Buying Guide

What are ear muffs and how do they work?

The anti-noise headphones in circulation will allow you to perform all those operations that normally produce an excessively high and repetitive noise without annoying your ears: these hearing protectors are normally anti-noise headphones or earmuffs that isolate partially or totally from sounds external to protect your ears.

Keep in mind that a normal conversation will be between 60 and 65 dB (decibels) while the sound of a motorcycle can go up to 95 dB. The music in the disco, on the other hand, can reach up to 112 dB while the ambulance siren exceeds 120 dB. To understand what dangers we run every day, it must be said that any prolonged sound that exceeds 85 Db is considered harmful to hearing. For this reason, in many working and non-working conditions, it is necessary to have good sound insulation.

When to use them?

Noise in the workplace is an important and widespread problem in various professional fields. Prolonged exposure to noise can, in fact, lead to a progressive and irreversible decrease in hearing capacity. For this reason, the choice and supply of anti-noise headphones is of particular importance and requires an in-depth knowledge of the reference legislation and a careful analysis of the working conditions.

Not wearing noise-canceling headphones in environments where they are deemed necessary is not only reckless, but also illegal, so wearing them will help preserve your health and that of your workers. There are also other circumstances, outside the working context, in which they are used, such as, for example, at the shooting range or for hunting.

Comfort

Good headphones must not only be able to stem noise, safeguarding hearing; they must also have comfort among their characteristics, since they are worn for many hours a day. They should be:

  • Comfortable
  • Not too heavy
  • With adjustable headband
  • With soft, breathable and hypoallergenic padding
  • Foldable

Comfort is a fundamental benchmark, especially for those who have to wear headphones for many hours, so design is of great importance, not so much from an aesthetic point of view, as from a functional point of view. After using the headphones, you will need to store or carry them, which is why a foldable model is more suitable.

In addition, there are also anti-noise earphones, which, thanks to their very small size and weight, are the most practical to carry with you but, above all, can also be worn under a protective helmet. Some also use them at night to counteract any disturbing noises.

Closed headphones, the best solution

Is it better to have an open headphone or a closed headphone? If the aim is to reduce noise, the answer is: better a closed headphone. But let’s see why. Closed models have pavilions that create a sort of seal, blocking noises coming from outside. Thanks to the quality, materials and design of the pavilion, but also the type of bearings, this type of headphones represent the best solution for reducing external noise.

The same is true in reverse, that is, the sound emitted is conveyed towards the ear without dispersing towards the outside, thus allowing you to have a good sound pressure, without any sound being perceived from the outside.

They are ideal for listening to music without disturbing those around you, perhaps in the library or near other people watching TV or reading a book. Obviously the insulation capacity depends on the type and intensity of the external noise, but with normal noises the insulation is excellent.

Open headphones

The open headphones, as it is easy to guess, have an opening on the outside of the pavilion, and therefore are not suitable for reducing external noise. In these models the acoustic insulation is significantly lower in both directions, that is both inlet and outlet, because the air is able to pass freely. Therefore, the people around you will be able to perceive the music you are listening to, and external noises will be easily perceived, especially the more intense ones.

If you want to isolate yourself from the outside world to fully immerse yourself in your favorite music, this type of headphones is not the best solution, unless you turn up the volume a lot or are in a very quiet room. Open headphones are suitable for those who want to be aware of what is happening around, for example if you want to listen to music or see a movie, but perceive if someone calls you, talks to you or if something important happens around you.

Passive or active?

Given that no headphone completely isolates from the outside, because noises are attenuated but never completely eliminated, two types of anti-noise headphones can be distinguished on the market:

  • Passive
  • Active

The former are limited to isolating the ear from surrounding noises and protecting it from low tones, which are typical, for example, of a construction site, a workshop, an industrial plant etc. These are the main areas in which the ear needs help, but nothing prevents you from using headphones in various other situations of daily life, to protect yourself from annoying neighbors, to study with greater concentration, when playing a musical instrument or at the shooting range.

As for the active headphones, the speech is more complex. They are able to effectively block out loud noises, for example those above 82 dB, but they do so selectively. It means that they allow you to hear other sounds (such as the voices of nearby people or alarms) and are ideal in a situation where you need to isolate yourself from potentially dangerous noises (such as a shot), but you also need to communicate.

What the legislation says?

Preventing noise pollution and defending oneself from its effects means implementing appropriate interventions so that sound sources, such as industrial processing machines, appliances, airplanes, etc., do not emit loud sounds that cause hearing disturbances or damage.

Each anti-noise headset must be accompanied by sound attenuation data (i.e. the ability of the headset to reduce the noise level perceived by the ear) provided by the manufacturer and determined on the basis of what is specified in the UNI EN 458 standard.

Attenuation must be such that it does not generate insufficient protection (> 82 dB and / or> 135 dB) or, vice versa, over-protection (<65 dB). An attenuation that brings daily noise exposure levels between 65 and 80 decibels (dB) and below 135 dB is considered acceptable. As established by the ministry, the risk assessment is the first step to take in choosing the anti-noise headphones to be used in business environments.
Bestseller No. 1
Ear Defenders, Noise Reduction Earmuffs with Soft Foam Ear Cups, Hearing Protection 31dB Highest SNR, Adjustable Noise Cancelling Ear Muffs for Shooting, Hunting, Mowing, DIY, Etc with Carrying Bag
370 Reviews
Ear Defenders, Noise Reduction Earmuffs with Soft Foam Ear Cups, Hearing Protection 31dB Highest SNR, Adjustable Noise Cancelling Ear Muffs for Shooting, Hunting, Mowing, DIY, Etc with Carrying Bag
  • γ€π‡πˆπ†π‡ ππŽπˆπ’π„ π‚π€ππ‚π„π‹π‹πˆππ†...
  • γ€π‚πŽπŒπ…πŽπ‘π“π€ππ‹π„ π“π‡π‘πŽπ”π†π‡πŽπ”π“...
  • γ€π…πˆπ“π’ 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 π’πˆπ™π„π’γ€‘: Our adult ear...
30%Bestseller No. 2
ProCase Ear Defenders Adults, NRR 28dB Hearing Protection Earmuffs Noise Cancelling Headphones, Sound Blocking Ear Muffs for Autism Shooting Construction Mowing -Red
20,391 Reviews
ProCase Ear Defenders Adults, NRR 28dB Hearing Protection Earmuffs Noise Cancelling Headphones, Sound Blocking Ear Muffs for Autism Shooting Construction Mowing -Red
  • βœ… ProCase Ear Protection with soft padded headband reduces the pressure on your head for...
  • βœ… Constructed by solid ABS-shell and thickened noise-dampening foam, the ear muffs offer...
  • βœ… Adjustable headband and 360Β°rotatable ear cups with comfortable foam can be adjusted...
Bestseller No. 3
Vanderfields Ear Defenders Adults -26dB SNR - Midnight Black - Protection Passive Noise Cancelling Headphones - Safety Earmuffs Ear Protectors - Hearing Protection Shooting - Ear Defenders Autism, DIY
13,369 Reviews
Vanderfields Ear Defenders Adults -26dB SNR - Midnight Black - Protection Passive Noise Cancelling Headphones - Safety Earmuffs Ear Protectors - Hearing Protection Shooting - Ear Defenders Autism, DIY
  • Unlike other Passive Noise Cancelling Ear Defenders, V-Slick is Adjustable to 95% of...
  • Enjoy the Comfort for Adult Ear Defenders Autism, shooting ear defenders, mowing, DIY,...
  • Say Bye to the Frustration of Broken Adult Ear Muffs. The HQ ABS cups, a solid metal frame...
Bestseller No. 4
Soundproof Ear Muffs for Sleeping - Winter Warm Noise Cancelling Earmuffs | Skin Friendly Earmuffs for Cold Weather, Portable Ear Muffs for Home, Travel, Apartment Scaua
12 Reviews
Soundproof Ear Muffs for Sleeping - Winter Warm Noise Cancelling Earmuffs | Skin Friendly Earmuffs for Cold Weather, Portable Ear Muffs for Home, Travel, Apartment Scaua
  • ♣Universal Application: These ear muffs are designed to block out unwanted sounds and...
  • ♣Warm and Comfortable: These noise reduction ear muffs are made of high density sponges...
  • ♣Effortless Transport: You'll have no trouble taking these noise reduction ear muffs...
Bestseller No. 5
Ear Defenders Shooting Noise Cancelling Headphones, Sound Blocking Ear Muffs for Autism Hunting Construction Machinery Work Mowing Soundproof Hearing Protector
  • ❀【Compact and Lightweight】 - Travel drawstring bag included for ease of packing them...
  • ❀【Soft and Comfortable】 - The ear cups' thick memory foam and covered with soft...
  • ❀【Widely Used】 - The ear muffs are not only suitable for work in construction,...
Bestseller No. 6
Vanderfields Ear Defenders Adults - Protection Passive Noise Cancelling Headphones - Safety Earmuffs Ear Protectors - Hearing Protection Ear Defenders Autism, Mowing, DIY - 32dB SNR - Grey Wolf
  • Unlike other Passive Noise Cancelling Ear Defenders, V-Fort is Adjustable to 95% of...
  • Enjoy the Comfort for Adult Ear Defenders Autism, shooting ear defenders, mowing, DIY,...
  • Say Bye to the Frustration of Broken Adult Ear Muffs. The HQ ABS cups, a solid metal frame...
31%Bestseller No. 7
3M Peltor Optime I, H510AC1, Ear Muffs Headband, Lightweight Ear defenders, Hearing Protection reduces noise level by up to 27dB, Pack of 1,Yellow
705 Reviews
3M Peltor Optime I, H510AC1, Ear Muffs Headband, Lightweight Ear defenders, Hearing Protection reduces noise level by up to 27dB, Pack of 1,Yellow
  • Comfortable and effective hearing protection
  • Soft wide cushions help reduce pressure around the ears to improve comfort and wearability
  • Low profile cup and wire headband design.
14%Bestseller No. 8
ProCase Ear Defenders Adults, SNR 38dB Professional Hearing Protection Noise Cancelling Headphones Earmuffs with Adjustable Headband for Autism Hunting Shooting Gardening DIY Working -Black
1,530 Reviews
ProCase Ear Defenders Adults, SNR 38dB Professional Hearing Protection Noise Cancelling Headphones Earmuffs with Adjustable Headband for Autism Hunting Shooting Gardening DIY Working -Black
  • βœ… Upgraded Noise Reduction Effect: offers a SNR 38dB / NRR 35 dB rating noise reduction;...
  • βœ… Upgraded Metal Headband: built to withstand super intense stretch, providing an...
  • βœ… Comfortable to Wear: ergonomically designed headband reduces the pressure on your...
Bestseller No. 9
Soundbloc Earplugsβ„’ Thermo Foam (60 Pairs) – Foam Ear Plug for Sleeping Travel Work High Noise Cancelling Protection Motorsports 38dB – M/L
  • UNMATCHED NOISE REDUCING THERMO FOAM EARPLUGS – Soundbloc earplugs will rebound in 30-45...
  • SUPERIOR QUALITY, HIGH DENSITY - The most complete foam earplug on the market. Soundbloc...
  • IMPROVE SLEEP AND WELLBEING – When we sleep better, we’re ready to perform. Soundbloc...
Bestseller No. 10
PRETEX Ear Defenders with SNR 34dB - Lightweight Ear Muffs Protection for Adults - Adjustable Noise Cancelling Headphones - Over Ear Earmuffs for Work or Home - Yellow
1,759 Reviews
PRETEX Ear Defenders with SNR 34dB - Lightweight Ear Muffs Protection for Adults - Adjustable Noise Cancelling Headphones - Over Ear Earmuffs for Work or Home - Yellow
  • Audio Ear Defenders: Our PRETEX Ear Defenders are designed to be durable and provide you...
  • Lightweight with High Wearing Comfort: The light sealing rings, offer high strength even...
  • Protective Seal: Our noise cancelling ear defenders have an optimal seal that helps to...

Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker