lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Anyone used Emtec laboratories molded ear plugs? i need some form of better protection when wildfowling, these don't have any kind of mechanical or electronics in them so i wont be to worried if the get a splash in the salty stuff. i wear sonic valve type when shooting clays or pigeons but find they restrict some of the distant sounds that you need to hear when fowling. i suffer a bit of tinnitus in my right ear so really need to protect my ears more than ever. cheers Edited April 22, 2015 by lister1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Yep - I wear them on the clays and when pigeon shooting. Not so much when doing walked-up rough shooting, as I miss some of the rustling movements in the undergrowth that say a pheasant is about to give me a heart-attack by rising up a foot in front of me. Additionally, my pheasant syndicate is small enough that I may only take 3 or 4 shots a day. No excuse though - I know I should wear them anyway. I find them quite comfortable, other than the right one feeling as though it's been loosened in my ear when I get a good solid cheek-weld. It hasn't loosened of course, but it may have move and now feels different for a minute or two before settling back into full comfort. Saying that, I shot clays on Sunday morning and completely forgot they were in, only realising when driving home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 They sound ok then. Can i ask how much you paid for yours? i do worry that i miss a couple of ducks flying by in the low light when fowling but i cant afford the CENs digital ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn2233 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 They sound ok then. Can i ask how much you paid for yours? i do worry that i miss a couple of ducks flying by in the low light when fowling but i cant afford the CENs digital ones. but you can afford these http://www.censdigital.com/proflex_earplugs.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Yes - I find they sound ok. I can hear conversations perfectly, but the crack of my 12 going off is substantially reduced. I was measured up for mine at a hearing aid place in Cheltenham (Imperial Hearing, I think). They made the mould, sent them off to Emtec who had them ready and back with Imperial Hearing in about a fortnight. Went down their, made sure they were a good fit (I got one red and one blue) and everything sorted. I believe I paid 89 quid all in for them (i.e. including the cost of the moulds being taken) The case them come in has my "number" written on the side so if I lose one I can quote the number and get a replacement sent out immediately. I too avoided the CENS offerings. Too rich for my blood, although "hearing is hearing and never comes back", and I was concerned about having to service the electronic and perform battery replacements back at HQ. There's not much can go wrong with the Noisebreakers other than physically lose one. Edited April 22, 2015 by Flynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 looks like the price of the CENS passive jobbies are very similar, i wonder how they compare to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Myself and my dad have a pair each and dads on his second set, we are both very happy with ours and I even where mine when using chainsaws and strimmers under the muffs that are on the helemet ! Very happy with them and would recomend them to anyone. ATB Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I got some custom moulded plugs from Acscustoms, cost me around £100, better value than cens in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 do you feel you can still hear normal sounds around you? ie would you hear a bird fly by? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 i had the cens passives turn up last week. used them on the skeet range on saturday. very suprised actually at how much you can still hear with them. talking is fine, and you can hear birds etc. the only gripe i have, is that as i'm used to wearing peltor comtac digitals, the gun sound is still noticably louder with the cens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 just been looking at the ACS PRO Impulse custom range. £115 anyone use these? i had the cens passives turn up last week. used them on the skeet range on saturday. very suprised actually at how much you can still hear with them. talking is fine, and you can hear birds etc. the only gripe i have, is that as i'm used to wearing peltor comtac digitals, the gun sound is still noticably louder with the cens. They say sound can still penetrate through the skin and bone of your head when wearing inner ear plugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 just been looking at the ACS PRO Impulse custom range. £115 anyone use these? cant see any difference between them and the cens passives to be honest, other than the fact that they are £15 dearer than the cens... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I guess the technology is the same. i would think both are better than the sonic valve ACU life ones i have. the sonic valve ones definitely stop the high db sound getting through and i find them ok for clay shooting but seem to muffle the ambient sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I use the Emtec moulded ear protection and have done so for over 25 years . They are effective, easy to wear and unobtrusive. The Company is also good to deal with, I have lost dust covers and complete inserts and they have always been very helpful in solving the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Cheers everyone. I use the Emtec moulded ear protection and have done so for over 25 years . They are effective, easy to wear and unobtrusive. The Company is also good to deal with, I have lost dust covers and complete inserts and they have always been very helpful in solving the problem. Hello Cranfield, do you find they allow normal level sounds to pass through with plenty of clarity? Cheers everyone. looks like Emtec could be the winner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmcg Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I went for cens passives last year, must say I really like them. Very comfortable to wear, do muffle sounds and conversations but I would rather that than loose my hearing. I tried for Emtecs first but couldn't find anywhere local to do the moulds, the nearest was 30 miles away and were only available on 2 or 3 days a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Cheers everyone. Hello Cranfield, do you find they allow normal level sounds to pass through with plenty of clarity? Cheers everyone. looks like Emtec could be the winner I often forget I have them in when moving from field to field and can hear normal conversation easily, plus I listen to Radio 4 (World at One and The Archers) in the hide without any problems, but the heaviest 12ga load is more than comfortable. In the past I have tried other types and makes, even friends very, very, expensive digital selective head phone types and still prefer the Emtec for value and effectiveness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 The Emtecs sem like a good deal, there is a hearing aid shop in Wisbech that does them as well as the CENS ones. i think a little muffled sounds is a better choice than loss of hearing. the tinnitus in my ear is some what annoying though i seem to be able to block it out most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Hearing birds flying, some times but i wouldnt be confident that you would 100% but I bet thats the same as all the others electric or not. My only problem is when I put them them in i seem to talk very loud to compensate when its not needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Emtecs work well for me. Had them probably 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDP Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I just got a pair of Emtec's, they are a fab company to deal with! I went to Specsavers to have the ear impressions taken for £20, I then posted them over to Emtec and they charged me £80 as it's £100 total and they knock off the ear impression cost. They were back with me really quickly and I am very pleased with them. They are a fantastic fit and seem like decent quality. Can hear conversations fairly well and still get protection from the gunshot noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 My noisebreakers are fine and can honestly say they havent impaired my rough shooting, use them for chainsawing and motorbike too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 I get supplied with them for when we are out on plant at work very effective, chap comes in takes the moulds and a week later you have them, and if you lose them you have the mould number and they can knock out a new set to order,I have also heard they are useful for shooting. KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Cheers everyone. I'm going to give the place in Wisbech a call tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 As an aside, tinnitus in only one ear ought to be checked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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