Best electronic ear muffs?? Best value
- Thread starter harv50
- Start date
Not a new model, just lousy memory on my part!!!
Your model # is correct.
Actually, Etymotic makes a bunch of models for different applications. All have the same basic functionality.
Try the ones for "symphony musicians" they work the same and are the cheapest!
Your model # is correct.
Actually, Etymotic makes a bunch of models for different applications. All have the same basic functionality.
Try the ones for "symphony musicians" they work the same and are the cheapest!
Proclaim
Silver $$ Contributor
I put the earplugs in my ears as soon as I get to the range. These allow me to have some protection all the time and still carry on a conversation with other people. When I get to the firing line I put the Leighting LOFs on as well.
Attachments
Yes, it is quite common to see folks using both ear plugs AND muffs.
The simple reason is that muffs by themselves do NOT protect most folks enough. Oddly, you get just as much protection from the ear plugs alone as adding 20dB to ear plugs just gets you down to the physical limit of your skull.
With complete sealing of the ear canal, your mastoid bone (around the ear) passes ambient sound with about 40 dB attenuation! So, ear plugs and well inserted GSP-15s are as close to perfect as is practical and ear muffs are somewhere in the mid to high 20dBs for protection.
The simple reason is that muffs by themselves do NOT protect most folks enough. Oddly, you get just as much protection from the ear plugs alone as adding 20dB to ear plugs just gets you down to the physical limit of your skull.
With complete sealing of the ear canal, your mastoid bone (around the ear) passes ambient sound with about 40 dB attenuation! So, ear plugs and well inserted GSP-15s are as close to perfect as is practical and ear muffs are somewhere in the mid to high 20dBs for protection.
Can't say anything about the best, but do have experience with the worst. Was given a pair of "Peltor Tactical 6-S", grey in color, as a gift. In a very short time the right side began emitting a screeching sound. Turned off the right side and a short time later the left cup did the same. Removed the batteries & use them as regular ear muffs. Then came across another pair of new ones, ( they sell for around $65),same make & model & they also failed completely in less than 3 months. Removed those batteries also.
They do fit tight, and give good ear sealing, turned the cups upside down for better stock clearance, and use them with foam plugs also.
They do fit tight, and give good ear sealing, turned the cups upside down for better stock clearance, and use them with foam plugs also.
I use Pro Ear Gold. They let you hear but cancel out the boom. I believe they are the fastest on the market in shut down time. They also are guaranteed which most others aren't I use the Predator model which has slimmed down cups to help clear gun. I have used a few others and none compare to the Pro Ear God series. Matt
fwiw,
Sordin Supreme Pro also marketed by MSA. Take it from me protecting your hearing is something you should not look for value on. Get the best available... It cannot be replaced once it is gone...
Regards, Matt.
Sordin Supreme Pro also marketed by MSA. Take it from me protecting your hearing is something you should not look for value on. Get the best available... It cannot be replaced once it is gone...
Regards, Matt.
Albany Mountain
Silver $$ Contributor
What ever you purchase, read up on them and know how they operate and what Batteries they use. I don't have the ones I bought in hand BUT they did not have a auto off feature and used batteries that were about $4-5 to replace!
It just became to expensive to wear them and though it made you sick to buy another pair and get rid of $80 muffs, it made sense economically. The ones replaced were a major brand too. It was kinda like buying a super multifuction printer for less than a $100 that could spit out copies of the Mona Lisa: with $200 cost to replace each ink cartridges every week.
It just became to expensive to wear them and though it made you sick to buy another pair and get rid of $80 muffs, it made sense economically. The ones replaced were a major brand too. It was kinda like buying a super multifuction printer for less than a $100 that could spit out copies of the Mona Lisa: with $200 cost to replace each ink cartridges every week.
tag
I will never consider electronic noise reduction for shooting. A relative has permanent damage from years of use due to the microsecond that they allow sound through. Don't believe all the advertised claims.
I purchased a pair of Caldwell muffs last year on sale for about $35. Did not have great expectations of them, but have been pleasantly surprised. They work as advertised. Sound quality is where they are lacking from high end e muffs, but I can hear more with them than without them.
Boltgunlover,
I think you are mis-informed. The quality electronic hearing protection such as the Etymotic GSP-15 do not have a response time problem, They control sound by two methods; 1. the compressor amplifier responds instantly to sound and reduces the gain by up to 20 dB. This is for medium background noise. 2. for your or your neighbors gun which creates an impulse noise of 160 to 170 dB SPL but for a limited duration, the quality hearing protection limit the level of sound they can produce to about 117 dB SPL due to circuit design, choice of speaker and battery voltage. So, when your gun goes off, the amplifier tries to run the speaker up to 160 dB SPL but the designed in limitation limits the output to 117 dB SPL.. Simple, no time delay, just a limiter! This sound level is actually below what is transmitted through your Mastoid bone.
On the other hand, the quality hearing protection like the GSP-15 uses an analog amplifier which offers two important qualities; 1. the fidelity of an analog amplifier is essentially un-matched by digital amplifiers and, 2. the digital amplifiers have a minimum time it takes for the signal to propagate through the digital amplifier. This time is in the milli-second area and may not be matched in both ears. The end result is that the poor fidelity and time delay of the digital device does not allow proper "situational awareness" that an analog amplifier does. That means that if you are in law enforcement or the military, even using hearing protection (Analog!) you can still tell where "that noise" is coming from. Not so good with digital.
Check out how many digital hearing protectors have been tested and approved for a tactical environment! The GSP-15 has.
I think you are mis-informed. The quality electronic hearing protection such as the Etymotic GSP-15 do not have a response time problem, They control sound by two methods; 1. the compressor amplifier responds instantly to sound and reduces the gain by up to 20 dB. This is for medium background noise. 2. for your or your neighbors gun which creates an impulse noise of 160 to 170 dB SPL but for a limited duration, the quality hearing protection limit the level of sound they can produce to about 117 dB SPL due to circuit design, choice of speaker and battery voltage. So, when your gun goes off, the amplifier tries to run the speaker up to 160 dB SPL but the designed in limitation limits the output to 117 dB SPL.. Simple, no time delay, just a limiter! This sound level is actually below what is transmitted through your Mastoid bone.
On the other hand, the quality hearing protection like the GSP-15 uses an analog amplifier which offers two important qualities; 1. the fidelity of an analog amplifier is essentially un-matched by digital amplifiers and, 2. the digital amplifiers have a minimum time it takes for the signal to propagate through the digital amplifier. This time is in the milli-second area and may not be matched in both ears. The end result is that the poor fidelity and time delay of the digital device does not allow proper "situational awareness" that an analog amplifier does. That means that if you are in law enforcement or the military, even using hearing protection (Analog!) you can still tell where "that noise" is coming from. Not so good with digital.
Check out how many digital hearing protectors have been tested and approved for a tactical environment! The GSP-15 has.
A j shooter
Shoot often
I just ordered two pair of Howard Leight R01526 for 89$.
From amazon go there and listen to and read the reviews
4&1/2 to 5 stars ratings. Had to try them.
From amazon go there and listen to and read the reviews
4&1/2 to 5 stars ratings. Had to try them.
How do the Etymotic GSP-15 compare to other products such as ESP or CENS purely on hearing protection performance (not price!)?
skiutah02
Silver $$ Contributor
Been holding off on this reply, but the OP did indicate "best value". I usually use foam earplugs as the headphones interfere with my cheekweld, but I purchased my electronic ear muffs at Harbor Freight for $9.99. Used them for mowing for 7 years before using them occasionally for shooting protection. They seem to work well, but again I personally use ear plugs for almost all of my shooting. Drew
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