3M Worktunes Connect + AM/FM

3M WorkTunes Connect + AM/FM Updated, see notes below. AA batteries last four months and still going using FM radio! Excellent hearing protection with radio! I hate proprietary lithium battery packs along with the unique charging adapters. AA batteries are cheap, and last adequate amount of time and more so then expected. Better than listening to the lawnmower! However, I still prefer to listen to the whine of my chainsaw versus Mozart! PROS 1) Sound quality appears adequate, especially while using a chainsaw or lawnmower. (See CONS notes.) 2) Battery life so far seems adequate. Used 2-3 times at lengthy intervals, still going, however mostly using FM/AM reception, without bluetooth. 3) AM/FM tuner and reception strength appears adequate. (See CONS notes.) 4) Weight seems acceptable, no apparent neck problems yet. Albeit, they'll likely hear from my lawyer first if the weight breaks my neck while listening to heavy metal music. 5) I've heard of complaints here about the volume dial not allowing louder volumes. I think these complaints are pretty much false, unless my unit has been modified after the complaints, or there's something going on with the reception and sound pressure level amplification. Seems adequate to me. Any louder with the music and I might as well listen to the lawnmower or chainsaw further ruin my hearing! Cons 1) Audio quality. Although adequate, could likely be much better! For somebody or a company that cares about our hearing, should also care just as much about the sound quality of the noise we want to listen to! (While using a chainsaw, I tend to also turn my garage 1000 watt stereo/radio on alongside using the headset with chainsaw... great to sing along while using a chainsaw or splitting wood!) 2) Slight learning curve for operating, requires at least 15-30 minutes, reading the manual's diagram and operating the buttons, in order to learn the work flow of the button operations. 3) Initially, the voice prompts were clipped short and inaudible. After reading the manual, or learning the manual's diagram, I now understand the voice prompts. (Likely clipped short due to memory constraints and weight requirements.) 4) I strongly prefer radio FM or AM reception, rather than listening to prerecorded music, unless the media is an audio book or audio lecture. Go figure, think it's due to randomness of songs and the large database of varying songs over FM radio or AM variety. However, I'm in a rural area, requiring better tuners to pickup the more distant strong AM/FM broadcast stations. I would judge the tuner on this headset adequate, only able receive your strongest local ~15 mile FM stations, and ~30-60 mile AM distant stations with barely audible AM quality sound. FM sounds pretty good, while the chainsaw or lawnmower are running. I think, either a better tuner or more antenna would be desirable. On the flip, most manufacturers would have provided much weaker reception. The quality is good, but can always be better. 5) During the Summer or within warm areas, the rubber padding does get wet and sweaty. I think the 3M headset with gel cushions are going to get just as wet. The only reason the gel cushions are not as hot & sweaty, due to the likely weaker seal around the eardrum, and also reflected in the ~1db less protection rating. Fact of life when wearing headgear during Summer heat, it's going to get hot & sweaty. 6) I keep bumping the darn tuning dial on the side, and might require a stiffer more durable large rotating dial? 7) The Bluetooth works, however I'm not a fan of Bluetooth devices. The sound quality has always been lacking and the ease of use is not easy after so many years of existence. I think 3M should continue with two separate devices, one headset for over the air reception of music, another for Bluetooth/cellular service. 2021.10.02 WOW! Original AA batteries last a very long time, using only the FM radio and not using Bluetooth, four months so far on the original Energizer AA batteries! Thank God I didn't purchase one having the pain in the arse proprietary lithium battery! I wish they doubled the length of the radio antenna, and included a tie down to your belt or arse.

Edited 2/28/19 These are so great! So very comfortable on the ears. Bluetooth is great and easy to set up. This is my first review on them separately from the regular wired version...Which they are great as well. I've bought several pairs of these particular WorkTunes ... And the only thing I didn't really like was the headband, but the Earmuffs themselves are fantastic and you would be putting yourself out of you didn't give these a try or research them better. As far as the foam inserts, I find them rough on the ears...Well...my ears. So I got some faux Fur ( Sherpa fleece is better) and put it in the ear cups and that makes them even more comfortable, plus reduces a little more noise along with some gels ear cushions. Double Alpha Academy seem to do very well in this. You can find fleece beanies or ear warmers at walmart that has faux fur or Sherpa fleece in it and if you can sacrifice 5-6 dollars cut out a patch and pop out the ear cushion, lay it on the foam insert that covers the driver/ Speaker and pop the ear cushion back on, or change them to gels. I find I can sleep all night in my Worktunes Connect... Before the end of the year, 3M is supposed add a call answering feature and Hi fi speakers to this earmuff, and it will be all the WorkTunes in one. It's called the Worktunes connect + am/fm. The connects,90543 don't have what the bluetooth wireless 90542 has currently, in am fm radio so they are upgrading them. This should be exciting to 3M Peltor nut jobs like me...I'm waiting..impatiently...come on Amazon , put it up. waiting for black friday. "That day never came, and there has been a delay at releasing the newer 90542 with Connect. " They should be out anytime now in 2019, hopefully. 1/6/21 Purchased another set... I Lost count, of how many of these I bought. Love them.... 6/19/22. 3M has done better... But the padded headband that Zohan and Prohear have is a copy of the 3M WorkTunes that old on the Regular , non Bluetooth version. They need to put it back on the connect versions even if an option like they do with the gels... which is a great improvement by 3M. Also to get rid of ear pain , and I've seen a lot of reviews on this...it's really easy to go to your auto parts store and get a Sheepskin seatbelt cover, find the softest one you think your like and cut it to fit in the ear cup ( pop it out, it's easy with a butter knife) and put the Sheepskin in. The ear pain won't be there and your ears will be pretty comfy, and no sound changes ...that I can tell anyway. Actually feels very nice. If you work outside in the heat, well they may get warm on you, so just depends...but you can always have them on standby. The gels allow more room for your ears and that added with sheet "fleece" makes a very comfortable headphone earmuff. I used Sherpa fleece but I find Sheepskin with it's healing properties is far better. A thin soft medical Sheepskin would likely be better for your inserts if any cuts or Knicks on your ears or soreness. Does great for me, but we are all picky about one thing or another.

I've been using a 3M hearing protection unit of a similar design for a few years, but this unit's addition of bluetooth + built-in radio brings a whole new capability to hearing protection --- you can actually enjoy the process! It's well-built, quite comfy, and it works well.

Excelente set de audífonos / protectores de oídos. Excelente conectividad, calidad de sonido y límite de volumen para trabajar con música o llamadas perfecto. Materiales de muy buena calidad Instructivo fácil de comprender y aplicar para sacarles el mayor provecho Les compré un estuche semi rígido para protegerlos y hacer que duren más tiempo en excelentes condiciones. Los recomiendo 100%

Very nice. I like the features of these ear muffs. Easy to set up and use, and they have a very nice sound. Bluetooth works fine and it picks up the am/fm stations very quickly. I like how you can change the am frequency from 10kHz to 9kHz steps so you can use it using Australian frequencies. You can also change the equaliser between pop, rock, and flat, although I found there was very little difference in sound between these settings. Comfortable to wear and blocks out the ambient sound well. All in all very happy with these good quality ear muffs!

I’ll preface this by explaining that I’m a fabricator/welder by trade. This involves power tools, dust, hot metal, sharp and heavy objects, many more hazards not worth talking about. In essence, you need protection from the various elements involved. Hearing protection is a big deal, from running hydraulic shearing equipment to using grinders, it’s all very loud stuff. It also needs to work in conjunction with safety glasses, thick leather gloves, and a respirator. It’s not possible to wear these with a welding hood on, for this particular model. Since it is 3M, you know it can be trusted to deliver results and last a long time. I’ve used it near daily for a few months now, and have enough of a handle to properly assess this product. It’s for those of us who have the option (and mental awareness) to listen to podcasts, music or radio whist spending time at work, while also providing adequate decibel drops in the workplace. This ensures reliability as well as safety, and shows a good level of professionalism in the workplace A common complaint is that it’s not loud enough, but I did find that this does depend on your audio source. My podcasts are clearly audible but not very loud, where the local radio station is about as loud as I’d want it, perhaps even a notch lower from the top would be ideal for my working situation. For streaming music, it’s about the perfect volume to manage not being completely distracted, still loud enough that you’d need to mute or turn the knob down to engage in a conversation. I still hear subtle things like dropped tools, people welding near me, that sort of thing. The bass is pretty good but not outstanding, though it seems the mids are where this headset does well. It’s all easily adjusted with a combo power button/rotation knob, two round buttons and a knubby scroll wheel. Battery life is excellent and continues to blow me away! I’m able to run the unit for anywhere between 40 to 100 hours per pair of AAs, so I don’t feel like I lost out on the recharging pack but may end up buying it next time it’s on sale. Replacing battery’s is finicky the first couple times but there is a process, and it’s super easy once you see the forest from the trees. My only real complaint is that it does sometimes drop the Bluetooth signal. Combined with the Amazon Music app crashing a lot (which in truth has been less often lately) it will sometimes simply stop playing audio on its own. On a bad day it’ll happen twice. But sometimes it doesn’t happen for 2-3 weeks. And it’s as easy as turning off & back on to sort the issue out. I also find myself adjusting the muffs on my ears (pressure points) every 40 minutes or so, depending on the job & things like how hot the work area is. For the size of the muffs, they are surprisingly comfortable. If these last me throughout the next year, I would not hesitate to pick up a second pair. I’m genuinely thinking about getting a second pair just for yardwork & metalwork at home, if I’m being honest!

Excelente producto