Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24707 in Home Improvement
• Color: Silver/ White
• Brand: AO Safety
• Model: 90569
• Number of items: 1

Features

• Hearing protector with noise reduction up to 22 dB plus stereo AM/FM or MP3 player input
• Cuts noise by up to 22 dB
• Built-in AM/FM stereo with antenna and toggle switch, plus input jack and patch cord for use with MP3 players
• Gel/foam cushions maintain ear comfort; dB limiter protects against dangerous noise levels
• Noise Reduction Rating of 22 dB

Amazon.com Product Description
The AOSafety WorkTunes i.3 AM/FM hearing protector helps protect your ears by reducing noise by up to 22 dB while also giving you the option of listening to stereo AM/FM or your favorite MP3 files. This protector includes a built-in AM/FM stereo with an antenna and toggle switch, as well as a stereo input jack with patch cord for listening to MP3 players. The dB limiter protects against dangerous noise levels, while the gel/foam cushions keep your ears comfortable.

Customer Reviews

Not so great reception but a good set of ear muffs overall
I suppose I was spoiled by the $200 pair of AM/FM ear muffs that I have had for several years. After the expensive pair died, I decided to try something cheaper. I think these muffs are worth the price but there are some cons:

1. The tuner is a dial that requires very precise adjustment to get a good signal. The slightest accidental touch means you have to stop what you are doing to try to get the dial back on the station. A digital readout would be very helpful but that isn't likely to be found on an inexpensive set.

2. Reception is mediocre. I live near a large city and receive only a few FM stations.

3. The battery cover is not hinged so it comes completely loose during battery changing. Mine disappeared the second time I used the muffs. Now the batteries are held in place by a piece of gaffers tape.

4. The antenna sticks up rather high. When I saw the tall antenna, I assumed that would produce really good reception. Instead, when I am on my riding mower and mow under a low-hanging tree, the antenna catches in the limbs and I get a rather nasty head-jerk. That's probably how I lost the battery cover.

The pros:

1. One of the reasons I bought this pair was the MP3 jack. That is a nice feature.

2. I believe the advertised 22 db NRR is accurate. It is certainly enough to protect your ears when you are mowing, weed trimming, or riding a tractor. As an NRA certified instructor, I would recommend the addition of ear plugs if you wear these muffs and shoot any large caliber firearms.

3. The unit has sufficient volume and the on/off/volume control is easy to find and adjust.

4. The cushions are comfortable and can be worn for long periods of time with comfort.

In my opinion, the muffs are worth the price. However, if you want top performance, especially on the gun range, I would suggest you opt for one of the high-end muffs that allow ambient sound to come in but then attenuate it when a shot is fired or another loud noise occurs. Otherwise, about the time you remove the ear muffs to hear someone speak, someone else on the range will fire and there goes your ear protection.

Only one fault
I work in a construction shop all day and wanted to replace my earmuffs with a set that would let me use my Ipod. These deliver as promised, with a couple of quirks. First, plugging in the ipod doesn't cut off the radio. The instructions say to keep the earmuff volume off and use the Ipod volume controls, which works fine except that I bump the volume knob up by accident and get the radio and Ipod simultaneously. The second issue is common with other similar products. The on/off volume knob is too easily bumped on. I throw these in my box at the end of the day and frequently bump them on, killing the batteries.
The included patch cable is a nice addition, and they do work well for me.

Big headed saftey
I did my usual over researching of products and came onto these. I bought them because the reviews said they were comfy and because I really needed a pair for my woodworking shop which my wife constantly refers to as 'the garage'. I'm degressing here.

After purchasing them and trying them out for a month...I'm very very suprised and happy. They are light and very comfy around the ears and while not a digital tuner I do find the qaulity of the speakers very acceptable for this type of product.

I find that I wear them more than any other hearing protection product I have owned. I even wear them when I don't need them on, just for the music and I no longer plot against the demise of my dust collector (my wife calls it a shop vac).

I'd give it 5 but I do find them a little tights on my big head and it would be great if they had digital tuner.

Overall - a good buy for any woodworker.