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Active Hearing Protection Compatible with Radio?

Lollingsgrad

AF-UK patch owner
Joined
Nov 23, 2017
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After ending up with tinnitus for a couple of days from being in a building when a grenade went off I'm keen to start protecting my hearing. Active protection looks like it would help whilst being useful in other ways (and the enormous cans look cool to boot). Does anyone know of any that allow you to connect your radio/Walkie Talkie?

If it's important then my radio has one of those rectangular ports that separate the headphones and mic but I suspect I can find an adaptor for whatever the cans have.

 
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most of the ones i've seen (including the ones i own) have a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for an audio input, so i'm assuming it shouldnt be too hard to get a radio cable :D

the amplifying ones are awesome, you can hear EVERYTHING except grenades.

 
What do you do about mic if you only have audio input on the cans?

 
After ending up with tinnitus for a couple of days after being in a building when a grenade went off I'm keen to start protecting my hearing. Active protection looks like it would help whilst being useful in other ways (and the enormous cans look cool to boot). Does anyone know of any that allow you to connect your radio/Walkie Talkie?

If it's important then my radio has one of those rectangular ports that separate the headphones and mic but I suspect I can find an adaptor for whatever the cans have.
Look up JCI comms on facebook. He built me a PTT with Racal Frontiers in ear noise cancelling buds. All connects to a Baofeng radio but he can change to what ever connections your radio requires.

 
So for reference my radios are,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06VWNRJDY

A way to side step the problem, think I could just cut off the ear bud it comes with and attach a 3.5mm male jack? It looks like then I'd be able to hook it up to these without further faff or expense,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Honeywell-1018953-Howard-Leight-Defender/dp/B00D3FG2SS
Bettet option if you want to run those cans

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BAOFENG-Speaker-MIC-UV-5R-5REPLUS/dp/B00BYMKKT4

https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Data-3-5mm-Stereo-Meter-Black/dp/B00077DC3S

 
Been thinking of something like this for when I play. Has issues with tinnitus myself (years of raving by the bassbins) and fed up of the shock to the system when nades go off at The Mall.. the sound amplifying cans would be a benefit too!!

 
Been thinking of something like this for when I play. Has issues with tinnitus myself (years of raving by the bassbins) and fed up of the shock to the system when nades go off at The Mall.. the sound amplifying cans would be a benefit too!!
When you see me next have a look at my set up.

 
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These things are almost half the price and have good reviews,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07BSB7YW4/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A24AEIIXDULKWI&psc=1&th=1#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1536081008998

22dB noise reduction vs 33dB but the reviews of the 33dB one suggested they were very heavy and not great for extended use. Considering I just want to avoid hearing damage, not necessarily achieve total sound isolation, do we think these would do the trick?
Me personally bud if I find safety equipment that’s half the going price of the rest of similar products then I’d be VERY suspicious of quality of build and or longevity of use . 

PS I treat Amazon ‘reviews’ with a big pinch of salt , I only go by actual face to face or read trusted site reviews . ?

 
These things are almost half the price and have good reviews,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07BSB7YW4/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A24AEIIXDULKWI&psc=1&th=1#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1536081008998

22dB noise reduction vs 33dB but the reviews of the 33dB one suggested they were very heavy and not great for extended use. Considering I just want to avoid hearing damage, not necessarily achieve total sound isolation, do we think these would do the trick?


Yeah....no.

Howard Leights are very good, but also check out the Earmor range. I have the M32H helmet mounted ones and they're very good. They do need their own PTT if you want to use them with comms as they work with "proper" style ones not the Ztac style. https://www.camoraids.com/product-tag/Opsmen/

 
Look up JCI comms on facebook. He built me a PTT with Racal Frontiers in ear noise cancelling buds. All connects to a Baofeng radio but he can change to what ever connections your radio requires.
Hey, looking at getting racals to use with my radio while wearing my dye mask. Can you advise if they fit well without discomfort? I tried a pair of AKG IEMs I got with my Samsung and they are fine but I don't know how much the racals stick out or not hard to find people talking about them online let alone in combination with a paintball helmet. 

Not sure what tips fit them as they seem to require external ones some people wear https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surefire-Sonic-Defenders-Black-Medium/dp/B004DH0YOS/ref=pd_ybh_a_8?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=DCM1P28WEXFYCHHWSN19&th=1&psc=1 but I hear regular buds work on them as well. 

 
Hey, looking at getting racals to use with my radio while wearing my dye mask. Can you advise if they fit well without discomfort? I tried a pair of AKG IEMs I got with my Samsung and they are fine but I don't know how much the racals stick out or not hard to find people talking about them online let alone in combination with a paintball helmet. 

Not sure what tips fit them as they seem to require external ones some people wear https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surefire-Sonic-Defenders-Black-Medium/dp/B004DH0YOS/ref=pd_ybh_a_8?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=DCM1P28WEXFYCHHWSN19&th=1&psc=1 but I hear regular buds work on them as 
 
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These things are almost half the price and have good reviews,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07BSB7YW4/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A24AEIIXDULKWI&psc=1&th=1#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1536081008998

22dB noise reduction vs 33dB but the reviews of the 33dB one suggested they were very heavy and not great for extended use. Considering I just want to avoid hearing damage, not necessarily achieve total sound isolation, do we think these would do the trick?


I had a pair of these they lasted the day and worked well, had them connected to me speaker mic so i could talk, the problem was when i came to use them the next time.

no radio or hearing amplification.

 
Won't work with my paintball mask unfortunately and I've been hit with enough  xx brand of paper pyro to want to consider protecting my hearing and I have enough trouble hearing people speaking to me currently without putting earphones in/on to block out more noise. 

 
For those considering Racal Frontiers, I use mine with Surefire EP.4s they stick out from your ear slightly however when the noise cancelling kicks in you know you’re safe had mk5s go off at my feet whilst crouched with no issues. They comfortable enough to wear all day long but make sure you get the correct size buds. 

To answer the question yes they can be used with ‘normal’ ear phone tips however you will have less protection as they don’t fully “plug” your ear canal and they may not hold them self in correctly. 

I got my Racals from JCI comms with a standard NATO plug so I could use a standard PTT and I will be buying a set of comtacs for use with a helmet soon.

 
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