3M 90541-80025T TEKK Protection Digital WorkTunes Hearing Protector and AM / FM Stereo Radio
by 3M
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of 3M 90541-80025T TEKK Protection Digital WorkTunes Hearing Protector and AM / FM Stereo Radio
Customer Review: actually, a 3.5
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought it mainly to listen to an mp3 player while mowing the lawn - works pretty good for that. If that's all you buy it for, don't bother buying batteries - your player's amplifier is the only thing boosting that signal to the phones. The radio requires batteries, and works OK on FM, at least in the rural area where I live (pulls in all 4 local FM stations). AM is very directional - turn your head, and you miss the play - not recommended for listening to sports. The phones do a good job of keeping outside noise out, but the volume isn't real loud. Loud enough to hear the music, yes, but not very loud if you happen to like LOUD music. Definitely loud enough for me though. A little tight on the head, but that helps keep them on your head when ducking under a tree limb. Overall, I'm pleased with this purchase.
Update (Jan 16, 2011): The more I use these things, the better I like 'em! Now that it's winter, I've been using them while clearing the driveway with a snowblower. It's a fairly long driveway, and usually takes a couple hours. The headphones make this job a LOT better! They keep your ears warm, keep the noise out, and keep your head full of music - all of which greatly reduce the monotony of the task at hand. I do use the FM radio on occasion (AM reception is too "directional" to be useful, maybe AO should add an external AM antenna- to the other earpiece), but usually listen with an iPod (to Pandora, via wi-fi). If it were possible to change the rating, I'd bump it up to a "5" right now - definitely my favorite purchase of 2010!
Customer Review: Good Protector - bad reception - no customer svc
Summary: 3 Stars
The Peltor 90541 works very well as a hearing protector. The radio reception, however, is not good. Even if you find a strong local FM station, you still have to turn your head at times to get clear reception. If you have a local station that does not broadcast at maximum power, the Peltor will not even pick it up.
I would have thought that the external antenna would have brought in all of the local stations in Dallas.
The manual for the Peltor states that the ear pads need to be replaced about every 6 months but does not tell you where or how to purchace them. I sent an email to their customer service asking them where I could purchace the pads and never received a response. In fact, their web site Peltor.com doesn't even show that the product exists.
The WorkTunes acts in a passive manner when using it to listen to your MP3 player. In other words, it needs to be left OFF when using your player. The volume control in this case can only be controlled from the MP3 player. This is not clear in the user's manual. I'll admit that the volume seems to be adequate unless you want to crank up the volume to a point that will be uncomfortable. (The manual does state that there is a dB limit).
I continue to use it while working in construction but am very concerned about obtaining replacement pads and get frustrated from time to time with the reception clarity. There are also a couple of local stations that I wish I could listen to but can't.
Customer Review: Better than Elvex QuietTunes.
Summary: 3 Stars
Hearing pads are soft and comfortable to wear, but doesn't offer enough noise suppression for me. I drive a small diesel tractor. Not sure if it delivers on the advertised 22 decibel noise reduction. I use foam earplugs under the headset to reduce noise.
Sound volume is loud enough to hear radio through the ear plugs. Without the ear plugs, the radio is a bit muffled sounding. Somehow the ear plugs makes the radio sound better. Not sure why but I'm able to hear better with the volume near max with ear plugs.
The digital channel selector drifts a little in FM mode. Probably worse in AM. There is static interference from time to time. I work in a large field in the near outskirts of town, so there shouldn't be building related issues causing this. Maybe competing stations interfering with each other? Digital push buttons make switching channels a lot easier than fine tuning a knob.
I removed the rubberized volume/on-off knob and use the bare metal post it was attached to, because the knob was too large and I found it very easy for it to be bumped to "on" between uses. This was a waste of batteries, and was easily solved by removing the knob.
All in all, this headset if more comfortable and easier to use than the headset I used for about three years, which was the Elvex QuietTunes. It was also less bulky and maybe even a little lighter. I hope this one lasts a bit longer than the Elvex. If I can get at least 4 yrs of use, I will be happy.
Customer Review: AO Safety 90541 WorkTunes AM/FM Hearing Protector
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been wanting something like this to wear while using my riding lawnmower. I was concerned that I might be too far away from the radio station antennas to be able to enjoy them and really didn't want to mess with my MP3 wire connected to them. I felt comfortable that as far as hearing protection, because they are from AO Safety, they would be beneficial. They seem to work comparibly to my other ear muffs. We're between 30 and 50 miles from most radio stations that I like to listen to. I live near Houston, so everything is flat. The only real obstructions are building and trees.
So far, after 3 mowings, they pick up every station I've tried fairly well. There is one spot that the FM breaks up briefly, but I can live with that. I can now listen to the poor Astros while plodding along. Yeah!
As for comfort, they fit a little tighter than I'd like. After about an hour, I'm ready to take them off for a few minutes. Not a problem though. I'm generally ready to stretch a leg and drink a glass of tea by then anyway.
I didn't buy them for great sound quality, so I am satisfied with the sound. Nothing like a good Ipod or MP3, but I didn't expect that. I'm just pleased that I can listen to whatever I feel like while mowing. I used to wear hearing protection about 1/3 of the time. So far, I've worn these every time I've mowed.
For the price (I got them for around $38 on Amazon with free shipping), I am very pleased overall.
Customer Review: Disappointing reception
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased these hearing protectors despite noticing comments from a few reviewers complaining of poor AM reception. I should have heeded their warnings. While the ear cups are quite comfortable and do a good job attenuating external sounds (I use them primarily while on my riding lawnmower but also when running power tools such as a table saw, router, Sawzall, etc.), the AM reception was poor and inconsistent and would fade in and out whenever I turned my head. Very annoying to say the least. Even when the antenna orientation provided the 'best' signal strength, the quality of the audio was less than crisp with noticeable background noise. And this was when I was tuned in to a local station where the transmission tower is in direct line of sight roughly 3 miles away. For weaker and more distant stations the reception was even worse. (FM performance was better, but not spectacular.) I returned them to Amazon for credit and have reverted to using a pair of inexpensive hearing protectors I picked up from Harbor Freight paired with an inexpensive but very effective AM/FM pocket stereo from Aiwa (model CR-LD120). Used with stereo ear buds under the ear cups, it works just fine. I do the same when listening to my iPod. If your intent is to use these primarily for AM listening, I cannot recommend them. AO Safety needs to invest some money to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the AM tuner circuit before I'd be tempted to try them again.