Electronic Hearing Protection schoolin'

[Ub3rDorK]

I keep seeing everyone say the best are generally the most expensive....well isnt there a middle of the road model for around $100? I've been using the howard leight for years and havent had issues...im sure there are better choices but i havent found them for the value.

[Librarian]

Just a collection of hearing protection sites from a google search, don't pretend it is complete or unbiased:

http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/education/information-center/

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/noise.aspx

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Recreational-Firearm-Noise-Exposure/

http://www.earplugco.com/hearing.htm

http://www.oshax.org/info/articles/decibel-levels

http://www.gundogsonline.com/Article...uide-Page1.htm (but this does not discuss a number of products)

http://www.earplugstore.com/earmuffs.html (this one leaves off the Howard Leight models, but seems to review most of the others. Of course, they want to sell you something...)

Also from the same site: http://www.earplugstore.com/gennoisprot1.html, a discussion of adding protection; the NRR of plugs + the NRR of muffs doesn't seem to add the way it might look.

http://www.galttech.com/research/household-DIY-tools/best-hearing-protection.php

[Javi]

This is for the OP

I'm a sound professional so hearing protection is really important to me .

If you're looking for highest rated active muffs i'd look at the Pro Ears Gold series. They have the same 33db reduction that their passive ones do. An incredibly fast attack time , and are just all around fantastic .

I run pro ears gold predators because i need a bit less material on them for rifle shooting.

If i'm indoors i tend to run in ears and over the ear hearing protection . I find this to be very important .

If we take an average sound pressure level at the muzzle of a gun they tend to be between 145db and 165db depending . For this i'll use 150 db for ease of subtraction .

A 33db muff will only bring that noise down to 117db which is still damaging to your hearing. Once you lost parts of your hearing there is NO way to get it back .

If you add on in ear plugs to that , you're down at a very safe level that you can be at for hours .

Howard leight make 33db in ear squishy plugs ....put em with the other 33s and you have 66 db of loudness reduction.

Outdoors you can usually get away with just one or the other , but i wouldn't go with something less the 30 db nr if you are only using one.

Do you happen to own the slim gold muffs? I'm very interested. Does it affect your cheek weld.

[L84CABO]

This is for the OP

I'm a sound professional so hearing protection is really important to me .

If you're looking for highest rated active muffs i'd look at the Pro Ears Gold series. They have the same 33db reduction that their passive ones do. An incredibly fast attack time , and are just all around fantastic .

I run pro ears gold predators because i need a bit less material on them for rifle shooting.

If i'm indoors i tend to run in ears and over the ear hearing protection . I find this to be very important .

If we take an average sound pressure level at the muzzle of a gun they tend to be between 145db and 165db depending . For this i'll use 150 db for ease of subtraction .

A 33db muff will only bring that noise down to 117db which is still damaging to your hearing. Once you lost parts of your hearing there is NO way to get it back .

If you add on in ear plugs to that , you're down at a very safe level that you can be at for hours .

Howard leight make 33db in ear squishy plugs ....put em with the other 33s and you have 66 db of loudness reduction.

Outdoors you can usually get away with just one or the other , but i wouldn't go with something less the 30 db nr if you are only using one.

I have a pair of Pro Ears Gold and I really like them. They are rated at 33 NRR but there is no way that they give that level of protection. I have a couple pair of passive muffs that are rated in the mid to high 20's and they both give better protection than the Pro Ears. But I always double up with the Pro Ears and wear plugs underneath. And they're great like that. YMMV