By:
Bill Dickinson, AuD
Co-founder, TETRA Hearing™

No bad choice exists when it comes to TETRA Hearing™’s premium technology, but this blog will help you differentiate between our 60- and 90-level devices so you can make the best choice for your needs.

How are the 60- and 90-level devices similar?

1. Both our 60- and 90-level devices include our proprietary Specialized Target Optimization™ (STO).

Specialized Target Optimization is our patent-pending technology that isolates and enhances the specific frequencies needed for the hunting environment. STO makes voices clear and calling natural while decreasing unwanted noise.

2. Both our 60- and 90-level devices include AlphaShield Compression™.

AlphaShield Compression instantly shuts down for impulse noises like gunshots and proportionally protects against loud, sustained noises like calling, motors, equipment, and more. This makes TETRA hearing protection sound more natural.

How are they different?

1. If you have hearing loss, you need the 90-level devices.

The 90-level devices are better for hunters and shooters with hearing loss. Once you take our quick online hearing test, we’ll develop a custom prescription for your TETRA devices geared specifically for your hearing profile in each ear. This is significantly beneficial in producing better results in several ways:

• If we know exactly what sounds (pitches) you have trouble with, we can compensate by giving those sounds more boost.
• Many shooters have asymmetrical hearing loss. A right-handed shooter, for example, tends to have more hearing loss in his or her left ear because it’s closer to the muzzle and exposed during the shot, whereas the right ear is away and partially blocked. The hearing test allows us to compensate for any hearing differences between ears, balancing sound and improving your ability to tell the sound’s direction and distance.
• Correcting for your hearing loss allows your brain to tell game’s direction and distance, and fully connects you to your immediate surroundings.

2. How often do you hunt in excessive winds?

As hunters, we know how much wind impacts hunting success, just as it does hearing success. Wind on a microphone causes distortion. Both our 60- and 90-level devices work well in windy conditions because we chose specific microphone locations to avoid wind turbulence that causes excessive noise.

However, the 90-level devices take wind noise reduction a step further. A 16-band sound processor isolates a frequency with wind turbulence and automatically reduces that channel to quickly eliminate the noise.

If your hunts include more windy days than not, you'll want the 90-level devices. 

3. Do you need to use your TETRA devices to hear in non-hunting scenarios?

ClearComm™ is a proprietary algorithm designed to make human voices clearer and is available in the 90-level technology. If you need to use your TETRA products outside of hunting like while watching television or having everyday conversations, then the 90-level devices are for you.

4. Do you prefer voice prompts or beeps?

The 90-level devices include voice-prompts that indicate the current setting. For example, when changing from program 1 (waterfowl) to program 2 (waterfowl boost) you’ll hear a voice say, “waterfowl boost.” This feature is only available in the 90-level technology. A series of beeps indicates program changes for the 60-level technology (one beep signifies program #1, two beeps signifies program #2, etc).

Conclusion

If you have any hearing loss, you need the 90-level devices, hands-down. If you have no hearing loss – and are interested in keeping it that way – the 60-level devices are your best bet.

The other features mentioned above – aggressive wind noise reduction, ClearComm for everyday communication, and sophisticated voice prompts – are a matter of personal preference.