AfterSHOT: Etymotic Research – Active In-Ear Protection

Illinois based Etymotic Research (they say it's pronounced “et-im-oh-tik”) has been making inserted earphones since 1984. These first versions were actually manufactured for research and diagnostic purposes. This year at SHOT Show they were displaying their active in-ear EB15's and GSP15's. Hearing protection is important when you're doing things like shooting, but regular plugs just cancel out all noise. The advantage to active earpro is that they normalize or enhance regular noises (like speech) while canceling out the loud ones (like gun shots).

RECOIL readers have no doubt used some form of active hearing protection (or at least seen it used) in the past. Howard Leights are one of the most common brands, with MSA Sordins and Peltor Comtac's towards the higher end of the price spectrum. One of the issues with these over-ear models is that they can get hot as hell during the summer months. You don't have any heat issues with in-ear models.

Not that there are no downsides. There's not a helluva lot of space for electronics or batteries inside ear buds. As such, the Etymotic Research models have one simple switch with no further settings.

As to the different between the EB15's and the GSP15's? It appears to be the package. Price, specs, and even the stock photos on the webpage are the same.

There are a variety of different eartips available, so one is sure to fit your ear canals. Each set comes with a dummy cord you can attach so you don't lose them and a carrying case.

Battery life is 9 days. However, the Etymotic Research earpro uses #10 hearing aid batteries, so once you open them up the clock starts ticking down. Unlike the similar Peltor TEP-100‘s, these aren't rechargeable, but I'm told that's an option they're working on for future products.

For more information, you can visit Etymotic Research online here.

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What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.

Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc

View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show right here.

2016 SHOT Show

January 18 — Media on the Range (numerous shooting facilities in and around Las Vegas)
January 19–22, 2016
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours:
Tuesday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 21 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 22 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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