Electronic hearing protection

[RossinFL]

Does anyone have experience with the Pro-ears and Sordin muffs? I'm thinking of getting one of the two. My budget is about $200. I definitely want something that doesn't cut out so I haven't included the peltors or any of the other brands. If someone knows of another brand that doesn't cut out I'm all ears...

So far I've noted that the Pro Ears have a 5 year warranty while the Sordin's have a 1 year warranty.

 

[hso]

What do you mean by "doesn't cut out"? Electronic muffs have to shut the speaker inside the ear cups off or they're just muffs and if they don't shut the speaker off with the gunshot they're of no value.

Noise cancelation technology doesn't work for gunshots.

 

[RossinFL]

From what I've read the Peltor's and cheapers models cut out all audio when a loud sound comes up. On the other hand the Pro-Ears and Sordin's lessen the volume of the loud noise.

 

[TomN]

I have the Sordin's and I love them. They do work very well in not cancelling out voices while shooting. I do tend to use ear plugs with them when shooting indoors though since their NRR rating isn't as high as other models.

 

[RossinFL]

what model sordin's did you get and where did you get them if you don't mind me asking? also i understand they use AAA's as opposed to N size batteries like the Pro-ears. How long do the batteries in the Sordin's last?

 

[TomN]

I have the Supreme Pro that I bought last year. I really can't remember the site that I bought them from, but I think if you do a search in Google you can find a couple places that sell them. Sordin claims around 600 hours from 2 AAA batteries. I can't confirm this since I have yet to change mine, but they sure have lasted a long time!

 

[Old Dog]

I've been using the Pro-Ears Dimension 1 "Sporting Clays" model for almost two years now, and I love 'em. Pricey, yeah, I think about 179 bucks or so when I picked 'em up. Better sound quality than any electronic muffs I've used, and they are awesome for outdoor use, dampen shot noise well (although, for indoor ranges, I do combine with foam earplugs). Well-made, as comfortable as any I've tried, and I'm still on only my second set of batteries.

 

[RossinFL]

Awesome thanks! I'd really rather stay with something that uses AAA's as opposed to N size batteries. I believe the N's are more expensive. Does yours use 2 AAA's total or two per side?

 

[tegemu]

Some food for thought, read my post "Best Hearing Protection," My doc sez that the best is foam plugs with muffs.

 

[jashobeam]

Outdoor use only, IMO

I have a pair of Leightning muffs that have a noise reduction rating of 31 dB. Aren't all of the electronic muffs rated at about 21 or 22? Why pay $150+ for muffs that provide hearing protection inferior to that of $35 muffs? After reading a few threads here on THR about hearing protection and hearing loss, I bought the Leightnings and always combine them with foam plugs to maximize my hearing protection. Besides, the arms of the eye-protection glasses compromise the ability of the muffs to form an adequate seal around the ears, which is yet another reason to supplement muffs with plugs.

Maybe electronic muffs are sufficient for outdoor shooting, but I mostly shoot indoors. It can be very loud.

 

[hso]

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=201116

Towards the end of the thread we get into why adding adding muffs on top of plugs is needed, but also explains why we shouldn't overestimate the value of doing so. Essentially, if you put plugs under muffs you don't get any more effective protection than if you put them under electronic muffs regardless of the greater NRR of the non-electronic muffs.

It's counterintuitive, but it's the way it works.

 

[Old Dog]

RossinFL says

I'd really rather stay with something that uses AAA's as opposed to N size batteries. I believe the N's are more expensive.

Um ... a couple N batteries can be had at the electronic section of Wal-Mart for only a few bucks, and they last longer than AAs or AAAs. Personally, the cost of batteries shouldn't be a factor ...