Field Evaluation - Pro Ears® Dimension Plus™ By Jason Balazs
Sep 28, 2007 - 6:37:28 AM
You know the older we get the harder it is to hear things. My wife says that it is selective hearing, because I can never seem to hear her. Sometimes that may be true, but I believe that my career in the military has had something to do with it. Last year I was sent a pair of Pro Ears to use on our elk hunt to help me locate bulls that were bugling. I figured I would do the test through the whole year. This way I could use them in every hunting situation that I do, be it turkeys or elk. I still refuse to wear them in the house as my wife suggests however.
DYNAMIC LEVEL SOUND COMPRESSION™:
The Pro Ears look just like any other pair of hearing protection that is out there. Some people call them Mickey Mouse Ears or something along those lines. The difference is, these are sound suppressors as well as sound amplifiers. The Pro Ears utilize something called DLSC™ Technology and are the only electronic hearing protection products that have it.
While other brands either shut off the electronics, or compress the volume level during high level noise spikes, this unique Pro Ears technology instantly reacts to compress the loud noise level to a safe level while increasing the lower sounds levels. This ensures that the wearer will hear everything even if there is a loud spike such as a gunshot or explosion. Not only is your hearing protected but with DLSC™ technology you hear everything, even conversation during the times of high noise volumes.
AMPLIFICATION:
There is independent Gain sensitivity so you can adjust your Pro Ears Dimension models to fit your specific needs enabling you to hear up to eight times better than normal. This is vital for Law Enforcement and Military purposes but how neat is this for the hunter?
INDEPENDENT ELECTRONICS:
Since there are independent electronics on each ear, there are no wires to get snagged on branches or things of this nature. You can also adjust the volume of both to fit unique situations. Say if you are hunting along side a creek and don't want to hear the trickling of the water for 6 straight hours. Believe me it would sound like Niagara Falls with these things on. All you have to do is turn the volume down on that side a little and you still will be able to hear anything approaching. Another aspect would be to adjust for disparate hearing between a left and right ear. Since most shooters have more damage in one ear compared to the other you can adjust volume accordingly.
COMFORT:
Pro Ears are designed to be worn for long periods of time comfortably. The Ear Cups now feature a new, soft material they call ProForm Leather™. Not only is it super comfortable you don't sweat under them like the other brands that use vinyl. And you can wear them with eye glasses. These Ear Seals also insulate against bone transmitted noise vibrations that also cause hearing damage. This is important to know for those who think foam ear plugs are providing enough protection. They are not. There is also a comfortable, padded headband that can be quickly adjusted for every size head for prolonged comfort.
CONVENIENCE:
The Pro Ears fold up and are easily stored in your pack for carry or transportation. This allows you to pack in the Pro Ears without loosing valuable storage room and makes them easy to take with you anywhere you will need them.
Evaluator Balazs listens for elk.
TESTING:
When we arrived at my buddies ranch last year for elk hunting, we all gathered around and looked at each others bows, arrows, broadheads, and other gear. Once the sun started to go down, I grabbed the Pro Ears to see if we could hear any elk bugling.
When you are wearing these, you can hear a person breathing that is ten feet away. Once the crickets started chirping, it sounded like we were going to have a biblical plague. I took the Pro Ears off and could not hear any of this.
Putting them back on, I was back in nature's symphony again. I thought to my self, "Oh yeah, I am going to have an advantage." We heard elk bugling and everyone gathered around to listen. We figured the elk were in the lower pasture, which was 900 yards away.
Without the Pro Ears you could just hear the one bull bugling, but with them, you could hear the cows mewing and two other satellite bulls challenging him. Everyone was trying to bribe me to use the Pro Ears when they went out the next day. I would just use my selective hearing again and ignore them. Throughout the elk hunt I used the Pro Ears and was able to hear things that I couldn't without them.
During this last year's turkey season, I was hunting with Rick Phillippi and Robert Hoague at Rick's Ranch. After coming up with a plan of attack we went our separate ways in the darkness. After setting up my blind, I got ready for the morning by finally placing the Pro Ears on.
As soon as I did this, I heard turkeys gobbling. I could not have heard these turkeys with out the Pro Ears. The only problem was I could hear the turkeys, but they were over a mile away. I just sat back in my blind and waited for the morning to come alive. It is amazing the quality of sound that the Pro Ears generate. I felt like I was on an African safari, for there were so many noises that I had never heard before. And, due to the sensitivity of the mics I had 360 degree hearing. If a turkey, or whitetail comes in from behind you, you will know exactly where without having to turn around.
Later on in the season, I was back at Rick's ranch. It was raining a little bit and the sound of the thumping on the blind top was more than I could bear at full volume. That is where the volume level came into play. I turned both sides down just enough to where the sound of the rain hitting the blind was not overwhelming. I still was able to listen to the turkeys gobbling on the roost from distances farther than my normal hearing would have, and I was able to listen to the great outdoors come alive. Turkey or not, there is nothing like hearing the forest come alive in the morning.
CONCLUSION:
In the past, I had gone to the big outdoor stores and bought those cheap little ear-amplifying devises. Needless to say those found the garbage right away. I am very impressed with the performance and adjustability of the Pro Ears. No matter if you are a rifle hunter or bow hunter, you should have the Pro Ears when you are in the field.
You will be able to hear animals that otherwise would have walked right past you, yet still protect your hearing from a gunshot. The Pro Ears I was sent were green, but they also come in black and camouflage. I am going to a new area this year for our annual elk hunt and need all the advantages that I get. As sportsman in today's competitive woods, every little advantage that you have will increase your odds. That is why I use everything that I can get my hands on. The only problem is Jodi, my wife, has sort of adopted the Pro Ears, so I guess I will have to go buy a set of my very own so I can hear if the elk are bugling.
I seem to look at everything these days as to how it relates to hunting but high, hearing damaging noise levels are everywhere from engines, jack hammers, power tools, and concerts. Trust me, Pro Ears can be worn anywhere to help you save your precious hearing.
A few other things that really helped make Pro Ears the only brand to buy is their high quality, great workmanship and the fact that they stand behind their product with the longest, most comprehensive Warranty in the industry. My Pro Ears Dimension Plus Series has an incredible 5 Year Warranty. When comparing prices I found the Pro Stalker model to be under $250 which is much lower than other makes so you get more for less. And, the other kicker for me, they are the only brand made in the USA, right here in Colorado!
