Overall, awesome headset. - PELTOR 3M PELTOR ComTac V Hearing Defender Neckband Headset

Being confined to a relatively low budget, I mulled between the neckband version and the headband version of the Comtac Defender V's for a while and finally pulled the trigger on the neckband version so I could run it with my issued ACH. I was hoping the headset would be easier to swap back and forth between rails and the neckband so I could switch between a personally owned high cut and my ACH (my unit doesn't allow personally owned ballistic protection). Unfortunately, the cable is routed through heat-shrink around the neckband, so just disconnecting from the arms won't work. A little modification is required to make it modular enough to swap between rails and base configuration. Additionally, the cable is shorter than the headband version, so it's a tight fit if mounting on rails.

I opted for the Defender model because I have no current need for comms. I couldn't justify spending an additional $200+ for the comms version when I'm not going to need it in the foreseeable future. There are kits available to add a boom mic and Y-cable, making this headset comms-capable in the future, should the need arise.

Sound reduction through the headset is absolutely incredible. Even while wearing glasses, the stock foam cups are comfortable enough and make an air-tight seal. After wearing for a few hours at a time it gets a little uncomfortable (with glasses), but I'm sure upgrading to gel cups would mitigate that. No issues wearing long term with contacts in.

Peltor did a great job balancing noise cancellation with ambient noise amplification. I've tried a few different headsets that will "click out" everything when a loud noise comes through, but the Comtac V is somehow able to cancel the loud (firing of a weapon), while simultaneously amplifying background (spoken word) without clicking out everything.

The ambient sound amplification was mind blowing the first time I cut the headset on. I love being able to adjust the equalizer to boost low, normal, high, and extra high tones. I tried them on around the house for a few hours the day I got them, and I was able to hear my wife having a conversation 2 rooms over from where I was sitting. When listening on low EQ, there was A LOT of ambient noise pickup. The dishwasher, the dryer in another room, even the hum of the A/C was constant. I didn't mind it, but by Simply clicking in to a different EQ level, those background noises disappeared.

All in all, I'd give the Peltor Comtac Defender V (neckband) a solid 4/5. The only hiccup is being able to switch from neckband configuration to rails. Not impossible, but not as simple as the headset version allows.