Questions on Peltor and Elvex headsets

[Jet boater]

I think I'm going to buy a set, but I have some questions that they don't make clear on their websites.

For those of you that own either, what model do you have?

How old are yours?

Do they have digital tuning, seek, and scan?

Do they have station presets? How many?

Thanks,
D. Tom

[Eric ELM]

I have the Peltor's that has the knob tuning. I think this is the 5th season and they have been through it all. The more expensive model, new since I got mine, has digital tuning and pre sets. Ray Kirby has a set of these.

I wouldn't mow without them now. :)

[TLS]

I have the Yellow Elvex's. Every now and then the knob gets bumped and the stations change, no biggie. Second season on them, will probably last 5 seasons or so. I would love a $150 pair of digitally tuned, with presets, and FM and AM bands ( for those approaching storms and traffic). The comfort of my Elvex's is great, just wish my ears wouldn't be so white!!!

[cemeterymower]

We have used the Elvex (2 pair) rechargable headsets for the last two years, they are well worth the investment, We have 0 complaints. I do not know about the other brand but I need to check on the difference. I paid like 160$ a pair for these back then and I was just a little worried if they would hold up and so far they have been excellent. Good luck. And may the best headset win.

[KirbysLawn]

I have the Peltors, these: http://www.labsafety.com/store/product.asp?dept_id=5942&pf_id=38418

They have digital scan, 4 presets, & an adjustable mic for outside noise. Got mine at Grainger for $210 I think but a friend got me a deal, I think they are around $250. I would go crazy(er) without them, I wear them doing most all work, with the mic system I can still listen to the radio and talk to someone around me, I can even talk on the Nextel with speakerphone without taking them off.

Ray

[David Gretzmier]

Has anyone out there tried the elvex's with the walkie talkie function? I saw a pair at louisville expo last year and freaked at the price of 500 bucks a pair. It seems they allow you to listen to music, active noise suppression for that waaah of the mower, and you push a button on the side and it can cut out your employees music and you can talk to him up to a half mile away. anybody tried them? are they worth it at 1 grand to communicate? Dave g

[Mr.Ziffel]

I'm using the yellow Elvex battery model and they're OK but I have a hard time keeping them on channel. I've knocked them off several times and they haven't popped apart like someone on this forum said happened to them, but I did break the tuner knob and all I've got left to dial the station with is a tiny nib--still works fine though.

Now I've got a question. Ray on your Peltor's or anyone with the rechargeable Elvex's, have you used a Motorola or other walkie-talkie with a cord plugged into them so someone can call you through them? The catalogs seem to indicate that you can do this but I wasn't sure how it would work with the music playing. I think this would be a cheaper option for you David if it works because those family channel portables are good up to 2 miles depending on terrain and have come way down in price, under $100. That would be way cheaper than headphones with walkietalkies built in to them, but again only if it works. Anyone tried it?

By the way, I've always used a mesh screen face shield which came attached to a plain pair of Elvex headphone ear protectors when trimming and the yellow Elvex radio headphones fit right onto the screen so I've been adding the facescreen to my headphones when I trim--if I get the Peltors or the rechargeable Elvex, I'll probably just leave them attached all the time for trimming--I love having the tunes while I work. Will M.

[KirbysLawn]

Mr.Ziffel, I have not tried the radio (walkie) function yet, it has a plug I just have no use for it.

[SJR Lawncare]

I know this sounds crazy, but I wish they came in AM also.The radio shows I listen to are only on AM around here. So, I continue to listen with my Sony.

SJR

[jeffyr]

I have the yellow elvex battery model. I love having the radio in the hearing protection--but I do not feel that they held up well. Yes they have popped apart several times. The right speaker volume is much lower than the left (since before I dropped them) and the wiring broke from changing the batteries a couple of times. Didn't help that I melted the battery cradle with the soldering iron.

If hearing protection is usually $25 and a walkman can be purchased for another $25-30, why are these thing so expensive ?

Guess they know they have us unless we want to hack apart headphones and a walkman. Has anyone done that ???

jeffyr :D

[racerdave]

Does David Clark make headsets we can use? I know they make alot of the Pilot headsets with noise cancellation.
David

[BRL]

I bought an Elvex Com100R earlier this season for about $220.00. I love it. Features (or non features) Only FM; not digitally tuned; no presets; rechargable (40 hours per charge, supposed to be able to charge 1,000 times before replacing batteries); survived a couple of hard falls so far; you can bring walkman (can use AM from walkman if desired) or portable CD, MP3 or whatever and plug it in; has a button that switches from hearing all radio, 60% radio 40% outside or all outside for communicating with others or listening to your equipment; tunes pretty well, I've picked up stations that I don't get in the vehicle radios. My only complaints are a desire for pre-sets, AM & digital tuning.

[Jet boater]

Thank you for all the input everybody.

I ended up ordering this morning the new Peltor MRX7A with digital tuning and external mikes. Looks like a nice set-up.

Got them from this site:

http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/html/Peltor.htm#select

and got them to match a price of $199.95 that I found on another site.

For those of you that are looking for AM/FM, they also have a brand new Peltor Worktunes....

http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/html/Peltor.htm

I don't think they're as heavy duty, but they have AM/FM

PS - I forgot to add, although I bought them for mowing, my first use will be at the Indy 500 next weekend!!!!

[watatrp]

Why are you guys spending so much money? I've got a set of ear muffs for $30 with 31db protection. Got a Sony am/fm sports radio with ear buds that I put on my belt or in my front shirt pocket. That cost me $19.95 because it didn't have a box. Two AAA batteries last about two months. If I lose either one or run over them I'm out a little cash to replace them. Make life simple. :blob3:

[cutntrim]

I can't figure out the appeal of listening to the radio while cutting. Hearing the same tunes over and over while plowing drives me nuts after awhile each winter. But I need the stereo jacked to stay awake at 3:00am. But cutting in the summertime? Between getting in and out of the truck, talking to customers, talking to my partner or employees, and the fact that it's daytime I don't need/want the distraction. Maybe I'd feel different if I were solo all the time. Plus I always thought that cranking up a radio headset kinda defeats the purpose of hearing "protection" in the first place.

[Evan528]

lets face it.... cutting grass is not the most exiting thing to do. The music really helps pass the time and make you forget how tired you are after your 12 hour of the day! I just orderd the elvex on thursday. hope to get them today or tomorrow!

[TLS]

cutntrim,

The radio portion only goes "so" loud. Not really that loud, but when there is no other noise, you can hear the music loud and clear. There is no more ringing of the ears at night anymore.

Evan,

You will like them in the early spring and late fall when it gets cold. Keeps those ears warm!

[jeffyr]

but makes the ears dripping wet in the summer.
Dishpan ears.

[linky]

I may purchase a pair but i'm a young balding male and white ears and a stripe across my head man i would look even funnier. Do they have a set that are attached to a wig?

[Runner]

You can listen to the engine moanin' out as one long song. :cool:

[jaclawn]

FYI Radio Shack sells a small speaker, just a tad larger than the ones in the Evlex. IF your speaker ever bites the dust, a replacement from the local SHack is only a few dollars.

[Jet boater]

Got the new digital Peltor set today with active listening mikes on it. That's pretty neat. Probably only complaint on the unit is that it does not have a digital readout for station freq. Makes setting presets to a known station kind of hard. I stuck one of my walkman earbuds inside a ear piece and matched up stations to set all the presets. Now I'm good to go.

That active listening feature is cool.

[Evan528]

I got a pair of elvex's yesterday. Today I used them. my opinion.....not worth 150 bucks! They were very heavy and bulky, overheated me easily compaired to standard ear muff hearing peotectors. They also did not have great reception! If you turn your head 4 inches to the right or left you loose the song you were listening too! bottom line.... there going back!