Combat Arms ™ Single Tip Earplugs 4.1 (CAE 4.1) are a new generation of "semi-active" plugs manufactured by the renowned company 3M ™.
The earplugs have special channels that deliver sounds to the ear, which are equipped with convenient closures from the outside.
The plugs also have a filter that suppresses noise.
With earplugs inserted (without having to remove them from the ears), the user can close or open this channel:
- open mode - allows you to hear ambient sounds (including e.g. instructions, commands) and allows you to conduct conversations, and thus provides situational orientation.
At the moment when impulse noise appears - the built-in acoustic filter partially reduces the flowing sound wave and reduces the noise level.
Open mode should be used when dealing with impulse noise (e.g. shots at an open shooting range, training ground or on the battlefield) and there
is a need to communicate with other people or generally need to maintain situational orientation.
- closed mode - provides higher level hearing protection and is intended for use with impulse noise,
when you do not need to hear the environment and with continuous noise (e.g. in a helicopter, combat vehicle, etc.)
Subjective noise attenuation according to EN352-2: 2002:
- SNR = 28 dB in closed mode
- in open mode SNR = 16 dB
Open mode is activated by pressing the switch marked "CAE" and the switch marked "3M" is used to activate the closed mode.
Combat Arms plugs do not require any power supply (no batteries) - the acoustic filter works on a mechanical principle.
The most important advantage of CAE 4.1 plugs is their "active" protection with their small size and weight
- they easily fit in your pocket and are easy to carry and store.
In addition, used in hot weather (e.g. by soldiers on missions) do not cause sweating of the ears and head.