Are electronic ear muffs better than regular ones?

[gsc3zny]

I have a set of Winchester brand ear muffs from Wallyworld. Just your normal shooting muffs (probably around 20 bucks). Are the electric ones better? I do have ringing in my ears, but no more than I usually do. it isn't worse after a range visit. let me know some opinions, and if the consensus is that electronic is better, maybe some brand suggestions. Thanks

[Peter.Steele]

I've got a pair of electronic ones. Haven't been shooting with them yet, but I've tested them out with other loud things - sledgehammer against steel, for instance - and haven't noted any issues. Don't remember what brand they are, though.

What they do is probably not what you're thinking that they do. The hearing protection part is just like any normal pair of earmuffs. They have a microphone in each side, and a speaker inside, so that they transmit sound from outside through the muffs. When they detect a loud sound, they turn off the speakers. It just lets you hear normal-volume stuff when you're not shooting, so you can carry on a conversation or whatever.

[AAShooter]

You need to look at the ratings of the hearing protection. Electronic ones allow you to hear sounds at normal levels and cut out with loud sounds. Better ones will do this better with better sound quality. So the two issues are not really related. The key is the db attenuation rating. If I had ringing in my ears, I would be wearing plugs and muff while looking for medical attention if I didn't already know the issue.

Some of the better hearing protection has an attenuation rating of 30 db. Of course the ratings may not accurately represent actual performance depending on how they are worn.

[voiceofreason]

Definitely double up with muffs + plugs or Surefire EarPros.

Electronic muffs don't offer more protection, just allow you to hear conversations when there aren't shots going off.

[AK all day]

Well put it this way, electronic muffs in the lower price range are not much more than regular ear muffs. As long as the DB rating is decent, then worst case scenario the electronic part breaks and then you are still left with regular muffs. As long as it is not really windy outside, my $24 electronic muffs work like a charm.

[RogueSniper]

I always double up with my electronic muffs. I know from experience that just using the electronic muffs alone is not enough protection. I've used it alone while shooting next to someone firing a weapon with a muzzle comp - my ears were ringing. The reason I use electronic is to communicate with my shooting buddy or to hear range commands. The plugs gives me the added protection. Make sure you get a good seal when wearing your eye protection. The cheaper muffs don't adequately seal around the ear piece/temple piece of the glasses.

[k1dude]

In my opinion, NO.

I first purchased 2 sets of the Caldwell Low Profile E-Max electronic earmuffs. They worked GREAT when I first purchased them. Whenever a gunshot would go off, the earmuffs effectively shut off the sound before it got to my ears. It was very obvious when they were working. All noise would cancel, including someone's voice if they were talking during the shot. I was really impressed.

But over time, I began to notice the noise cancellation was beginning to lag the shot. I would hear the first part of the shot loudly, but then the rest of the shot would be cancelled. It began to lag to the point it would shut the sound out AFTER the shot. Since the muffs also amplify the sound until the shot (for voices), with the lag it was actually magnifying the sound of the shot!

It finally got to the point where the muffs didn't cancel noise at all. They were just amplifying everything. So I began to wear them as regular muffs with the electronics turned off. The time frame from working to not working was about 6 months.

I kept replacing the batteries thinking it was low batteries, but that wasn't the case. Even with fresh batteries they weren't working properly.

So I finally gave up on the the Caldwells and decided to spend a little more on the Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuffs. Those NEVER worked out of the box. All they do is amplify everything. There's no noise cancellation whatsoever.

So I have 3 pairs of electronic earmuffs that I dropped about $130 on, that don't work at all. If I didn't need the low profile for a good cheek weld, I'd be using inexpensive big bulky earmuffs with a 30dB rating or higher and be a lot happier.

[MXRider]

I don't know what happened with your pair of Howard Leight Impact ear pro, but mine have been working great for about 7 months now. I typically just wear those at the outdoor ranges and that's enough. I did go to an indoor range and I doubled up because it was much louder in there.

I'm actually looking at buying a set of higher end electronic ear pro because I hear great things about some of them. Peltor looks like they have some nice stuff.

[negolien]

I have 30+ NPR muffs and use plugs also. You can't find Electronic muffs of = NPR rating as standards. Their good for listening to commands and stuff but for pure NPR IMO it's a big no.

[TKM]

The electronic muffs are great, but....

They vary greatly in quality.

I keep a half dozen around for teaching new shooters, it's always better to be able to communicate.

Some have gone home with people who really like them, others get tossed back in the box.

Peltor (Tac6 I believe) had a known issue with the circuit board and wanted more to repair them than to sell them. Threw them away and upgraded. Other, very high dollar, muffs have very low protection ratings.

Try before you buy.

[voiceofreason]

In my opinion, NO.

I first purchased 2 sets of the Caldwell Low Profile E-Max electronic earmuffs. They worked GREAT when I first purchased them. Whenever a gunshot would go off, the earmuffs effectively shut off the sound before it got to my ears. It was very obvious when they were working. All noise would cancel, including someone's voice if they were talking during the shot. I was really impressed.

But over time, I began to notice the noise cancellation was beginning to lag the shot. I would hear the first part of the shot loudly, but then the rest of the shot would be cancelled. It began to lag to the point it would shut the sound out AFTER the shot. Since the muffs also amplify the sound until the shot (for voices), with the lag it was actually magnifying the sound of the shot!

It finally got to the point where the muffs didn't cancel noise at all. They were just amplifying everything. So I began to wear them as regular muffs with the electronics turned off. The time frame from working to not working was about 6 months.

I kept replacing the batteries thinking it was low batteries, but that wasn't the case. Even with fresh batteries they weren't working properly.

So I finally gave up on the the Caldwells and decided to spend a little more on the Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuffs. Those NEVER worked out of the box. All they do is amplify everything. There's no noise cancellation whatsoever.

So I have 3 pairs of electronic earmuffs that I dropped about $130 on, that don't work at all. If I didn't need the low profile for a good cheek weld, I'd be using inexpensive big bulky earmuffs with a 30dB rating or higher and be a lot happier.

The NRR for MSA Sordins is lower than most, but they do work very well.

I use the Caldwells and will take note if they lag. We'll see over time.

[EvolutionGSR]

I use electronic muffs and plugs so that i can have regular sounds amplified enough so i can hear it through the plugs, and have the loud sounds cut out through the electronic muffs as well as the plugs.

[c good]

I use electronic muffs and plugs so that i can have regular sounds amplified enough so i can hear it through the plugs, and have the loud sounds cut out through the electronic muffs as well as the plugs.

I do this also. Just a little backup protection never hurts.

[paul0660]

I use electronic muffs and plugs so that i can have regular sounds amplified enough so i can hear it through the plugs, and have the loud sounds cut out through the electronic muffs as well as the plugs.

depending on the caliber, I do this outside. Inside, always.

[AAShooter]

Amazon has these on sale for $20.50: Peltor 97010 Ultimate-10 Hearing Protector