Why should you have to choose between listening to music, sports, podcasts, or talk radio, and having hearing protection? While there have been several “WorkTunes” type hearing protection solutions over the years, you’re usually limited to an AM/FM radio and a jack for your MP3 player if you’re lucky.
With Bluetooth wireless technology now mature and built into most if not all smartphones, it has become quite commonplace. So why do we still have to deal with cords for certain audio playback applications where they can be a big nuisance? Cords can get in the way, are easily pulled out, and they limit your movement, especially if they are slightly too short or way too long.
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If you’re commuting on a train, or watching a movie on your laptop while your roommate sleeps, an audio cord isn’t a big deal. But if you’re working with or around power tools, a stray cord can be a hassle or even a hazard.
That’s why I was surprised there were such a limited number of Bluetooth-capable hearing protectors. The most solid offering I could find was the 3M wireless WorkTunes hearing protectors.
Of course, the most important feature of any hearing protection is how much they attenuate sound. These 3M wireless WorkTunes sport a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 24 dB. Not a spectacular number, but not horrible either.
The next most important factor is probably how well they fit. 3M redesigned the headband from their corded WorkTunes to include vents. Also, so the hearing protectors fit better over hats, the padding is removable.
These hearing protectors run off of 2 AA batteries, although there is an option for a lithium battery pack. They have an auto shutoff feature, which turns off the electronics after 2 hours to save the batteries. 3M doesn’t elaborate, but presumably they mean 2 hours of inactivity.
Besides streaming audio from your phone or MP3 player over a Bluetooth connection, the 3M Wireless WorkTunes have a built in AM/FM radio tuner and can save up to 50 stations as presets.
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They headphones also feature “Safe Volume Technology,” which supposedly corrects the audio levels to a safe exposure level for an 8 hour day.
The rotary dial lets you both tune the radio and operate the Bluetooth controls, so you can keep your smartphone or other Bluetooth-equipped device in your pocket.
If you were looking for a way to answer your calls, it looks like these WorkTunes only support playback over Bluetooth, since they don’t mention a microphone.
They also have something called “Audio Assist Technology” which supposedly guides you through setting up and operating the electronics without taking off the ear muffs.
Going wireless is going to cost you more. While the wired set of WorkTunes hearing protectors from 3M run about $38, these Bluetooth hearing protectors cost at least double as much. The lowest price I could find was on Amazon, where they’ll run you $81 (including shipping).
Price: $81
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First Thoughts
I’ve been looking for Bluetooth hearing protectors for a while, and frankly I am still looking. The 3M wireless WorkTunes seem a little overpriced to me, but they looked a little better than the cheaper Ion Audio Bluetooth Hearing Protectors that seem to be the only other comparable device
Right now I’ve got old Bluetooth headphones and a pair of old WorkTunes hearing protectors taken apart on my desk, but I just haven’t come up with an elegant way of using the speakers in the WorkTunes to play the sound from the Bluetooth headphones and still have access to all the functions of the headphones and a way to charge the battery.
I’d like to start using hearing protection more. When reviewing the Craftsman sound meter, I measured many of the activities I do at home, like vacuuming the house and running the dust collectors in my shop, and found I should be wearing hearing protection more of the time, but I’d still like to be able to listen to something so I don’t go out of my mind with boredom.
If you know of any other wireless music-playing hearing protection solutions, please let us know in the comments!
Chris Petersen
Got a pair of these during Amazon’s Black Friday deals last fall for $68, along with a pair as a gift for my brother. We both would highly recommend them. My set replaced a year-old set of Peltor WorkTunes that had only a wired connection which I had rigged up with an MPOW Bluetooth Receiver/Transmitter that charges off of USB. I had jury-rigged that little reciever to the side of the WorkTunes with some double-sided foam tape and a short flat audio cable routed through the band of the Peltors. That setup worked okay, but I was constantly having to mess with the little receiver to make sure it was connecting. And if I wanted to shift between inputs, change volume, etc., I was having to take them off to glance at the side of the unit. And I had to pull out my phone to advance tracks, etc.
Contrast that to these 3M units – the “Audio Assist Technology” wasn’t even a feature I had noticed when buying these but it’s really nice – it basically verbally tells you what you’re doing when you hit a given control on the Hearing Protector, so you get audio confirmation when changing inputs, scanning radio stations, pausing & advancing tracks, etc over Bluetooth. They even have a fairly usable simple EQ system built-in. They may be a little on the pricey side compared to the cheaper wired alternatives, but from what I’ve seen so far it’s worth the money. I do wish for the money they had included the lithium battery pack, but since these typically live in the garage it’s probably easier to just change some AA batteries instead of having to put a USB charger out there.
As for not being able to answer the phone, there are even more expensive specialized units out there that I believe will do this (typically built for the aviation industry), but honestly, I wouldn’t want to try and take a phone call while I was doing ANYTHING I would have these on for. I wouldn’t want to compete with the background noise nor would I want the extra distraction while the saw’s running or I’m using the leaf blower or even mowing the lawn. Just my two cents, but I’m guessing that’s why you don’t see these with microphones. It will tell you you have an incoming call, I believe (I only tried that once when I first got them and haven’t had it come up when I’ve been wearing them recently), so that’s at least a clue you might need to stop what you’re doing and answer the phone.
Nigel
These are not as pricey as the Elvex Bluetooth headphones with a boom mike – near $200. http://www.amleo.com/elvex-bluetooth-headphones-22db-nrr/p/COM660W/
fred
I looked at many headset “hearing protectors” over the years. Many like these would never find a place on one of my jobs – because they are not OSHA compliant. For your home shop they are probably fine
Frommy
Fred
Actually OSHA requires that “The protector must reduce employee exposures
to at least 90 dB and to 85 dB when an STS already has occurred in the worker’s hearing. Employers must show employees how to use and care for their protectors and supervise them on the job to ensure that they continue to wear them correctly.”
They addressed this very topic in the 1980s, here’s a link to the interpretation: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=19146
I would say you are not correct with the blanket statement that these are not compliant, it would be depend on the type of activity the worker is doing.
I do know that many general contractors and construction managers have outlawed music on jobsites as a courtesy to other workers
fred
I am only going by some of the advertising, product information sheets etc.
Some of the vendors (like Ace Hardware) for this device, as an example have a data sheet that include the wording: “OSHA Compliant : No”
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=83769576
Having seen OSHA inspectors visiting a jobsite and looking at both tools that were in use and procedures being followed, I always tried to err on the side of caution when it came to PPE and up-to-date training in its proper use.
On the subject of music, especially on residential and commercial jobs where residents and/or other business employees were present – we tried to do without it. At the very least we’d ask for permission and also ask that we be told if it ever became an annoyance. I also remember a case where a building owner required that the contractors and subs not play music citing the need for an ASCAP license to do so.
I come from an age when workers may have been less sensitive to others – thinking nothing about radio-playing and smoking on a job. Being a reformed smoker (gave it up when my wife was pregnant with our first child in the mid 1970’s) I always insisted that our workers took it outside even when homeowners were smokers – and of course in my neck of the woods smoking in (and sometimes even in proximity to) commercial establishments is generally now forbidden by law.
Richard
You could e-mail Decibullz and ask them for a demo pair. I would love to see a review of their new wireless headphones. I have a wired set and they are pretty good at attenuating external noise and can in fact be used a 31 NRR in ear plug with a different adapter.
https://www.decibullz.com/product/decibullz-wireless/
Benjamen
Interesting. That’s an option I didn’t consider.
Andrew
You could always go the DIY route:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Headphones/?ALLSTEPS
Andrew
A little more “elegant”
http://www.instructables.com/id/Noise-cancelling-Bluetooth-Headphones-15/?ALLSTEPS
Jon
I use the Howard Leight 1030110 (25 db reduction) when I’m mowing and snowblowing (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U4A5RU). They are *not* bluetooth wireless but all you have to do is add aA2DP wireless adapter like this (http://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Streambot-Bluetooth-Streaming-Smartphones/dp/B00MJMV0GU/) and viola! Bluetooth hearing protection cans for under $50!
Admittedly 25 db reduction is not fantastic but it works just fine for my weekend warrior purposes.
Hilton
Lee Valley has a set with the ability to answer calls, has a built-in rechargeable battery and boasts a 25dB noise reduction. $65.
Benjamen
Yep, these ones:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=73973&cat=1,42207,42227
They are the Ion Audio ones I mentioned.
Hilton
Ah yes thanks. Lee Valley aren’t always that forthcoming with brand names and often I can’t tell what they are.
Bruce
I’ve got a worker that swears by these.
http://www.amazon.com/ePark-Necklace-Wireless-Bluetooth-Headphone/dp/B00NBG8HEG
They easily fit under his existing ear muffs, cost nothing if he kills it. Great audio and call volume.
My big complaint about these is the lack of audio amplifiers. I can have shooting muffs that have mics that pass sound through to the speakers and then cut out when you reach 85db. Why doesn’t this exist on all hearing protection? The major complaint that my workers have with hearing protection is how much harder it is to communicate with each other.
Another option is Sena
http://www.sena.com/product/sph10/
I have SMH10s in all our family motorcycle helmets. The speakers have more than enough power to punch right through ear plugs. Plug up, put on your helmet, enjoy 2 way comms, music, phone communication without ever hearing road noise or wind blast. These are not cheap and I’d buy them again even if they cost twice as much. They are that good.