Kirkland Signature is Costco’s well known hearing aids in branches across the US. Costco is known to produce private label hearing aid devices and Rexton was chosen to produce the Kirkland Signature 8.0. Kirkland Signature label has always been the preferred value brand for several products offered by Costco, whether it’s in or out of the hearing aid department. Over the years, more and more customers have been recognizing the Kirkland label, giving Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review positive ratings. In fact, Kirkland Signature is the most dispensed brand at Costco hearing centers today. Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aids were first released in February 2018.
This article will mostly be a Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review to help a consumer get more information about the brand, from its specification, cost, operating hardware and software, sound quality, battery life, etc.
Table of Contents
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Consumer Friendly Price Tag
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Features
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: How does it fare against Rexton and Signia?
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: No Tinnitus Features
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Bandwidth
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Form Factor
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Core Features
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Connectivity
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Special Listening Situations
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Is It Okay For Seniors?
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Maintenance
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Is It Worth The Wait?
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Price Wise
- Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Conclusion
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Consumer Friendly Price Tag
A loyal Costco customer knows that the store offers the Kirkland Signature label with a friendly pricing strategy. Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review reveals that these hearing aids actually offer premium level technology at a much lower price than other premium aids offered by the company.
If you have been following Kirkland Signature hearing aid product reviews, you would notice that the price gets lower for every new model that they release. Most probably, this is strategic product pricing to get more sales volume, and quite frankly, it’s actually working. The marketing handle of Costco is quite cunning which makes customers appreciate their purchasing experience and come back for more.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Features
So aside from its significant lower price range than its competitors, what does the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aids offer? Below are some of the features:
Receiver in Canal (RIC) with 312 or 13 battery | channel: 48, program: 6, gain handle: 20 | optional model for telecoil | made for iPhone (iOs) | 50% faster processing speed | enhanced music and audio quality | motion sensing | with Smart Direct App | IP 68 rating against moisture and dirt
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: How does it fare against Rexton and Signia?
Although Kirkland Signature 8.0 has been getting high ratings from customers, there comes an article or two saying that the device is actually a defeatured version of Signia and Rexton. But the question is, which among those features have actually been removed? If you’re not really a techie or well-versed in the hearing aid industry, it would be really hard to notice the difference. The good thing is, this article will help you learn pertinent information about Kirkland Signature 8.0 to ensure that you are really getting the value for your money.
Noise Management Feature. Signia has Speech and Noise Management, Sound Smoothing and Directional Speech Enhancement features while Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review reveals that it only has Noise Management and Sound Smoothing.
Feedback Cancellation. If we are to refer in the specs datasheet of Kirkland Signature 8.0, the feedback cancellation feature is present, but up to what extent, it’s quite hard to tell because the manufacturer didn’t include the level of input dynamic range. Meanwhile, Signia has an input dynamic range of 113 dB. It would have been better if Kirkland Signature 8.0 indicated the input dynamic range for their readers so that it would be easier to compare it with other brands. For reference, the higher the input dynamic range a hearing aid has, the better.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: No Tinnitus Features
A patient who is suffering from tinnitus cannot really enjoy the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid because it has no Tinnitus Noise Notch Therapy feature, or any tinnitus masking features for that matter. This is not actually surprising because no Costco store actually offers a hearing aid with tinnitus features. So if you are planning to purchase hearing aids that help mask tinnitus, take heed of our Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review and look for another hearing aid brand or model.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Bandwidth
When it comes to hearing aids, the higher the bandwidth a device offers, the better. This is based on the concept that since speech clarity depends on high-frequencies, better hearing can be achieved with higher bandwidth. Signia NX has a bandwidth of 12,000 while Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review reveals that it has a bandwidth of 10,000. At a glance, Kirkland Signature are decent hearing aids for a friendly price tag. It can be a worthy competitor of Signia hearing aids but not quite as good when it comes to bandwidth.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Form Factor
At first glance, when you put the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid beside Signia Pure 7Nx, they look really similar, plus, they also use the same size 312 batteries. The batteries of Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid are not rechargeable, only for replacement. So if you prefer to have a hearing aid that has a rechargeable battery, better skip this model and look for another. Going back to Signia vs. Kirkland comparison, both have a rocker switch for program and volume adjustments and they also use the Receiver in Canal technology. They are so similar that their common link is their interchangeable receivers. If your hearing loss requires you to wear custom ear molds, you can use custom ear molds on the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid.
If you love tech-filled products that offer versatile connectivity, the Kirkland Signature 8.0 is an ideal choice. It comes with a free mobile app that lets users adjust their hearing aid volume and settings. Aesthetically speaking, the Kirkland Signature hearing aid has been getting positive feedback thanks to its neutral shades. But if you’d like your hearing aids to come in a burst of color, you can also choose the berry red or blue device.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Core Features
As mentioned earlier in the article, the Kirkland Signature has the same amount of processing channel at 48. It also has Adjustment Handle software at 20, which allows hearing care providers to customize the features closely to the hearing loss prescription. There are also 6 programs available inside the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid.
The Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid can directly connect with an iPhone which allows direct streaming from the iPhone directly into the ear thanks to the hearing aids. If you have an Android smartphone, it is worth noting that you won’t be able to stream audio directly from the phone into the hearing aids.
If you want to see videos of a Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review, there are some audiologists giving their honest review online or through YouTube, giving potential users a comprehensive overview of the product.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Connectivity
In terms of Bluetooth connectivity, Kirkland Signature hearing aid 8.0 works flawlessly with an iPhone, but for Android smartphones, it could be another story. If you are an iPhone or iOs user, you can download the Connexx Smart Direct app so you can pair your device with iPod, iPod touch or any other Apple Inc. device that it’s designed to be compatible with.
In this Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review, we’d like to make it clear that this is a pretty outdated model (considering that there are newer models released), hence, it is not that compatible with most devices such as a computer or a laptop. Basically, the Kirkland Signature 8.0 has MFI (made for iPhone) features and to be able to connect with Android or any other device is just a bonus. Additionally, customers may experience some sort of latency with the Bluetooth connection but it’s not really noticeable and can be easily overlooked.
Wearers of the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid can enjoy listening to music, audiobooks, podcasts and other media once the aids are already paired with their iPhone or Android smartphone.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Special Listening Situations
As mentioned earlier in this review, the Kirkland Signature 8.0 are primarily made for iPhone via Bluetooth. If you are on the phone while wearing Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid, simply hold the receiver at an angle slightly above your ear. Make sure that the hearing instrument and the phone receiver are aligned and that the ear will not be completely covered.
In this Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review, we will be bluntly saying that it would be wise not to expect high fidelity audio from streaming this device. Actually, this applies to most hearing aids paired with smartphones and other modern devices because in reality, most hearing aid programs emphasizes specific frequencies which can affect the overall quality of audio.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Is It Okay For Seniors?
Majority of people with hearing loss are seniors, so it would be logical for us to include in our Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review the device’s compatibility with the older demographic. Kirkland Signature hearing aids are actually very efficient RIE aids that smartly adjusts to the environment of the wearer to ensure that background noise is reduced and the two hearing aids work harmoniously together to give the wearer a natural, surround sound hearing experience.
The lifestyle of seniors may not be as active as that of young professionals or athletes, but when it comes to hearing aids, it would still be nice if they get to enjoy watching TV or browsing through their iPad while enjoying optimum hearing opportunities through their hearing aids. That being said, the Kirkland Signature 8.0 can be connected to an iPhone or Android phone to accommodate hands-free phone calls or stream music or audio seamlessly.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Maintenance
Just like any other device, hearing aids need proper handling and maintenance to ensure that it’s going to last for a long time. Make sure to dry your hearing instruments overnight and if you are planning to keep the device unused for quite some time, make sure to place them in a dry area with the battery removed and the battery compartment left open to avoid any sign of moisture. Make sure that you let the professionals handle repair and maintenance so as not to break warranty and replacement service.
Keep in mind that if your Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid needs some repair, cleaning, part replacement or anything related, you would have to go to Costco for services. The programming is locked by Costco so it would be futile to go to an audiologist in private practice or another hearing aid specialist outside Costco.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Is It Worth The Wait?
Most of the Costco stores across the US have a long waiting list when it comes to Kirkland Signature hearing aids. The question is – is it worth it? Well, if you are looking for an average cost hearing aid that fits an active lifestyle and can handle daily wear and tear, the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid may just be a good option for you. Just remember to manage your expectations, and if needed, consult with an audiologist first before making a purchase.
Hearing health is very important; audiologists and health experts all agree that maintaining hearing health is essential to maintaining cognitive health and preventing dementia, depression and other cognitive issues. In fact, data from published research have long established that untreated hearing loss can cause cognitive impairment which may worsen in the long run. Since you’re reading this Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review, we would assume that you are concerned for your hearing health or that of a loved one or someone that you know.
Costco is one of the companies that can be considered as reliable when it comes to their products, and the Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid is not an exception.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Price Wise
Costco doesn’t really need TV ads or a comprehensive marketing campaign; it has already gained a reputation of offering consumers high quality products at affordable prices. That being said, Costco has ventured into the hearing aid department and so far, it has been getting great reviews from loyal customers. What’s great about acquiring Costco hearing aids is that they are really more affordable than going to an audiologist in a private practice; think of it as a budget friendly option for individuals who want to treat hearing loss without spending a lot of money, especially if it is not covered by insurance. Select Costco hearing centers have in-house audiologists or hearing health specialists that help customers get the right fitting and model for their hearing loss specifications. Costco also offers device warranty for hearing aids, giving customers peace of mind with their purchase.
Kirkland Signature 8.0 Hearing Aid Review: Conclusion
To conclude our Kirkland Signature 8.0 hearing aid review, this device is affordable, can compete with other high end brands and have been receiving great customer feedback. If you are comfortable with getting your hearing checked at Costco stores, and if you or someone you know has had great experience with Kirkland Signature hearing aids, then the Kirkland Signature 8.0 is a decent choice. Just be prepared to be put on a waiting list because the product is really in demand.
