3M WorkTunes Hearing Protector with AM/FM Radio
I have owned 3M WorkTunes Wireless Hearing Protector with Bluetooth Technology and AM/FM Digital Radio (90542-3DC) since May 2016.
You will eventually need replacement ear pads, mine lasted a year or so with heavy use. I looked here and at 3M's site for replacement ear pads but could not find the part number so I called 3M 1-888-364-3577 and was offered complimentary replacements free of charge shipped to my door. I asked for the part number assuming next time I would be on my own but was told 3M does not sell them however they will always send replacement ear pads free of charge. Works for me. Poke your finger in through the inside hole of the earpad, get your finger behind the black plastic ring, and gently snap it out. The earpad is attached to the black plastic ring and it snaps on and off.
Great service from 3M and worktunes are a decent product imo that gets the job done but needs some improvement from the bluetooth side of things which is how I use these.
I frequently work with loud tools and equipment such as circ saws, miter saws, chainsaws, lawn equipment, table saw, too many more to list. I listen to podcasts while I work so my worktunes are always connected to my phone via bluetooth. The hearing protection is outstanding and I can go full throttle with my husqvarna 350 while listening to whatever provided the volume output from my phone is 100% which I then adjust the volume from there on the worktunes, and the worktunes are adjusted properly so that the earpads are sealing flat to your head over your ears.
Worktunes are far better than earbuds for listening to what you want to hear over a loud tool, but if you use bluetooth from your phone earbuds with a mic make it far easier to make and receive phone calls. There is no mic on these 3M worktunes. Get a phone call while your worktunes are connected to your phone via bluetooth and things get tricky, it's a pita and best to avoid trying to answer. Here's what happens: the worktunes go silent, you have to grab your phone to see who it is and if you answer it you listen through the worktunes and speak into the phone, if you hit speakerphone accidentally or the other person can't hear you then you're ripping the worktunes off your head. My earbuds that have a mic can answer and end a call with the push of a button on them, beforehand the phone number is called out so I can decide whether or not to answer, it's dead simple and it could be that way for these worktunes if they had a mic, the worktunes already have plenty of butttons. Too many and in the wrong places.
Whoever decided to place the power/volume/go back to beginning button where it sits on the left side front needs to spend a few days with the people this product was designed for. The name of the product is WORKtunes which in itself implies the user will be working with something that is loud and presumably heavy. Those of us that have rough hands know all too well that weilding heavy objects leads to profuse sweating and we sometimes turn our heads and wipe the sweat from our brow on our shirt sleeve. I accidentally hit that button that sticks out a mile at least a few times a day and it resets whatever I'm listening to to the beginning of the track. If I don't accidentally press that button something I'm working around will. I rarely hit my head at work but these monsters seem to make your head twice as big, you might even be tempted to fly a helicopter with these on.
I use rechargeable batteries and reliably get at least a full day, usually 2-3 days of use.
If the bluetooth fails to connect even after it's paired or you walk out of range and lose connection things can sometimes get squirrely to reconnect. It gets frustrating but the procedure that always works done in this order: is to turn off the work tunes, turn off your phone, turn phone back on make sure bluetooth is on, then turn on the worktunes and it should connect itself but you may have to go into bluetooth settings on your phone and manually connect to worktunes.
All that said learning the quirks of using these has been worth it to me. I reach for them when it's time to do some busy work with loud tools, definitely for the hearing protection. I like the fact these 3M worktunes have user replaceable batteries, that 3M sends out replacement earpads free of charge, and that I can connect to my phone through bluetooth for wireless convenience.
You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Before placing an order for this EarMuff WorkTunes, I read a lot of comments and viewed their images. It seems that quiet a lot of people had problem with no sounds or not working. I was little bit skeptical, but the number of comments and stars for this item just screamed at me. So, I figured that it looks like a lot of people bought this WorkTunes. So, it can't be that bad. I am glad I bought it. I will tell you why.
PRO:
-Instructions that came with it was short and simple especially with voice-assist it was very easy.
-It has Bass Boost - 1 to 2. :) ME LOVE IT.
-It almost completely shut-off outside noises. With music on, you can't hear anything.
-It nicely and tightly fits my head. I wore it with my cap on doing my yard work. Amazing - couldn't even hear my lawn mower running only 7 feet away.
-The whole unit is lightweight.
-For those who are saying there is not much sound coming out, I one point had it full volume by accident and it was loud. I am guessing it depends on the radio station too. The closer the radio station the clear and louder it is.
-Reception was Awesome. It picked up over 20 radio stations.
-I never had any headset like this for working outside. Wow, it was a whole new experience. I didn't feel like I was working at all with my favorite songs playing.
-Do you have MP3 player or cellphone with lots of your favorite songs? well, then you can connect your device to this EarMuff using male to male jack and listen to your favourite songs... No need to listen radio... :)
CON:
It doesn't say which side is which - RIGHT or LEFT - anywhere on the unit.
I wore my WorkTune. So, the ON/OFF and Volume Knob would be in the front. I noticed that as I was moving around my left shoulder sometime accidentally turned the volume up. :)
Other than that I am VERY VERY VERYYYYYYYYY happy with my WorkTune.
My friend had a pair of these and after letting me try them on, I had to have them. You don't realize how loud your lawn equipment is until you use your decibel screaming lawn equipment with these bad boys on. As others have stated, it pays to read the instructions. You won't get a solid working knowledge of how to work the FM stations without them. If you plug in an aux cord to play music off your phone there's no need to even turn the volume knob to turn the headphones on. They'll come on by themselves and use the volume on your phone. There's an auto-shut down if the headphones aren't being used for a certain period of time, so it won't run the battery down if you forget to turn them off.
I recommend wearing the headphones by themselves if you plan on having the noise-canceling portion work. If you create any kind of gap between your ears and the headphones you'll be sure to find a glitch in the matrix, as in, no noise-canceling. I was able to wear sunglasses but only after putting on the headphones and then sliding the sunglasses well above my ears. It's kind of uncomfortable but beats having the death rays from the sun burning my retinas.
The noise-canceling effect you get is amazing. I can use lawn equipment and listen to a podcast without feeling like I'm straining to hear what's being said. Your ears will thank you when you're finished, too, having skipped out on being blasted by the high decibel levels power and lawn equipment makes. If it's hot outside your ears are going to sweat, but the headphones can be easily wiped down with a cleaner.
Using the instructions provided, I was able to get most of the FM stations in my area to work, with crystal clear audio. The headphones fit snug, easily adjust, aren't heavy, and are just the kind of good quality I would expect from 3M.
Do I look like a doofus riding around on my lawn mower? Sure. But it can't be worse than the clunky headgear teenagers are calling headphones nowadays.
I couldn't be happier with this purchase. I have a big pasture I have to mow with my Kubota Diesel Tractor. The tractor and the bush-hog on the back are pretty loud. This headset blocks out all that noise. I can listen to the stereo and since the muffs do such a great job of blocking the noise, I don't have to crank up the volume very high. I listened to a talk radio show and heard every single word flawlessly and my hearing isn't the best. The range of the stereo is sufficient. I can't get all that many stations in my rural area. I have not tried the blue-tooth feature yet but the voice when you turn it on says "Blue Tooth Connected" so it is picking up my cell phone. The stereo works so great, I'm not sure how much I will be using the blue-tooth. I mowed for 5 hours with the AA batteries that I installed and they have yet to run out, so not having a recharging feature doesn't appear to be an issue. You can pick up a 30 pack of batteries at any Dollar store for hardly anything so I'm not really concerned about that. In fact, I don't like units with a recharging feature. If you forget to plug them back in when you are done, now you can't use them till you get them charged up. With batteries, you just drop in a set of new batteries and start mowing right away. I would expect a set a batteries would last for a long time. All you are doing is playing a small radio. I doubt if it uses hardly any battery life at all. These are very comfortable. Once I have them on and tuned in, I forget they are even there.
These are awesome. Surprisingly good sound quality, batteries last forever, super comfy, durable, easy to use even with heavy gloves on. What more could you ask for? The best protective equipment is the stuff you're not itching to take off the moment you're done with the tool, right? The less you WANT to wear something, the more likely you are to neglect wearing it when you should. These... These I'd like to leave on just about all the time. Podcasts and music while mowing the lawn? yes please. Run the table saw and/or compressor without missing a beat? yup. And I have worn them for 6+ hours without getting a headache, itchy, or any other form of uncomfortable.
EDIT/UPDATE . April 3 2018 My Worktunes Bluetooth stopped working. AM and FM worked fine, the announcer stated that it had switched to BT but it wouldn't pair or play. None of my devices could see the Worktunes either. I emailed their customer support and with a few questions, they sent me a shipping label, I mailed off my headset and was told they'd either repair or replace them since I was inside the warranty period. I got a notice that they sent out a new pair for me! No charge even for shipping. 3M customer service made a very disappointing situation into an EXCELLENT one. I love my headset and I am now a big fan of 3M's customer service as well.
Feature Product
- Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 24 dB. WorkTunes Hearing Protector is compatible with any MP3 player, iPoddevice or two-way radio. Use the Input Jack to connect your MP3 Player, iPod, or two-way radio to WorkTunes Hearing Protector.
- Great AM/FM radio performance and bass boost option for enhanced listening experience. ANSI Requirements : Complies with AS/NZS 1270. Noise Reduction Rating 22 Decibel, 26 Decibel
- Voice Assist Technology provides operational and set-up guidance-without having to take off the headset
- Voice Assist Technology helps you program up to 50 AM/FM radio stations and lets you know when your battery is running low
- Auto-scanning helps you quickly find and save your favorite stations
Description
Infuse more fun into your workday with 3M WorkTunes Hearing Protector with AM/FM Radio. Designed to bring you hearing protection and entertainment, these protective earmuffs let you listen to the music of your choice from the AM/FM radio or from your mobile device via the auxiliary jack. Built-in comfort features like plush ear cushions and a padded headband help keep you comfortable while on the job. Plus, Voice Assist Technology lets you know which radio station you're on without having to remove the headset. So whether you're cutting grass or hard at work in the woodshop, help protect your hearing–and have a great time while you're at it–with 3M WorkTunes Hearing Protector with AM/FM Radio.
Opened it up but had to leave quickly so just popped it on and flipped through the dial. Wow, so angry that almost no stations were received and recalled bad reviews about that. Got home the next day and popped it on again but this time read the instructions too and what an amazing difference. Apparently you need to allow it to search for stations before being able to manually flip through them. Guess what, after following the instructions this terrible piece of garbage turned into the best channel reception of any portable radio that I have ever owned. Don't buy this unless you plan to read the instructions because this is not something that can be figured out without them but if you are willing to read the instructions then this is the best ever headphone radio with 24db noise blocking. I am now listening to stations that I had previously given up on due to poor reception. The product says that it has improved reception and that is no lie!
I have a wood shop with a radio and earbuds. While looking for an earbud extension I stumbled across AM/FM hearing protection and decided on these after reading reviews. They are very comfortable, provide good noise protection, and the music is so clear I can hear things I'd never noticed before (e.g. background symbols and subtle vocals). I wish I'd known of these years ago. In my basement occasionally while moving there WAS an instant or so of noise but it's the same as I've noticed while driving cars. When I pulled the antenna out, as pictured, this problem was gone. When I put my batteries (2AA not included) in it seemed to be defective so I pulled them, checked them with a meter, and installed them again and everything was fine. I learned from this that the batteries are tight and you need to hear them click in. It makes sense since they are on your moving head. The unit is easy to get the hang of. There are several buttons and a knob to control volume, tuning, and mode. You can program a station or let it run through automatically and pick 25 for both AM and FM.
Better than expected! They cancel outside noise and bring in radio stations clearly. My wife uses them when riding the lawn tractor, and operating the log splitter. Indoors she uses them when she vacuums to cancel noise, but because they are comfortable to wear she often wars them around the house now...just to listen to music. They're almost too good, because I have to hit her with a pillow to get her attention! You neeed these!
Got these for my husband as he works construction and often listens to podcasts. He says they give good ear protection (pro, as compared to other bluetooth headsets). He does say that they tend to throttle the sound a bit, although using his device, he can increased it some. If you're doing something REALLY noisy (table saw, chain saw, for example) he says it's a bit hard to hear.
NOTE: This headset does NOT receive calls or allow you to make calls. We did find that a phone call will mute this headset, and turn off whatever he's listening to. For us, I just wanted something that would let him know that he needed to call me back, so this is sufficient "notification" that he might be missing a call. Not sure about the muting working for texts or not. Only recommendation would be that phone calls ring to the headset and/or being able to make calls on it.
I was on the fence about these. I work in autobody so anything that lets me not be conscious of how slow time can go is a plus. Grinding, buffing, etc. I'm only 39 and I can tell I'm going deaf. I need to turn the tv up twice as loud as my wife needs it just for it to be normal to me. becoming deaf is a serious thing. Like I get on my son, he needs to speak up to be heard, but I also tell him that I'm going deaf and hes only 10 so i'm sure he takes it as "Whatever dad," or something and blows it off. So I don't like getting on him, but I can't hear him.
So like I said, becoming deaf or anything from a job you do because you need to pay the bills is a serious thing. I say this because I used to be great at hearing. These things aren't great. Plus, I can over power how loud I should play INTO these things because I can go louder than 100% on my phone. Then they get loud enough for me to hear. Like really hear.
So... my analysis of this item is that you trade one thing for the other. I do... NOT hear grinding and annoyingly loud things and my bosses monotone "We need to get this done." I instead hear(at the same volume or larger(because its literally right next to your ear blaring in it)) music, or a podcast, that I like. I now wonder if these are making me go deaf faster than the grinder would?
Either way, i still like these and wouldn't trade them to anyone. I'm glad I bought them. I would not spendy 80. I got them for 60. I feel thats fair because only difference between these and headphones are these deafen outside nosises(makes them about half-ish). I've gotten through a good number of audio books, sorting my "discover weekly" playlist on spotify, etc. Totally through the 60 I paid for them. If i made more 80 would be worth it too but I knew they flucuated at the time I bought them(2016ish).
- Note;
Battery life is good. I could listen to these things maybe... 2-3 days straight(so 3x8=24 hours?) and maybe longer, 4-5, without having to change them. I listen to this maybe an hour or two a day, depending what I'm doing and I can use them like almost a month without changing the batteries. *User experiences may vary but seriously.
I'd recommend them if your thinking about them.
