Customer Reviews

Allen Company Light Weight Low Profile Sound Sensor Hearing Protection, NRR26

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's rather important to understand that this does NOT completely block out sounds. Good if you want to hear someone scream to you, or the kids hollering when they get home from school, or the dog barking. Bad if you want complete, tomb-like quiet.

The package clearly states that the overhead plastic has a canal in it that conducts sounds. It mutes them, but they still make it to your ears. In fact, there are holes at the ears to allow sound to come in from the black overhead piece. So, what are they good for? As someone else noted, they drown out droning of airplanes, machinery, clocks, computers, etc. I have them on right now snugly and tight as the instructions say, and I can still hear the keyboard clicks, but not so much the clock or the computer hum or cars passing outdoors. If my cell phone rang in the next room, I'd still hear it (but faintly).

So, these are great when you still want some degree of hearing... my son plays the guitar in a band, and this cuts the drums. Some who work in a cubicle at work might use it. It's extremely lightweight, causes no head pain at all, and is ratchet adjustable to head size (so you need not resize it every time you use it, like headphones). I own at least 6 different headphone/earphones for noice suppression, and these are far and away the most comfortable. I could wear them for hours.

If you want extreme quiet, see my reviews on two great products: the Bilsom Thunder 3 and the Peltor H10A.

Please do me a quick favor and click if this review did or did not help you, either way your feedback helps me know what to include in the future on the reviews. Thanks, I appreciate it. Have a wonderful day,

Length:: 0:54 Mins

This is my 3rd set of these Allen Sound Sensor headphones, I like them a lot. I keep one in the glove box, one in the range bag and one in my pistol case so I can make sure that I always have hearing protection with me. They fold very flat and do not take up much room. They also don't "make" your ears sweat. Make sure you follow the instructions for installing (putting) them on your head as it does make a difference.

As I stated in the video, I know Amazon would have taken them back if I was not happy, I'm not that concerned, but I wanted others to know that they are 26NNR not 28NNR.



Edit. It appears that Amazon has changed the description on the product to show 26NNR.

I wasn't sure if I would like this product or not. I have used it 6 times now on the range and am very pleased with the performance. It definitely muffles the gun noise and still allows easy conversation with whoever is around you. You forget you have them on sometimes because they are so lightweight.

Good product. I use it for sporting clays and forget I have it on. Much better than plugs and not as heavy and bulky as muffs.

These low-pro hearing protectors by 'Allen Co' are great for anything that requires ear protection. I have used them indoors and out for pistol and rifle shooting, working at the airport with loud jet engines, and even at home to block out the noise so I could get a good nap! These are very light weight, comfortable, and affordable. Buy a couple pairs, one to keep at work, and another for home!

Pros:
Light weight
Low-Profile
Comfortable (comes with extra foam ear pieces)
Adjustable
Great noise reduction rating(28db)
Versatile
Durable

Cons:
They weren't free

They suck... if you are going shooting they will not help more than cotton in your ears! Went to the range with a friend and my ears are still ringing. I had to get out my old muffs after about 5 mins. Save your $$$

I purchased these thinking I could wear a ball cap and the hearing protection at the same time I found them to be very awkward and not much on hearing protection

I bought two pairs of the Allen Sound Sensors for my wife and myself for use in outdoor pistol practice. We used them once and went back to using ear plugs. I have used mine since when using power saws, mainly to have some use for them.

While with very limited use we have not managed to break these, we were not impressed with the quality of the plastic construction for the price. The band holding the two earpieces together, in particular, doesn't provide a very secure fit and looks & feels liable to break.

Acoustically, these perform as advertised, significantly dampening gunshots, power saws, etc., while allowing conversation at reasonable volumes. This is with the *major* caveat that they perform as advertised only if you can get them to fit and keep them where they belong.

Mechanically / ergonomically, we were not at all impressed:

1) The part that goes into the ear is wrapped with a (memory cell?) foam, and extra foam pieces are provided--but inside the thin foam band is a rigid, round plastic core. To achieve a good seal (which is essential to the function of the device) one has to jam this into the ear while giving the whole apparatus about an eighth turn about the ear-to-ear axis of the head. This is difficult and uncomfortable, especially at first. Over time your ears seem to get used to it, but not without some persistent annoyance level.

2) The design is somewhat top-heavy, the band is rather cheesy, and there is not much to prevent the whole thing from rotating off the top of your head and out of your ears. If you will be looking down (e.g., over a power tool) or engaging in any significant movement, you will have to fiddle with these to keep them on. This is very annoying.

3) I had hoped to be able to sling these around the back of the head/neck instead of over the top, to allow for wearing a hat or so as not to interfere with getting shooting / safety glasses on and off. They didn't fit at all for me this way (I couldn't get the orientation of the ear pieces right). So forget about a hat, and be prepared for more fiddling to keep them in if you'll be poking them with glasses.

So in the end, especially given the price, we were pretty dissatisfied. I have them hanging on the power tools in the garage in case I have to make a few cuts, but if I'm on a real project or at the range, I wear good old-fashioned ear plugs, which are more comfortable for longer-term wear and much less likely to require fiddling to keep them working.

first, they don 't fit right, they get loose immediatelly. They don't work as an electronic muff, not even close, because they don't fit tight and get loose.
Personally, I don't recommend them, and don't waste your money as I did!

I work at the IND Airport and am around running APU's and jet engines. These work perfectly, fold to fit in my pocket, easy to wear, no complaints. Noise attenuation is excellent! Great price too. Highly recommended.