Ear bud electronic ear defenders advice

[Oh6]

In contrast to the Minos…. I’m still actually using the first set with my EEP’s! They wash ok and at one point the foam separated from the plastic core on one but a dab of superglue fixed that ….. that was 2 or 3 years ago now.

@fizzbangwhallop - That pretty much mirrors my experience.
I am on my second set of tips having got over two years use from the first pair, including a drop of super glue on one, to rejoin the plastic core and foam.
That said, at less than £4 for a new set of tips, I really ought to treat myself to a new set a little more often!

 

[caorach]

This ^

K

The assertion that you need over ear protectors as in ear versions can't work as well is unfounded and, in truth, I've no idea where this idea came from.

Both over ear, and in ear, protectors can offer about the same level of protection, assuming the same effort is put into design and wearing them correctly, against noise. When you think of it logically there is nothing special about the inch of skull around your ears that is covered by over ear hearing protection, the rest of your skull remains unprotected.

A key factor in damage through industrial noise, where most of the research is done, is incorrectly fitted hearing protection or even a reluctance to wear the protection because it is uncomfortable etc. For this reason it is important that people wear the protection that they are comfortable with so that they are wearing it during the whole time they are exposed to the noise. It is also key that the protection is correctly fitted - some people don't push plugs in far enough or some wear over ear protectors over the legs of their glasses and this is where it all goes wrong.

When it comes to in ear protection then the various plugs that use expanding foam to provide a seal will always work better than the moulded type of plug - the foam expands to fill all the voids whereas the moulded type plug can't do this. Generally speaking the moulded type plug will lag about 10dB or more behind a foam plug in terms of attenuation. However, if you find the moulded plugs more comfortable and so are more likely to wear them then they may actually be safer for you.

Anyone interested in just the basic passive foam plugs would do well to try one of the trial packs provided by the Ear Plug Superstore - I've ordered from them in the past and they were always very efficient though I've no idea if that is still the case:

Other - Trial Packs - Ear Plug Superstore

www.earplugstore.com

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

We sell the IsoTunes
I use the Calibre Bluetooth version
Very good and very affordable compared to some of the others on the market

 

[kieran222]

Only thing I will say is that most Electronic ear buds use hearing aid batteries which only last three weeks weather you are using them or not.

The Peltor eep-100 have rechargeable batteries, just pop them in their case and recharge them via USB connector.

 

[Demetrius]

One problem with the eep's is that the spare tips are only sold in catering size packs at stupid prices, and most of us would be pushing up daisies before we used them all........
On the other hand, if there were enough users here.......

D.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

The assertion that you need over ear protectors as in ear versions can't work as well is unfounded and, in truth, I've no idea where this idea came from.

Both over ear, and in ear, protectors can offer about the same level of protection, assuming the same effort is put into design and wearing them correctly, against noise. When you think of it logically there is nothing special about the inch of skull around your ears that is covered by over ear hearing protection, the rest of your skull remains unprotected.

A key factor in damage through industrial noise, where most of the research is done, is incorrectly fitted hearing protection or even a reluctance to wear the protection because it is uncomfortable etc. For this reason it is important that people wear the protection that they are comfortable with so that they are wearing it during the whole time they are exposed to the noise. It is also key that the protection is correctly fitted - some people don't push plugs in far enough or some wear over ear protectors over the legs of their glasses and this is where it all goes wrong.

When it comes to in ear protection then the various plugs that use expanding foam to provide a seal will always work better than the moulded type of plug - the foam expands to fill all the voids whereas the moulded type plug can't do this. Generally speaking the moulded type plug will lag about 10dB or more behind a foam plug in terms of attenuation. However, if you find the moulded plugs more comfortable and so are more likely to wear them then they may actually be safer for you.

Anyone interested in just the basic passive foam plugs would do well to try one of the trial packs provided by the Ear Plug Superstore - I've ordered from them in the past and they were always very efficient though I've no idea if that is still the case:

Other - Trial Packs - Ear Plug Superstore

www.earplugstore.com

This is not correct

Just try a pair of pair of bone conduction headphones if you want to see just how much sound is transmitted through the bone around the ear.
Even on extremely low volume you can hear music perfectly through the contact just in front of the ear

Whilst in ear buds reduce the sound going directly down the ear canal they do not reduce the shockwaves transmitted from the bone

There are numerous websites stating the opposite
All from companies that sell in ear protection


There is a reason motorsport and aircraft engineers use very large over ear headphones

In ear are good but nothing like as good as over ear for outright protection

 

[caorach]

There is a reason motorsport and aircraft engineers use very large over ear headphones

In ear are good but nothing like as good as over ear for outright protection

Again this is untrue as there is nothing special about the inch of skull that over ear protection covers relative to the rest of your skull. Bone conduction is the limiting factor in attenuation with both in ear and over ear protection and this is why they both top out at about the same level of attenuation.

In some specialised areas, as discussed many times on this forum, it is necessary to take bone conduction into consideration and in those circumstances special helmets are used. The normal over ear protection we encounter in the civilian world is not designed to limit bone conduction and it simply doesn't have that functionality:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51694410_Protecting_beyond_the_bone-conduction_limit

In normal usage both in ear and over ear solutions, when correctly specified and fitted, give the same levels of protection and it is useful that we don't continue to spread internet myths as it could influence someone who has to make a decision where comfort, ease of use, and similar factors are also important to them.

 

[sh1kar]

Why F1 pit crews wear helmets and not ear defenders

s

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'm not stalking in a fooooking helmet!

K

 

[Woodmister]

just as a heads up i did a thread about a discount code for some of the 3m peltor in ear defenders, extra 10% off

 

[NullMac]

Beware. The compound may shrink => tinnitus.

I used them for shotgun. I would not be using them with a rifle that did not have a can.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'm not getting into a bun fight about the science/physics of protection but happy to state with confidence the attenuation I experience when wearing over-ear protection compared to these is painfully noticeable:

K

 

[Yosemite Sam]

CENS are the only sensible choice!

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

I'm not getting into a bun fight about the science/physics of protection but happy to state with confidence the attenuation I experience when wearing over-ear protection compared to these is painfully noticeable:
View attachment 454234
K

But those tips are absolute rubbish compared to the Minos foam tips…about as much use as a box of frogs.

Cheers
Fizz

My Isotunes didn’t turn up today… for some obscure reason known only to themselves, Royal Mail sent them to Exeter rather than North Herts

 

[Klenchblaize]

But those tips are absolute rubbish compared to the Minos foam tips…about as much use as a box of frogs.

Cheers
Fizz

My Isotunes didn’t turn up today… for some obscure reason known only to themselves, Royal Mail sent them to Exeter rather than North Herts

I'm not getting into a bun fight about the science/physics of protection but happy to state with confidence the attenuation I experience when wearing over-ear protection compared to these is painfully noticeable:
View attachment 454234
K

To clarify due to my very poor wording:

The use of the in-ear buds is painfully less effective than the over-ear muffs.

Apologies

K

 

[Klenchblaize]

But those tips are absolute rubbish compared to the Minos foam tips…about as much use as a box of frogs.

Cheers
Fizz

OK, I'm willing to give them another chance but those seemed the best fit of the ones I've tried to date.

Just ordered these in the hope they are large enough to expand to the correct diameter in my Plug sized ear holes!

K

 

[Klenchblaize]

They finally arrived and notwithstanding they look and feel like something that would be more at home in a Liquorice Allsorts pack they do seem to fit/seal a lot better:

Will try at Bisley on 25/01.

K