Thread: Anyone Use Electronic In Ear Hearing Aids

Hi all

I'm looking for feedback from anyone using custom fitted in-ear electronic hearing protection?

EAR, ESP, Sport Ears, Magnum Ear etc......Magnum Ear seems to be the best full in-ear available in NZ, and is used by a couple of guys at the club. The others are readily available in the US, provided you get a mould done here and send it over.

What has your experience been. Any suggestions comments etc?


PS, I'd prefer not to get into a debate about in-ear electronic vs the rest. Yup, they're expensive (but not really, eh!). Yup, normal foam plugs work and usually have a higher NRR. Yup, electronic muffs are great and work fine. IMO however, the price is more than justified by the increased comfort (I can't do muffs for long periods - especially in summer), versatility (I'm going to use them in other situations (buildings sites etc)), and convenience (how many times has a gun gone off while you've had your muffs off or plugs out to talk to someone?).


Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by murky

how many times has a gun gone off while you've had your muffs off or plugs out to talk to someone?

Happened to me twice last Saturday. Welcome to the forum by the way.

I bought some electronic earmuffs and find they work as hearing aids actual amplifying noise, wear them all day on the range. Aye, what?

Yeap, I just got some ESP Hunter?? Takes the boom out, makes it sound like you are using a suppressor. Around $900 incl custom fitting.

Originally Posted by Bulltahr

Yeap, I just got some ESP Hunter?? Takes the boom out, makes it sound like you are using a suppressor. Around $900 incl custom fitting.

Now we're talking!

Did you send an ear mould over to the states? Looks like you might have the "ESP Elite Classic" @ US$900? What was the turnaround? Did you bother sending them a hearing test so they can tune to your ear?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Maca49

I bought some electronic earmuffs and find they work as hearing aids actual amplifying noise, wear them all day on the range. Aye, what?

I got me a pair of these with a little help from another forum member ... they work Mint
Really really cuts down the BOOM!! and you can hear people talking easy as pie,very comfortable and slimline,and I don't get hot in them like I used to when I wear the 3M green ones(BULKY)

To be honest I got sick of the on / off auto thing and just began turning off the mikes. I've just bought ultra slim old school ones off ebay for about $40.

Originally Posted by murky

Now we're talking!

Did you send an ear mould over to the states? Looks like you might have the "ESP Elite Classic" @ US$900? What was the turnaround? Did you bother sending them a hearing test so they can tune to your ear?

Thanks

Nope, heaps cheaper here, (And I did shop around in the states), ear mould here NZ$45, $880 incl. Pacific Ears for Custom Fit GSP1 Gun Sport Ear Plugs. Work awesome and are very comfortable to me. I used to use electronic muffs, but always forgot to turn on, and not practical to use all day long.

I find wearing my Impact earmuffs hurt around my ears after many hours, esp the bit right above my ear where glasses are resting. So I wear them then have a tendency to take them off at the earliest opportunity.

KiwiPlugs

Have picked up some cheap home moulding ones, mix the ingredients together, push into ear and wait. Upside is they work really well, block out a lot of noise, cost effective and fit perfectly. Downside was making them with a cord attatched so they pull out easy and they don't have a microphone for talking to people. But being bright blue, it's easy to see they are in. Funny thing at club shoot last Sunday, was thinking some people weren't wearing hearing protection at all - turns out they had flesh coloured moulded with a built in mic = very tiny, and hard to spot

I got some plugs made a little while ago, was around $400 i think. these things suck, They do work well but they whistle when the wind blows passed them.

I bought some GSP15 prior to duck shooting season, they worked really well apart from not finding an adaptor to fit my ear comfortably. I'm looking into getting a custom moulds done tho I was quoted $130 per ear!

Have you tried these.

Ear Protection - Tactical Solutions Corporation

They have a filter built in (max 85 decibels I think. Is that good enough?).
Anyway, I've bought a pair for when driving the truck (gets a bit 'boomy' when hauling up the Hope saddle and the Lewis!).
Work great.

I have some in the ear jobs. They are comfortable enough. The sound Is a little unnatural/ tinny, but they work very well. As they should for $1700 after the government paid the first grand, which I beleive they do for your first set of hearing aids. I also had some custom made plugs done for $200. I think these are a waste of time. Those little orange rubber buggers with the baffles work just as well, and they only cost about $8 from bunnings when they are in stock. I do a hell of a lot of shooting and think I've had my money's worth. The in the ear jobs I use stalking. Sitting on a hill top with the range finder and cannon, I just use the eight dollar jobs.

What!!!!!??????............... speak up