Headphones in the Shop

[Owego]

I like to play music while I'm in the shop.  Listening is problematic, whenever I start the dust collector I don my ear protection and it's to much of a hassle to take them off between bouts of collector noise.  I'm thinking that a headset (wireless, noise canceling, over ear) would work.  Looked around at what's available, prices range from $70 to $300, and I haven't a clue as to what will work (if any).  Does anyone have experience with headsets in this environment ?

Tom

 

[dltflt]

I have Jabra wire ear buds then I put my hearing protect on. Works good.

Corrected the brand name. Stupid autocorrect.

 

[rvieceli]

I'm using wired earbuds and then put on my hearing protection muffs. I'm looking for some Bluetooth ones.

 

[Peter_C]

I grabbed a set of Parrot Ziks from ebay a long time ago for half price. They are heavy, but sound AWESOME, and have noise canceling on par with the best. Bluetooth with replaceable batteries in the field is the only way to go. One battery is always on the USB charger, and I can swap batteries in a matter of seconds, without removing the headset. The new Ziks have 4 microphones and are lighter weight. Bose and others are top notch too. I do not believe the Beats headphones have replaceable batteries?? Unfortunately they are still not to be considered "hearing protection", so don't take them shooting! 3M does make a Bluetooth headset that is hearing protection rated, but...it is not top quality audio wise. Comfort IS important and something to consider. It is one thing to wear headphones for 10 minutes. It is a whole other deal to wear them for 12 hour work days. Any quirk with your ears put 50% isopropyl alcohol with 50% white vinegar in each ear for a few minutes.

FWIW mostly I listen to audio books from the local library, for FREE, off my phone, and tear thru a book every couple of days. I do pay for Pandora though for when I want music. Also my headset is used for most phone calls.

Edit: For errors.

 

[Vimmelman]

Best ones i've used are Peltors WS Alert. Use them everyday for between 2-10 hours without a issue, standard double AA batteries. Great audio quality(seriously) and foremost(for me) wireless. I listen to audiobooks or music everytime i use them. Using them for a couple of years.



http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/en_GB/PPE_SafetySolutions_EU/Safety/Products/Product-Catalog-PoW/?PC_Z7_U00M8B1A0OP590IB369UJT2UU4000000_nid=XCM7CLRRVBbeN2T9F8L6MPgl

Great support from 3M aswell if anything should go wrong.

 

[festivus]

I just bought the 3M FM radio ones. Expensive for what they are and no Bluetooth.

http://amzn.to/1lRexwU (bugger - now £30 cheaper than when I got them a few weeks ago!!)

The radio reception is not great - but it's a real boon listening even to the radio whilst machining, sanding etc. I wish I'd got something similar years ago.

 

[travisj]

I use the 3M TEKK work tunes with a DeWalt Bluetooth adapter.  I like it a lot.  I have meant to actually Velcro the Bluetooth holster to the side of the phones, but it's been 6 months and I still use it with it hanging around the antenna.

 

[Hunter]

I use a good hearing protector with audio in and this little Bluetooth receiver... Works great in the shop and on a tractor. The Bluetooth receiver also has a mic so you can answer calls too.

Howard Leight 1030110 Sync Noise-Blocking Stereo Earmuff
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004U4A5RU?dpID=41yG0Rna0rL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_SL500_SR116%2C150_&refRID=Q7BNBQKX2V76SC5M28P8&ref_=ya_od_pd_dx_bx_1

Outdoor Tech OT6001 ADAPT - Bluetooth Adapter for 3.5mm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009A136T2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

 

[grbmds]

Best ones i've used are Peltors WS Alert. Use them everyday for between 2-10 hours without a issue, standard double AA batteries. Great audio quality(seriously) and foremost(for me) wireless. I listen to audiobooks or music everytime i use them. Using them for a couple of years.



http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/en_GB/PPE_SafetySolutions_EU/Safety/Products/Product-Catalog-PoW/?PC_Z7_U00M8B1A0OP590IB369UJT2UU4000000_nid=XCM7CLRRVBbeN2T9F8L6MPgl

Great support from 3M aswell if anything should go wrong.

[member=58614]Vimmelman[/member] I've found all Bluetooth seems to be blocked by various in-shop obstacles, including the human body. For example, if  I put my iPhone in my pocket the audio in my Bluetooth ear buds will periodically cut out. Distance from the source is obviously not the issue. I've also tried them in the shop and, depending on where I am and what might be between me and the source, the same thing happens. Are there any of of these periodic loss of audio with the over ear Bluetooth headphones you recommend - Peltor WS Alert?

 

[Stone Message]

I have the 3M Alert. They have a good quality FM radio and you can save 4 channels in memory. They have Bluetooth and you can make and receive phone calls from a connected smartphone without having to take them off (there is a microphone that you can flip down when required). They have a pair of dedicated microphones that sample the sound in the workshop. You can then have a safe level of that sound mixed into whatever you are listening to (volume level is adjustable). This is a great safety feature as you can have your ears protected, listen to the radio or your smartphone music but still hear someone talking to you or a shout (emergency situation). This feature is stereo so you know which direction the shout or voice is coming from. Here is my video:



Peter

 

[grbmds]

I have the 3M Alert. They have a good quality FM radio and you can save 4 channels in memory. They have Bluetooth and you can make and receive phone calls from a connected smartphone without having to take them off (there is a microphone that you can flip down when required). They have a pair of dedicated microphones that sample the sound in the workshop. You can then have a safe level of that sound mixed into whatever you are listening to (volume level is adjustable). This is a great safety feature as you can have your ears protected, listen to the radio or your smartphone music but still hear someone talking to you or a shout (emergency situation). This feature is stereo so you know which direction the shout or voice is coming from. Here is my video:



Peter

I'm a little confused . . . Are the Peltors and 3M Alert the same head phones? They seem to have slightly different names and are attributed to two different companies.

 

[Vimmelman]

Best ones i've used are Peltors WS Alert. Use them everyday for between 2-10 hours without a issue, standard double AA batteries. Great audio quality(seriously) and foremost(for me) wireless. I listen to audiobooks or music everytime i use them. Using them for a couple of years.



http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/en_GB/PPE_SafetySolutions_EU/Safety/Products/Product-Catalog-PoW/?PC_Z7_U00M8B1A0OP590IB369UJT2UU4000000_nid=XCM7CLRRVBbeN2T9F8L6MPgl

Great support from 3M aswell if anything should go wrong.

[member=58614]Vimmelman[/member] I've found all Bluetooth seems to be blocked by various in-shop obstacles, including the human body. For example, if  I put my iPhone in my pocket the audio in my Bluetooth ear buds will periodically cut out. Distance from the source is obviously not the issue. I've also tried them in the shop and, depending on where I am and what might be between me and the source, the same thing happens. Are there any of of these periodic loss of audio with the over ear Bluetooth headphones you recommend - Peltor WS Alert?

I understand your issue, have had several bluetooth earbuds that has had issues with objects(even my own body). But never a issue here. The only time they've cut out is when i accidently leave the phone on the 2:nd floor and go out. When i'm half way out of the house it starts to stutter  [smile]

I've had the 3M Peltor WS alert XP and the cheaper Peltor Radio. The 'radio' issue i had for about 6 month before going crazy, the sound quality was good, the battery life excellent, but the radio reception was terrible and cut out constantly.

The only downside to the WS Alert is the battery life, i'd recommend either their own-charger(which i think is overpriced) or rechargeable batteries. They last quite a while(couple of days) even with constant bluetooth and taking calls, but nowhere near the Peltor radio.

Checked Peters video, seems to be the same when i looked at the box.

(Peltor is owned by 3M i think? Thats the reason for the name.)

You wont be disappointed with them if you plan on using them for longer periods of time. They are on my head 90% while im working, either taking calls or listening to Spotify,radio or a podcast, no issue at all. The monitor function(hearing your surroundings) works great, can be easily be tuned(or turned off) with 1-2 button presses.

Most important - they are comfortable for an entire days work.

 

[Stone Message]

All 3M ear defenders and headsets have the Peltor name. I am not sure if it is a branded sub of 3M or a trademark carried across in some contract between 3M and Peltor.

As far as we mere mortals are concerned they mean the same thing.

Added later...

I just spotted Vimmelman's comments and agree with them completely.

There is no fading of the Bluetooth. I often leave my iPhone on my "camera" bench where it is safe and can go anywhere (max 30 feet) in the workshop with no problems at all. I also wear the XP Alert when riding the mower. I once left my iPhone in a room at the front of the house and I was cutting grass at the back. I was still connected even when about 60 feet away but then it would disconnect as I drove further away. 60 feet is pretty good.

Peter

 

[jt073]

I use my Bose QuietComfort 15 noise cancelling headphones when running any machinery.

I bought them initially for travelling - they are really good on flights whether listening to music, watching a film or just for noise cancelling.

I always wear them when cutting the grass on the lawn tractor when I plug them in to either my little DAB radio or listen to some BBC iplayer programmes I download on my iPhone.

In the workshop I have a pretty decent stereo system with a Sonos unit connected (as from yesterday this can now access the Apple Music service whoohoo!).  I tend to prefer just the headphones when machining, but could attach the DAB radio or iPhone as necessary.

I did initially look for some Bluetooth headphones, but did not find what I wanted and anyway you still need a Bluetooth enabled source which I did not have except the iPhone.

The Bose headphones are not cheap - full price I recall was about £280, although there are some small discounted offers (ignoring the counterfeit ones I first bought on eBay ....!).  They were a revelation when I first tried them. Battery life is not an issue as they are not providing the amplification etc, just the noise cancelling circuitry - I think a AAA battery lasts about 10 hours, maybe more.

Cheers

 

[Holmz]

I often wear etymotics with the rubber sleeves. And often with no music just using them as sound deadining. The noise cancellors cancel up to a point... That level is not infinite.
So one gets better loud noise performance with muffs rather than noise cancellation.

One could also use ear buds under ear muffs.
The etymotics do ~15 dB attenuation.
There are moulded silicon units that do >30 dB attenuation.
I forget the brand but I had a set, which are not cheap. Earphones and reading glasses I now buy in Bulk.

 

[Hunter]

I haven't had any problems with the Bluetooth cutting out.  Either with the phone in pocket or just left charging in the shop.  You get the expected 30ft range in that case without issue.

I looked at the 3M/Peltior headphones, but this gave me a rated solution for 70$ total.  The earmuffs are passive, and the adapter gets several hours of run on a charge (and includes the little USB charging cable).

Re: the Bose, I have them too and love them. They are great on planes and such (of course) and great for other regular sources of noise too.  The thing about them is that they only block out sound that repeats.  This means that for quickly changing noises, they don't block much at all.  Gun shots are a good example of something they hardly touch, a more practical example is nailers.  This is why Bose sells them for travel, and rated versions for planes, but never rates them as actual hearing protection.

 

[jt073]

I haven't had any problems with the Bluetooth cutting out.  Either with the phone in pocket or just left charging in the shop.  You get the expected 30ft range in that case without issue.

I looked at the 3M/Peltior headphones, but this gave me a rated solution for 70$ total.  The earmuffs are passive, and the adapter gets several hours of run on a charge (and includes the little USB charging cable).

Re: the Bose, I have them too and love them. They are great on planes and such (of course) and great for other regular sources of noise too.  The thing about them is that they only block out sound that repeats.  This means that for quickly changing noises, they don't block much at all.  Gun shots are a good example of something they hardly touch, a more practical example is nailers.  This is why Bose sells them for travel, and rated versions for planes, but never rates them as actual hearing protection.

No gunshots in my workshop!

Yes, I am sure the Bose are not industrially rated, but they do the job very well. One consideration is that you don't want to block out all the sound as you need feedback from the machine so you can hear if it is straining etc (likewise on the mower) so for me it provides just the right level of attenuation.

Cheers

 

[grbmds]

Have read all of the comments below ... I have Bose Quiet Comforts and they are great; nothing better as far as I'm concerned. Problem is Bose does not make Bluetooth noise canceling head phone; either over ear or buds, just wired. Since I've ripped the plug out of my accidentally a number of times, I don't use them in the shop or anywhere else I need ear protection. Plus, while they do cut out a lot of noise, they are not rated for hearing protection.

I would try the Peltors but they are almost $400 I think (unless I'm looking at the wrong ones). In addition, I have not use for the microphone as I don't even think about taking calls in the shop. Is the microphone detachable? Based on feedback here they do appear to be the only hearing protection on the market where wireless connection possible. All the rest are not really made for hearing protection.

If you're looking for inexpensive wired earbuds, you might try the Ryobi Phone Works ear buds. They actually seem to provide the same level of hearing protection as foam earplugs and they are only $20. Again, though, they are wired.

 

[Holmz]

There are also the foam sleeves for the eytmotics. They are ~60 plus the sleeves.
So you basically have -30dB and protection.

The fancy ones cost more, but after ripping out the cord a few times neither the fancy nor the cheap work... So I buy the cheap ones.

 

[OssieGT]

For Aussies - I think Bunnings were advertising some Bluetooth/FM/rechargeable headphones for $69 - Tactix brand.  Said it had a 23db attenuation rating for noise.

Cheers