My Top 5 Bluetooth Hearing Protection Earmuffs

I purchased all Bluetooth earmuffs reviewed here at standard retailers and put them through some good testing.

This post reports on my findings and personal favorites.

You probably already have your use case, but if not here is why you would want a pair:

They can spice up your work day and make you more productive.

• Listen to music, audiobooks, or the radio with the built-in headphones while protecting your hearing from loud noise (e.g., while mowing the lawn, landscaping, or doing metal or wood work).
• Learn new things, keep up with the news, and take client calls while working.

My testing approach for Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs

Over the years, I’ve looked at numerous Bluetooth hearing protectors and kept a shortlist of the ones that warranted detailed testing. My evaluation process includes:

• Wearing them as passive earmuffs to protect against loud noise (lawn mower at 95 decibels and metal saw at 98-100 decibels).
• Listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks under loud as well as quiet conditions.
• Making phone calls in a moderate-noise environment.
• Making phone calls in a loud environment (mower at 95 dB, metal saw at 98 dB, and router at 100 dB).

The big picture

The earmuffs reviewed here are similar in their effectiveness as a hearing protector (on my head). I get a consistent seal with each of them.

The noise reduction ratings range from 24 to 26, with newer models (NRR 26) being somewhat more effective and thus preferable.

They all work reasonably well for listening to modern music in a loud environment.

What distinguishes them are sound quality and adaptability to quieter, older recordings and spoken content (i.e., sophistication of safe volume control), wearing comfort, and the ability to make phone calls in a very loud environment.

Some have additional functionality such as a radio or an awareness mode allowing you to hear your surroundings while protecting your hearing.

Making calls generally worked well as long as the noise level was moderate.

But, only two of the headsets allow you to actually make phone calls while running a lawn mower, router or saw at full throttle.

Overview and ranking

Note: Points out of 10, 10/10 is best.

What makes good Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs

Noise reduction

The primary purpose is hearing protection. Even the best audio features only matter if your hearing is properly protected.

Subjective: Do I feel well-protected under high noise? Do the earmuffs keep sealing well when I move my head in different directions?

Objective: Does the brand provide complete data according to the standards relevant to the market they sell into?

For hearing protectors sold in the U.S. (the main focus here), I look for the EPA label stating the noise reduction rating (NRR) and the attenuation data by frequency (ANSI S3.19-1974).

Here is an example EPA label and the corresponding attenuation data:

The earmuffs reviewed in this post have an NRR of at least 24.
Specific occupational environments may require higher ratings— consult your workplace safety personnel for guidance.

Wearing comfort

You need to be able to wear these earmuffs for hours at a time. Clamping force, headband adjustability and padding, ear cushions, and weight all play a role in long-term comfort.
In this post, I also provide tips how to make your earmuffs more comfortable.

Sound quality

The headphones should be tuned to sound good in a high noise environment. Forward vocals might sound too pronounced in a quiet room, but can work well when listening to the radio or audiobooks while sitting on a lawn tractor.

My priority here is not audiophile tuning for quiet settings, but clarity amidst noise! Most commercial headphones at even half the price sound better in a quiet setting.

Safe volume control

Your Bluetooth hearing protector should have an effective volume limiter / safe volume control.

You don’t want to inadvertently crank up the volume to drown out excessive environmental noise (i.e., mask the fact that your hearing protection is insufficient) or damage your hearing by playing audio at an unsafe level.

Ideally, intelligent volume control should compensate for audio recorded at lower volumes (older music, certain audiobooks, or quieter radio stations) while still maintaining safe listening levels.

Ease of use

Can you easily control the main functions (play/pause, volume, radio station, answer/reject a call)? Can you control these functions while wearing gloves and without seeing the buttons?

Do the earmuffs provide a good voice assistant?

Call quality

Many Bluetooth earmuffs have built-in microphones that only work for making calls in a moderate noise environment. I will point out earmuffs that are usable for making calls while running loud machinery.

Battery Life

Longer is better; you need to get at least a complete work day out of them. Consider whether you prefer rechargeable (often built-in) or replaceable batteries. I will point out the different battery types.

Detailed reviews of my top 5 Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs

1. Worktunes Connect v2: My favorite All-rounder

The 3M Worktunes Connect v2 are my new favorite Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs. They offer substantial improvements over their already popular predecessor.

These earmuffs sound good (better than v1) and have a remarkable bass extension—the best low bass I’ve found in any Bluetooth hearing protector. They have a solid noise reduction rating of NRR 26 (up from 24 for v1) and good low-frequency noise reduction.

The safe volume control maintains the audio quality. The limiter of the v1 was more aggressive and cut back bass. On the plus side, v1 did emphasize quieter passages and hence was somewhat louder with audiobooks.

The WTC v2 look and feel professional (as does their documentation, including the noise reduction data); this might be important for convincing your boss that you want to use these in an occupational setting.
I find them very easy to use via a control button and a volume lever, even with gloves. The voice assistant gives good feedback.

The ear cushions are comfortable with moderate clamping force, and the headband is highly adjustable; the earmuffs are suitable for large heads. However, for the headband top to remain comfortable (I start feeling the top after about 2 hours), I use a padded headband cover:

I get around 40 hours of battery life before needing to recharge (via a USB-C port). They easily last through multiple workdays.

For calls, the WTC v2 are decent in moderate noise environments, but, like other Bluetooth earmuffs without a boom mic, they don’t work well for making calls when operating loud machinery.

Pros:

• Best bass extension of all Bluetooth earmuffs I’ve tested.
• High noise reduction rating (NRR 26) with good low-frequency noise reduction.
• Easy to use; all major functions are accessible via control button + volume lever.
• Natural-sounding volume limiter that doesn’t negatively affect audio quality.
• Modern Bluetooth standard (5.3) and USB-C charging port.
• Professional appearance and IP44 dust/water resistance rating.
• Good battery life (approximately 40 hours).
• Complete documentation with all noise reduction data.

Cons:

• Tonal balance could be better; on Android, this can be compensated with equalization / Dolby Atmos.
• Headband top can become uncomfortable after extended wear (can be solved with a padded headband cover; see above).
• May not be loud enough for some audiobooks. On Android, this can often be addressed with apps like Wavelet. (For iOS, I am not aware of any EQ apps that work system-wide.)
• Like with most models, the microphone doesn’t work for calls in high-noise environments.
• No longer have a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connections (Bluetooth only).

Summary

The Worktunes Connect v2 are a well-rounded Bluetooth hearing protector. The effective noise reduction, good sound (in particular the low bass), ease of use, and professional look make them my overall favorite. The shortcomings can be addressed with simple solutions like a headband cover or equalization apps.

If you primarily intend to listen to audiobooks or podcasts in high-noise environments, you could consider the 3M Pro-Protect (see below) as an alternative, but for mixed use—including music and spoken content—I prefer these.

For more information, check my detailed review of the Worktunes Connect v2.

2. Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1: Best with radio

The 3M Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1 remain my favorite Bluetooth work earmuffs with radio functionality.

Even after testing the newer AMFM v2 model, I believe that the v1 still offer better sound tuning for radio listening and quieter recordings in noisy environments, as well as more intuitive controls.

They have an NRR of 24; all noise reduction data is properly documented and available.

They have a good upper bass, full-bodied vocals, and transparent highs without sounding harsh. While the bass can sound “boxy” with some music (the low bass is somewhat missing), the forward vocals work well for cutting through loud machinery noise, especially when listening to radio broadcasts or spoken content.

The controls are very well thought out; the intuitive layout with a tuning dial and a volume knob and a voice assistant make adjusting the radio and other functions easy, even without removing the earmuffs.

The radio reception is good, and they play significantly louder than the AMFM v2 model.

These earmuffs have safe volume control, i.e., a noise dosimeter that attempts to limit the average sound level over the course of a workday but allows you to listen at a louder volume for periods of time. This approach doesn’t negatively affect the sound quality as some other volume limiters do.

With most music and audiobook sources, I found the volume perfectly adequate even under loud conditions (up to about 98 decibels).

They use an older Bluetooth standard than the v2 with about half the specified range (25 ft. vs. 50 ft.), but when I connect to a device in my pocket, the connection has always been reliable.
The headband is highly adjustable and fits even very large heads—the most extendable headband I have encountered in hearing protection earmuffs.

Making phone calls works well as long as you turn your machine off first. However, like most Bluetooth earmuffs, these don’t work for making calls while your mower or other machinery is running at full throttle.

The battery life is excellent at about 40 hours of Bluetooth listening (two disposable AA alkaline batteries). I also use them with rechargeable AA batteries (battery options comparison). In addition, 3M offers an optional rechargeable lithium battery pack, which can be charged via the micro USB port.

The v1 weigh 402g (14.2 oz), similar to the WTC v2 (Bluetooth only) at 411g (14.5 oz).

Pros:

• Great sound tuning for loud environments with emphasized vocals.
• Good radio functionality with good reception and intuitive controls.
• The dosimeter-based volume control allows for decent volume without impairing sound quality.
• The most adjustable headband: these fit even very large heads.
• Good battery life with option for either AA batteries or a rechargeable pack (extra purchase).
• 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connections, and it works well (removed in v2).

Cons:

• Older Bluetooth standard (though it still functions well, so for me this wouldn’t be an issue).
• The headband works well with a baseball cap but can become uncomfortable after a few hours without one. A padded headband cover solves this for me.
• To connect/pair them with another device, you have to disconnect the earmuffs first in your phone’s Bluetooth settings (with other models, pressing a button on the muffs is enough).

Summary

Despite the release of newer models, the Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1 remain my top choice for earmuffs with radio functionality. And as of the writing of this review, they are still available.

Their vocal emphasis, overall sound tuning, and excellent control scheme work for me.

If you’re interested in radio listening and/or playing audio via Bluetooth while working with loud machinery, these offer better sound performance than their successor, the WTC AMFM v2.

The main advantage of v2 is the somewhat more effective noise reduction (NRR 26 vs 24). While I welcome the improvement, on my head, the difference isn’t big enough to make up for the clear advantages of the v1.

For more information on the differences between the WTC AMFM v1 and v2, read my test and review of the Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v2.

Note: In case you are wondering, despite looking very similar, the WTC AMFM v2 sound different from the WTC v2 and they are also quieter.

3. 3M Pro-Comms: Best for communication

The 3M Pro-Comms are very good Bluetooth earmuffs that solve a problem most other models can’t: making phone calls in very loud environments.

In my tests, callers were able to hear me well even against lawn mower, metal saw, and router noise at 100 dBA. The boom mic makes all the difference.

These earmuffs provide very effective noise reduction (NRR 26) and have an awareness mode that lets you hear your surroundings at a controlled volume level (limited to 82 decibels) via two external microphones.

You can adjust the awareness mode volume in four steps by pressing the ambient volume button and you can also completely mute it (turning them into passive Bluetooth earmuffs).

Note: You completely mute the awareness mode by long-pressing the ambient volume button. Having seen this question asked multiple times, I wanted to address this.

The sound is balanced with good, clear vocals (good for communication, vocal music, and audiobooks), though the bass is weak compared to that of the Worktunes models.

The Pro-Comms have an excellent volume limiter – they offer both safe volume control (a dosimeter mode accounting for sound exposure over a whole workday) and a standard limiter mode.

Among all hearing protectors in this post, the Pro-Comms do volume management best. They adapt better to quieter recordings as well spoken content (e.g. podcasts and audiobooks) than any of the others.

They have roomy gel ear cushions. I find the cushions very comfortable. They seal well and have deep cups, providing ample space for large ears.

Note: The gel cushions are quite a bit deeper than the Worktunes’ foam ear pads. If you struggle with glasses and foam ear pads, these gels might be the answer.

The Pro-Comms are bulky and have an industrial appearance, similar to what you might see on airport ground crew. These are serious work headphones, which might be an advantage in an occupational setting. All noise reduction data is being provided in the manual.

The headband is adjustable enough to fit most head sizes.

The Bluetooth connection is stable with excellent range. Outdoors with no obstacles, the connection remained good for distances up to about 65 feet (20 m).

Battery life is very good. With disposable Alkaline AA batteries, I am getting more than 40 hours of continuous music streaming at approximately 75% volume with awareness mode activated. They also work well with rechargeable batteries (NiMH).

For more information, also check my detailed test and review of the 3M Pro-Comms.

Note: The Pro-Comms have a push-to-talk button which, in conjunction with the Zello app, would in principle allow for “walkie-talkie style communication.” However, this requires Internet connectivity and the app running on your phone. I only have one unit and don’t use this function. Other users have reported that this app & mobile-data reliance is not ideal, so I wouldn’t get the Pro-Comms for this purpose. For true direct headset-to-headset communication without requiring a phone or internet connection, you would need to invest in significantly more expensive specialized radio communication headsets.

Pros:

• Very good call quality in high-noise environments (even at 100 dBA).
• Boom mic can be positioned for optimal clarity.
• Effective noise reduction (NRR 26) and complete documentation with all NR data.
• Awareness mode lets you hear your surroundings at a safe volume level (can be completely muted).
• Balanced sound and clear vocals (but weak bass compared to Worktunes).
• Great safe volume management with both dosimeter and limiter modes.
• Deep gel ear cushions provide ample space for large ears.
• Excellent battery life (AA batteries).
• Very good Bluetooth range.

Cons:

• Bulky profile.
• Boom microphone could potentially get caught on branches or other objects.
• Headband top can become uncomfortable after extended wear. I use a padded headband cover.
• Headband adjustment mechanism can be stubborn.
• Audio (Bluetooth) volume has to be adjusted on your phone. I’d prefer if there was a volume lever / knob as with the Worktunes.
• The higher weight (468g, 15.8 oz) might affect stability when doing overhead work.
• Push-to-talk function requires an app and internet connectivity (not direct headset-to-headset communication).

Summary

The Pro-Comms’ standout feature is undoubtedly the boom microphone, which can be positioned directly in front of your mouth: callers can clearly understand me even with loud machinery running at full throttle.

Other users have reported using these with great success in loud data centers, maintaining clear communication amidst the constant noise of cooling systems and servers.

The combination of excellent call quality, situational awareness mode, great safe volume control and comfortable gel cushions make these the most versatile Bluetooth earmuffs in this ranking. They also sound good, provided your music doesn’t need a lot of bass.

If you don’t need to make calls in high-noise environments, consider the potential snag hazard that comes with a boom mic. However, If you need this capability, I don’t know any other model in this price range that matches the Pro-Comms’ performance and versatility.

4. 3M Pro-Protect: Best for audiobooks / podcasts & situational awareness

The 3M Pro-Protect earmuffs provide effective noise reduction (NRR 26 with gel cushions) and come with complete noise reduction data in the manual.
They sound detailed and balanced with vocals that cut through noise. The sound is very similar to that of the Pro-Comms reviewed above. I find them very good for spoken content such as audiobooks and podcasts.

They also sound good with vocal music, acoustic guitars, etc. The bass is weaker than that of the Worktunes, a bit too light for rock and pop for me.

The Pro-Protect limit the max volume to 82 dBA (unlike the Pro-Comms, they don’t have a dosimeter mode as an alternative).

In practice, I found the limiter to work very well: they go loud enough even with older recordings and quieter audiobooks in high-noise environments (e.g, amidst lawnmower or metal saw noise).

A very useful feature is the awareness mode that uses two external microphones to let you hear your surroundings at a controlled volume level: this makes it easier to communicate with colleagues and hear warning signals while still protecting your hearing.

The awareness mode volume can be adjusted in four steps or completely turned off (by long-pressing the ambient volume button).

When you are exposed to constant noise (e.g., when riding a mower) as opposed to intermittent noises, consider muting it.

That way, you can hear your audiobook or music without competing with the constant noise piped in via the awareness mode. (The audio volume can be adjusted independently on your phone.)

Note: Some users have reported the awareness mode can’t be turned off / muted: It can be turned off. Just long-press the ambient volume button!

The earmuffs have deep gel ear cushions with large openings that provide ample space for even very large ears. They are substantially deeper than the Worktunes’ foam ear cushions.

The headband is well extendable and should fit most head sizes. My unit has somewhat loose headband adjustment sliders. According to 3M, this should not be the case.

The Bluetooth connection is good. I am getting a stable connection for up to about 65 feet (20 m) outdoors with no obstacles (the estimated range according to the manual is 25 ft).
Battery life (AA batteries) is excellent at about 45 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime, with the awareness mode activated.

For calls, the Pro-Protect are decent in quiet environments, but my voice comes through significantly quieter compared to both Worktunes models. Like most Bluetooth earmuffs without a boom microphone, they don’t work for calls when operating loud machinery.

For more information, also read my detailed test and review of the Pro-Protect.

Pros:

• Good noise reduction rating (NRR 26 with gel cushions).
• Complete documentation with all noise reduction data.
• Good sound quality for spoken content (audiobooks, podcasts, explanatory videos, vocal music).
• Awareness mode lets you hear your surroundings while protecting your hearing.
• Deep gel ear cushions provide ample space for large ears.
• Adequate volume even with quieter recordings.
• Excellent battery life (with Alkaline AA batteries approximately 45 hours).
• Good Bluetooth range and stability.

Cons:

• Bass is a bit weak, lighter than that of the Worktunes.
• Somewhat worse call quality compared to the Worktunes models and definitely no match for the Pro-Comms.
• No volume control on the earmuffs for audio (must adjust on your device).
• Bulky profile.
• Headband adjustment mechanism can be loose on some units.

Summary

The 3M Pro-Protect work very well for listening to spoken content (audiobooks, podcasts, explanatory videos, vocal music). For this type of content, they perform better than the Worktunes. I also like the adjustable awareness mode and the roomy gel cushions.

The Pro-Comms technically offer even better performance for spoken content (and overall).
But, if you don’t need to make calls amidst loud noise, the Pro-Protect provide similar clarity at a lower price, without the potential snag hazard of a boom microphone.

For music, especially bass-heavier genres, I prefer the Worktunes models.

5. Honeywell Sync Wireless: Lightest with Great Call Quality

The Honeywell Sync Wireless earmuffs with their boom microphone excel in two key areas: they are light and they offer great call quality in very loud environments.

With an NRR of 25, they provide good hearing protection while being the lightest of my current favorites at just 310g (10.9 oz). For comparison, the Pro-Comms weigh 468g (15.8 oz) and the WTC v2 411g (14.5 oz).

If you find heavier models uncomfortable or need to do overhead work where weight matters, consider these earmuffs.

The boom microphone performance is great, nearly matching the Pro-Comms in call quality under high noise conditions.
I have tested the Sync Wireless’ call quality in multiple very loud environments (lawn mower, metal saw, router). Even against environmental noise at 100 dBA, callers can understand me clearly.

One limitation of the Sync Wireless is the narrower microphone recording range (100-4000 Hz compared to the Pro-Comms’ 20-8000 Hz). For standard phone calls, this difference is barely noticeable since phone networks also use a limited frequency range.

However, with modern chat apps or when recording voice memos, the Pro-Comms’ mic offers more natural voice quality.

In high-noise environments, this distinction becomes less important as clarity is the primary concern.

The headband is padded and comfortable. But, I have to fully extend the muffs to wear them. This can sometimes compromise the seal when I move my head from side to side. I find the fit a bit tight.

I have a slightly larger than average head, so if you have a large head, these might not extend enough.  A friend of mine with an “average head” felt they fit well.

For comparison, the Worktunes and the 3M Pro-series earmuffs are all more extendable.

The sound quality of the headphones is adequate but not great. With detailed highs and clear vocals, the Sync Wireless sound good for communication, podcasts, and audiobooks.

They have the weakest bass and are the quietest of all models in this lineup. On Android sound and volume can be improved by using Dolby Atmos or an EQ app like Wavelet.

In terms of sound, I prefer the Worktunes and the 3M Pro-Series earmuffs.

The battery life from the built-in rechargeable battery is approximately 25 hours (spec. 16 hours). This should be sufficient for at least two work days.

Pros:

• Very light Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs (310g/10.9 oz).
• Good noise reduction (NRR 25), all data provided.
• Excellent call quality in high-noise environments.
• Padded, comfortable headband.
• Built-in rechargeable battery.
• Stable fit for overhead work (for smaller heads).

Cons:

• Limited bass response and somewhat thin sound for music.
• Not adjustable enough for very large heads.
• Seal can break when I turn my head (larger head).
• They don’t go as loud as the competition; the volume limiter is perhaps a bit too conservative.
• Usually not cheaper than the Pro-Comms despite a lot fewer features.

Summary

If you need to take calls while operating machinery but find heavier models uncomfortable during extended wear, the Honeywell Sync Wireless are a good alternative to the heavier 3M Pro-Comms.

The sound quality is good for communication but only OK for listening to music.

The Sync Wireless used to be my number one for communication.

These days, my first recommendation for taking calls are the Pro-Comms. They handle loud environments as well but sound better and go louder. And, they have an awareness mode and fit larger heads.

If, however, you need hearing protection in a light communication headset, the Sync Wireless are the best option I know of.

Making phone calls in a loud environment

All Bluetooth earmuffs in this review have a built-in microphone and in principle allow the user to make and take phone calls. When a call comes in, music and audio books get muted and you hear a ring tone signaling the call.
Upon pressing a button, you can then take the phone call without removing your hearing protector.
In that sense, all earmuffs in this post are complete headsets.

Making calls under moderate noise

Two of the five earmuffs have a boom mic: the 3M Pro-Comms and the Honeywell Sync Wireless, allowing you to place the microphone directly in front of your mouth.

These two offer the best call quality in quiet and moderately noisy environments (e.g. along a busy road).

I rank the Pro-Comms slightly higher because they have a larger microphone frequency range (20 to 8000 Hz) compared to the Sync Wireless (100 to 4000 Hz). Due to range limitations of phone networks, this doesn’t matter much when making normal phone calls. With chat and memo recording apps, however, the larger range helps the Pro-Comms to sound more natural.

The Worktunes Connect v2 and the Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1 have microphones that are built in the ear cups. They still offer very decent call quality along a moderately busy street. The WTC v2’s mic pickup is a tad louder.

The weakest are the Pro-Protect, which also have a built-in microphone. The mic is clear in a quiet setting, but its pickup is substantially quieter than that of the other headsets. The Pro-Protect can work OK among a moderately busy street, provided I make a conscious effort to raise my voice. If I am not careful, parts of my speech are lost to the listener.

Making calls in a high noise environment

I also tried all earmuffs against lawn mower noise (95 dBA) and metal saw noise (98 dBA).

With all earmuffs that have only a built-in microphone (as opposed to an adjustable boom mic), callers could not hear me at all (!) amidst these loud machines.

So both Worktunes models and the Pro-Protect won’t work if you need to make phone calls while you are running your lawn mower.

This is where the noise canceling boom mics of the Pro-Comms and the Honeywell Sync Wireless come in.

With both boom mic headsets, I was perfectly able to make/take a call even in a very loud environment and other parties could clearly understand what I was saying.

The mic was able to overcome the lawn mower and the metal saw. Making calls even worked at a noise level of 100 dBA (router).

If you have to make calls (communicate) while riding your lawn mower or running loud tools, my first recommendation is the 3M Pro-Comms.

While the call quality of the Honeywell Sync Wireless is nearly the same, the Pro-Comms are overall better (e.g., the headphones go louder, which helps you to better understand callers) and a lot more feature-rich Bluetooth earmuffs. They also have a newer Bluetooth version, which allows for the larger frequency range.

That said, if you want the lightest Bluetooth earmuffs (and don’t have a large head), the Honeywell Sync Wireless are still a very good communication headset.

Call quality comparison table

Note: Points out of 10, with 10/10 best.

Wearing comfort and how to improve it

There are several aspects to wearing comfort:

Headband adjustability

If the headband can’t be extended enough, i.e., it is too small, the fit can feel too tight. I have this issue with the Honeywell Sync Wireless and many Howard Leight earmuffs.

Also, if you can barely lower the ear cups enough for them to fit over your ears, they might pinch your ears.

Headband clamping force

I find the headband force of all five earmuffs ranked in this post acceptable.

Headband top, ear muff weight, and headband covers

In particular 3M’s Bluetooth earmuffs have gotten substantially heavier over the years.

Now they all weigh north of 400g (14 oz). In the past, I considered earmuffs weighing 350g (12.3 oz) heavy.

In addition, most of my favorite earmuffs have a rubber-molded top with cut-outs for ventilation and ball caps. While this type of top is durable, it isn’t soft.

Padded pleather tops (like the one on the Honeywell Sync Wireless) are more comfortable, but they are not as easy to use with ball caps and the headband can deteriorate under constant heat and sweat, causing the material to start flaking.

For me, the top of all rubber-top earmuffs reviewed here becomes somewhat uncomfortable after a few hours.

It may be the shape of my head or the fact that I keep my hair very short. Readjusting helps only temporarily and I don’t always wear a cap.

Fortunately, a readily available padded fabric headband cover make these headbands much more comfortable for long-term wear (and it can be washed) so this isn’t an issue for me anymore. I use the same type of cover with my Worktunes (v2 and AMFM v1) and Pro-series earmuffs:

The headband cover is an extra expense, but for me it makes all the difference.

Ear cushions

The speakers of these Bluetooth earmuffs sit almost directly underneath the ring at the bottom of the ear pads (there is still a small layer of foam isolation between the ring and the speakers). Consequently, the ear cups are not as spacious as those of passive earmuffs without speakers.

Both Worktunes models as well as the Honeywell Sync Wireless use foam ear cushions that are fairly shallow.

For me, they are comfortable and work fine (and I don’t have small ears). I can wear the earmuffs for hours.

However, when switching to the Pro-series earmuffs, the difference is noticeable. The gel cushions are quite a bit more spacious. They are both larger and deeper.

In addition, these gel cushions work better with more types of glasses and temple arms.

3M used to offer the older Worktunes Bluetooth only model (WTC v1) in a (pricier) gel edition as well.

I have contacted them. For the new version (v2), the gel edition is currently not available.

They also offered replacement gel cushions that could be used to turn the WTC v1 foam into a gel edition. Again, they told me that v2-approved gel replacement cushions are not yet available.

I intend to update this post if/when gels become available.

Maximum listening volume and safe volume control

Most Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs have a volume limiter (often limiting to 82 dBA) to prevent hearing damage from the audio itself.

People coming from normal headphones sometimes miss the freedom of cranking it up.

“This isn’t loud enough. I can’t hear my audiobook.”

But, if you could crank up the volume of your music or podcast to overcome environmental noise, you’d potentially create two problems:

1. Potential hearing damage from the audio itself (played at excessive volumes).
2. Masking insufficient protection: when you turn up the volume to overcome loud environmental noise, you may be compensating for inadequate hearing protection without even knowing.

For example: Imagine you are operating a jackhammer that exposes your ears to an unsafe 88 dBA of noise despite your earmuffs (exceeding their protection capability). With volume-limited earmuffs, the 82 dBA maximum would be drowned out by the environmental noise, a signal that your hearing protection is insufficient.

However, without a limiter, you might crank your music to 95 dBA to hear it (as you could with normal headphones), and damage your hearing from both the environmental noise AND the excessive music volume—“a double whammy.”

Two different limiting approaches

Standard limiter (e.g., 82 dBA cap)

The 3M Pro-Protect and the Honeywell Sync Wireless “only” have a standard limiter.

Noise dosimeter (safe volume control)

More sophisticated models, including the Worktunes Connect v2, the Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1 and the 3M Pro-Comms use a “dosimeter” approach that keeps track of average sound exposure over time. This allows for a somewhat louder volume for shorter periods while maintaining safe average levels. The mentioned three models have two modes: they can also be switched to a standard limiter, allowing you to test which approach works better for you.

In my experience, both volume limiting strategies can work well. What matters more is the specific implementation; that is, how well the limiter adapts to quieter recordings.

My experience with different Bluetooth earmuffs and quieter recordings

Older music recordings often have lower average volumes than modern music.

Audiobooks and podcasts also typically have lower volumes than commercial music.

Finally, radio stations broadcast at varying volume levels, some being significantly quieter than others

Ranking volume adaptation for quieter music and audiobooks

1. Pro-Comms: Best adaptation to quieter recordings, with very good volume management.
2. Pro-Protect: Good volume management for spoken content.
3. Worktunes Connect v2 and Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1: Decent adaptation to different content volumes.
4. Honeywell Sync Wireless: Most conservative volume limiter, making them the quietest in this review.

What can you do if your earmuffs don’t go loud enough?

Note: These sound enhancement methods should be used cautiously and only to compensate for unusually quiet recordings. If you consistently can’t hear your audio over environmental noise, you may need hearing protection with a higher noise reduction rating rather than trying to increase your audio volume.

On Android, you can often make adjustments that work system-wide and across most apps:

• Dolby Atmos: Available on many Samsung and some other Android devices; Atmos can make your music, including vocals sound fuller and somewhat louder. It works across all apps, so you can use it with music as well as audiobooks, Youtube, etc.

• Wavelet: Wavelet is a capable equalizer app that can boost specific frequencies to enhance speech clarity and volume for spoken content as well as music.

On iOS, options are limited. Apart from the Late Night Setting, I am only aware of options to improve the sound within apps that bring their own EQ.

• Late Night EQ setting: Found in Settings → Music → Equalizer, this compresses the dynamic range, making quiet parts louder while keeping loud parts in check.
• Foobar 2000 music player app: I like Foobar 2000. It offers a full EQ and other sound enhancements. But the adjustments only work for content played through the app.

For additional ideas, also check my post How to Make Quiet Recordings Louder on 3M Worktunes and Other Earmuffs.

Noise reduction data

All earmuffs came with the EPA label stating the NRR on the box.

All of them also included a usage example and attenuation data by frequency (ANSI S3.19-1974) on which the NRR is based.

Attenuation comparison table

Attenuation in dB, SD in parentheses.

The noise reduction rating (NRR) for these earmuffs ranges from NRR 24 to NRR 26, see table above.

My qualitative tests under loud noise and subjective impression are in line with that.

Because the Honeywell Sync Wireless are a bit on the small side for my head, the seal breaks easier (letting noise in) when I completely turn my head to the side. This may not be a problem for people with smaller heads.

With all other earmuffs ranked in this post, I didn’t have seal consistency issues.

When wearing glasses, expect some performance deterioration with all earmuffs. The Pro-Comms and Pro-Protect have gel ear cushions, which I find a bit more comfortable with glasses. Depending on your glasses’ temple arms, they can also provide a somewhat better seal.

If you need a higher noise reduction rating (e.g, NRR 30) for your work environment, more effective passive hearing protection earmuffs without Bluetooth are available.

Conclusion

The Worktunes Connect v2 are my favorite all-rounder. They are very effective Bluetooth hearing protectors, sound good (very good low bass), are easy to use, and look professional without being overly bulky. The Bluetooth connection is very solid and the battery lasts around 40 hours before recharging. They work quite well for me for making calls in everyday environments, but not when close to loud machinery.

For radio listeners, I still recommend the Worktunes Connect + AM/FM v1 (my previous number 1). They are tuned to emphasize vocals, which is great for the radio as well as easy listening in loud environments in general. Their control scheme (tuning dial, voice assistant, button layout) is excellent and they also support Bluetooth. I prefer them over their successor: while the WTC + AM/FM v2 are somewhat more effective at noise reduction, they aren’t tuned as well and are also quieter.

If you need to take calls while operating loud machinery (or in a loud data center), I recommend the 3M Pro-Comms. In my tests, their boom mic maintained clarity even against 100 dBA background noise (loud mower, router, etc.). The sound tuning is good for everything vocal and they adapt very well to quieter content. They have an awareness mode, allowing you to hear your surroundings while protecting you from intermittent loud noises. Technically, they are the most sophisticated headset of them all. They are a bit bulky and, compared to both Worktunes models, have weaker bass.

The 3M Pro-Protect are a more economical alternative to the Pro-Comms with many of the same features (awareness mode, roomy gel cushions suitable for very large ears, bulky), but only internal mics (no boom mic). So they don’t work for making calls in high noise environments. Compared to the Worktunes, they adapt better to quieter content but have weaker bass. I think they are great if you primarily listen to audiobooks/podcasts/vocal music. For music, I prefer the Worktunes.

The Honeywell Sync Wireless are a very lightweight alternative for communication in loud environments. The downside: they sound a bit too flat for my taste and could go louder.

But, if making calls amidst loud noise is what you want, the boom mic is outstanding (nearly on par with the Pro-Comms) and at just 310g (10.9 oz), they are a lot lighter than the Pro-Comms and all other earmuffs reviewed here.

If you found this comparison helpful, I’d appreciate if you’d share it with others who might benefit. Have a safe and productive day!