Hearing protection is vital when engaged in the shooting sports. I’d say we all know that, but as a professional in this industry, I know far too many people who respond to my verbal inquiries with a “Huh?” whilst cupping their ear toward me. Come to think of it, I might be one of those people. The simple fact is, when you set off a small explosion relatively close to your ear, in an enclosed space or simply close enough to make you wince when you hear it, you are causing hearing damage.
Sound suppressors greatly help protect hearing, but unlike their official designation as “silencers” and Hollywood’s lies about them, they merely reduce the noise level of a shot to the high-end of hearing-safe volume. We still recommend wearing hearing protection even when shooting suppressed, because the truth is, you can’t over-protect your hearing, and hearing loss can be permanent.
All that is a longwinded way to introduce the subject of this review: Axil’s XCor Pro earbuds. These electronic buds are multifunctional. They reduce the sound of loud noises like gun shots by 29 dB, and can amplify the sound of things you want to hear, like range commands or leaves crinkling beneath the feet of an approaching animal. XCor Pro earbuds also connect to other devices like your phone via Bluetooth and include a microphone to make hands-free communication possible.
Intuitive touch controls allow you to turn them on and off while they remain anchored in your ears, and also adjust the volume, scroll through your music library and answer calls (and hang up when you’re done). They come with a charging case that uses an included USB-C cable to power-up the earbuds, as well as a carrying case to protect the charging case. That may seem like overkill, but it allows you to hang the XCor Pro off your backpack or shooting bag so you’ll always have it close at hand.
Now, all of those things are great, but they are hardly unique. Many such options exist these days, and many of those are also great products. Where I found the Axil product to be most useful was the inclusion of six pairs of soft tips to ensure proper fit and function. Two styles of tips are provided in three sizes each: silicone for use as everyday earbuds and noise-reducing foam for use when shooting (or engaging in any activity where constant loud noise is present).
Getting the proper fit from in-ear protection is imperative, as the correct seal ensures the fullest amount of noise reduction. An improper fit can not only reduce effectiveness, but also give you false confidence that your hearing is protected when hearing-damaging decibel levels can reach your ear drums. Having three size options enhances both comfort and effectiveness, and Axil’s foam tips are quite easy to mold into your ear canal. With a proper fit, you can confidently use the XCor Pro on the range and not have to worry about hearing damage.
The silicone tips are definitely more comfortable, though they do not help reduce sound (at least not enough to matter). They are, however, great for using the XCor Pro buds for non-shooting applications like listening to music while working out, talking hands free on the phone or watching videos on an airplane. I have done all those things with the XCor Pro, and found them more comfortable and easier to use than my standard, non-noise-reducing ear buds.
Ultimately, the Axil XCor Pro earbuds are one (or rather, two) earbuds to rule them all, as you can use them for everything. Going to the range, sitting in your deer stand or getting on the treadmill, these buds do, in fact, do it all.
MSRP: $307.67; goaxil.com
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