Best Custom In Ear Electronic Hearing Protection

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Is it just the state you live in that requires the insurance company to pay or is there some other reason they paid for them? Trying to understand how they pay for some people and not for others. I have BCBS also

Depends on the plan. Federal, state , local gov, unions ect are more likely to have them in their plan. Some just give you a dollar amount every 5 years other pick from a list of products ect. You have to dig into your insurance plan to see what's covered. Then find a doctor who is used to doing this and they will have the charge codes to bill insurance.

 

[BuildingConceptsllc]

Depends on the plan. Federal, state , local gov, unions ect are more likely to have them in their plan. Some just give you a dollar amount every 5 years other pick from a list of products ect. You have to dig into your insurance plan to see what's covered. Then find a doctor who is used to doing this and they will have the charge codes to bill insurance.

Roger that. Thanks

 

[robozebra]

Not wanting to start a completely new thread, I only saw one reply with the Harris and Sons. Is there any more input on them? super pricy but seeing how i already have hearing damage i'd prefer to buy once cry once on this.

I absolutely love the Harris and Sons units. They were expensive, but I’d spend the money again without question. They are very comfortable and crazy quiet. The amplification for ambient sounds work great, and they clip immediately when you pull the trigger.

 

[Muleychaser]

I absolutely love the Harris and Sons units. They were expensive, but I’d spend the money again without question. They are very comfortable and crazy quiet. The amplification for ambient sounds work great, and they clip immediately when you pull the trigger.

Just wondering which Harris unit(s) have you used?

 

[trickyric]

any long term reviews on the soundgear battery life?

 

[Nosteponsnek]

any long term reviews on the soundgear battery life?

I've had mine for over a year and use mine shooting and duck hunting. no complaints here you just need to remember to plug them in to the charger before you go out. It seems like they drain slowly if sitting in the case overtime, but a full charge will last all day.

 

[Ichi]

Went to my audiologist today and she recommended the Soundgear Phantom.

Those that have the Phantom, can you give an update on your experience using them? Would you buy them again or go with a set from ESP, EAR or Harris and Son?

Those that have a set from ESP, EAR or Harris and Son, are you happy with their performance? Would you buy them again?

 

[Taylorbok]

Went to my audiologist today and she recommended the Soundgear Phantom.

Those that have the Phantom, can you give an update on your experience using them? Would you buy them again or go with a set from ESP, EAR or Harris and Son?

Those that have a set from ESP, EAR or Harris and Son, are you ahppy with their performance? Would you buy them again?

I have the previous model and I am so happy with them would recommend 100%

 

[fedupflyer]

I have some that were made by AXIL, I think they were marketed as ESP Pro or something like that. I have had them for about 10 yrs and yes I would buy them again. Comes in great for rifle shooting as I tend to bump my ear pro off when I go prone or do a fast shoulder. (Cost time on the clock to fix ear pro)

Way more comfortable than over the ear muffs. I sometimes I forget that I have them in.

Downside, they don't block as much DB as over the ear type muffs. If I am shooting a competition in-doors I will wear my muffs and maybe a single foamie on my shooting side.

I personally hate non-removable rechargeable batteries.
Never fails, when you go to use them, the battery is dead and it takes a while to recharge them.
Hearing aid batteries arent that expensive and are more convenient.

Hardest part for me was finding an audiologist to give the hearing test for the damn things.
Most of them didn't want to give me the results without buying a hearing aid from them or wanted to charge me an outrages amount to give me the results after also paying fo the test. I think I contact about 10 before I found one that understood what I was trying to do.

 

[Baron23]

Went to my audiologist today and she recommended the Soundgear Phantom.

Those that have the Phantom, can you give an update on your experience using them? Would you buy them again or go with a set from ESP, EAR or Harris and Son?

Those that have a set from ESP, EAR or Harris and Son, are you happy with their performance? Would you buy them again?

I have ESP Apex. They’re top of the line.

A few things I really like about them:

1. Automatic wind noise reduction that really works. IMO, muffs or in ear pro without wind noise reduction are useless for hunting and really any shooting in wind.

2. They could be programmed with the audiogram used for my hearing aids. So, sound quality is excellent.

3. They are very secure in my ears with custom molded shell. I quail hunt in GA 2-3 times a year and I’ve tried other less expensive ear pro with the memory foam type plugs that you roll up and then stuff in your ear. They always felt like they were going to fall out.

4. They are pretty water resistant. Wouldn’t go swimming with them but a bit of rain on the shell won’t hurt them.

5. They take the #13 battery which is pretty hefty so they will run for a good bit before needing to B swap.

Thing I don’t like about them or really any other electronic ear pro is the noise reduction is only 27 db. Foam plugs can be had up to 32 db but of course they are useless for actually trying to hear stuff you want to hear like the quail dog handler, RO, etc.

So yes, I’m happy with them.

Now, @DeathBeforeDismount has a pair of Apex that recently failed for some reason or another (dunno details)

@DeathBeforeDismount - what was the result of your convo with Jack on getting them fixed?

 

[Taylorbok]

I personally hate non-removable rechargeable batteries.
Never fails, when you go to use them, the battery is dead and it takes a while to recharge them.
Hearing aid batteries arent that expensive and are more convenient.

This was actually why I opted for the step down of sound gear. The Phantom had just come out but they are rechargeable battery. I know I would forget all the time so I went for the ones with #13 battery and glad I did. A Costco pack of batteries has lasted me like 3 years.

 

[GUNNER75]

Soundgear Phantom thumbs up!!!

 

[robozebra]

I have the Harris and Sons units and absolutely would buy them again. The model I ordered was discontinued between ordering and production. They upgraded me to the higher level for free. They are amazingly comfortable.

 

[tlsmith22]

I have had the Soundgear Phantoms for 3 years and I love them. The only thing I have ever disliked abt them was the “auto-on” feature when you take them off the charger. Apparently that has been resolved in a software update since I bought mine and I need to get mine updated. I can shoot train up day and both days of a PRS pro match without them dying, so battery life is good.

 

[jpp3g]

I have had the Soundgear Phantoms for 3 years and I love them. The only thing I have ever disliked abt them was the “auto-on” feature when you take them off the charger. Apparently that has been resolved in a software update since I bought mine and I need to get mine updated. I can shoot train up day and both days of a PRS pro match without them dying, so battery life is good.

Plus one vote for the Soundgear Phantoms. Absolutely love mine. The only suggestion I have on these will be the same as any other custom fit in-ear earpro: make sure you get them fit by an audiologist, using a bite block, and make sure they get deep enough for a good seal.

 

[Ichi]

Plus one vote for the Soundgear Phantoms. Absolutely love mine. The only suggestion I have on these will be the same as any other custom fit in-ear earpro: make sure you get them fit by an audiologist, using a bite block, and make sure they get deep enough for a good seal.

Recently I was fitted with custom ear mold Starkey Phantoms. Very expensive, retail is $1,600. But I paid about half price thru my audiologist. They come with a 30 day trial period. I'm debating returning them...

My experience has not been what I hoped. They are adequate if you are on an active outdoor range and not shooting. When shooting, pressure from the cheek rest, at least in my case, changes the shape of my ear canal and allows more sound into my right ear. I ended up removing the Phantom from my right ear and used a good foam earplug.

I'm not confident that if someone is around a braked rifle that the Phantoms will offer enough hearing protection.

When shooting 9mm pistols on an outdoor range that had concrete walls on both the right and left side of the range, I had to double up and used the Phantoms with a set of electronic ear muffs. There was so much concussion bouncing off the concrete walls that the Phantoms alone were simply not enough.

Perhaps I should have them fitted again, this time as suggested, using a bite block and perhaps deeper into the ear canal.

 

[jpp3g]

Recently I was fitted with custom ear mold Starkey Phantoms. Very expensive, retail is $1,600. But I paid about half price thru my audiologist. They come with a 30 day trial period. I'm debating returning them...

My experience has not been what I hoped. They are adequate if you are on an active outdoor range and not shooting. When shooting, pressure from the cheek rest, at least in my case, changes the shape of my ear canal and allows more sound into my right ear. I ended up removing the Phantom from my right ear and used a good foam earplug.

I'm not confident that if someone is around a braked rifle that the Phantoms will offer enough hearing protection.

When shooting 9mm pistols on an outdoor range that had concrete walls on both the right and left side of the range, I had to double up and used the Phantoms with a set of electronic ear muffs. There was so much concussion bouncing off the concrete walls that the Phantoms alone were simply not enough.

Perhaps I should have them fitted again, this time as suggested, using a bite block and perhaps deeper into the ear canal.

I'd recommend trying to get them fitted again. I had to go through a few different rounds of fitting to get mine perfect because I have weird ear canals. Take full advantage of any trial period you're offered since it's a lot of money to spend on a product you don't love.