Use and Care

Information for the Use of PROEARS® GOLD™ SERIES

CONGRATULATIONS! You have purchased the finest, most-advanced hearing protection/amplification system available today. Your PRO EARS were manufactured from the highest quality materials utilizing today's most advanced technology. Each unit is designed to provide you with years of reliable and exceptional service with a minimum of maintenance. Unlike other electronic hearing protection units, PRO EARS offers you the following special features:

• Modular design for easy transport and part replacement;
• Tough, rugged construction for long, demanding service;
• A full Five (5) Year Warranty on electronic circuitry, the longest in the industry;
• Advanced circuit design using Surface Mount technology;
• Dynamic Level Sound Compression (DLSC ) with Full Spectrum Sound (FSS ) that controls even the fastest impulse noise;
• Dynamic Sound Range (DSR) for the clearest, most natural, distortion-free sound ever offered;
• Advanced, acoustically designed ear cups with comfortable, replaceable Sealing Rings.

PRO EARS are worn by professionals and non-professionals around the world that want to protect their hearing. PRO Ears are worn also by more champion professional shooters than all other makes. Police departments, S.W.A.T. teams and Special Operations Units of the United States Armed Forces and more industry-oriented users have all made PRO EARS their choice.

In addition to the many who have chosen PRO EARS for hearing protection, are a growing number of people who have the need or desire to extend their range and/or the quality of hearing. There are also thousands who want to enhance their hearing impaired due to age, disease or damage from exposure to extremely loud noise such as machinery, assembly lines, engines, etc.

How do I use my new PRO EARS?

A) All PRO EARS electronic models are equipped with four 'N' size 1.5 volt batteries, two for each cup. These are superior batteries that are generally available wherever batteries are sold. Alkaline batteries will provide the best service. To install, turn the volume controls to the OFF position. Carefully pull the inner surface foam down to reveal the battery holder. Place the batteries into the holder with the negative to negative and the positive to the positive. The correct polarity is marked inside the battery box. The spring end of the battery box is the negative end. Once installed, carefully replace the foam. Even though your PRO EARS have the longest battery life in the industry, it is recommended that the volume controls be turned to the off position when not in use.

B) The headband may be adjusted to ensure the cups fit correctly and comfortably around the ears by sliding the headband apart. Place the headband directly in the middle of the head with the cups over the ears. Place the thumb of each hand against the ear cups and press gently upward while simultaneously using your fingers to tighten the headband against the head firmly. The special, replaceable foam Sealing Rings are made for maximum contour and noise, and will fit snugly around the ears even when wearing eyeglasses.

C) To adjust the volume, start with the units in the OFF position. Turn on and adjust the volume as needed for comfort. Both sides should be adjusted depending upon individual hearing and purpose.

IMPORTANT:
Your PRO EARS have a high gain volume control and high quality, omni directional microphones. These units are designed for law enforcement and tactical teams that must have the ability to hear extremely low noises (whispers or low volume speech) at longer distances.

For normal use it is recommended that you set each volume control in the mid range.

Each volume control may be adjusted to allow proper hearing for a specific distance. If a person is 30 to 50 yards away, adjust the volume control upwards to enable you to hear this person clearly. The volume control may be lowered when the person is speaking to you at closer distances.

D) To adjust the gain control All PRO EARS electronic models (except the PRO 200) use Jumpers on the circuit board to allow you to customize the Sensitivity and Gain. Make sure the Jumpers have not become dislodged, you can check this by opening the foam battery flap in the ear cup. The Jumpers are located below the lower right corner of the battery box. Make sure a Jumper is covering either the pins marked L, M, or H. A second Jumper will either be connecting the pins labeled Gain (on position), or be stored over one pin or the other (off position).

Check the Jumper settings. All PRO EARS Gold Series models have a special, internal set of Connector Pins or Jumpers that are used to alter the circuit board sensitivity and Gain settings. These Jumpers are independent of the volume controls. The internal sensitivity is set at the factory to a neutral (medium) setting. However, under certain consistent, high-noise level situations such as industrial machinery, aviation, engine noise as in auto racing, or when unusually high (110 dB to 130 dB) levels are encountered, it is recommended that the circuit board sensitivity be set at the lower level. Doing so will further dampen the high background noise levels and increase the ability to hear lower level sounds such as conversation.

To change the circuit board sensitivity setting, (see diagram) gently pull back the foam cover inside each cup. Position the cup so the batteries are on the top and the speaker is on the bottom. You will see 4 sets of stainless steel pins to the lower right of the battery box. From the left set of pins to the right, they are marked L, M, H, Gain. To adjust the sensitivity it will be necessary to use needle-nose pliers or pointed tweezers to CAREFULLY pull the black cover straight off from its current setting (usually medium) and place it on one of the other pin sets, L for low, or H for high*.

The right most set of pins is for gain. If the black Jumper is covering both of the end-pins, the Gain is on. If it is only covering the bottom pin the Gain is off (this is how the jumper is stored when the Gain is off). In most normal situations, you would use your PRO EARS with the Gain off. Having the Gain on allows you to hear amplified sounds at a very great distance and would prove to be distracting in most situations. A situation where having the Gain 'on' could be advantageous, would be in a hunting or photography situation. You would have the advantage of hearing a game bird calling or animals such as deer, elk, bear, etc., moving through brush at distances up to 100 yards, depending on the surrounding environment.

*Changing the Jumper setting is a delicate operation. RidgeLine is not responsible for damage caused as a result of this procedure.

IMPORTANT

• PRO EARS ARE EXTREMELY DURABLE, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO EXPOSE THEM TO EXTREME HEAT OR COLD.
• CHECK TO ENSURE BATTERIES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. EVEN THOUGH PRO EARS USE EXTREMELY LONG-LIFE BATTERIES, IT IS ADVISABLE TO ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE SET.
  

DOWNLOAD THESE JUMPER SETTINGS IN PDF FORMAT.