a major problem were seeing on the forums, the difference between BLE
(Bluetooth Low Energy) and LE Audio with Auracast is significant, but still a little bit of confusion, Phonak has to throw the spanner in the works and have their old time Classic “with” LE Audio…
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But na, why do this, I think what people need to realise is HAs are not headphones, they are designed to improve your speech understanding, yes Bluetooth streaming is a great addition, but one shouldn’t base what HAs to use on the quality or availablity of bluetooth (well not just yet anyway, possibly in future this may change, who knows)
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Good point. And a bit off topic - but does anyone have a list of the Costco’s carrying the Sennheisers? I do know of 2 - Dedham Ma, and Wayland Ma. Any others???
I have the Fold 5, and it’s working well-ish. My work iPhone definitely has a better and louder connection than my personal Android. The Reach is pretty solid. I have like five and a half months left with these before they’re mine for good. I’ve been looking for Sonite reviews, haven’t seen any yet.
Make sure you have LE Audio turned on. We have had some folks that where unaware on to do it.
Of course you will have to have Costco turn it on for you.
I was in the Brooklyn Costco. They still have the Rextons, but the HCP said that the Manhattan and Staten Island Costcos have the Sennheisers (and dropped the Rextons).
He is not a fan of the Sennheisers—thought the Rextons and Philips had the latest technology, but the Sennheisers did not.
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Mr C I can’t disagree with you, it’s a oxymoron, the marketing blurb is always good on paper, in the real world we know otherwise, they say it’s what consumers want, ok maybe… but still I wouldn’t choose HAs on how good/wonderful or not the bluetooth streaming is…but if only they could get the sound quality of the HAs microphones to sound as good as some of the streaming…now there’s a HA that’s worth taking about 
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Because it’s the one claim they can deliver on? The one expectation that can actually be met?
Sit across a table from me at a cafe, you’ll be incomprehensible to me. Make a podcast and you’ll come in loud and clear!
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I’m happy that my HA has Bluetooth connectivity even though I don’t use it much.
Hearing is my main focus, but it was useful to have when watching a YouTube video while waiting at the doctors office.
So I don’t get this dissing on Bluetooth.
It’s been solid for me as long as I’m inside a building and car as far as I can tell with my limited usage. Philips 9040 with a Pixel 6a.
However, it’s pretty remarkable that it works as well as it does considering how many other devices are using the same frequency.
In addition, some folks just are not familiar with the settings on their phone.
There’s something wrong with this situation where you experience even the sound of your own voice being plugged.
One of the features of Rexton & Signia products is that they have separate Own Voice Processing. This feature has to be programmed at the fitting. Did your Costco HIS do this? You would know because you have to listen to what sounds like nonsense speech for them to set it up. Doing this should be standard, but one Costco fitter failed to do it for me and I had to specifically request it.
There is no way you should have problems with your own voice with a Rexton hearing aid. Processing your own voice is one of the strengths of this brand.
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I’m not sure where to put this post but I’m looking at the Philips 9050. I went in with my husband to Costco yesterday and from what I hear there are good things about it, including the sound. He’s a first time hearing aid user so anything is good for him but I’ve had a KS10 from Costco and I think I’ve really had decent sound with it and what I like about it is that I use my Bluetooth a lot so I switch between my phone and my tablet easily because it recognizes three devices at the same time. From what I understand, the Philips hearing aid only allows one device at a time and you have to turn the other ones off.
What I’m wondering is that if I have the Bluetooth running on my tablet and my phone rings, will it automatically connect or do I have to then lose the call because I’m trying to unconnect and reconnect.
I really want to try something with better sound, especially in noise situations. I’m really spoiled the KS10 I have for the Bluetooth reasons. Also, I have a pixel 6 which is nice to know that you can connect with what you have and it works. Thanks for any information you can give me.
What you are looking for is a hearing aid with Bluetooth classic. The only hearing aid that Costco sells with Bluetooth classic is the Sennheiser hearing aid.
The Sennheiser hearing aid is only sold at a few select Costco locations. My local Costco doesn’t carry the hearing aid. They where too busy when I was there last to ask if another Costco in the Seattle area carried it.
The bad thing about Bluetooth classic is that almost everyone is going to LE Audio. So that’s something to consider.
I don’t know if the Sennheiser hearing aids will be upgraded to LE Audio in the future. Phonak mentions it slightly on their web site. If the Sennheiser hearing aids are a rebadge of the Phonak Infinio, then it does seem likely.
The 9050 your husband is looking at does have the capability to use LE Audio. So it’s future proof.
Anyhow, new phones will come with LE audio as the FCC requires by the end of 2026.
I would encourage you to read up on LE audio and Auracast. There are several topics here on it.
I believe that the Sennheiser Sonite model that Costco sells is a variant of the Phonak Lumity (previous generation to the Infinios). The physical appearance of the Sonite seems identical to the Lumity.
If that’s the case, then it looks less likely to be upgraded to LE Audio.
Still, classic will be around for a very long time to come.
It’s a given, just a matter of time for sure, new model will be offered has both.
It’s coming for sure, the Sennheiser is supposed to be more like a Lumity as mentioned, infinio with come to Costco for sure, later next year would be my guess, Sonova and Costco are “BFF”
OK, so you are suggesting she wait unless she doesn’t care about LE Audio.
For her, waiting is probably the best solution, as she will need to upgrade both her phone and tablet to to take full advantage of LE Audio, being that Bluetooth is so important to her.
However, for her husband, trying out the 9050 makes sense.
No not so much, I mean hearing in everyday conversations is more important then what bluetooth version you have, and yes the 9050 are well worth it, considering especially at the price point from Costco, not withstanding the fantastic service and warranty, trial period etc