Are you going shooting? Or do you need just need to hear your boss amidst loud environments? Whichever the case, you need electronic ear protection. In this article, we’ll look at two widely compared hearing protection brands, Pro Ears and Peltor.
Pro Ears and Peltor are two of the largest hearing protection brands in the United States. They both have a line of products that protect your ears from dangerously loud environments from hunting to construction work. Pro Ears for instance has four lines of electronic earmuffs and they include: gold Series, Pro Series, Ultra Series and Revo Series. They are all built for different audiences and features with the ReVo Series built for children. On the other hand, the Peltor series many different categories for all types of consumers. All in all, both brands have delivered some amazing products over the years. In the table below, we’ll compare one of the best products from each brand.
What are the differences between Pro Ears Gold II and Peltor TacticalPro?
Pro Ears Gold II |
Peltor TacticalPro |
|
Noise reduction rating |
30 dB (decibels) |
26 dB |
Comfort padding |
Gel Ear Seals, Pro foam leather on headband |
liquid- and gel-filled ear cushions |
Power source |
4 AAA batteries
|
2 AA batteries |
Sound activation protection rating |
70 dB |
82 dB |
Weight |
0.4 kg |
0.4 kg |
Availability |
Pro Ears vs Peltor – How do they compare?
Noise reduction rating (NRR)
The most important aspect when looking for hearing protection is the noise reduction rating. The higher the NRR, the more efficient the earmuffs are at reducing loud noises. Here, the Pro Ears Gold II series has a higher rating of 30 dB against 26 dB on the Peltor TacticalPro. This means that the Pro Ears does a better job at reducing noise levels around you.The recommended rating for shooting for instance is between 26 and 30 dB depending on the type of gun. With 30 dB on the Pro Ears, you are guaranteed of the best protection for your ears.
Size and portability
When it comes to portability, there are two main factors to consider: the weight of the product and how small the earmuffs fold. Both the pro ears and Peltor earmuffs weigh 0.4 kg. With this lightweight, they do not feel heavy while wearing nor are they a burden to carry. On the other hand, foldability is where these two products differ. Here, the Peltor is the better choice because it folds into a smaller pack. This is made possible by the twofold design that allows it to fold into itself. Pro Earsare bulkier and really don’t fold as smoothly as its counterpart.
Comfort
If you’re buying hearing protection, you’ll probably be wearing them for several hours a day. This means they should be very comfortable on your face. Comfort is determined by a few factors including: level of cushioning and ear cup design. Both the Pro Ears Gold and Peltor TacticalPro feature a gel cushioning with thick paddings on the headbands. Therefore, they feel soft and comfortable against the skin. The major difference comes in ear design (size and shape). In this category, the Pro Earsonce again beats the Peltorin comfort. This is because the Pro Ears are fitted with a slimmerearmuffs and are square shaped at the bottom. These two features allow for easy and comfortable leaning on the shoulders when aiming a gun.
Ease of controls
This refers to how easy it is to control various aspects of the ear protection. Control buttons and knobs are used for this. Here, the Peltor ear protection beats the Pro Ears because it has more controls and a better designed buttons. Being both high end products, I feel that the simple plastic knob on the Pro Ears is cheap and doesn’t offer value for money. However, the three button touchpad on the Peltor offers more controls and feels premium.
Pro Ears vs Peltor – A comparison overview
Pro Ears Gold II 30
The Pro Ears Gold series is a line of high end electronic ear protection from the Pro Ears Company. The Gold II 30 is the latest product and features some of great new technology. First, it is equipped with Dynamic Level Sound Compression (DSLC) which allows you to hear softer sounds and eliminates tinny sounds. This feature is what makes the product such a wonderful addition to your hunting gear. Additionally, the Gold II 30 protection features a high noise reduction rating of 30 dB and a sound activation rating of 70 db. What this means is that noise over 70 decibels is reduced and below 70 decibels is increased. With this, you can hear people around you while being shielded from the loud environment.
Furthermore, the Pro Ears earmuffs are quite comfortable. They are fitted with gel ear seals that feel great against the skin. The ear cups are also square shaped at the bottom for perfect grip on the ears. One thing I also loved about this pair is the LED indicator for the battery status. It comes in quite handy to prevent low battery instances during hunting. Other wonderful features include: automatic shutdown, low battery LED indicator, 1.5 ms response time.Lastly, this ear protection is powered by 4 AAA batteries and has a 5 year warranty.
Pros
- Comes with powerful military grade circuitry
- Lightweight
- Gel filled ear cushions for the ultimate comfort experience
- Low battery LED light indicator
- High NRR of 30 db.
Cons
- Ear cups are too thickly padded making it somewhat uncomfortable
- Cheap knobs don’t feel premium
Peltor Tactical Pro
- Amplifies low-level sounds while suppressing dangerous impulse noises
- Protects hearing with a Noise Reduction Rating of 26 dB
- Offers clear, ambient sound and voice recognition in noisy environments
- Ability to be used with portable radios
Whether you are an industrial worker or gun shooter, the Peltor TacticalPro is a great pair of earmuffs to consider having. It is great at suppressing harmful impulse noise while amplifying surrounding sounds such as voices. The TactilePro also has noise reduction rating of 26 decibels and a sound amplification rating of 82 decibels. This means that sounds below 82 db will be amplified making it possible to hear your colleagues as you work. On top of this, there are also high quality microphones placed on each ear cup. They have been well designed to pick up small ambient sounds perfectly. Plus, they’re also omnidirectional which makes them wonderful during hunts. There’s also an audio jack to plug in your music or other devices.
The Peltor Tactical Pro feature a wide and soft padded headband that distributes weight equally. In addition, it is lightweight meaning you really don’t feel like you’re wearing earmuffs. The unit is powered by 2 AA batteries which in turn provide up to 1000 hours of battery life. There’s also a warning signal when the battery is low.
Pros
- Great design that feels premium
- Three touchpad controls that enhance user experience
- Omnidirectional microphones make it great for hunting
- Twofold design allows for portability
- Amazing battery life of 1000 hours
Cons
- Warning alert comes just five minutes before it powers off
Conclusion
To conclude, these are both high end products that offer great value for money. However, the Pro Ears is cheaper for has a higher NR rating making it a great balanced choice. The Peltor offers military grade performance with amazing battery life.
So which is better? Pro Ears or Peltor?
Generally speaking, these units are quite balanced. The Pro Ears is however better as it is great for daily use and offers a better user experience. This is because it is lighter and more comfortable than Peltor Tactical Pro.
FAQs
-
Is the Pro Ears bulky?
Yes. It can be however folded easily through its two-way fold design
-
Does the Peltor Tactical Pro be used with portable radios?
Yes. It supports portable radios
