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Electronic Earplugs (Read 5971 times)

BLKDRGN

Electronic Earplugs
« on: June 22, 2014, 10:59:00 PM »
Has anyone tried them before? I have the small and large Howard Leight earmuffs. For some reason the small ones don't cup around the ears good. I also tried many different non-electronic earplugs. I was thinking about trying electronic earplugs so it's lighter, less restrictive, and I can hear things around me. It's nice not having to shout or keep asking them to repeat. Price is expensive but I can somewhat justify it as saying it's something I will be using at the range every time. These are the ones I found so far.

SportEAR Select-A Fit 30 - $499.99
http://sportear.com/shop/construction/select-a-fit-30/

Etymotic EB15 - $399.00
http://www.etymotic.com/hp/eb15le.html

Etymotic GunSport PRO GSP15 - $399.00
http://www.etymotic.com/hp/gsp15.html
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mauidog

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2014, 12:23:08 AM »
http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipment/hearing-protection.html

Been thinking of trying one of the Surefire earplugs. I read good things about them.

Not electronic, but might be good enough.
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drck1000

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2014, 06:40:39 AM »
Quote from: BLKDRGN on June 22, 2014, 10:59:00 PM
Has anyone tried them before? I have the small and large Howard Leight earmuffs. For some reason the small ones don't cup around the ears good. I also tried many different non-electronic earplugs. I was thinking about trying electronic earplugs so it's lighter, less restrictive, and I can hear things around me. It's nice not having to shout or keep asking them to repeat. Price is expensive but I can somewhat justify it as saying it's something I will be using at the range every time. These are the ones I found so far.

SportEAR Select-A Fit 30 - $499.99
http://sportear.com/shop/construction/select-a-fit-30/

Etymotic EB15 - $399.00
http://www.etymotic.com/hp/eb15le.html

Etymotic GunSport PRO GSP15 - $399.00
http://www.etymotic.com/hp/gsp15.html
Quote from: mauidog on June 23, 2014, 12:23:08 AM
Holy crap those are pricey!

I haven't seens electronic plugs, but if they work as well or better than my MSAs, I might have to give them a try.  Maybe a lower model than the $400-500 range ones though. . .

http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipment/hearing-protection.html

Been thinking of trying one of the Surefire earplugs. I read good things about them.

Not electronic, but might be good enough.

I occasionally use the EP3s.  A friend who works construction got a really good deal on them for us.  They are just standard "belled" plugs with an ear piece section instead of the line that typically construction grade plugs come with.  I don't use the "plug" feature of these though.  I've seen some people use them, but once I have a good seal with the EP3s, if I try to open the plug, it loosens the seal. 
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Mr. Farknocker

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2014, 07:57:20 AM »
Neat stuff. Never tried any of them or any variation of them but I do have the Howards. This is a truly horrible piece of equipment. It does very little in the way of sound attenuation. I tore mine apart to see what was inside and found that there is no insulation or sound attenuation material in them. Just a set of small speakers glued in place. The foam earpieces are also very thin and hard allowing sound to migrate past the gaps between the foam earpiece and your head caused by wearing eye protection. The HL's are no better than drilling your kid's sipply cup with a couple of holes (for the microphone pick up and volume control) and putting them over your ears. Still, they are better than nothing.

The earpieces look unobtrusive and simple. They also don't hurt your ears like how full ear muffs do. Keep in mind, however, that if the ear plugs are rigid, discomfort may develop if you wear your plugs for  an extended period of time. For the ultimate in electronic devices, look for the full ear muff. They cover those little flappy things on the side of your head that transmit sound to your ears. The ideal situation is to wear a full helmet covering your head like a motorcycle helmet but that's impractical as wearing a sombrero to block the sun while shooting a deer at 300 yards using a Nightforce scope.
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mauidog

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2014, 09:02:43 AM »
Pricey?

You might be looking at the multiple-unit prices.  The individual sets are less than $15-$20 each.  The $300 amounts in the price are for box sets of 25 units.

 >:D
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An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.   -- Jeff Cooper

drck1000

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2014, 09:14:09 AM »
Quote from: mauidog on June 23, 2014, 09:02:43 AM
Pricey?

You might be looking at the multiple-unit prices.  The individual sets are less than $15-$20 each.  The $300 amounts in the price are for box sets of 25 units.

 >:D
Not sure how my post got wrapped into the second quote, but the pricey comment was for the $399-$499 products that the OP posted.  That's pretty darn pricey.  Even my MSAs were $150 on sale and around $200-250 on most online retailers. 

Yeah, the EPs aren't bad.  I think we got them for about $5 per set through our contractor friend.  I think he made the mistake of buying the box set by accident.  Or at least ordering the box set.   ;D
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BLKDRGN

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2014, 10:29:31 AM »
Quote from: mauidog on June 23, 2014, 12:23:08 AM
http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipment/hearing-protection.html

Been thinking of trying one of the Surefire earplugs. I read good things about them.

Not electronic, but might be good enough.

I have those but I want electronics.
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BLKDRGN

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2014, 10:34:31 AM »
Quote from: BLKDRGN on June 23, 2014, 10:29:31 AM
I have those and a bunch of other brands and styles but I want electronics.
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drck1000

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2014, 10:39:11 AM »
Quote from: BLKDRGN on June 23, 2014, 10:29:31 AM
I have those but I want electronics.
Now that I've used quality electronic ear pro, that's the only ear pro that I'll look to use from now on.  Sure, I'll use plugs from time to time, but that's usually in addition to the muffs in cases where I'm dealing with super loud muzzle brakes, but that's rare and usually only while at Koko Head's rifle range. 

The MSAs are pretty comfortable with the gel ear cups.  If I haven't worn them in a while, they can leave the bone area behind my hear a little sore, but the usual "problem" is that I feel the need to air out my ears every so often, especially on hot and humid days.  In cold weather, say below 60s, the ear muffs are excellent to keep your ears warm though.   :D
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BLKDRGN

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2014, 11:45:35 AM »
Quote from: drck1000 on June 23, 2014, 10:39:11 AM
Now that I've used quality electronic ear pro, that's the only ear pro that I'll look to use from now on.  Sure, I'll use plugs from time to time, but that's usually in addition to the muffs in cases where I'm dealing with super loud muzzle brakes, but that's rare and usually only while at Koko Head's rifle range. 

The MSAs are pretty comfortable with the gel ear cups.  If I haven't worn them in a while, they can leave the bone area behind my hear a little sore, but the usual "problem" is that I feel the need to air out my ears every so often, especially on hot and humid days.  In cold weather, say below 60s, the ear muffs are excellent to keep your ears warm though.   :D

reason ear plugs over ear muffs is that sometimes when shooting rifles the muffs get in the way. it gets knocked from the recoil and one of my stocks is getting scratched up.
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drck1000

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2014, 12:05:28 PM »
Quote from: BLKDRGN on June 23, 2014, 11:45:35 AM
reason ear plugs over ear muffs is that sometimes when shooting rifles the muffs get in the way. it gets knocked from the recoil and one of my stocks is getting scratched up.
I hear ya.  My dad is the same way.  When I take him to the range to shoot his 1903, he's always fiddling with the ear muffs.  With the volume that he has his TV on at time, I doubt he really needs any ear pro.  Haha.

I guess I'm lucky in that I don't really notice my ear pro when I'm shooting.  If the ones that you posted links for were cheaper, I'd give them a try. 
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zippz

Re: Electronic Earplugs
« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2014, 01:14:22 PM »
I got the sport ears custom molded plugs, not sure the model number but they start at $999.  They are great if you use them alot and very confortable.  You can wear them all day and the sound is good shooting and everyday stuff.  Biggest problem is they are small so you are more likely to lose them.  I use them for shooting, especially rifles or instructing commands on the firing line.  Good for military work when you are out in the hot sun all day and have to wear a helmet and need to listen to commands.
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