What you hear is what you get

SportEAR Digital hearing plugs Distributor: Blue Kangaroo Technologies www.bluekangarootechnologies.com Reviewer: Pte John Wellfarer

Reviewer: Pte John Wellfare

Here’s an exciting concept – earplugs that block out noises within harmful decibel ranges, but enhance other, less distinct noises, so that you hear them better.

That’s the idea behind SportEAR’s Digital plugs, which leap ahead of standard hearing protection with battery powered, digital hearing protection and enhancement.

The Digital plugs were designed for hunters and sporting shooters with the need to hear better than normal most of the time, but still block out the loud noise of firing a weapon.

The first time you put in a pair of Digital plugs, do it somewhere quiet so you can get a feel for them. They look too big to fit in your ear, but they’re actually quite comfortable.

It takes a little while to adjust them into position the first time and it can get a bit frustrating – when they’re not correctly fitted they emit a high-pitched whistle that will have you climbing the walls with your fingernails after five minutes.

Once the plugs are in position the sensation is quite unusual – rub your thumb and forefinger together and it sounds like you’re running two pieces of sandpaper against each other.

It takes some getting used to – just walking around in a quiet place by yourself you feel as though you’re making a lot of noise.

In busy areas the plugs become more of a nuisance than anything else nothing seems to be louder, just frustratingly digitised.

Wearing them in the bush takes even more getting used to – you can hear leaves rustling 100m away, but you find yourself cringing as every step you take sounds like you’re felling trees.

The one thing that might stop you rushing out to buy a pair of hearing enhancement and protection plugs is the price – Digital plugs will set you back US$499, while the Analogue plugs offer lower quality sound for US$299.

I suppose it depends on how much you feel being able to hear distant, faint noises is worth to you, and how much cash you have lying around.

Competition:

Service newspapers have a set of SportEAR Digital plugs, valued at US$499, to give away.

Send one entry to:
Digital plugs giveaway Service newspapers R8-LG-035 Department of Defence Canberra, 2600 Make sure you include your name, address and contact details.

.