4. Comfort and control
Active Niose Killer earplugs fit comfortably and securely in your ears. I have tested both foam and silicone ear pads. Foam must first be crumpled, then placed in the ear canal, where they gradually straighten, ensuring a secure fit. As already mentioned, the workmanship is excellent: they crumple easily, return their shape quickly, and hold them securely.
Silicone "Christmas trees" may seem dangerous (brainwave) to those who are not familiar with this type of ear cushions. In fact, they, of course, do not reach the eardrums, but, of course, they should be inserted carefully. They seemed comfortable to me. I would say, it is more convenient than some audiophile plugs, where these were included. They are soft, easy to insert, easy to take out. But at the same time they sit securely.
Priboy (Aurica) Noise Killer set of ear pads and cleaning brush
After I put on the Noise Killer for the first time, I went through them for several hours (2 or 3) without feeling any discomfort. I am sure that you can stay in them longer, at least the whole day, if necessary. Personally, the foam ear cushions were more comfortable for me.
The procedure for preparing for work and switching on is simple here. We open the battery compartment, place the battery there, close it until it clicks. Of course, we repeat this for the second earpiece. After installing the batteries, the earplugs are ready for use. That is, they are immediately turned on.
Priboy Noise Killer 3-flange ear pads and control button
Noise Killer's controls are extremely simple. Each case has one button. After installing the batteries, the first operating mode is activated: minimal penetration of ambient sounds. Press the button, the second mode turns on - the world around you is heard better.
One more press - the third mode. You can hear everything around better than without headphones. Well, by the next press, we return to the first mode. Mode switching is accompanied by sound signals: one, two and three, respectively. Conveniently, you can't confuse which one is on now.
Priboy Noise Killer kit case
3. Appearance and build quality
Noise Killer comes in a rich package: in a large, durable case, you can find a small case designed for the earplugs themselves, a plastic box with a set of earpads (3 pairs of foam and silicone Christmas trees), a cleaning brush, a set of replaceable filters, a set of batteries and instructions with warranty card in it.
KB Surf Noise Killer complete set
The package bundle cannot be called anything other than rich and impressive. There is literally everything you need. Excellent quality foam ear pads, silicone in two versions: two-flange and three-flange. I was glad that there are a lot of batteries in the kit, they are not the most common form factor, you cannot buy it in any store. And here - a reserve for quite a long time.
Priboy Noise Killer Cleaner Tool
Noise Killer from KB Surf are designed for operation in harsh conditions (whether it be hunting, airsoft, clay pigeon shooting or something similar), therefore the complete cases are strong and reliable. They look impressive. Although the headphone case is quite neat and aesthetic. If you store everything as intended by the manufacturer, then, as they say, these earplugs will not "drift".
Let's take a closer look at the "headphones" themselves. They are very small and ergonomically shaped. The sound guides are narrow and long. The cases themselves are flat oval. On the sides you can see the manufacturer's name "KB Priboy" and the serial number (I think so). At the end opposite to the sound guide, you can see the right-left markings: red and blue, respectively.
Priboy Noise Killer designation right and left
Noise Killer's cases are solid, solid. Apparently cast or 3D printed.The outer side is in flesh color. There is a battery compartment, a microphone hole and a control button.
That, in general, is all. Nothing superfluous, no design delights. This is not an accessory, but a working tool. But at the same time, the earplugs do not look clumsy, but quite nice. The build is excellent. They are ready for any field conditions.
Priboy Noise Killer kit in a case
Peculiarities
There are two types of these devices - passive and active. The former are conventional liners made of silicone or other polymeric materials. Among them there are models that can be used for sleeping, working, shooting or flying. These products are disposable and reusable. Active noise canceling earplugs are not just plugs, but a technical device with an acoustic system. As a rule, they are designed for long-term use. Most often they are used for work or hunting, they can be called professional hearing protection.
The earplugs have an acoustic filter inside that cuts out high-frequency sounds such as gunshots. At the same time, the low frequency range is quite distinguishable, so the owner can hear speech or footsteps. A special microphone, which is also located inside, detects quiet sounds and can amplify them, allowing you to quickly spot targets while hunting and prepare to fire. Earplugs of this type are sold in stores, you can buy a suitable kit.
5. Work of noise reduction and autonomy
The manufacturer's declared operating life of Noise Killer on one pair of batteries is around 200 hours. It was not possible to check this for natural reasons. But, given that the headphones do not turn off, I can say that 4 days have already been in the box, sometimes they are used, and they still work. When the charge level is low, there should be a special sound signal, it has not been there yet.
Priboy Noise Killer battery
- With minimal sound penetration (no sound enhancement mode), the world around you is quieter than without headphones. In general, everything is audible, but muffled. High frequencies are heard better than others.
- The second mode (amplification by 10 dB) is comparable to hearing in terms of volume. At least with mine. Naturally, the presentation of sounds is somewhat different from ordinary hearing, let's say. Rustles, high pitches, rustling and similar noises are heard better, but in general there is a certain feeling of an unusual state. It does not cause discomfort, but it cannot be said that everything around is heard the same way as without earplugs.
- The third mode (25dB gain) makes the surrounding sounds louder than without earplugs. Rustles, high-pitched and pinching sounds are even more emphasized. A kind of "super hearing at the minimum salary." For example, you can hear whispers from the next room. But the sounds are still distorted. In this mode, there is a slight echo effect. But, I will emphasize that in this case it is quite possible to walk in earplugs and do ordinary things. I think he will not interfere with the hunt either. The rustle of prey in the bushes will be heard further and more accurately.
Priboy Noise Killer Replacement Filters
Sound positioning in all three Noise Killer modes is good. Not perfect, but it's easy to navigate your surroundings. Of course, you shouldn't turn on the third mode in a very noisy environment. If there are a lot of sounds, they are loud, but not loud enough to start to "cut off", you can quickly earn a headache.
And most importantly, the suppression of loud sounds. I'm not a shooter or a hunter, so in the conditions for which these earplugs are designed, they did not work. A "synthetic test" was invented. Turned on the third mode. I took full-size headphones, turned the volume in them to the maximum. And he turned on the sounds of shots. And then I compared the same without earplugs.
Priboy (Aurica) Noise Killer dimensions
Accordingly, Niose Killer's noise reduction is excellent. Harsh loud sounds are not muffled, but attenuated. You can hear that they are loud. But not really. At the same time, I did not notice any effects of turning on noise reduction (a couple of times it seemed that I noticed, but this is not accurate). In my non-professional opinion, the result is excellent.
At the end of this block, I still want to say that long-term wearing of these earplugs, especially with the third (and the second) mode turned on, can cause discomfort. Some people have more than others. Therefore, if you want to walk the city streets in "super hearing" mode, there may be unpleasant surprises.
Priboy (Aurica) Noise Killer size vs. TWS headphones
8. Summary
Noise Killer from KB Priboy - high-quality active earplugs for shooting and hunting. They do an excellent job of their function. They are securely placed in the ears, they make it possible to hear the world around them quite comfortably, but at the same time they protect the hearing from loud sounds.
Pros:
- Effective work. Earplugs are good at capturing ambient sounds. There are three modes of operation for different situations. The suppression of loud noises is excellent: they are not cut off, they remain audible, but the volume is significantly reduced.
- Comfortable fit. The enclosures are small and ergonomic. Complete ear pads are of high quality and comfortable. Earplugs do not rub, do not cause any discomfort, but they sit securely in the ears.
- Rich kit. A set of various ear pads, batteries, filters, a brush for cleaning ear pads, a case for ear plugs and a large case for the entire set. There is everything you need. All that remains is to put in the batteries.
- Good build quality. The cases are sturdy and difficult to break. Earplug-headphone cases are reliable, monolithic. The ear cushions also do not fall apart in the hands. There is no need to fear for the safety of this model, it will "survive" almost any field conditions without problems.
KB Surf Noise Killer Buttons and Microphones
Minuses:
- High price. Recommended retail price from 30,000 rubles (about $ 450). This is an impressive investment in hearing protection. There are Chinese counterparts that are significantly cheaper. It is unlikely, of course, that they provide the same level of protection.
- Do not turn off. Here it is implemented in the same way as on hearing aids - the battery compartment cover opens slightly and the device is de-energized. This is done due to the peculiarity of zinc air batteries, which still discharge. They are clearly discharged faster during operation (even in the first mode). Taking them out and putting them back in is not always convenient.
8.4 Total Score
Hearing protection and microphone performance
10
Comfort
9
Kit and assembly
10
High price
6
Do not turn off
7