Best hearing protection with radio/speakers/MP3 - Suggestions wanted

[Administrator_JSVN]

So, one of my sons does work that requires hearing protection from time to time. Thought a nice little gift for Christmas might be a set with capability to listen to the radio, or even better connect to his smartphone with Bluetooth (or maybe a cable) to stream/listen to music.

My brother has had the 3M TEKK for years, which I guess works fine. Something OSHA compliant and a decent NRR would be preferable.

Any recommendations?

 

[erock]

  I was in the hunt for hearing protection with bluetooth technology a while back.  The only thing that I could come across was tactical headsets.  And the tactical headset price tag was more then I wanted to pay!

NOT OSHA approved....but they have bluetooth.  I have been using them for the past couple months, cutting grass, in the gym and some times in the shop with good results.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HTPHK5W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Eric

 

[overanalyze]

I have these Shane. They are Howard Leights Sync. This set has an 1/8" plug for connecting a phone or iPod. Others have said they bought a Bluetooth adapter and used it along with these.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I have these Shane. They are Howard Leights Sync. This set has an 1/8" plug for connecting a phone or iPod. Others have said they bought a Bluetooth adapter and used it along with these.

I saw those online. Is the piece that spans the top of your head made of fabric?

And, thanks, Eric. But I think OSHA approved is going to be a must-have for him. Those are nice looking headphones.

 

[overanalyze]

I have these Shane. They are Howard Leights Sync. This set has an 1/8" plug for connecting a phone or iPod. Others have said they bought a Bluetooth adapter and used it along with these.

I saw those online. Is the piece that spans the top of your head made of fabric?

And, thanks, Eric. But I think OSHA approved is going to be a must-have for him. Those are nice looking headphones.

Its a metal frame wrapped in fabric with some padding. They are pretty comfortable. I will say if its hot they make my ears get sweaty. They are light. The speakers can't be cranked either...I think they top out at 85 db.

I snagged mine from Ebay...brand new... $27 +/-

 

[lumbajac]

Hey Shane,

These are what I chose a while back when they were ~$40: http://t.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Tek4-Audio-Plus-Noise-Suppression-Headphones-RP4530/100671268

Good for background music, but no amp so a bit quiet for podcasts, etc.  I really like the microphone as well as I adjust the volume to where I still can somewhat hear my bandsaw or router for example where pitch of the motor helps with feed rate, etc.  Or, if one of my kids or wife comes down to the shop I can hear them coming and converse just fine with them and turn up the external volume temporarily if needed, then back down.

Not sure about OSHA approval.

 

[johnleve]

I use a 3M set of ear protection and wear earbuds under them connected to this (Amazon item) and just use double-sided tape to hold the device to the earmuffs and coil up and zip tie the extra cord from the earbuds.  Battery on the device last about 4 hours.  If I was to want to use it for 8 hours I would get two and velcro it to the earmuffs.  The battery might last longer at lower volumes but I have mine set pretty high so I can keep the volume on the phone lower to sync with the appropriate volume when I connect it in the car.

 

[sae]

3M actually makes ear buds that are OSHA approved.

http://m.earplugstore.com/e-a-rbuds.html

Never tried em myself but seen them around. I prefer ear buds instead of cans since my noggin is big and cans usually are like a vise on my skull.

 

[HunterL]

These work well for me:http://m.brookstone.com/tough-sounds-outdoor-headphones

They are available on Amazon

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Shane

I use the 3M Peltor FM-Radio Stereo Headphones HRXS7P3E-01 that fit to my Versaflo. Here is the link to mine:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_EU/PPE_SafetySolutions_EU/Safety/Product_Catalogue/~/3M-PELTOR-FM-Radio-Headsets?N=7576577+3294470178+3294857473&rt=rud

The same set also comes as a headband (normal ear defender style) model. Here is a link to them on Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peltor-FM-Radio-Defenders-Wine-HRXS7A-01/dp/B003617GVQ

I am very pleased with mine and keep meaning to produce an information video about them. I have sent an email to 3M asking them to lend me one of their Bluetooth headsets as I think it would be interesting to show the cheap and cheerful ones as well as the ones that can connect to a mobile phone etc.

Peter

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Thanks, guys!

 

[algibbs77]

I bought a set of Ryobi Tek4 headphones from Home Depot.  While the work ok I wasn't totally pleased.  They don't cancel enough of the machine noise for my taste.  They do allow you to communicate pretty well so that is a plus.

My ear protection of choice for airplanes and the shop is a set of Shure SE215 headphones.  I cannot say enough about good things about them.  The noise isolation is better than anything else I have used.  They reduce noise by about 37dB while a typical set of ear muffs is about 22dB.  I find them to be more comfortable than ear muffs and they don't make me sweat.

 

[Ohc917]

I USA 3M Peltor tactical Xp. They are wunderbar