Hearing protection — Best Plugs?

[ChrisNZ]

@ChrisNZ - Thanks for the professional insight. Can you provide some examples of custom electronic plugs and what to look for in those? I double up with foam plugs and ear muffs, but I’m still looking for better protection.

I can't offer much insight into currently available electronic plug options as I'm in NZ and virtually all models available in the US won't be relevant here. My two pairs (near clones) are now over ? 8yrs old so have no bearing on current US amps. Mine were top-of-the-line (global brand) digital aids modified and converted to a shooting application. This included additional measures to improve the passive seal and shifting the mic off the faceplate up to the "helix" (cymba concha) to really reduce wind turbulence. Makes a huge difference.

The biggest issue is ( for want of the actual term) the response time for high-intensity impulses. You need to be well under 5 milliseconds, preferably 2, to fully capture rifle reports. Many chips in hearing aids have a much slower-acting AVC compression and the peak has already got through before the circuit controls them. Too late.

I guess you can ask what the response time of the circuit is to impulses but I doubt many suppliers will be able to give a valid answer. As I implied before, if the report sounds unpleasantly loud, chances are it hasn't be adequately captured by the circuitry.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Wearing ear plugs is a must but they must always be inserted correctly especially the foam which work well. Howard leight orange is the most common in my work place. Roll the plug between finger and thumb compressing it. Roll don't just squeeze. With the arm opposite the ear that's receiving the plug reach across your head and pull up on your ear opening the ear canal. Insert the plug and hold until it seals. Repeat for the other side. Place your hand over your ear and it shouldn't change the sound much at all. I work in a 110db+ environment everyday for the last 25yrs.

 

[old_heli_logger]

These Hearo plugs plus Walker muffs...

Amazon.com

 

[creedfan]

My OTTO's took a crap after not much use, they won't take a charge. Called them and they want about 90% of what they cost new to repair them. They weren't 2 weeks over the 1 year warranty and only used about 15 times. I will never deal with them again as it's a known problem they have and they won't address it ( think Lab Radar).
I now use 3M disposables and a pair of SORDIN Supreme Pro muffs and love them. Sometimes I double up sometime just the SORDIN's, I like them so much I'm getting a pair for my daughter. They cancel the loud dangerous noise but you do not loose your conversational hearing while shots are going off.

that’s interesting. My charging case went bad after about a year and a half and they sent me a new one at no charge.

 

[Forum Boss]

I am NOT an audio professional. However I emphatically disagree with ChrisNZ about the merits of muffs over plugs, and I have discussed this with engineers and Ph.Ds from 3 different major hearing protection makers who ALL confirmed that max protection is achieved via Muffs over properly inserted plugs with a typical “real world“ reduction of 3-4 decibels.

I use the flared Howard Leight NRR33 foam plugs inserted carefully. I have noticed many guys do not insert plugs properly. That may be one benefit of the custom molded.

As a real world efficacy test… I had a friend run a dirt bike engine in my driveway. Then, wearing full-size muffs alone, I walked away until I could no longer hear the motor, and we marked the distance. Then I put NRR33 plugs under the muffs. I found I could get about 15 feet closer to the machine before I could hear it.

For shooters, who need to hear range commands, I recommend flared foam plugs (inserted properly) under quality NRR24+ electronic muffs.



Also, All The Ph.Ds with whom I spoke said bone conduction is REAL, and the muffs help reduce that better than plugs alone.

I wish to add that ChrisNZ does seem a knowledgeable fellow who makes some very good points about the importance of proper fitting and construction of electronic plugs. However every single scientist/engineer with whom I spoke confirmed the greater efficacy of muffs over plugs. And real world tests confirmed that at busy shooting ranges.

 

[FNSafari]

IMO, go to home depot or Lowes and get their plugs then use muffs over them. The highest noise reduction value you can comfortably wear. You may know that the noise reduction number advertised is not the number of decibles the noise is reduced.

What Is the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) and How to Use It? - NoisyWorld

Hearing protectors in the U.S. are labeled with the noise reduction rating (NRR). But what is the NRR and how to use it correctly?

noisyworld.org

 

[fx77]

Using these for about 10 years. Excellent for noise supresion, hearing range speech, cheek weld, and fit

Custom Ear Plugs for Shooting & Hunting | ESP Products

Shop custom-fit earplugs for shooters & hunters at ESP. Enjoy affordable prices, premium hearing protection, & comfort with a 30-day money-back trial.

www.espamerica.com

 

[gkgeiger]

I had custom plugs made several years ago. They are perfect for RF, I wouldn’t consider any in the ear protection for CF.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Wearing ear plugs is a must but they must always be inserted correctly especially the foam which work well. Howard leight orange is the most common in my work place. Roll the plug between finger and thumb compressing it. Roll don't just squeeze. With the arm opposite the ear that's receiving the plug reach across your head and pull up on your ear opening the ear canal. Insert the plug and hold until it seals. Repeat for the other side. Place your hand over your ear and it shouldn't change the sound much at all. I work in a 110db+ environment everyday for the last 25yrs.

After rolling the plug, a quick lick will help them slide into your ear. You should feel them expand to fit the ear and the noise go down as they do. I do not like the string attached to them as it tends to transfer sound. This was especially true of the molded ones I got at Perry.

 

[brokeasajoke]

After rolling the plug, a quick lick will help them slide into your ear. You should feel them expand to fit the ear and the noise go down as they do. I do not like the string attached to them as it tends to transfer sound. This was especially true of the molded ones I got at Perry.

Yes a lick does help. Many of the old guys do that even on the used ones.

 

[pilediver]

I use a set of Walkers game ear rope hearing enhancers under my Howard Leight electronic muffs, keeps the sound in check and allows me to have clear conversations.
I also upgraded to the gel ear cups on my muffs

 

[Dimner]

Sony ear buds with over the ear hearing protection.

 

[TRSR8]

Going to have to disagree on that.

Doing your own ear impressions, no matter what the material/gear, is not going to give a -good- result. I'd never consider it myself despite having done tens of thousands of impressions over a long career in clinical audiology. I actually specialised in shooters' ear protection as it was a hobby interest.

I have only ever used custom electronic plugs in my competitive shooting career, originally a sling shooter but latterly an FO shooter. I have no HF notch in my hearing despite being exposed to -many- thousands of rounds. The only time I'd consider adding muffs over top would be shooting beside a big braked gun, luckily something I never run into.

Finally, blaming bone-conducted sound for the supposed inadequacies of plugs is barking up the wrong tree. Almost invariably with small arms fire, it's an air-conduction leak causing the problem, ie, a poorly sealing plug.

You believe what you want, I’ll believe what my ENT Dr. told me.
I shoot CFBR. you do that with 25-30 PPC’s on the line under a tin roof with only plugs you’ll be well on your way to deaf in your sixties, which is why everybody uses phones.

 

[ChrisNZ]

I am NOT an audio professional. However I emphatically disagree with ChrisNZ about the merits of muffs over plugs, and I have discussed this with engineers and Ph.Ds from 3 different major hearing protection makers who ALL confirmed that max protection is achieved via Muffs over properly inserted plugs with a typical “real world“ reduction of 3-4 decibels.

..

Also, All The Ph.Ds with whom I spoke said bone conduction is REAL, and the muffs help reduce that better than plugs alone.

I wish to add that ChrisNZ does seem a knowledgeable fellow who makes some very good points about the importance of proper fitting and construction of electronic plugs. However every single scientist/engineer with whom I spoke confirmed the greater efficacy of muffs over plugs. And real world tests confirmed that at busy shooting ranges.

I have never said plugs are better than muffs- I don't know where you got that from. I am saying -properly fitting- and designed plugs are quite adequate for routine shooting with the exception of large braked guns. "Max protection" is unnecessary for the vast majority of shooting situations. You only need to make the report safe, not necessarily quiet.

As for bone conduction, it is a theoretical issue in this context. Any half decent plug will be delivering at least 25dB attenuation in the mid/HFs and adding 3-4dB to that is minimal. In the frequencies that matter, there is a 40-45dB impedance mismatch with aid versus bone conduction. That is why it's irrelevant. I don't care what an otolaryngologist (ENT) may tell you- they are basically ear surgeons and most know far less than an audiologist in this context.

 

[ChrisNZ]

After rolling the plug, a quick lick will help them slide into your ear. ..

I'd be very careful about that- you are more than likely to end up with an otitis externa (infection in the canal) as you're introducing bugs into a warm high humidity environment. There are proper ear mould lubes available if you feel you need some.

I totally concur with comments about the need to deeply fit closed cell foam plugs. I cringe when I see these plugs with 2/3 of them sticking out of the canal- they would be damn near useless.

 

[Flouncer]

Chris, can you expand on this please ?

"I am saying -properly fitting- and designed plugs are quite adequate for routine shooting with the exception of large braked guns."

The max reduction realized with foam plugs is what ? And that reduction in dB compared to a loud CF rifle next to one on a bench. What is that ? When I did a cursory google on this it seemed to my uneducated eye that the reduction offered by foam plugs let a damaging residual noise enter the ear and damage it. Can you offer some more numbers information on that, thanks.

My research showed the maximum reduction in dB (30dB) and best protection was offered by conventional Leight ear muffs. Any digital muff was inferior in protection offered. Every one.

 

[Forum Boss]

Folks, 3 decibels is very significant!

Decibels increase exponentially. This means that the energy of the sound doubles every 3 dB. So a 100 dB sound has twice as much energy as a 97 dB sound.

Check it out:

Quote from video: “3 dB represents a doubling of sound intensity. So that means you are getting double the amount of sound energy in your ears, which means in practice it is doing quite a lot of harm, particularly if you are looking at levels in excess of 85 DB.” (Video: 00:45 +)

I DISPUTE the previous posted statement by Chris NZ, And believe his posts may encourage people to make decisions which will not be good for them

Quote: “Any half decent plug will be delivering at least 25dB attenuation in the mid/HFs and adding 3-4dB to that is minimal.”

Again 3 dB is NOT minimal! Shoot Indoors with plugs alone and then put on good muffs over those plugs then you will notice a significant difference, particularly with multiple shooters on the line firing simultaneously.

I do not contest that some quality, custom fitted, electronic plugs may prevent permanent ear injury for some types of slow fire shooting, but we still recommend double protection.