I don’t envy newer producers attempting to interrupt right into a crowded market area, particularly one with a longtime, long-term market chief. Scopes, AR-15s, and, sure, ear safety.
So once I say within the intro that the Savior Gear Apollo ear safety is price your time to examine (and your cash to purchase), it’s as a result of I’ve been impressed, and I believe it is best to know why.
Apollo Tech Specs:
Passive Sound Dampening – 24dB NRR Batteries: 2xAAA Battery Life: ~60 hours Energetic Digital Sound Compression Compact Collapsible Design Contains Adaptive Cool Gel Ear Pads 1x American Flag Patch 1x Savior Writable ID Patch 2x AAA Energizer Batteries U.S. Patent No. D1055397 Imported Padded Mesh Handband w/ Adjustable Wire Body Stainless Metal Microphone Mesh Masking Twin Omnidirectional Microphones Excessive Dynamic Vary Audio system Frequency-Tuned Drivers w/ Enhanced Black PCB
The place To Purchase
So, there’s fortunately little hyper-tech-lingo, and quite a lot of specs in blue-collar English. Right here’s what I believe earlier than the primary vary days: The Apollo is sturdy. That is clearly well-built and simply on par with the $300 Peltors I’ve been utilizing. No foam on the outside masking the mikes. The gel cups are barely extra stable than the Noisefighters I’ve used for years, and are snug. The Apollo is easy. One knob, that’s it.
One of many large technological leaps over the previous few years is the soar from analog to digital circuits. For my part, Analog provides a significantly better sound high quality (assume old-school Howard Leight Affect Sport).
Digital provides a quicker “assault” time, which means what number of milliseconds after a loud noise is detected earlier than the audio circuit dampens that noise. The digital units carry out higher on this metric, however I dislike the “tinny” sound high quality and squealing suggestions (take into account Howard Leight Bolt, Auto Ears).
With digital headsets, it seems like I’m listening to the world by means of a video being performed on a close-by mobile phone. The Savior Gear Apollo makes use of analog circuity, and I’m glad it does. Sound high quality is far more pure, with higher differentiation as to close/far noises.
The Apollo ear safety headset has simply pretty much as good of sound high quality because the Peltor 500 and the unique Howard Leight Affect Sport (not the HL Bolt or the New Affect, each of which I like much less).
I’ve waited for enchancment within the complete Noise Discount Score (NRR).
The business gross sales chief Howard Leight Affect Sport headsets provide a 22 NRR at ~$60. HL’s New Affect Sport is 21 NRR at ~$181. The wonderful Peltor Tactical 300 collection provides a 24 NRR at ~$122. Peltor 500? 26 NRR at ~$160.
The Savior Gear Apollo ear-pro brings 24 NRR at $49.99, the most effective bang on your buck.
How is the price saved down? A method is by eliminating extra tech. Loads of ear safety I’ve reviewed these days has Bluetooth, and whereas I prefer it properly sufficient, I don’t use it usually. Judging by the feedback part, a lot of you don’t both.
There’s no have to pay for a characteristic you don’t use; let the premium-priced headsets provide that. That’s the Bluetooth {hardware}, the on/off/join button, and the quantity controls—eradicated.
The battery cap pops off simple sufficient, sliding upwards like so many different manufacturers.
Slightly bonus characteristic the Savior Gear Apollo presents that the majority don’t? Patch panels. Slightly strip about 1″x2″ on either side of the headscarf lets you connect your personal patches through velcro hook loop pile, or use the included American flag and identify badge patches.
Lastly, the Apollo is available in 12 colours. These vary from tactical (FDE, OD Inexperienced, Black), to wild (Peach, Jail Pink, Security Orange). I’m fairly certain they’ve one thing for mother, dad, and any of the children as properly. The floor is a pleasant matte materials (on my OD Inexperienced set at the very least, can’t communicate for all colours) that doesn’t
Savior Gear Apollo At The Vary:
An excessive amount of BOOM? Strive some growth. That’s the purpose of ear safety proper?
Conventional muffs have a far increased NRR than even the most effective digital ear professional as a result of the area normally taken up by circuit boards is as a substitute full of foam. The trade-off is that digital ear professional presents a major enchancment in situational consciousness, primarily within the potential to speak with out shouting at folks proper subsequent to you.
So, options and bullet factors apart, how does the Apollo work?
Rattling properly. The rise from 22 NRR (my ordinary go-to headset) to 24 NRR is noticeable. Muffling gunshots isn’t an issue for the Apollo. You additionally don’t get the “useless mike” impact with another digital headsets, the place there’s a noticeable lag of silence earlier than the circuit opens again up. The Apollo is responsive.
Listening to the folks you’re capturing with is likely one of the large advantages of a headset like this, which is all for nothing if the sound high quality sucks. Fortunately the Apollo excels right here as properly. The audio is leaps and bounds higher than the final headset I reviewed, Auto Ears. I’d say that is on par for the most effective audio high quality round, on condition that it’s simple to neglect you’re sporting it. That’s each with regard to how pure the sound high quality is, in addition to…
Bodily consolation. The Apollo’s headband has a padded, mesh lining. The ear cups are gel crammed, and keep cool even on a scorching vary day. The entire meeting is adjusted through the identical sliding bars practically each unit makes use of.
There was a bit an excessive amount of strain on my head, so I bent the headscarf barely, just like metallic framed eye safety. Simple! The Apollo matches up properly with the Intrepid Warbird BT, and the Peltor 500. After a couple of hours on the vary, I didn’t really feel the necessity to pop the headset off throughout each “chilly vary” interval, as I’ve to do with so many others.
The underside line is that the Savior Gear Apollo simply works. There’s just one, small draw back to date, and that’s gentle to average wind noise.
I didn’t discover something with a small breeze, it really began once I was sprinting (I’m not that quick). I believe it’s as a result of metal mesh masking the microphones, as a substitute of utilizing foam like most do. Foam cuts wind higher, metal is clearly far more sturdy.
The microphones are recessed, so I don’t actually have any concepts for a fast DIY repair on this. For those who shoot in a very windy space (whats up Utah), count on some wind noise.
Backside Line, Backside Greenback:
It’s surprising that Savior Gear is just not solely bringing an digital listening to safety headset to market that’s aggressive options clever, however they’re additionally pricing it below practically each different choice on the market. $49.99 is a rattling good value for a headset that’s snug, sounds good, and has a greater NRR than the most effective promoting headset on the market. This can be a higher deal than just about the rest out there.
For those who want an efficient set of ear safety and don’t have to pay for unused comms or bluetooth, I extremely suggest the Savior Gear Apollo. I’m assured that in the event you attempt it, you’ll prefer it as a lot as I do.
–Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer
@Rexnanorum
