Decibullz Custom Molded Percussive Filters Review
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Our hearing can keep us safe so why not keep our ears safe to protect our hearing with the Decibullz percussive filters? Hearing loss usually doesn’t happen instantly but rather gradually if continuously exposed to loud noises such as gun shots, or loudspeakers at a concert.
Oftentimes, wearing ear protection can feel like a hassle. However, it doesn’t need to be. Decibullz has developed moldable earpieces with percussive filters that minimize noise reduction for quieter noises such as normal conversations while suppressing loud sounds such as gun shots or explosions.
What’s In the Package
The Decibullz percussive filters employ a moldable earpiece which utilizes a removable percussive filter and an array of ear canal tips of different shapes and sizes. The entire contents of the package are as follows:
- One pair of custom-moldable earpieces
- One pair of percussive filters
- Small, medium, and large foam tips
- Small, medium, and large triple-flange tips
- Zippered carrying case
- Filter lanyard
- Instructions
Molding the Earpieces
Before use, the earpieces must be molded to your ears following these instructions.
- Boil a cup of water in a ceramic cup and remove it from the heat source.
- Remove percussive filters from the moldable earpieces.
- Place one earpiece into the boiling water and leave it in for five minutes.
- Remove the earpiece and let cool for 30 seconds.
- Reinsert the percussive filter into the earpiece.
- Gently press the earpiece into your ear, molding it into the contours of your ear. Avoid pushing on it with your fingernails as this will put unsightly marks into it.
- Let the mold cool and solidify in your ear for 5 minutes as you gently push and correct it every 30 seconds or so.
- Repeat the process for the other ear.
I found that it’s easier to have someone else mold the earpieces to your ear as they can see what they are doing better. I molded my first ear by myself, and my wife helped me with the second one. Hers came out a little better looking so I had her re-mold the first one as well. It would also be helpful to wear a pair of latex or nylon gloves so that your fingerprints don’t embed into the earpieces, and you are left with a more aesthetically pleasing result.
Decibullz Percussive Filters Performance
I must admit, I was a little skeptical at how effective these were going to be, so I got right to testing. After the earpieces were finished and in my ears, I was surprised at how well I could hear my wife during a conversation. It wasn’t as if there was nothing plugging my ears, there was muffling of sound, but not near the level of reduction that you would get from a standard, cheap ear plug. After that I immediately went out into the garage and looked around for things that I could make a really loud noise with. I found a piece of 2×4 and smacked it flat against the concrete floor. For those that don’t know, this makes a really loud, high-pitched smack. The smack sounded so quiet to me that I thought I wasn’t doing it right. I took one earpiece out of my ear and repeated this. I was definitely smacking it correctly because it was very loud to my unprotected ear. At this point I was genuinely impressed. I had never tried any percussive filters in the past and was not expecting this kind of performance.
The Real Test
A few days later I set out to my cousin’s house to really put the filters to the test and do some target shooting. Rifle season for whitetail is right around the corner so this was a perfect opportunity to test these. I brought my 30-06 rifle, and my cousin used his 350 Legend which he just purchased and needed to sight in. Long story short, the Decibullz percussive filters performed very well. According to the manufacturer, the filters are ANSI IPIL certified and provide up to 33 dB of impulse protection. They suppressed the powerful 30-06 to a comfortable level. Not once did I feel that the rifles were too loud and as a plus side, I didn’t have to take them out at any point during our conversations.
Decibullz Percussive Filters Fit and Comfort
The Decibullz percussive filters, being custom molded stayed in my ears very well. However, I did have to push on them from time to time to make sure that they were firmly in my ears as I was very active and doing a lot of moving and talking causing them to back out just a tiny bit. I think that a larger tip size would solve this issue for me as I was using the smallest tips provided. The comfort level for me was an eight out of ten. Let’s face it, anything lodged in your ear for an extended period of time is going to get uncomfortable eventually.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I was very impressed with the performance of the Decibullz percussive filters. The ability to suppress loud noises while retaining situational awareness and ability to hold a conversation all without batteries or complicated electronics is phenomenal. At the current price of $69.99 these are well worth it. If you want to purchase these filters or check out some of the other products offered by Decibullz, visit their site at www.decibullz.com or at www.amazon.com.
