I was wondering if there were any of you who used earplugs with noise cancellation technology.

I would prefer something not bulky and fairly unnoticeable, but open to your thoughts and opinions as my experience with hearing protection is limited.

What do military guys use?
What do you use?

Surefire has interesting things...but I'd rather have your opinion than spend money on something I myself cannot try out first.

You mean electronic ones? Ive used different models by Peltor and Sordin, we are issued the Peltors but, I think the Sordins are better. But they are definately noticeable.

I recently picked up a pair of the Surefire earpro (non electronic) and was pretty impressed, good noise reduction without muffling sounds. I paid like 10 bucks. They are clear and pretty much look like a hearing aid.

But if you are going to be causing noises that loud, who cares if they are noticeable?

As far as I can tell the [U.S.] military doesn't use hearing protection in the field, or if they do, they use foam earplugs.

I have electronic earmuffs (the big kind) and they work pretty well. It's convenient to be able to hear people talk while at the same time protecting your hearing from loud noises.

You mean electronic ones? Ive used different models by Peltor and Sordin, we are issued the Peltors but, I think the Sordins are better. But they are definately noticeable.

I recently picked up a pair of the Surefire earpro (non electronic) and was pretty impressed, good noise reduction without muffling sounds. I paid like 10 bucks. They are clear and pretty much look like a hearing aid.

But if you are going to be causing noises that loud, who cares if they are noticeable?

I appreciate the responses guys.

I was looking at surefire and they make the $10.00 up to almost $1,000 ear pieces. :eek:

I just don't like the really like the feel of the earmuff style...maybe its just the ones I have available to use...just not comfortable and I would like electronic ones. So I was looking for options.

I was hoping more people would post but I figure if it gets lots of looks and few responses then people are probably seeing the information posted as sufficient. Am I wrong?

We actually trialed a system called the QuietPro. It worked like a hearing aid, but had noise cancellation technology built in. It also connected to your squad radios, PRC153s.

It was an unmitigated disaster.

Team leaders and squad leaders got so much radio chatter that they'd hardly be able to hear a damn thing going on around them. When there wasn't radio chatter, the cancellation would kick in at a way too low decible level, so almost any loud-ish noise would shut them down, and being that they were foam earplugs that went straight into the ear canal, the actually were very effective at being earplugs.

Again for effect: UNMITIGATED DISASTER

We actually trialed a system called the QuietPro. It worked like a hearing aid, but had noise cancellation technology built in. It also connected to your squad radios, PRC153s.

It was an unmitigated disaster.

Team leaders and squad leaders got so much radio chatter that they'd hardly be able to hear a damn thing going on around them. When there wasn't radio chatter, the cancellation would kick in at a way too low decible level, so almost any loud-ish noise would shut them down, and being that they were foam earplugs that went straight into the ear canal, the actually were very effective at being earplugs.

Again for effect: UNMITIGATED DISASTER

Thanks for the response.

So what do you use or recommend based on your experience in the field?

A suppressor.

A suppressor.

But they work best with subsonic? ammo right?

I was being a smartass with that answer. Of course ear protection of any kind when possible is what you should do. In combat, the story is different. That's just something you have to deal with in the grunts, the hearing loss. On the bright side, I hear you can collect some small disability pension for tinnitus.

And yes, a suppressor will work better with subsonic ammo.

I was being a smartass with that answer. Of course ear protection of any kind when possible is what you should do. In combat, the story is different. That's just something you have to deal with in the grunts, the hearing loss. On the bright side, I hear you can collect some small disability pension for tinnitus.

And yes, a suppressor will work better with subsonic ammo.


Well thanks for your input. I will be buying soon..just wanted to get some info.

But they work best with subsonic? ammo right?

Yup, you can check my suppressor threads anytime you want.
I could only test them with standard ammo, and they were silent, but still identifiable as a gunshot.
If you remove the supersonic crack, then they'd hardly register as a shot.

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6V6KDMzHXo
I built them myself.

Cool.

As far as I can tell the [U.S.] military doesn't use hearing protection in the field, or if they do, they use foam earplugs.


Well I guess you cant tell very far then!

http://www.botachtactical.com/msasuproearm.html - Those are the Sordins, if you shop around you can find them for 100 or so - I dont recall where I purchased mine. The Peltor Comtac sets we are issued.

Here are the Surefire ones. Again, shop around for a better price.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/561898-REG/Surefire_EP4_MPR_EP4_Sonic_Defenders_Plus.html

To me the headset is more comfortable then having something crammed in my ear.

As for supressors, even without subsonic ammo it reduces the noise enough to not rattle your ears. You can tell its a gunshot but, you only hear the crack and whoever you are shooting at wont have a clue what direction its coming from. Subsonic ammo in a rifle cartridge means a very short range, poor terminal ballistics and usually they will not cycle the action- not worth it in most cases.

Really? They issue you peltors?

Do people use them? I'm curious because the responses I got in this thread (http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?t=2111805) led me to believe otherwise...

Thanks for the response reggie especially the link and Jodevil...too. I need to check those out.

Hell yea. The Army does want to save soldiers hearing. Not everyone gets them. Im lucky because in my unit its pretty much ask and recieve as far as gear goes. But, I can say EVERY soldier is issued hearing protection, even if it is just crappy foam plugs.

And there are a lot of dudes that dont wanna wear earpro at the range cause "they wont have them on in a gunfight" or because they are uncomfortable or whatever. Morons.

A couple times a week my ears will start ringing and it lasts for 10 minutes to a couple hours, its annoying as SHIT and I can imagine having it all the time. And for soldiers 1 explosion is all it takes to blow an eardrum or two.

And since Im not cool enough in this forum, maybe a video of some Army Special Forces soldiers wearing hearing protection would be cool? Here ya go:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlfhukLHf2g

Really? They issue you peltors?

Do people use them? I'm curious because the responses I got in this thread (http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?t=2111805) led me to believe otherwise...

Thanks for the info and vid.