Electronic ear plug quality?

[UrbanHermit]

I've become interested in trying electronic earplugs as an alternative to electronic ear muffs, which are frustrating to put on with hair and hats, don't pack well, and can be sweaty and uncomfortable. The problem is that most of them don't seem to be very good. Even the most expensive models have pretty mediocre average review scores on various websites. Does anyone have any experience with these or a recommendation?

On a related note, I recently tried the "Raptor" from Walker's, which cost $250. They're bone-conduction headphones meant to be used in conjunction with ordinary ear plugs. I returned them within two days because the quality was terrible. The wind interference was so bad that I could actually hear better without them using just foam plugs, and the sound quality was just not impressive at all no matter how I adjusted the headset. Reviews suggest my experience wasn't an isolated one. I think it's incredible that they released such a terrible product, clearly there must have been no field testing at all.

 

[LoonWulf]

I have a set of walker in ear powered plugs. They do work fine with adjustment for conditions and are comfortable, but they dont provide significant enough hearing protection (in actual use a few shots spotting for a braked rifle caused me discomfort, and had me putting muffs on) for me to use them in place of regular plugs and or electromuffs for range days.

Ive dedicated them to when i hunt with a braked rifle and they ride around in my hunting pack.

 

[Craig_AR]

Someone more knowledgeable should confirm this, but it appears to me there are two levels of electronic plugs, sometimes difficult to distinguish based on manufacturer descriptions. The more desirable, and more expensive, are active noise canceling (ANC) plugs that use both passive protection from the plugs themselves, plus active cancelling by generating a counter-wave sound to sharp loud noise (e.e. gunfire) heard by the build-in microphones. Otherwise the plugs use the microphones to send external sounds to the ear, attenuated to a preset volume limit, and controlled by an adjustable volume. When gunfire is detected, the system shuts down all external sound and also generates the noise-cancelling counter-sound.

The other type of electronic earbuds combine passive noise cancelling (PNC) from the plugs themselves with volume-adjustable microphones to enhance external sounds such as range commands or nearby conversations. These PNC plugs limit external sounds to a preset level, such as 82 dB, and shut off all transmitted external sounds when gunfire is detected. Thus, wearers can hear range commands and conversations better than with regular foam or silicon plugs, but have the full protection of passive plugs during gunfire.

I have a set of walker in ear powered plugs.

Not realizing the above distinctions, I recently bought a Walker Rope, thinking I would get ANC plugs for under $100. After using them and reading the details in more depth, I believe the Rope is a PNC set, and the level of protection is totally dependent on how well you fit the plugs into your ears. That same limitation applies to regular soft plugs, too. After a couple of tests at an indoor range, I decided to use them in outdoor settings, and continue with winged silicon plugs under electronic muffs at indoor ranges.

Finally, another question for more knowledgeable folks: Are ANC muffs and plugs for shooting different from ANC protectors sold for aircraft and high noise environments like machine shops and factory floors? Bose, in particular sells ANC items for music afficianados and for pilots, but I wonder if they have the near instant response to gunfire needed by shooters.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd like to try a pair for hunting, I can't wear muffs or plugs since I'd miss to many deer of I couldn't hear. Plus a gun with a break maybe in my future.
next time I go to Cabelas I'll do there hearing test at the walkers booth and see about some e-plugs.

 

[UrbanHermit]

I have a set of walker in ear powered plugs. They do work fine with adjustment for conditions and are comfortable, but they dont provide significant enough hearing protection (in actual use a few shots spotting for a braked rifle caused me discomfort, and had me putting muffs on) for me to use them in place of regular plugs and or electromuffs for range days.

Ive dedicated them to when i hunt with a braked rifle and they ride around in my hunting pack.

That's something I worry about because I struggle with in-ear anything in general. I basically can't use earbud headphones at all unless I secure them with a headband. My ear canals are too narrow. The benefit of that though is that I can slip in the flanged silicone plugs very securely.

 

[UrbanHermit]

Someone more knowledgeable should confirm this, but it appears to me there are two levels of electronic plugs, sometimes difficult to distinguish based on manufacturer descriptions. The more desirable, and more expensive, are active noise canceling (ANC) plugs that use both passive protection from the plugs themselves, plus active cancelling by generating a counter-wave sound to sharp loud noise (e.e. gunfire) heard by the build-in microphones. Otherwise the plugs use the microphones to send external sounds to the ear, attenuated to a preset volume limit, and controlled by an adjustable volume. When gunfire is detected, the system shuts down all external sound and also generates the noise-cancelling counter-sound.

The other type of electronic earbuds combine passive noise cancelling (PNC) from the plugs themselves with volume-adjustable microphones to enhance external sounds such as range commands or nearby conversations. These PNC plugs limit external sounds to a preset level, such as 82 dB, and shut off all transmitted external sounds when gunfire is detected. Thus, wearers can hear range commands and conversations better than with regular foam or silicon plugs, but have the full protection of passive plugs during gunfire.


Not realizing the above distinctions, I recently bought a Walker Rope, thinking I would get ANC plugs for under $100. After using them and reading the details in more depth, I believe the Rope is a PNC set, and the level of protection is totally dependent on how well you fit the plugs into your ears. That same limitation applies to regular soft plugs, too. After a couple of tests at an indoor range, I decided to use them in outdoor settings, and continue with winged silicon plugs under electronic muffs at indoor ranges.

Finally, another question for more knowledgeable folks: Are ANC muffs and plugs for shooting different from ANC protectors sold for aircraft and high noise environments like machine shops and factory floors? Bose, in particular sells ANC items for music afficianados and for pilots, but I wonder if they have the near instant response to gunfire needed by shooters.

I don't understand what the point of active noise cancelling is. If the muffs/plugs offer sufficient static protection and the speakers don't go above 85db, how is active noise cancelling benefitting me?

 

[hso]

Hearing protection with electronic shooting plugs is terrible compared to standard reusable plugs and even worse compared to foam. Your hearing is far too precious to risk with them.

Noise canceling devices are for machinery noise, not shooting. They operate by analyzing the constant drone of equipment and providing oppositely synced wavelengths to counter the noise wavelengths. It is the superposition of waves principle.

Shooting plugs and muffs use a clipping circuit to shut off the device quickly when a shot (rapid rise in sound pressure) is detected so your hearing is insulated by the passive NRR of the device. Speech won't shut them off nor will noise levels below 85dB. If the hearing protection is inadequate as passive protection you are not going to get good protection while shooting.

I own a set of expensive in ear electronic shooting plugs and as soon as I opened the package I could see the plugs were not going to provide the NRR claimed. They met my low expectation when I tried them comparing them to the standard passive ear plugs I wear. They'd have been disappointed if I hadn't already recognized the design was inadequate. I have yet to see any that the part that goes inside the ear looked to be adequate (and for 30 years my profession has been in safety).

I will not shoot in in-ear electronic ear plugs for hearing protection. I wear high NRR plugs under professional quality electronic muffs (e.g., Howard Leight, Peltor, Sordins) because hearing is far too precious (Hear that ringing? I do...all the time.) to risk with some gimmick.

 

[JDeere]

Good electronic muffs for the range is my go to as I need to save what hearing I have left. For hunting I keep those foam plugs on the lanyard around my neck. If I see I might take a shot I put them in. I don't take quick shots so no problem.

 

[bassjam]

Small "wireless" in-ear quality ear plugs to listen to music are just recently becoming affordable and quite decent, I don't think the technology and hardware is quite there to add in speakers and reproduce conversation level noises in such a small package. It'll come though, sooner rather than later. I have a set of the Walker Raptor's too, I found mine for $60 when they went to clearance prices. For $60, I think they're adequate. I can hear speech better than I could with just regular plugs which is all I wanted them for. Wind noise can be a problem though and battery life is relatively short. Bone conducting headphones will NEVER sound as good as regular headphones though and I think that's part of why they get a bad rap. I have a different set from Aftershokz I use to listen to music when I want to still be able to hear things, like walking on the street or working in the yard with my kids outside. They work well IMO, but you are't reproducing studio quality music with them, that's for sure.