Hearing Protection

Nowadays you have a couple choices in type, earbuds or earmuffs.

So think about your use and if you will be wearing a hat and/or some other PPE or headgear, and how that might interfere with hearing protection.

You might want one of each type for different situations. I have earbuds for working in the shop or welding and muff style for working in the yard running noisy equipment or on the tractor.
 
I guess I am looking for over the ear style - to provide noise reduction too (unless you are telling me that ear buds provide good noise reduction).
 
Bob D. said:
Snip.

You might want one of each type for different situations.

That's very true.

For me:

When I don't need to listen to the radio in the shop: NRR 31http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=76327&cat=1,42207

When shop music (radio) is enjoyed but mask and wrap-around glasses are not worn: NRR 31http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=53610&cat=1,42207,42227,53610 (My go-to hearing protection)

When mask and wrap-around glasses (i.e. regular glasses instead of wearing the safety glasses)/faceshield are in place: NRR 25https://www.premiersafety.com/ear-protection/banded/3m-e-a-r-express-pod-plugs-earplugs

Hearing protectors (NRR 22 - 25 e.g.http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=73973&cat=1,280,42207,42227,73973 ) are quite an hassle to use, interfering with my other safety gear, and uncomfortable to use in the winter. Good for lawn-mowing only.

 
Vipersmith said:
I guess I am looking for over the ear style - to provide noise reduction too (unless you are telling me that ear buds provide good noise reduction).

Yes they do. My ISOtunes are supposed to provide 26dB noise reduction IIRC.
https://isotunesaudio.com/collections/earplug-headphones/products/isotunes

Yup, I remembered correctly. I have the original version. They work well and are more comfortable than muffs when it's hot. When you take them out, you can stick the earpieces together around your neck so you won't lose them.
 
Dan C said:
I use these for everything from mowing and trimming the lawn to flying 1/2 way around the world. I have the SE215 and SE425 and Se535. The 215s with a set of the comply foam tips are hard to beat. They work almost as good as straight earplugs and the sound reproduction is fantastic.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SE215Bl--shure-se215-sound-isolating-earphones-blue

Hi Dan,

Is Noise Attenuation the same thing as Noise Reduction? Google doesn't answer my question well. If not, is there any information about the NRR on those sound isolating earphones.
 
The best I could find on data for the NRR was here from Shure: https://www.shure.com/en-GB/support/find-an-answer/isolation-of-shure-earphones-and-nrr-rating

That being said they work tremendously well for me and the tips you use are important. The Comply are the best isolation I have found.

I am by no means an expert on attenuation vs reduction I can tell you my active noise cancelling Bose (that use mics and are powered) are fine. But on the Shure block much more. With the Bose on a flight I can hear announcements and some conversational noise. With the Shure and music on lowish volume I don’t hear a darn thing.

Hope this helps
 
As I understand it, noise attenuation reduces ALL sounds by a specific amount, while noise cancelling reduces or eliminates steady-state noise by injecting sound that is 180° out of phase with the original sound.  Noise cancelling does NOT reduce non-pattern noise because it's not regular and predictable.  Noise cancelling is great on aircraft where the noise is steady-state, but useless for impact noises like gunfire. 
 
Sparktrician said:
Snip.  Noise cancelling is great on aircraft where the noise is steady-state, but useless for impact noises like gunfire.

This layman explanation is better than anything I found on Google. Thanks.
 
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