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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Fancy hearing protection

June 21, 2010 6:35 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

I'm looking for a new pair of ear muffs. I can find them with built-in FM radios all day long, but I want to find a pair with an audio jack, so I can plug in my iPod. I will mostly use them for lawn work.

I have tried regular headphones, and to hear them over the mower, everything is painfully loud.

I also tried earbuds inside of normal earmuffs, and that was just uncomfortable and didn't work well.

Can I find what I'm actually looking for? Will noise-cancelling headphones work? Just do my work without music?

Thanks for the info.
June 21, 2010 6:41 p.m. SilverFleet Reader

Go to Guitar Center (or online) and go into the drum section. Buy these:

They are like $40-50, but they are exactly what you are looking for. I love mine!
June 21, 2010 6:43 p.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

+1 for protecting your ears, wish I had earlier in life. I use a pair of muffs from Remington that cut 35db's when using mower/power tools. I add foam ear plugs at the shooting range. Plugs alone under my helmet during road races. Suprised you ear buds aren't working out, seems like a good plan. Then again, if you've got to buds turned up too high, it's all for naught.... Watch the pros and see whats under their helmets for radios, seems like they use a bud type thing.
June 21, 2010 6:58 p.m. Tommy Suddard SonDork

MAKE ran an article on making your own.

You should be able to read it from here: http://makezine.com/05/heirloom/
June 21, 2010 7:06 p.m. alex Dork

Pretty sure I saw something like what you're looking for in Hitachi's (or whoever is making that grey/puke-green stuff) new line of Li-Ion toys at the Home Despot recently. I'd give you a better answer but dinner's being served and I trust your Google-Fu is strong.
June 21, 2010 7:09 p.m. abumason New Reader

Been shooting with noise canceling Peltors for years. The ones I have also have a mic and inner speaker for comms, but the plug is military specific - not sure if it could be adapted to work with an iPod.

Also I think they're about $250 or so for the tactical models - so definitely not grassroots - maybe check out your local shooting range and see what they have.
June 21, 2010 7:34 p.m. Appleseed SuperDork

alex wrote:

Pretty sure I saw something like what you're looking for in Hitachi's (or whoever is making that grey/puke-green stuff) new line of Li-Ion toys at the Home Despot recently. I'd give you a better answer but dinner's being served and I trust your Google-Fu is strong.

That would be Hitachi.
June 21, 2010 7:43 p.m. pigeon HalfDork

Custom molded headphone tips Not cheap at $120ish but you'll get great protection and not have to wear muffs.
June 21, 2010 7:59 p.m. Keith SuperDork

I use a set of Etymotic ER6 Isolator earbuds on my iPod. They do an amazing job of cutting out background noise. I was wearing them when I drove the Targa Miata from California to Colorado, and the only reason I noticed the primary tubes had fallen out of the collector was the vibration as the exhaust fell on to the subframe. Not because I had the volume cranked, but because of the sound isolation. They're fantastic for air travel as well - I always wear ear protection of some sort on a plane. I just got a second set for my wife because she travels so much.

If you want muffs, get some Peltors. I adapted a set of the military ones to work with my rally intercom - I chopped off the military plug and worked out the wiring to make it work. But you only need a "listen only" headset, and they're a lot cheaper. A quick search on eBay for "Peltor headset" shows one with a Buy It Now of $29.95, and the 1/4" plug could easily be used with an adapter or chopped off and replaced with a 1/8". I expect they're mono, though - but this set is apparently fitted with stereo plugs. Spend some time on the Peltor website to figure out what ones would work, then search the part number on eBay.
June 22, 2010 9:27 a.m. pilotbraden New Reader

Aviation headsets will do that. I would recommend a David clark for durability. I have a pair of David Clark's that have been in use since the late 80's with only 2-3 ear seal replacements. I was flying piston engine freight planes and they were always being stepped on or sat upon in the dark. I stepped up to a Bose noise cancelling set several years ago. They are quieter but not nearly as rugged. I have a jack adapter, from Radio Shack, and plug it into my portable CD player when driving the Miata long distance. If you get the model without a microphone they are not terribly expensive.
June 22, 2010 9:36 a.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

Lotus has the patent on the noise cancelling headphones, BTW.

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