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ISOtunes PRO Noise Isolating Bluetooth Earbuds | My NEW Top Recommendation for In-Ear Protection

ISOtunes-PRO---NRR-Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Hearing-Protection---HeadsetsIn this review, I will be taking an in-depth look at a headset I have been using for the last few months or so, both at my job in a sandblasting shop and around the house, the ISOtunes PRO Noise Isolating Bluetooth Earbuds.

The ISOtunes PRO model is the second Bluetooth hearing protection device put out by ISOtunes. I have used their first model and have given it high scores in my in-depth review of it, which you can check out here.

Disclaimer: before we get into this, I was approached by ISOtunes via Instagram (they must’ve done some research to figure out my personal Instagram account). They offered to send me the ISOtunes PRO for free so I could try it out and hopefully write a review about my experiences. However, I did make it clear that I would write an honest review. If I didn’t like the headphones I would say so, even though they sent them to me for free. That being said, I’ve been using the ISOtunes PRO for multiple months now so I think I will be able to write a great in-depth and honest review!

Quick Review


ISOtunes PRO Noise Isolating Headphones Review
  • Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) - 80
  • Battery Life - 95
  • Sound Volume/Quality - 90
  • Size & Comfort - 95
  • Durability - 90
  • Other Features - 75
  • Price - 90
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Summary

The ISOtunes PRO Noise Isolating Bluetooth Earbuds have taken over as my new HIGHEST RATED Bluetooth hearing protection device. They offer a high level of hearing protection while remaining lightweight, durable, and comfortable. They aren’t over-priced and will get the job done, keeping you safely entertained while you work!

In-Depth Review


Now we’ll get into the details of everything having to do with the ISOtunes PRO Noise Isolating Bluetooth Earbuds. My goal is to give you as good of an idea as possible of what it’s like to regularly use this headset (40 hours a week or more) so you can decide if they’ll work for you or not! I’ll be sure to cover everything I can so you’ll have no question unanswered!

If you’d like to read about what you would be wise to consider when purchasing a Bluetooth hearing protection device, check out:

What to Consider When Purchasing Bluetooth Hearing Protection

ISOtunes-PRO---NRR-Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Hearing-Protection---FeaturesNoise Reduction Rating (NRR)

The ISOtunes Pro headset will give you a Noise Reduction Rating of an ANSI-certified 27 dB, which is really high, especially for an in-ear device, and beats out the first generation ISOtunes headset by 1 dB. In my experience working in the sandblasting shop this level of protection given by this is more than adequate. The constantly running sandblasters are no more than a low hum when I am wearing these. Also, I can still have conversations with people if I stop the podcast or music I am listening to. If I have music on I literally can’t hear anything.

This headset achieves its high NRR by utilizing Comply Foam Tips that physically maximize noise reduction and maintain a high sound quality.

In addition to protecting you from outside noise, this headset also offers ISOtunes SafeSound TM technology which limits the sound levels coming through the built-in speakers to a maximum of 85 dB. This is a nice feature because it’s easy to unknowingly damage your hearing simply by listening to music too loudly while protecting your ears from exterior sounds.

Together, with the NRR of 27 and the ISOtunes SafeSound technology, this headset is fully OSHA compliant when it comes to keeping your ears safe in noisy environments.

Battery Life

According to information straight from ISOtunes, this headset should have a music playback and talk time of 10 hours on one fully charged battery (with 240 standby time); however, in my experience, it is more like 7 or 8 hours.

If I start the day with a full charge, the battery will die with an hour or so left of the work day (8 hours). However, if I make sure to turn it off and charge it on two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch I have no problem making it through a normal 8 or 9-hour workday.

Bluetooth Range

This headset utilizes Bluetooth 4.1 + EDR technology. Bluetooth 4.1 is the latest, most up to date version of Bluetooth technology available and EDR stands for Enhanced Data Rate which simply means it allows for a higher rate of data transfer over the Bluetooth connection. This also means it is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled devices.

In terms of connection quality and range, it has performed fairly well for me. Strangely, it will get spotty if I put my arm in the wrong spot over my phone or when some other random obstruction is near my phone. This almost never happened when I was using the original model from ISOtunes. Also, the distance I can get away from my phone is less than the original model. I would guess I can probably get about 25-30 feet away before it starts to cut out. However, the connection hasn’t really been a problem despite it not being quite as good as the older model.

Update: my wife and I just bought a house so I have been trying to use this headset while mowing the lawn and going for runs; however, I am running into problems. When I put my phone in the pocket on my shorts the connection is so spotty that I can hardly listen to anything. This has been the case both times I have mowed the lawn wearing them as well as going for a jog/walk. I eventually figured out that I need to make sure my phone is in my right pocket, which is the same side as the Bluetooth receiver on the headset. I guess the signal gets blocked trying to cross my body from my left pocket to my right ear. It’s weird because this was never a problem with the original headset from ISOtunes.

ISOtunes-PRO---NRR-Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Hearing-Protection---MowingMicrophone

There is a noise-cancellation microphone built into this headset. This means that it is designed to eliminate steady state sounds like jet engines, lawn mowers, fans, vacuums to allow you to keep clear phone calls in loud environment.

In my experience, I didn’t have much luck trying to talk on the phone using this microphone. I think this might have to do with the fact that I have my pair tightened up all the way which means the microphone ends up being near the back of my neck. So, I think if you could have the microphone closer to your mouth it would probably work better.

Sound Volume/Quality

This ISOtunes PRO headset makes use of aptX (R) high-definition audio playback speakers. I think the sound quality is definitely adequate. The speakers are not going to blow your mind, but you won’t feel like your listen to cheapo headphones either. When I listen to music it sounds good and when I listen to podcasts everything is clear and crisp, even when there is a high level of noise on the outside.

Size & Comfort

These headphones are small and light. You barely even notice them (for the most part, see the last paragraph of this section for the problems I have had) when they are in because they feel almost weightless when worn properly.

ISOtunes-PRO---NRR-Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Hearing-Protection---Girl-SawingThey use a custom-fit memory wire that conforms to your ears to ensure a stable fit. The noise protection tips are made from Comply Foam. This is a super-soft memory phone that is body heat activated. It is this material that provides maximum noise attenuation and this is what allows for this headset to have such a high Noise Reduction Rating. One small, but a great design feature of these tips is the flexible threaded core that allows them to be slightly “screwed” into place. The reason this is one of my favorite improvements is because with the original model there were times when I would pull them out and the tip would stay in my ear, which I would then have to pull out with tweezers.

Now, honestly speaking, the biggest problem I have had with this headset is that they have taken quite a while to get used to. During the first couple of weeks the tops of my ears hurt and were super sensitive from the memory wire pressing on them. This has gotten better with time, but there are still occasions where I do notice some soreness on the top of my ears. I’m not exactly sure what is causing this, but I think it might have to with the fact that I am always wearing safety goggles that are fighting for the limited space between my ears and my head so my ears are being pushed on constantly.

So, if you if you are likely to wear safety goggles along with these headphones for extended periods of time, this may be something for you to be aware of. Another issue is when I need to put on my respirator the headphone wire can get in the way.

These issues are not a game changer for me and I don’t think they will likely be for you either. I still plan on using these every day at work until I come across something better because I am happy with them.

Durability

These headphones have an IPX4 water rating which means they are guaranteed to be sweat and splash proof. They also come with a 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee if you don’t like them for some reason.

The biggest issue I have had with them (and with the original model as well) is that the memory foam tips tend to start to crack and eventually break up after a while.

ISOtunes-PRO---NRR-Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Hearing-Protection---What-You-GetWhat You Get

When you purchase this headset you will get a range of ear tips and accessories, including:

  • 1 Headset device
  • 3 sets of heat-activated Comply memory foam ear tips (1 large, 1 medium, 1 small)
  • 1 set of rubber-triple flange ear tips (for less noisy environments)
  • 1 set of ear clips
  • 1 USB charging cable
  • 1 zipper hard case to store it all in
Price

The ISOtunes PRO headset will run you $89.99 on Amazon plus shipping and handling unless you have Amazon Prime in which case shipping and handling is free. For the quality of the headset, their high noise reduction rating (NRR), lightweight comfort, and extended battery life, I think this is an excellent price. They run about $35 more than the first model, but you’re getting a much longer battery life, higher level of hearing protection, and a slightly greater level of comfort, so it’s worth it.

Conclusion


ISOtunes-PRO---NRR-Noise-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Hearing-Protection---BoxISOtunes impressed me with their first headset model so when I saw they had a new model I found it hard to believe that it could be much better. However, it speeds past the original model in nearly all aspects (comfort, battery life, sound quality, noise reduction rating, etc.) except for one (Bluetooth connection/range). In terms of price, while it is quite a bit higher, I think the value you receive is well worth it because, let’s face it, $89.99 for a pair of headphones that will keep your ears safely entertained while you’re working is really a bargain!

Aside from the minor Bluetooth connection problems I’ve had, there are very few negative things for me to say about the ISOtunes PRO headset. If you’re looking for a quality, in-ear hearing protection headset that has all the necessary features for an affordable price, then I would HIGHLY suggest investing in this ISOtunes PRO headset. It has my full recommendation and I would have no problem recommending this headset to my closest friends and family (in fact, I have recommended it to my coworkers already)!

If you have used this Bluetooth hearing protection headset I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below. Also, if you have any questions for me, please drop me a note below as well!

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