Electronic ear plugs

[OldMan50]

The family is going to gift me a set of electronic ear plugs ( my choice of which ones )
A combination of Birthday and the fact a can’t hear very well.
My question is how much ear protection do they offer when used while turned off? Is this what’s referred to as “passive” mode? Reason for asking is when attending loud events they won’t be trying to amplify sounds that are already too loud, but not as loud as a firearm to “electronically“ shut off. I hope this makes sense. Plus when hunting the amplifier part would be useful. The hunting and shooting part is pretty well covered in most ads.
Currently looking at the AXIL XCOR. But I can’t find any info as to what it does while using in “off” mode. I sent them ( rather my son did ) an EMail asking about it but haven’t heard anything back yet. Anyone using these?

Thank you in advance for any input OLDMAN50

 

[Goatshoes]

I don't know that I can speak for any brands other than what I use, the Walkers Game ears.

The first and most important thing I can say is that everyone should be using hearing protection from day one. I am currently paying the price for not, and it sux. Seriously, with what I know now I would use it not only for firearms noise but lawn mowing, vacuuming, power tool use etc.

My game ears came with nothing more than foam earplugs to protect my ears from the noise, and the hearing aid tubes ran through that. It is, I suppose, as effective as foam ear plugs, which I feel are the minimal level of protection anyone should use. I had an audiologist create custom molded ear plugs and ran the hearing tubes through that; much better.

So, to answer your question, "how much ear protection do they offer when used while turned off?", I'd have to say it just depends on what is plugging your ear. The electronic function does nothing to protect your hearing other than to turn off the amplification. I suppose that you can argue that the amplifier protects your hearing, by the nature of the fact that it encourages you to use hearing protection.

I hope that helps.

 

[Wildabeest]

Following. I kept insisting that my kids were mumbling. They kept insisting that my hearing was bad. So I got a hearing test. Turns out it isn’t all them - although they do mumble! I’ve got a follow up next week to start looking at hearing aid options. I’ve done a bit of research myself and am intrigued by some of the “noise” cancelling options.

 

[rjthehunter]

I have walker ones and they work great, but have heard really good things about goAxil too. Mine take batteries and the Axil are rechargeable. I do know walker makes rechargeable ones now too!

 

[44hunter45]

I have Walkers, but I am wanting a set of Tetras. These are programmable as hearing aids. HSA eligible.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I have the Otto Noizebarrier Micro ear buds. They come in a small case that recharges them. The charge lasts all day, and they are all day comfortable. They come with the silicone ear pieces and the foam ear pieces. They have a normal setting, and an enhanced setting that picks up faint sounds like an ek bugle. They protect my ears from the muzzle blast of my braked .340 Weatherby. You can recharge them about 20 times before you have to recharge the case with the supplied USB cord.

 

[OldMan50]

Those of you that have electronic plugs, how do they perform when used while turned off?? Do they work like “regular” foam plugs? Or not like using anything?
Can’t find any numbers for sound reduction in what I think is called passive mode. Still no word from AXIL.
OLDMAN50

 

[Laelkhunter]

My Otto act as regular ear plugs when turned off. The earpieces are foam or silicone (both come with it). The foam provide more noise suppression than the silicone (according to the paperwork that comes with them), and I find the foam are more comfortable for all day use.

 

[morgaj1]

My wife bought me a set of Axil XCOR for my birthday this year and I returned them. I could not hear any conversation, no matter the setting. I may have gotten a defective pair, but they didn't work.

 

[OldMan50]

The more I checked into them, the more I was against them. Still haven’t gotten a response from them either.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I have otto noizebarriers as well. 2 sets actually because I temporarily lost the first one.. They work well. I also got some aftermarket foam ear pieces that i found more comfortable than the factory ones that came with it. They work well for hunting but i really only use them for tractor and chainsaw work these days as I mostly shoot/hunt suppressed.

Ive seen some pretty negative reviews on the axil ones.

 

[Chingon]

I have Axil's. Meh. They're serviceable.

I recently got Apple Airpod Pro 3's. I think these are the ticket, especially for someone like you with hearing damage. Their noise cancelling outdoors (weird reverb when I shoot inside a little tunnel hut but that's an edge case) is better than my Axil's, and the bonus is that they are certified as clinical grade hearing aids. For when you're not shooting, they can be used to amplify. They even have a little hearing test you do to see if they need to adjust in each ear.

Worth a shot IMO.

 

[Buzzy]

I have the Otto Noizebarrier Micro ear buds. They come in a small case that recharges them. The charge lasts all day, and they are all day comfortable. They come with the silicone ear pieces and the foam ear pieces. They have a normal setting, and an enhanced setting that picks up faint sounds like an ek bugle. They protect my ears from the muzzle blast of my braked .340 Weatherby. You can recharge them about 20 times before you have to recharge the case with the supplied USB cord.

Second this recommendation

 

[npaden]

Am I the only crazy person who thinks the AirPod Pros are about as good as any of them?

I’m still using regular ear muffs shooting at paper but the AirPod Pros seem to work pretty well.

 

[Robert N]

Read into the AirPods - as in, really read into the statements that Apple makes about them. They do not dampen external noise much. The noise cancelling component of them is more about driving down ambient background noise and not sudden single loud noises. A gunshot will simply blast right through the ability of the AirPods natural noise damping ability.

The noise cancelling component cannot overcome that single blast.

I do have a set of Axil earbuds (wired, behind the neck, bluetooth noise cancelling). I also have two other sets of high end in-ear buds (Sport Ears) as well as some very nice Walker style muffs (which work great in the winter when I want my ears a bit warmer).

Here’s my reality: the noise sampled through the microphones has a tinny sound and is always slightly behind (like 1/100 second) the actual noise. The noise hits the mic, the computer inside processes the loudness out, sampling it down to an acceptable level (let’s just say 75 db) and the foam earbud or muffs do the primary noise abatement.

The Axil’s are good for the price…sure, they sound a little tinny…the wind is annoying…but they absolutely do work and once I get used to the sound it’s fine.

I think I spent about $120 on the Axils and have used them for the past two years. Money well spent.

 

[Chingon]

Read into the AirPods - as in, really read into the statements that Apple makes about them. They do not dampen external noise much. The noise cancelling component of them is more about driving down ambient background noise and not sudden single loud noises. A gunshot will simply blast right through the ability of the AirPods natural noise damping ability.

The noise cancelling component cannot overcome that single blast.

I do have a set of Axil earbuds (wired, behind the neck, bluetooth noise cancelling). I also have two other sets of high end in-ear buds (Sport Ears) as well as some very nice Walker style muffs (which work great in the winter when I want my ears a bit warmer).

Here’s my reality: the noise sampled through the microphones has a tinny sound and is always slightly behind (like 1/100 second) the actual noise. The noise hits the mic, the computer inside processes the loudness out, sampling it down to an acceptable level (let’s just say 75 db) and the foam earbud or muffs do the primary noise abatement.

The Axil’s are good for the price…sure, they sound a little tinny…the wind is annoying…but they absolutely do work and once I get used to the sound it’s fine.

I think I spent about $120 on the Axils and have used them for the past two years. Money well spent.

The caveat is that the electronic noise cancelling function of the Airpods isn't meant for rapid excursions in noise (probably). However, the new Airpods Pro 3 have really great tight fitting earbud material that really seals in my ears compared to my Axils. Basically, they're much better ear plugs that are very effective, especially since everyone SHOULD be shooting suppressed unless you're an uncultured savage

 

[Malta899]

I like the Peltors. work well and are adjustable in terms of the ear inserts.

 

[ArtP]

I have my first-ever elk hunt coming up in just under a month and I'm looking for something too. I'd prefer not to use earmuffs, since they're bulky and interfere with shouldering a rifle. I also want something that I can either put in/on quickly when I need to take a shot, or that I can just wear while I'm out, without blocking all the sounds I want to hear. I've used a couple pairs of "active" earmuffs, but I hate the tinny sound reproduction and wind noise. With the ones I've tried, at least, I still feel like I'm missing out on quiet sounds and directional sound. However, I also don't really want to spend hundreds of dollars for something that might get used once a year...

 

[Snailz]

The family is going to gift me a set of electronic ear plugs ( my choice of which ones )
A combination of Birthday and the fact a can’t hear very well.
My question is how much ear protection do they offer when used while turned off? Is this what’s referred to as “passive” mode? Reason for asking is when attending loud events they won’t be trying to amplify sounds that are already too loud, but not as loud as a firearm to “electronically“ shut off. I hope this makes sense. Plus when hunting the amplifier part would be useful. The hunting and shooting part is pretty well covered in most ads.
Currently looking at the AXIL XCOR. But I can’t find any info as to what it does while using in “off” mode. I sent them ( rather my son did ) an EMail asking about it but haven’t heard anything back yet. Anyone using these?

Thank you in advance for any input OLDMAN50

So in ear plugs are going to function identically when they’re turned off. They work by basically cutting feed-through fast enough that you avoid hearing damage. The electronics don’t somehow reduce the force of outside sounds coming in. So when they’re turned off, they perform to their rated level of reduction, assuming the company didn’t lie about their performance.

I just want a pair that is smart enough to not amplify close sounds that I make so damn much. If you’re moving around, you lose all sense of peace in the outdoors for all the damn racket of every step you take sounding super loud. Anymore if I’m walking around (deer or squirrel hunting) with a pair of earplugs “floating” in my ear and I push them in when it’s go time. It slows you down some when squirrel hunting, but it’s better than having every crunch of leaves you make sound 8x louder than it is in reality just so you can hear a branch crash or warning whistle far off.

 

[Hammsolo]

Those of you that have electronic plugs, how do they perform when used while turned off?? Do they work like “regular” foam plugs? Or not like using anything?
Can’t find any numbers for sound reduction in what I think is called passive mode. Still no word from AXIL.
OLDMAN50

I have then and I use the foam tips. I don’t know the exact reduction, but they’re quiet. I shoot muzzle brakes. Off means that the sound enhancement is off. So, it I essentially like wearing foam plugs.