Philips HearLink 9030 Hearing Aids From Costco

The sound is shrill.  Not enjoyable to listen to tv or music because it is tinny and high-pitched...shrill.  I love when no one is around and I can take out the hearing aids to listen to music and tv.

Several times a day I am having to reconnect the hearing aids, several times taking up to an hour. My cell phone is compatible. No, I haven't "paired" my hearing aids to another device. Another "fix" was to uninstall the app and install it. I did this several times. This "fix" worked for a short period of time. Yes, I installed new batteries. Yes, my cell phone has the latest updates. No, my phone isn't 5G compatible.  Yes, I called the phone number 800-327-4779 several times (Jody, Shannon and Bob). According to Phillips, there is no update for 5G users. Frustrating to be to talking to someone or listening to music and then hearing aids stop. I am returning the hearing aids tomorrow.

I've been wearing aids since 1956. Up till now they have all been replaceable battery models. I trialed the Rexton RIC first since they were a Signia product (and many of my previous aids were Seimens brand which became Signia) but was not satisfied. I then went with these and I am satisfied. No issues with my phone (which is an iPhone), nor any other real issues It seems many of the other reviewers here knock the aids due to limited compatibility with their non-Apple phones. The onus is on them as they evidently didn't do their research.

Hear aids are ok ,app sucks, if you like to reset 3 times a day They are OK , call Customer service , might as well talk  to the wall

These are my first hearing aids. So I don’t have much to compare them to. But at the age of 47 with mechanical hearing loss. They really are great. It took a bit to get used to hearing aids in general.

Great Product!

The poorest possible rating of their 'technical' support and why I can't keep these hearing aids. I called to ask about the poor quality of the bluetooth phone connection, their immediate response was that my phone (the most popular Google Pixel model) wasn't on their list. The response was NOT that they were crazily working to make it compatible, but that it was the phone manufacturer's fault that their hearing aids don't work with them. Sorry, but that is exactly the wrong answer and therefore you don't deserve my money or patience while you work it out. I'm getting my money back from Costco. 

I wore hearing aids for 10 years. The Philips 9030’s from COSTCO are my first to connect up to my iphone. While I can hear and understand better with these aids than my previous ones, it is clear that Philips knows nothing about usability. By that I mean the connection and use to the iphone, TV Adapter, or Computer, to the hearing aids.

Computer

The aids cannot connect to a Windows 10 HP computer. If I look at Windows “device - properties – services”, it is blank(no services). So instead of identifying EARPHONE AND MIC the device manager places it into the OTHER DEVICES. A category (like keyboard/mic/printer) where the audio cannot connect via Bluetooth. This is a major mistake made by Dement/Oticon/Philips.

TV Adapter

While watching a TV streaming movie using the Philips TV adapter, the aids go quiet for about 15 seconds, an announcement of “battery level 50%” is heard, followed by another 15 seconds of silent before you hear the TV again or any streaming data. Philips must think hearing the battery level is more important than the movie or music you are listening to. You just missed 30 seconds of the movie. Why did I purchase the hearing aids? To hear SOUNDS, not that I have 9 hours of battery life remaining.

If you are connected to the TV Adapter and walk out into the garage for a short time to take out the garbage, the hearing aids, after about 30 seconds jumps back to P1 or General(?lost of signal?) Why, the TV adapter has both Streaming and surroundings modes, someone thinks(or doesn’t THINK) they know what’s better.

I have a major problem with the TV Adapters volume. Sometimes, not always, when I first go to TV Adapter the volume is messed up. Mute does not work on streaming and/or surroundings. You can not adjust the volume. I have not figured out how to replicate this. It clearly does not remember the last setting.

Recommendation

My expectations are that I could put in my hearing aids and hear everything from everywhere. Which means connecting to any Bluetooth audio source. One of the main reasons from purchasing new hearing aids was to have the phone call vocals go directly to my ears. One big problem. Getting the phone out of your pocket to answer it defeats the purpose of the controls on the phone.

Because the CLEARITY and UNDERSTANDING of the amplified voice is so much better than others. I would still recommend these over the other AIDs I've tried.

As hearing aids, the Phillips models really are very good. I've had no problem with him at all. But the problems I've experienced are with the Bluetooth connection. When I get a phone call, I may or may not hear the person calling me. If I know there's a phone call and cannot hear them, I have to quickly turn the Bluetooth off of my phone. Also, one of the big advantages is supposed to be a Bluetooth connection so you can hear Radio, podcasts or music from your phone directly into your hearing aids. I have found the Bluetooth connection tenuous, usually putting sound into one ear or the other, and you never know which one. The only way  to get both of them working at the same time is to reboot the phone and then it isn't long for one hearing aid with the other loses its connection. Costco isn't really expected to know what to do with this, but I'm going to send mine back into Phillips to see if they can take care of the problem.

These will not stay paired to my Android phone. Very frustrating. They continue to turn on and off randomly. I also noticed there's a lot of tinniness in the sound and squealing when my truck beeper goes off for seatbelt. Have had him adjusted once. I would not recommend these hearing aids. I've had Siemens and they are a lot better but we're very pricey. Just trying to find something a little more economical. I called or tech support and they're trying to do an update to their program but I've had them for nearly 3 months and I did an Android update. No good. They don't tell you when they're going to come out with their own update, but doesn't seem like they're very responsive.

The iPhone link crashed after 4 months,no remote now,just manual. Sound is tinny.

Had them for almost 12 months but not overly impressed. Seem to focus on volume and not clarity. Unable to eliminate background noise eg. hoover, hair dryer etc, sounds like a jet taking off when being used (not my hair dryer). Clarity of speech is no better despite various settings and controls on the app. If it's volume you need ok, but for clarity of speech, not good at all. For me clarity is needed so really $2k not well spent. Also, not happy with the over the ear fitting, especially wearing a face mask and spectacles, easily pulled off when removing mask. Technology is cleaver but not clever enough. Unable to give 5 star rating.

I got mine about two years ago, soon after Costco started selling the. They’re the first hearing aids I’ve had, so can’t compare them with others. I can say that I’ve had absolutely no problems with them and feel they’ve helped me a lot. Mine are rechargeable and used with an iPhone so everything is seamless. They are excellent for my less than severe hearing loss - strongly recommended. 

When they work sound is clear they fulfill my needs. The recharging is a nice feature but with Bluetooth streaming doesn’t last . Bluetooth will stop working on one or both aids regularly. Have to restart program sometimes 20 times an hour. Very frustrating. Costco sent them for repair ( took 2 weeks). Marginally better, but now have buzzing as well as intermittent functionality. I don’t think I can use these for long. Will have to find something else

This (HearLink miniRITE TR) is my second set of Phillips after one set of Resound.  I have nothing but praise for the way they help my hearing.  The TR is better then the older model as sounds are much more real and I have to admit there were a lot of sounds that I was missing.  Are they as good as my ears were in my youth?  Absolutely not, but what is?

Hearing aids, like just about everything, takes some getting used too.  I found they work really well for me but I do give them extra attention.  Before setting them on the charger at bedtime I always clean the base dome and make sure there's not any wax buildup.  They charge in approximately 3 hours fully and are ready to go for the entire next day.  I have never had them lose a charge while waring them.  So far I've never had any problems.  

already wrote the review

They don't adjust auto,

Can't use with bluetooth on Android

Keep missing calls/messages

Have to use speaker phone constantly because of no bluetooth capability with Android

One shuts off without notice. Very annoying. May be defective. 

The worst hearing aid on the market!  

Cotsco pushes this worthless product on their customers.  Disgusting!  

They eat batteries. Batteries only last a few hours, less than a day. The hearing aids just cut off without warning and for no reason. All sorts of beeps and musical notes at the most inappropriate times that no one can explain. Had two sets of Kirklands from Costco that were superior to these. I will be purchasing replacements when it is safe to do so. These are going in the trash. 

This is my first pair of hearing aids so don’t have another to compare it to. It was actually an easy adjustment. My loss is mild in one ear and moderate to severe in the other. These aids have been user friendly. The app however is slow to load and limited in scope. I also hear the processor loudly in my better hearing ear when in a quieter environment. This is a bit bothersome and my fitter has not been able to eliminate the sounds. Love the rechargeable feature so much. They provide plenty of life for me.  I usually wear for 18 hours and stream for 2-4 hours as well. I chose these based on similarities to the Oticon opn1. I have found my fitter is not as well versed on these having not fitted as many people. Purchased at Costco. 

Reliability is poor.  I have been experiencing  constant malfunctions since I got them a year ago.

I have been wearing BTE aids for about ten years without problems-- all from COSTCO and all were great. These Phillips aids that I got last year are a constant thorn in my side.  

My current struggle is that one of the aids "eats batteries" -- the last new battery lasted  six minutes and I tried three batteries with the same result. This happened once before and COSTCO replaced the aids. Before we blame humidity, it should be noted that I keep them in a dryer box each night.

The iPhone app is slow and sometimes refuses to show battery level. The help section provides little real troubleshooting help.

It is difficult the make a bluetooth connection to my PC.  But then they claim that their product is 'designed to meet' bluetooth requirements -- which is engineerese meaning it might not work in the real world.

The Hear link audio clip frequently shuts down or changes mode for no reason.

The TV link works flawlessly.  

The team at COSTCO is technically competent and works diligently with Phillips to try to fix the problems.  Their audiological testing is thorough and they do a great job setting up the aids.  I suspect that they are stuck with a "turkey" product and do the best they can within corporate constraints.

I rather suspect that Phillips, being the "new kid on the block", is still trying to get their technical act together.

When the aids work, they work great, but most of the time they just aren't reliable. 

I've had no problems. They fit comfortably and seem to improve my hearing. I'm still getting used to them.

Replaced Bernafon Juras  with the Philips. Philips are clearer and don’t need to use the various programs; they seem to adjust to all environments automatically except for music. The Bernafons had a music program that was perfect and eliminated single note vibrato and distortions. I go back to them for serious music listening. Tried to find out if the Philips could tailor one of the programs to not include the feedback circuitry that apparently causes the problem (like the Bernafons) but to no avail. Don’t think service is their strong point. Also have some issues with the Philips trying to figure out what to do in some noisy environments. Different sound get louder then softer, distorts and moves around but quickly stabilizes and is then quite good. Some issues with newly installed batteries. More than half the time within the first day they will signal they need replacement and show a low percentage on the app. I take the batteries out and reinstall and they’re fine for the rest of the week. Overall, except for the music issue, I like these hearing aids. 

I have been wearing hearing aids for 20+ years. Now bought two Philips HearLink 9010 miniRITE T. I might return them for full refund at Costco. Amp saturates very easily with load noise such as bump in road when driving. Voices are not natural and people sound like speaking with a lisp. iPhone app does not allow permanent volume settings – very bad. If you switch between programs the volume returns for default setting. Same thing when you power-up each day you need to reinstall your custom volume settings. Yes, default settings can be changed at store but I would have to drive 50 miles each time I want to tweak default volume settings. End customer should be allowed to do this from their phone.

These are my first set of hearing aids. Since day one I have had nothing but trouble. I have had random beeps, difficulty using the app (in fact it is very poor), found that there is no signal even though both hearing aids are on. Have to restart them frequently. They’re going back.

See my detailed review on the hearing aid forum: https://forum.hearingtracker.com/t/philips-hearlink-first-impressions/45002/70

I have had 3 other brands before the Philips over the course of 15 years. With the Philips I am hearing sounds I have not heard in over 10 years or longer. I have severe to profound high frequency hearing loss. Speech recognition over the past few years has gotten more difficult. Recently while looking for a replacement for my 4 year old K6 hearing aids I tried 3 other brands besides the Philips. When executing automatic feedback adjustments the other brands would go from 100% of target to 70% making them almost useless for speech recognition. The Philips brand stayed at 100% of target even after the adjustment for feedback. I immediately noticed that the voice of the person performing the adjustments was much clearing on the Philips than on the other brands. I am very happy with the improvement in voice recognition. There is one strange behavior though. I have a lot of HVAC noise at work and it seems like the hearing aids cannot make up its mind on whether is should filter it or not. It sounds like I am in a snow storm sometimes with the wind whipping around. It gets really quiet then really loud, Up and down.

Wow! I really like these hearing aids! I can hear so much better with these than with another brand that I wore before( they broke down several months ago). These ones are so comfortable, and I wish I had found them sooner. I have a moderate to profound hearing loss, and feel so much better when I am wearing these things. I forget that I can’t hear! My stress level is much lower. I can communicate and hear people and activities around me better. I feel more “in balance” and not as confused and lost as I was without hearing aids

Have been wearing these for a couple months now and am very disappointed. Had to have the right one repaired once and it is doing the same thing again. I am going to see about exchanging these for something else as I don't really like the results, they are giving me. The app is also terrible. Takes forever to connect and features are limited.

Very well. These are my 4th pair of hearing aids and my hearing has regressed significantly since I first began wearing aids 9 years ago. But with these I'm understanding speech in quiet situations better than my last pair, and I'm understanding speech in noise and locating the source of sounds better than I ever have since I began wearing hearing aids. They've given me renewed confidence in social situations and allowed me to focus more on content rather than focusing all of my energy on merely trying to pick up what's being said. Don't get me wrong, I still have to ask people to repeat themselves from time to time and still miss key words occasionally, but I've been surprised that these really are better than the other premium aids I've owned.