Electronic earmuffs fit

[WildBoarHunter]

Hi,
would like to ask for advice about fit and seal of the electronic earmuffs. I do a lot of driven hunting and prefer the electronic muffs so as to hear animals approaching. I have allready been using Peltor 6S, MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X, Peltor Pro Tac II, Peltor Pro Tac III Slim and almost all of these with gel pads... and despite this only the Peltor 6S sealed well for me. But these died on me and seem hard to find nowdays. I have a long narrow head and the seal on the others just doesn't work for me. I got ringing in ears even when using Pro Tac II, which have a NRR of 26 and are suppossed to be excellent earmuffs. Does anyone have any suggestion which earmuffs I should try next? I was thinking about Howard Leight Impact Sport.

 

[McKenzie]

I gave up on them as they never fitted me correctly. I've not found anything to beat the £20 passive ones I have but that's not a lot of use for you. I tried on a pair of the Howard Leights & the were also a poor fit.

Perhaps we have to get the personalised moulded ones that fit inside the ear.

 

[baz2770]

How about some fitted plug from Ear Defenders | Custom, Bespoke, Silicone Ear Defenders - Plugzz

 

[caorach]

Perhaps we have to get the personalised moulded ones that fit inside the ear.

This might be a good idea as something that is comfortable and that works for you is always a sensible way to go. However it is worth being aware that the custom fit plugs never achieve the same level of noise reduction as something like expanding foam plugs will simply because they are relatively hard plastic so they don't make such a good seal in your ear. I think cens certify and test their custom fit plugs and so they produce good figures for their noise reduction which I think is somewhere in the low 20s dB of attenuation. The foam plugs can see attenuation in the mid 30s dB. You can get active in ear plugs that use foam tips and so give the best of both worlds but if they aren't handy for you then better with something you wear all the time.

 

[Alantoo]

Hi,
would like to ask for advice about fit and seal of the electronic earmuffs. I do a lot of driven hunting and prefer the electronic muffs so as to hear animals approaching. I have allready been using Peltor 6S, MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X, Peltor Pro Tac II, Peltor Pro Tac III Slim and almost all of these with gel pads... and despite this only the Peltor 6S sealed well for me. But these died on me and seem hard to find nowdays. I have a long narrow head and the seal on the others just doesn't work for me. I got ringing in ears even when using Pro Tac II, which have a NRR of 26 and are suppossed to be excellent earmuffs. Does anyone have any suggestion which earmuffs I should try next? I was thinking about Howard Leight Impact Sport.

Have a look at the 3M Peltor LEP 100 or LEP 200 active in ear plugs. They have the highest dB attenuation rating with the Foam Skull screw tips of NNR 30 and SNR 38...there are a few threads where these have been discussed on here over the last year or so. They are more effective than over ear muffs in that they can help reduce the vibration of the ear canal through bone transmission...like all passive foam plugs do...except they have the advantage of the volume control to amplify ambient sounds to hear animals approaching. The foam tips can seal better than the made to measure type as @caorach mentions above.

I have found them excellent for stalking and at the range.

The LEP 100 seem to be out of stock at earshot communications who have been the best price so far. However they do seem to have a new model the EEP 100 which has the same dB ratings but is much lower cost than the LEP 100 at £150 inc VAT (which is around half the price I paid )

3M Peltor Electronic Earplug EEP-100 EU - Earshot Communications

EAN / GTIN #: 00051131277427 3M Catalogue #: EEP-100 3M Stock #: 7100194360 The 3M™ PELTOR™ Electronic Earplug helps protect your hearing, and can help improve situational awareness and communications in challenging environments. The 3M™ PELTOR™ Electronic Earplug helps protect your hearing, and...

www.earshotcommunications.co.uk

Alan

 

[McKenzie]

They seem worth a look at that price. My need is for walked up game shooting where lack of hearing can be a disadvantage. For clays or driven I'd still prefer passive ear muffs that don't expose me to distracting background noises.

 

[Alantoo]

They seem worth a look at that price. My need is for walked up game shooting where lack of hearing can be a disadvantage. For clays or driven I'd still prefer passive ear muffs that don't expose me to distracting background noises.

Of course you do not need to turn active ear defenders on...without power they revert to just being passive.

The Peltor plugs have three volume settings and off. The low setting reduces ambient, the medium is neutral and the high setting amplifies ambient sounds.

Alan

 

[McKenzie]

Of course you do not need to turn active ear defenders on...without power they revert to just being passive.

..and if I could find some that actually fitted with a proper seal & weren't so bulky that they clattered off the gun stock when mounting I'd have some!

 

[Alantoo]

..and if I could find some that actually fitted with a proper seal & weren't so bulky that they clattered off the gun stock when mounting I'd have some!

I was including both types but thinking especially of the in ear active ones like the LEPs which are obviously great as regards bulk.

I have some of the slim line over ear muffs similar to the Howard Leight ones. I wear those over the active plugs and they work well together at the range when there is a muzzle brake about. But even those I notice getting in the way. The double cup high dB attenuation muffs must be very intrusive.

Alan

 

[McKenzie]

High cheek bones make the fit of bigger ear defenders a challenge.

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Just heard from John Kelly at Earshot that, as per 3m, the EEP’s are due in next week...

3M Peltor Electronic Earplug EEP-100 EU - Earshot Communications

EAN / GTIN #: 00051131277427 3M Catalogue #: EEP-100 3M Stock #: 7100194360 The 3M™ PELTOR™ Electronic Earplug helps protect your hearing, and can help improve situational awareness and communications in challenging environments. The 3M™ PELTOR™ Electronic Earplug helps protect your hearing, and...

www.earshotcommunications.co.uk

Fizz

 

[Alantoo]

Just heard from John Kelly at Earshot that, as per 3m, the EEP’s are due in next week...

3M Peltor Electronic Earplug EEP-100 EU - Earshot Communications

EAN / GTIN #: 00051131277427 3M Catalogue #: EEP-100 3M Stock #: 7100194360 The 3M™ PELTOR™ Electronic Earplug helps protect your hearing, and can help improve situational awareness and communications in challenging environments. The 3M™ PELTOR™ Electronic Earplug helps protect your hearing, and...

www.earshotcommunications.co.uk

Fizz

Did he confirm the £125 plus VAT (£150) price?

Did he have any information as to the price difference? You can still see the LEP 100s advertised for over £500.

Alan

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Did he confirm the £125 plus VAT (£150) price?

Did he have any information as to the price difference? You can still see the LEP 100s advertised for over £500.

Alan

Yep, the price is correct..plus postage at £8..total with vat is £159.59.

He did go on to say that he thought the price difference was down to the charger/case being usb only with no internal batteries in the case and that the lep/tep’s were more water and dust proof for harsher conditions. Apart from that....same attenuation across all 3 sets.

Before he came back to me with the impending delivery info, he did say he wasn’t expecting stock til November and could only find a pair of the lep/tep on eBay in the US at something like £500! 5 minutes after he put the phone down he heard from 3m...spooky huh?

Fizz

 

[Alantoo]

Yep, the price is correct... he did mention that he thought the price difference was down to the charger being usb only with no internal batteries in the case and that the lep/tep’s were more water and dust proof for harsher conditions. Apart from that....same attenuation across all 3 sets.

Fizz

Well the price confirmation is good news for everybody else...and me when mine pack up or I lose one...my old dog chewed a Walker electronic ear plug which I had carelessly left on the passenger seat when she was in the footwell one day!

Interesting, I looked as carefully as I could on the illustrations and thought the housings were identical. I didn't look to see what the weather rating was....I have only used the battery compartment for carrying a few spare ear tips...I always recharge from the car USB if necessary.

Alan

 

[Cooter]

How about some fitted plug from Ear Defenders | Custom, Bespoke, Silicone Ear Defenders - Plugzz

I use custom moulded plugs from Plugzz all the time.
I wear glasses and could never get over ear cups to sit properly, and they often lifted when I shouldered the gun.

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Just heard that my EEP’s will be with me tomorrow by DPD

Alantoo.... I seem to remember that you posted various links to alternative suppliers of the ear tips, if you’ve still got those links or an update on your preferences I’d appreciate your input.

Cheers

fizz

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Well they duly arrived and I had a try of the various tips last night........ and just having another go....

Judging by Ken Bruce on Beeb2 playing on the computer at the moment.....the medium and small Ultrafit don't seem to do much in the way of straightforward sound reduction, I can still hear him clearly without the 100's turned on. The foam CCC-GRM-25's are much better at deadening the radio, however, they are certainly applying a bit of pressure inside the ear canals and it certainly wouldn't be the case that I ever forget I'm wearing them...how long I can stick it when sitting up a high seat remains to be seen but if I was out loading I'd be wanting to take them out after each drive. Perhaps I've got small ear tubes!

The CENS Mino tips have been suggested as an option so I've just ordered a couple of pairs of the smaller ones to see .......ordered through the PuretoneRetail as there's no postage charge!

Mino CENS®

Looking around last night I did find Complyfoam in the US and specifically their Isolation tips...... they manufacture tips for the multitude of in ear speaker buds and list the model by the manufacturer of these. Therefore, the holes through the centre vary and I couldn't find anything to tell me what that actually was, so I emailed them last night with the spigot size of the EEP-100's. They look to be cheaper than the Peltor or CENS options.

Eartip Size Guide & Guaranteed Fit Program - Comply Foam

Check out our Comply Foam tips size guide to find the most comfortable fit for your replacement earbud tips and learn more about our 100% fit guarantee.

www.complyfoam.com

Cheers

Fizz

 

[Alantoo]

Just heard that my EEP’s will be with me tomorrow by DPD

Alantoo.... I seem to remember that you posted various links to alternative suppliers of the ear tips, if you’ve still got those links or an update on your preferences I’d appreciate your input.

Cheers

fizz

Sorry I missed this...you need to quote or put the @ in front of the Alantoo so I get notified...

@caorach posted some links to alternative tip suppliers...as did one or two others...will be worth trawling back through the other threads.

I found that the flanged ones were good but not as effective as the foam...the flanged ones had similar attenuation (obviously) to the flanged passive ones I normally wear in the forge.

The foam ones I use with the LEPs are smaller than the giant Skullscrews that came with mine but seal better than the flanged ones.

The tips I found best were the ordered through Earshot Communications..I had to take a punt, minimum order was 25 pairs at £60 odd. They listed them especially for me and ordered them in. PM me your address and I will send you a pair to try.

,

3M Peltor Triple-C Communicaiton Eartips CCC-GRM-25 Pack of 25 Pairs - Earshot Communications

3M™ PELTOR™ Triple-C Communication Eartips, CCC-GRM-25, helps provides long-lasting comfort and clear communication. This foam eartip is compatible with select 3M™ PELTOR™ in-ear products. Designed for comfort, no roll down required. For long-lasting comfort and clear communication, try 3M™...

www.earshotcommunications.co.uk

Or is that what came with yours? The only foam ones that came with mine were the Skullscrews that have a spiral ridge running around them and literally do screw in.

I don't usually use the LEPs in the forge because I am afeared of the iron dust clogging the microphones...I have ruined a few mobile and cordless phone speakers and microphones that way...but I gave a Masterclass in Memphis earlier this year and the LEPs were the perfect thing for that. I could communicate clearly with the students and never be at risk of someone making a horrid noise while my ears were unprotected. The event was 12 hour days in the forge and have to confess that towards the end of the week my ears did start to complain from the pressure, not the noise...unsurprisingly! I might have been better off using the flanged tips in that instance.

For two or three hours at a time stalking or at the range I have not been aware of them at all.

Don't forget to try some Aloe Vera gel when you put them in...most of the time I don't have it handy, but it is luxury when I do!

Alan

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Many thanks for the offer Alan, much appreciated!

But, yep......a pair of the CCC-GRM's are included in the box and I've just nipped the ends off to shorten them a nadge as they just touched the eardrums trying to get them in as tight as they'd go. I've had enough after an hour but I'll try the Aloe Vera tip to see if that helps and see how the Mino tips go when they arrive.....and the Complyfoam one's if I can find out what the hole size are.

Riding bikes since I was 16, I started wearing earplugs when the original silencers rotted through on a '79 Kwacker Z650 to be replaced by an original Alpha 4:1 system with not a lot a baffle and a big hole through the middle! The plugs were the yellow EAR foam and as it took me 'til the mid-90's to 'upgrade' to the orange Howard Leight Max's...... I always rode to the engine/exhaust note and was quite chuffed to discover I was actually going faster!

Cheers
Fizz

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Just a quick update... a couple of emails to Comply got me as far as their Canal tip range but I couldn’t find those in the uk suppliers.... the best I found on Amazon was the P/Professional series which look much the same as the CENS Mino but work out more expensive.

Amazon.co.uk : comply professional p series

The short CENS Mino tips arrived from puretone and they’re easier to get in than the ccc-grm’s, return to shape when removed and the surface finish suggests they’ll be easier to keep clean too. Attenuation is on a par with the grm’s.

At £2.50 they’re just about on a par with the bulk pack of the grm’s which boil down to £2.484 a pair allowing for the delivery cost.

I’ll be sticking with the Mino tips I think, might get a longer pair to see if that makes a difference. One thing did cross my mind with the grm’s... when you roll them up to get them in it closes the little hole, which the mino’s do too but the grm’s material is more malleable and might not fully re-open which defeats the object to an extent?

cheers

fizz