When I come across a product that I REALLY like, I enjoy spreading the word and letting friends of mine, like you, know about it. The ISOtunes line of products is a great example of that. I’ve been wearing the ISOtunes Pro model for years. The array of hearing protection products available is amazing, and there’s most likely a product and price point that will fit anyone’s needs.
What do they do?
When you’re working with noisy stuff you need to protect your hearing. Most woodworking tools operate at around 105 decibels. To keep things safe for your ears we need to reduce that to 85 decibels or less. That’s one thing these products offer; noise reduction. This is accomplished by inserting the foam ear plugs into your ears. A variety of plug sizes are available so you can make certain they’re comfortable for you.
In addition to providing hearing protection they’ll connect to your phone; some by plugging into the device, most by connecting wirelessly via Bluetooth. This allows you to listen to music or podcasts, and talk on the phone via the headset.
Many of the units have a noise cancelling feature. If you’re on the phone and something is running in the background (a shop vacuum is a great example) the headset will cut that noise out so the person you’re talking to can ONLY hear you.
For more info
If you want to know more about ISOtunes visit their website or call (317) 740-0419.
More on shop safety
We want you to protect your hearing, and we also want you to protect you. As a result, we’ve got a great deal of shop safety information in the WWGOA archives. Check it out and make sure you’re using your tools the safest possible way.
I’ve learned so much from George but on this I disagree completely. I bought the iso pro because of his recommendation. I’m a part-time acoustic musician & sound is important. I have cheaper ones that deliver much better sound without NRR, & the only NRR I can get with these is with the cones shoved deep in my ears–& sound is abhorrent. I’ve got big heavy cup types but the sound is great & it’s worth it to me. my one & only disagreement with the master.
I understand your concern, but I’d recommend checking out the NIOSH website (www.niosh.gov) for more info on hearing protection. Era plugs need to seal the ear canal. That’s why fitting is so important. I know that being a musician requires that you be able to hear the sound, but when noise levels exceeding 85 dBA reach beyond the seal, there’s a real chance for hearing loss over the years. The worst part of hearing loss is that it is not repairable. The only way to ensure the NRR in the wearer’s ear is to actually measure noise levels within the ear. This can be done, but it is complicated. As I suggested, I’d recommend an audiogram to ensure your hearing status. Don’t have an audiogram done by a hearing aid provider. They don’t test at the recommended frequencies and they quite often result in poor results. Seek out a licensed audiologist or otolaryngologist.
Sorry if I upset you, but I’ve seen so many people who thought they were protected by wearing ear plugs or muffs only to find significant hearing loss on an audiogram.
Hi George,
I just joined your site and have really enjoyed watching a number of your videos. I just finished the video on ISOtunes. I’m a retired certified industrial hygienist who spent 33 years withe Maryland State OSHA plan. I was involved in 100’s of noise exposures cases over the years. I’d like to just add a word of caution regarding the NRR of hearing protection. The NRR assigned to hearing protection is a laboratory acquired number. It’s not real world exposure. The OSHA system recommends that employers subtract 7 dB from the NRR and then divide that new NRR by 50%. This means that for a noise exposure of 105 dBA, the resulting, real world attenuation would be: 105 – [(22-7) x .5] = 97.5 dBA. That’s still way above the 85 dBA threshold standard for most, if not all, noisde standards. That’s why OSHA (as well as NIOSH and ACGIH) require engineering controls to reduce noise levels. There are a number of other factors that contribute to your exposure that are way beyond discussion here, but I’d recommend an annual audiogram if your relying on hearing protection, only, to reduce your noise exposure to safe levels.
Thanks again for a really great site.