suggestions for electronic ear muffs needed

Peltors, i like the swat-tacs, expensive though. but the peltor 6 is a good muff that wont break the bank, and can be had with the normal over the head band or a behind the head/neck band.

Any of the peltor models will serve your purpose and offer years of use. I had a pair of comtacs I used for 5 years that got passed to the wife and the swat tacs ar going on 8 years now with no problems.

Howard Leight Impact PRO (not the SPORT) seem to work well--son has a pair. Amazon

I've been trying to find a website that compares the various different brands and models of electronic earmuffs - something like a "Consumer Reports" type of article, which lists comparative advantages and disadvantages, and rough prices - but to no avail. Does anyone know of such a "one stop shop" comparative analysis of the pros, cons and costs of the various electronic earmuffs on the market today? Fathers Day is coming up soon, and I'm going to ask the kids for a new set......once I can figure out which set to ask for!

I recently bought the howard leight impact pro's they're 30db and electronic. vast upgrade from the caldwell I was using.

Best electronic muffs are Sordin. Expensive but they really work well.

Nothing tops Sordin.

The biggest benefit of the Howard Leight Sport is how narrow they are - excellent with a rifle, but since you're shooting handguns, you can go as big and quiet as you like.



Mark H.

The new issue of Combat Handguns has a big article comparing electronic hearing protection. Did get a chance to read it as my prescription was ready.

I turned up a letter I received back in 2010 from the Senior Product Manager at Howard Leight in response to an inquiry about the Impact Sport:

"The Howard Leight Impact Sport earmuff is designed to allow sound below the threshold of hearing loss to be audible. This threshold of noise limit is 82db and below. The highest noise of 82 db is equivalent to a hair dryer or lawn mower. Above the threshold of hearing loss (meaning above 82db) the Impact Sport will attenuate sound, specifically impact noise (gunshot). To accomplish this, a listening circuit is built into the earmuff that uses an external microphone, which amplifies noise up to the product specified limit of 82db. Therefore, noises above 82db are not amplified, rather maintained at 82db and no higher, and all sounds (impact and other) are always attenuated by the passive earmuff at 22 NRR."

Mark H.

But 22 dB off a 130 dB gunshot is still too much.
I have the Impact Pro at 30 dB. They are less comfortable but more protective.
Still ought to "double plug" though.

I agree with Jim Watson. I have the HL Sport and am not happy with them. I do not feel as though they provide enough protection compared with the my less expensive Field and Stream non-electronic muffs. Also, they didn't completely seal as well, leaving a very slight gap where the safety glasses are. Not sure if it's a design issue with the shape of my head or something else.

It is a mistake to buy according to the NRR on the package. That is an average over all audible frequencies. For shooting, the frequencies are a certain range around 1k hz, I think. If you buy a good set like MSA, they publish the rating at all the frequencies.

I've had my Walker Power Muff Quads now for 5 or so years,they have 4 mics for good sound pick up while I'm hunting.At the range they cancel shot noise very well.I think they were abound 130.00 bucks threw Natchez Shooter Supply.hdbiker

I have the Howard Leight Impact Sport earmuffs. They are worthless unless I double up with foam ear plugs. By themselves they don't stop nearly enough noise to be useful. Ok, they're useful when working with loud power tools, but not close range gunfire.

Another vote for the Leight Impact Pros.

I Had been using cheaper Caldwell-type muffs, no comparison both in noise reduction and how well they operate. Money well spent.

The audio input jack also makes mowing the lawn and working with power tools better too...

Decibel ratings are worst case - with a cup lifted by a rifle stock, etc. There is a lot of variance and nobody is making side by side evaluations very often to see what the numbers really mean. Same issue as FPS ratings on ammo or lumens from tactical flashlights.

If 22db off a 130db gunshot isn't enough, what good would another 8db be? It's still over 100db, 18 too hign. The problem with db ratings is that they are geometric, not additive - or subtractive. The best muffs in the world can't cut 100db off the report of a firearm. You absorb too much sound directly thru the exposed part of your skull.

Don't get involved in the numbers game. Any of the $100 up active electronic earmuffs are going to work, the nice part is that you can double up with plugs and stlll hear range commands by turning up the volume as much as you need.

The kind that attenuate the maximum amount of input work the best, as opposed to the older style that simply shut off, or "dumb" muffs that cut down all sound. If you need to hear commands - pick one, double up with plugs, set the volume as needed, and discover what most of the current competitors are already doing.

Getting involved with db ratings is a locker room contest, you will see all makes and models on the firing line anyway. People buy what they can afford - up to a point - after that the performance in incremental for geometric increases in expense. Just like cars, guns, and wives.

I have a set of Pro Ears. Yep, depending on the model you get, they can be very expensive, but they also work very, very well. There is also a jumper on the circuit board inside the muffs that you can move, and it will increase the sensitivity of the microphones so that they can be worn in the field while hunting, etc. It's like having super-human ears.

They also don't clip the sound of voices when clipping the sound of gun shots, so you don't have voices you need to listen to cutting out all the time.

That's my experience. I like mine.

http://www.proears.com/

I recently bumped up against a new alternative. Interactive ear buds that use your smart phone as the mic.

NRR 23, and an app to control the sensitivity. Ryobi offers them, usually see those at the lumberbox, and my auto parts store is now selling another brand ( incredible, corporate actually has a leading edge product in stock.)

Like the infra red camera back for cell phones, we're going to see a lot more stuff like this.

Top model Peltor or Walker's will do the job

ears

Been using Pro-ears for years, work well. Peltor Comp-tacs are bitchin but $$$$, not a big fan of Howard Leighs, noticed slight lag of shot report and sound dampening.

I would also check type of battery used, 123's are expensive if left on in the bag (been there, done that

the nice part is that you can double up with plugs and stlll hear range commands by turning up the volume as much as you need.

Click to expand...

That's what I do. Then you can hear all commands just fine with total protection for your ears.

I might get chastised for this but the Harbor freight electronic muffs work well for the money. We had several customers use them at the indoor range I worked in. They were on par with the Howard Leight's we sold but the only cost $15. For that price it's worth a shot.

http://www.harborfreight.com/noise-canceling-electronic-ear-muffs-92851.html