Hearing Protectors
- Thread starter Jkwas
- Start date
Double Naught Spy
New member
If the $30 are the ones I think they are, they range in price from $19.95 on sale to $39.95. I have two pairs for guests. They work moderately well for hearing protection. They are mono, not stereo. Sound quality if nominal to poor in terms of tones. The noise abatement is absolute and fast enough, but the return to hearing is slow. For example, my Peltors will cut out the loud sound for the duration of the loud sound, but the cheap muffs have a delay that extends for about a half to one second after the sound. So they can make conversations a little more difficult. Also, they seem overly sensitive to sound and can cut out from somebody just speaking too loudly.
Given that I wear plugs with muffs, when the sound cuts out, it is difficult to hear any conversation with both plugs and muffs in place, so the delay is bothersome. Also, I think the stereo feature is a good thing. Being able to hear a sound and know what direction it originates is a good safety feature.
For the money, they aren't bad, but they aren't what I would want all the time.
Given that I wear plugs with muffs, when the sound cuts out, it is difficult to hear any conversation with both plugs and muffs in place, so the delay is bothersome. Also, I think the stereo feature is a good thing. Being able to hear a sound and know what direction it originates is a good safety feature.
For the money, they aren't bad, but they aren't what I would want all the time.
I got a pair from Cabela's, and I think they were ~$30. They work well enough for me. Instant clamping with a gunshot, and sound recovery in about 1 second. They're only mono sound, but that doesn't bother me. I like them better than my passive earmuffs. Batteries (2xAA) are supposed to be good for 200hrs.
I have an expenise pair of Pro Ears and I don't like them because they pick up way too much conversation and background noise, and it's distracting.
I've gone to custom ear plugs - where a person puts the rubber stuff into your ear for 10 min and then they harden into a set of ear plugs that fit snugly into your ears. They are by far the quitest sets of plugs I've ever used. Sometimes I'll double them up - wear the plugs - and put muffs on too to really keep the background noise / BS out.
I've gone to custom ear plugs - where a person puts the rubber stuff into your ear for 10 min and then they harden into a set of ear plugs that fit snugly into your ears. They are by far the quitest sets of plugs I've ever used. Sometimes I'll double them up - wear the plugs - and put muffs on too to really keep the background noise / BS out.
Electronic Hearing Protectors
Hey Jkwas,
I have both electronic ($30 variety), non-electronic (Leightning) and ear plugs.
Differences:
- Electronic ones do work...they cut out at high decibel levels to work as regular hearing protection (this is especially funny when testing them at home and they cut out when my dog barks). So that's kind of cool. They also amplify high frequency noises.
- Unfortunately, the problem is that simply as noise reducing headphones, they don't reduce much noise. So, even if they work absolutely correctly, they are still loud.
- Since I want to hear my grandchildren talk to me (someday), I use both the Howard Leighning (NRR 31) AND disposable foam earplugs (NRR 30) at the same time. Now that I've practiced some, I can hear anything that anyone says on the pistol range...not sure how that works. Repetitive noise at firing range levels, unless everyone is using a .22 that day, is a "surefire" way to lose one's hearing, from what I've researched on hearing loss.
Hope that helps,
Mark
Hey Jkwas,
I have both electronic ($30 variety), non-electronic (Leightning) and ear plugs.
Differences:
- Electronic ones do work...they cut out at high decibel levels to work as regular hearing protection (this is especially funny when testing them at home and they cut out when my dog barks). So that's kind of cool. They also amplify high frequency noises.
- Unfortunately, the problem is that simply as noise reducing headphones, they don't reduce much noise. So, even if they work absolutely correctly, they are still loud.
- Since I want to hear my grandchildren talk to me (someday), I use both the Howard Leighning (NRR 31) AND disposable foam earplugs (NRR 30) at the same time. Now that I've practiced some, I can hear anything that anyone says on the pistol range...not sure how that works. Repetitive noise at firing range levels, unless everyone is using a .22 that day, is a "surefire" way to lose one's hearing, from what I've researched on hearing loss.
Hope that helps,
Mark
Dave Haven
New member
I bought a pair of Caldwells from Midway just to see if they were any good. The sound quality isn't as good as Peltor Tactical 7S muffs, but for the price, they're quite good. I didn't return them.