Jabra Enhance Pro 10 Hearing Aids at Costco

Costco Hearing Centers, the United States' largest hearing aid retailer and second-largest hearing aid unit distributor after the Veterans Administration (VA), introduced Jabra Enhance Pro 10 hearing aids in spring 2023. Available in multiple styles, and starting at $1,599.99, Enhance Pro 10 feature premium quality technology and options found in the best hearing aids available from a global manufacturer.

Jabra, an established brand in the personal headphone market, is a company in the GN Audio division of Denmark's GN Store Nord. The other major division in GN Store Nord is GN Hearing, one of the top-5 largest worldwide hearing aid manufacturers that includes the brands ReSound, Beltone, Lively (now Jabra), Interton, and Danavox.

These two sister divisions, GN Hearing and GN Audio, share technology and resources and are now merging into one unified company. Therefore, it should be no surprise that Jabra Enhance Pro 10 hearing aids are based on technology found in ReSound OMNIA hearing aids (Level 9), ReSound's previous flagship product that was later replaced by Resound Nexia. The newer Jabra Enhance 20 hearing aids are based on the Nexia technology.

It should be noted that Jabra is a wide-ranging brand serving many different markets. The company also sells Jabra Enhance Plus earbuds, an OTC hearing aid sold online and in big box stores like Best Buy, and Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids from the company's online hearing aid sales and digital marketing platform.

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 hearing aids discussed here are sold exclusively through Costco. Let’s take a closer look at what they have to offer.

What we love about Jabra Enhance Pro 10

Limitations

Choice of Several Hearing Aid Models

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 is currently available in 3 Receiver-In-Ear (RIE) and 3 custom products that include (in order of size, from largest to smallest) In-the-Ear (ITE), In-the-Canal (ITC), and Completely-in-Canal (CIC) models.

The RIE products are all IP 68 rated, meaning the hearing aid case provides good dust and water protection of the internal electronics. For some reason, RIE color options have been limited to just 4 as opposed to the 8 options that were available for the Jabra Enhance Pro. Custom products include both rechargeable and non-rechargeable styles and are available in 6 different color options.

Here's a quick summary of key features in each Jabra Enhance Pro 10 model:

Cost of the Jabra Enhance Pro 10

At the time of this publication, Costco lists their rechargeable RIE model starting at $1599.99 for a set of two hearing aids (including charger), but prices may vary by state. Custom Jabra Enhance Pro 10 product prices are not listed on the Costco webpage; however, one Costco hearing aid retailer in Florida noted that the custom rechargeable ITE product is listed at $1999 a pair, including the charger. HearingTracker and others have pointed out that Costco periodically dropped its pricing of Jabra, along with other hearing aids, in the last year after it chose to discontinue its Kirkland Signature hearing aid brand.

Here’s an overview of each model:

Jabra Enhance Pro 10 Mini RIE 60 Rechargeable

• Receiver-in-Ear (RIE) style hearing aid that sits behind the ear (also called “Receiver-In-Canal” or RIC)
• Smallest RIE offered by Jabra
• Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
• Push button for On/Off, program change, and audio streaming access
• Directional microphones including additional option of microphone in the ear
• No telecoil option
• Wireless functionality
• Free optional smartphone app

Jabra Enhance Pro 10 RIE 61

• RIE style hearing aid which sits behind the ear
• Standard, disposable hearing aid battery, size 312
• Push button for On/Off, program change, and audio streaming access
• Directional microphones including additional option of microphone in the ear
• Wireless functionality
• No telecoil
• Free optional smartphone app

Jabra Enhance Pro 10 RIE 62

• RIE style hearing aid which sits behind the ear
• Standard, disposable hearing aid battery, size 13
• Multi-function button (on/off, streaming, volume, or program change)
• Directional microphones including additional option of microphone in the ear
• Telecoil standard
• Wireless functionality
• Free optional smartphone app

Jabra Enhance Pro 10 Custom ITE/ITC Rechargeable

• Custom-made ITE and ITC products for your unique ear and ear canal
• New styling that mimics the look of an earbud
• Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
• Large, easy-to-access push button (on/off, streaming, volume, or program change)
• Directional microphones
• No telecoil option
• Wireless functionality
• Free optional smartphone app

Jabra Enhance Pro 10 Custom CIC

• Discreet custom Completely-In-Canal (CIC) product
• Standard disposable (size 10A) battery
• Non-directional
• No telecoil option
• Non-wireless
• Optional (space permitting) push button

Standout Features of Jabra Enhance Pro 10

As the Jabra Enhance Pro 10 is considered a “premium” technology, you would expect numerous hearing aid features to improve overall listening capabilities—and that is certainly the case with these products. All hearing aids are standard with technology that we have come to expect in modern hearing aids, including directional microphones, impact noise reduction, wind noise reduction, feedback control, and synchronized switching of controls from ear-to-ear.

However, there is additional technology that warrants further discussion, so let’s dive a little deeper into some of those.

All Around Directionality

Jabra Enhance Pro 10, technology based upon the ReSound OMNIA, is noted to have an improved directional microphone strategy with 3 different improvements. In the ReSound OMNIA product this is called "360 All Around" directionality. Improvements compared to the previous generations of products include a new steering system with faster processing, a frequency-specific and more narrow directional response and an improved ear-to-ear streaming system that helps to ensure audibility and awareness of sounds all around the listener. There’s also a new wearer selectable program called “Front Focus,” which is intended to narrow the directional response and give you some control over the directional response of the hearing aids.

As before, the hearing aid allows for the two microphones on each hearing aid (in a binaural fitting involving both ears) to calculate the best microphone response for each ear. In other words, four microphones in a binaural fitting work together to estimate the best possible directional microphone response in noise for each hearing aid. This is also true for the new product; it's just been refined a bit more.

As the hearing aids have access to more than just two microphones, this allows for a more precise tuning of the microphone response. This is called beamforming and combines signal processing across multiple pitches (frequency bands). It also attempts to preserve timing cues, which are critical for helping us focus on and separate sounds we want to hear as opposed to those we don’t. In one internal study conducted by ReSound, the new system provided more than 4 dB of improvement (directional benefit) compared to the older technology—a substantial listening benefit.

What this means to you is that, compared to previous technology, the directional microphone system is even more sophisticated and fine-tuned to provide improved hearing in noisy and complex listening situations. Note that the hearing aids work automatically and will engage the directional microphones and noise reduction without you having to change anything when noise is detected (in the automatic program).

However, you have further control using the Jabra Enhance Pro smartphone app. That is, you can ask the hearing aids to move to a noise program and engage "Front Focus," a more narrow listening mode. The intent is to make speech in front of you easier to hear while not completely ignoring sounds around you. While this sounds great (and it is), remember that your degree of hearing loss, the listening environment, your individual fitting (including venting), and your ability to hear in noise will all affect how well you understand speech in noisy places.

Microphone & Receiver-in-Ear (M&RIE): An extra mic for better listening

“Microphone & Receiver-in-Ear” (M&RIE) means that the hearing aid utilizes the two typical microphones on the casing of the hearing aid plus an additional microphone built into the receiver housing, which is placed in the ear. The intent here is to take advantage of the ear’s natural ability to collect and amplify sound, which can help improve sound localization, minimize noise from behind the listener, and minimize wind noise.

Some custom hearing aid products, especially those that sit more deeply into the ear canal, already enjoy the benefit of a microphone ideally placed in the ear. Unfortunately, BTE or RIE products have microphones located at the top of the ear. However, hearing aid manufacturers do accommodate for the microphone location by altering the frequency response of the hearing aids to make up for the disadvantage. This means that even without M&RIE most hearing aids compensate for the on top of the ear microphone location automatically, but this can only do so much.

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 with the M&RIE option will utilize the in-the-ear microphone in quiet speech only and other relatively quiet listening situations. In other more noisy or complicated listening environments, the hearing aids will automatically switch to the microphones on the hearing aid cases and utilize the previously described All Access Directionality. M&RIE can be activated in other listening programs as well. For example, in the wind noise program, the microphone in the ear is selected by default as a means to minimize wind noise.

In practice, use of the M&RIE option may not work for every person. For some, this is due to feedback or other fitting issues, and your Hearing Care Provider (HCP) may decide to simply turn the option off.

Environmental Optimizer

This is the hearing aid’s automatic adjustment system based upon an environmental classification system. The Environmental Optimizer is designed to help provide a comfortable listening experience regardless of the environment, making volume and noise reduction changes so you don’t have to adjust the hearing aid(s) yourself.

As you move from environment to environment—for example, from a quiet environment to a noisy restaurant—the hearing aid will determine the best possible settings for volume and also engage noise reduction in the noisy room. This occurs in both ears in the case of a binaural fitting. The hearing aid takes approximately 4 seconds to sample the environmental sounds and make a decision. Then, it will gradually implement the change at a rate of about 1 dB per second so the transition is not sudden or distracting.

Check My Fit

A new handy tool available within the Jabra Enhance Pro app is the Check My Fit feature. This app tool give you reassurance and guidance for properly placing your hearing aids on the ear, which can be difficult for some people, especially first-time wearers. It can be even more difficult for those with a reduced sense of touch in the fingers or for those who experience a tremor.

Having the hearing aid only partially seated in the ear can lead to reduced audibility, discomfort, and increased feedback, and may even cause you to lose the hearing aid. The Check My Fit tool allows you to ensure your hearing aids are seated properly in the ear by comparing photos you take of each ear and comparing them to pictures taken by your HCP.  It’s much like taking a selfie with your smartphone.

An internal study by ReSound found that the Check My Fit was easy to learn and use and 70% of participants had better hearing aid insertions than those who didn’t use the tool. Of course, not everyone will have a smartphone or choose to download the app, but those who do choose to use the feature may find it very helpful. It should be especially beneficial for those who are new to hearing aids.

HearingTracker Audiologist reviews the Check My Fit feature from ReSound which is also employed in the Jabra Enhance Pro app. Closed captions are available on this video. If you are using a mobile phone, please enable captions clicking on the gear icon.

Rechargeable and disposable battery options

Only one of the three available Jabra Enhance Pro 10 RIE style hearing aids, the Mini RIE 60 Rechargeable, comes standard with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The other two available RIE style hearing aids utilize either a 312 or 13 size battery (13 is larger and may provide additional battery life). If you prefer a custom in-the-ear product you have several options including the rechargeable ITE and ITC or the non-rechargeable CIC, which is also non-wireless. The CIC utilizes a standard 10A disposable battery.

Costco provides a portable premium charging case at no additional charge for the MINI RIE 60 and the custom charger for custom in-the-ear products. All available chargers allow you to simply charge your hearing aids overnight. The premium charger can also charge your hearing aids on the go without being connected to a power source. The Jabra Enhance 10 custom charging case is not intended to be portable, however.

In general, the hearing aid rechargeable battery can last up to 30 hours on a single charge. Keep in mind this will depend on your particular programming and how much time you spend steaming audio to your devices. The more streaming, the less the battery life.

For those products utilizing standard, disposable hearing aid batteries, the programming of your hearing aids, how you utilize them and the size of the battery will determine battery life. For example, the Jabra Enhance Pro 10 RIE 62 which utilizes a size 13 battery will likely give you 7-10 days of use, while the RIE 61 with its smaller 312 battery will likely provide around 5-7 days use. As with any device, there are tradeoffs—meaning the 312 product is smaller and a bit more discreet but the battery won't last as long and there is no built-in telecoil. The RIE 62 is a bit bigger but is standard with a telecoil and will have a longer battery life. Discuss with your HCP which option is best for you and your lifestyle.

Wireless Features

As with most modern high-end hearing aids, all the Jabra Enhance Pro 10 hearing aids (except the CIC model) provide wireless capabilities. That is, the hearing aids can communicate wirelessly ear-to-ear, stream audio from compatible devices, connect via the Jabra Enhance Pro app to compatible smart phones, and connect wirelessly to accessories such as tablets, TV streamers and remote microphones.

The hearing aids are compatible with both Apple^® and Android™ devices, and many people enjoy the binaural streaming of phone calls, or asking a question to a personal assistant like Siri or Alexa, from compatible phones directly to both hearing aids. The hearing aids are also compatible with some Apple Watch™ products.

Hands-free capability was made available with the previous generation, Jabra Enhance Pro. This essentially turned your hearing aids into wireless earbuds that pick up your own voice and allow you to hear the caller in both hearing aids. This is a feature enjoyed by many hearing aid wearers and is not unique to Jabra (ReSound) but is a big benefit of the technology.

However, remember that not all devices are compatible with the Jabra Enhance Pro 10 hearing aids for wireless functionality and the hands-free calling is reserved for newer devices only. For example, you will need the iPhone 11 or newer if you want the hands-free feature to work. Please see the ReSound/Jabra compatibility page for up-to-date information on compatible devices.

For some people, another drawback is that the hearing aids can only be connected to one device at a time (but can be paired to up to 8 different devices). Some manufacturers allow for more than one active connection making transition from one device to another more seamless. A typical use is, for example, accepting a phone call from your personal phone and then connecting to a work phone. If you want to stream the call via the wireless connectivity, with Jabra Enhance Pro 10 this would mean disconnecting one phone and then connecting to the other. This is a bit cumbersome and, in practical terms, you would likely simply choose one device as your primary.

Jabra Enhance Pro App

We have already covered some of the functionality of the Jabra Enhance Pro app, but let’s discuss a few more features. For example, you can change volume, change programs or modify noise controls, change bass, treble, etc. and, of coarse modify how the directional microphones work. You can also check the status of your hearing aids and even use the app to find your lost hearing aids.

During the pandemic, many hearing aid manufacturers enabled the ability to have remote fittings via their smart phone hearing aid apps. This continues today as both consumers and professionals have found the feature convenient for some appointment types. Jabra Enhance Pro 10, via the app, allows you to request service from your HCP.  During you service appointment, your HCP can update your hearing aids directly from the app for more simple adjustments, meaning you may not have to visit the Costco hearing center for some programming changes. Although Costco does advertise this remote care benefit, not all stores may offer it, so please check with your HCP at your individual store for availability.

The app also has a built-in help menu to help you navigate the app and a “Find my hearing aids” functionality.  For any of us who are forgetful, this can be a handy feature in addition to those times when you might have actually lost them.

The Apple app store currently has a highly favorable rating of the app of 4.6 (out of 5) —higher than I’ve seen for similar hearing aid apps. The Android version of the app has a slightly lower rating of 4.4 with complaints of reliable connectivity; however this is still a good rating overall. It should be noted that, at the time of this writing, the most up-to-date version of the app for both Apple and Android is 1.29.0. The updates were released in early 2023 and provided fixes for connection issues and enabled the "Check My Fit" feature. You should routinely check the Jabra compatibility website to ensure you are running the latest version of the app.

Lack of Tinnitus Controls

It’s not uncommon for people with hearing loss to also have tinnitus—sound you hear that doesn’t have any external source. Many people describe tinnitus as “ringing in the ears,” but its many types also include buzzing, pulsing, or whistling sounds. Even those with normal hearing can experience tinnitus and it’s a very common complaint. For most, it’s a minor inconvenience; for others, it can become very distressing, interfering with sleep, concentration, work, etc.

Many manufacturers, including ReSound, incorporate tinnitus features into their hearing aids; unfortunately, this is not carried over to the Jabra Enhance Pro 10 product. However, given the warehouse delivery method, it does makes sense to disable this feature. That is, providing tinnitus therapy signals is better suited for a clinical setting. For example, audiologists will have at least minimal training on how to set the tinnitus controls and treat tinnitus. In addition, they may have resources to better evaluate your overall tinnitus symptoms including to what degree it is affecting your life.

While Jabra Enhance Pro 10 products do not have tinnitus features available, keep in mind that for some people, simply wearing a hearing aid can bring tinnitus relief so having the feature turned on isn’t always necessary.

Accessories

Numerous accessories are available depending on your hearing aid type, hearing loss, listening needs and lifestyle. Always discuss with your hearing provider what options are available to get the most benefit from your hearing aids.

For example, if you have significant difficulty hearing conversation in noisy or even quiet situations, a removable microphone may be beneficial. These remote mics (Micro Mic and Multi Mic) are placed on the lapel or table/desk in front of the person you are speaking with, and they will pick up their voice and transmit it directly to your hearing aids. Again, talk to your provider to see if they offer or recommend such devices, as some Costco stores do not always carry the same range of accessories that you may find in a clinic or private practice. In addition, note that these accessories will come at an additional cost.

Other accessories include a TV streamer and two simple remote controls. For those who don’t need or can’t handle a smartphone app, the simple remotes allow you to make easy changes to volume and program number.

There’s also a Phone Clip+ that acts as a remote microphone but has additional functionality, such as a built-in telecoil and the ability to use a sound jack. This accessory is especially helpful when you have a phone or other device that has Bluetooth^® but is not compatible with the hearing aids.

Our recommendation

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 hearing aids offer high-end hearing aid technology from a proven hearing aid manufacturer (ReSound). The Costco pricing is highly competitive, as it is with all of their available brands.

However, always consider the level of care and service that you require and what you are comfortable with when seeking hearing healthcare services. That is not to say you won’t receive the best care at Costco, as they do follow best practices, but not everyone is close to a Costco store with a hearing aid clinic and/or you may not be comfortable with the warehouse delivery model.