Per this chart: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/files/2016/10/mapbrand.jpg they use both Amplifon and Sivantos (Signia) I think new corporate name is WS Audiology since they merged with Widex.
Oops. Sorry for first bad link. My copy and paste didn’t take the first time.
Thanks, gents - now I don’t feel so silly that I missed the connection.
The ME Energy looks like a dead ringer of the Signia Styletto X. See the 2 pics below. If I were you, I’d find a Signia HCP in your area and trial the Styletto X to confirm that it sounds the same as the Energy. If so, I’d pick the Signia brand. Why?
Because Signia is the originator of this HA and ME is just a licensee. I’d rather go with the OEM company and not the rebranding company.
Secondly, Signia is one of the big 6 six HA mfgs (Signia is part of Sivantos, the other big 5 are Phonak, Resound, Oticon, Widex and Starkey), and ME is not on this big 6 list. So it’s more likely that you’ll find more Signia authorized HCPs to choose from while Miracle Ear as a franchise may have more limited options available.
Don’t know if you’re a DIY person or not. If you are, or may want to have that as an option in the future if you’re so inclined, Signia HAs are not locked like ME HAs so it’s more likely that you can self program Signia HAs but you can’t with ME HAs.
You are more likely to find more users of the Signia Styletto X on this forum to share and learn from than users of the ME Energy.
The Styletto and other Signia aids are available at Costco under the Rexton brand.
A possible issue with Costco for the OP is tinnitus diagnosis and treatment. Here in Oregon (at least), hearing aid specialists (Costco) are forbidden to diagnose and treat tinnitus, including activating a hearing aid’s masking feature (unless there’s written authorization from a physician). https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Documents/Tinnitus-FAQ-2018.pdf
That is certainly a consideration. While I experience tinnitus, I’ve discovered over the years that just wearing my hearing aids reduces the effect. I’ve even noticed a dramatically reduced level of tinnitus since getting my Jabra aids a couple of months ago. Even when not wearing the aids I have noticed quite a lessening of the noise in my head.
My Jabra aids have the hardware for tinnitus management, but the Costco Smart Fit software doesn’t allow it to be implemented.
I only drive just over an hour to get to Costco, but the KS10s were worth it, and the fitter can do adjustments via the app which seems to work great. Local HA store quoted me 4x price.
Well, let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about this company…
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Miracle-Ear, Inc. …The company is a subsidiary of Amplifon, the worldwide distributor of hearing aids based in Italy. …, and it is the best-known hearing aid brand in the U.S.
The second “hearing aidstop” I made was a ME shop, close and had a good time for me open. No high pressure but several little statements that gave me pause “…best price for a comparable product”, stands out. Pleasant though and the sound was good but I think it might be easy to set up a set of HA’s for a moderate hearing loss in one environment. When I started comparing features, I thought that they were high for what they offered but they seemed competant.
Best Known hearing aid? Hmmm, I don’tg know but I doubt it - until 4 weeks ago the only brand I knew was Beltone. and I bet that is pretty common.They used to advertise quite a bit.
I remember when I was a young lad, I used to see Miracle-Ear infomercials on the TV all the times. So at least they’ve been around for a very long time, I gotta give them that… Would have thought that they’re a dinosaur by now, but apparently they re-brand and try to keep up with the Jones… Or at least, license HAs from the Jones…
Now that the demographic of HA users is getting younger and younger, they should at least renovate their sales tactics to appeal to the younger crowd as well. At least realize that the younger crowd can see through it that the HA innovation is not really theirs to claim, at least not anymore. Look at Costco, they don’t claim that they have years of HA innovation behind them. They’re straight up and no nonsense about selling rebranded HAs from others for very affordable prices.
If purchased at Costco,
are they setup there?
What if you need another adjustment?
Thanks & Yes these are the same but there is proprietary software by ME that supposedly gets the max out of the HEs.
Appreciate THAT info…I definitely have tinnitus…for over 20 years! Trying to ignore that and listen to someone while there is any other types of noises is almost impossible.
Totally agree…looking at most companies they don’t give much in way of specs. Seems most companies sell HEs that are made by big companies and they massage the software.
@crash1: No offense intended, but I think you’re “drinking the ME Kool-Aid!” All brands use their own proprietary software - it’s the equivalent of their “special sauce”.
That’s why I came to you guys for the help! So glad that I found this forum…a lot of great info!.
I am pretty much a DIY person but when it comes to my ears…I think I want to leave it to the pros. The one thing I like about ME is that basically no matter where I may be there will be a ME store not to far away. Besides I don’t think I will be moving and this store is 1 mile away.
Don’t all Hearing Aids Softwares allow you to get the most out of a hearing aid that you choose?
The ME software won’t have advantages to others.
Sounds like you’re planning for frequent visits to the “ME store” (just this nomenclature suggests a strong focus on “selling”, to me). I prefer to only have to see my audiologist 2 or 3 times a year. This proximity of “stores” would not affect my choice of audiologist. Competency and empathy are my criteria - not proximity.
Of course, YMMV.
Regarding Costco. Typical scenario. Schedule an appointment for eval. They test your hearing and likely try a hearing aid or two. If you decide to purchase, they order and you return for an appointment in about 2 weeks. Aids are fitted. I know at least some of their aids have the possibility of remote adjustments. I’ll leave it at that. Anything else is repeating myself.
You would schedule a hearing test at a Costco hearing center. During the test you would be test fit with demo aids. You’d buy and order the aids and schedule an appointment to return and get them fitted.
After that you would schedule a follow up, which would likely be in person. After that you could use remote services, presuming the aids you purchase support that.
Or what @MDB beat me to saying.
I ran into this “locked” issue when I moved my father up to live by me. His Audigy hearing aids, which were rebranded Starkey’s, were locked with a pin code. The nearest Audigy dealer was 40 miles away, what a headache. I rather doubt they initially explain this “gotcha” to their customers and its something you have to be aware of especially if you move to a new location.
Not just you moving but what if the dealer isn’t doing well and decides to fold up or just move to a better location 100 miles away. Or sells his franchise to a jerk-oid that you don’t like or who is no good at adjustments. Just so much that can go wrong. Odds may not be against it but it is easily avoided altogether.
