How do electronic ear muffs work?

[creet]

G'day fellas,

Can some explain to me how electronic ear muffs work?

Obviously they do something fancy rather than just blocking out like like normal foam earmuffs or whatever you call them.

I don't what electronics can do that covering your ears doesn't?

Cheers.

[harlow]

I don't use them, but it's something along the lines of they only filter our sounds above a certain level or type?

So not everything is muffled, only the loudest sounds I think.

[Gregg]

Correct.

They filter out above a certain DB level so you can still hear conversation (and more importantly instructions from range officers) but firearms discharge are muffled.

[Guliver]

If your turn off electronic ear muffs they work just the same as standard ear muffs, but when they are turned on the electronics amplify low level sounds picked up by the microphones so you can hear conversations etc. as soon as the sound goes above a set level the sound picked up through the microphone is shut off.
I find the earmuffs I'm using will even cut off the sound of of a pistol slide closing.

[Aster]

If you're shopping for a pair just keep an eye on how many db they will reduce the sound by.

Half the time a $100 pair will do the same actual noise reduction as a $500 pair.

Might not be as stylish, but in terms of hearing protection will do the same job for a fraction of the cash.

[fawksel]

Half the time a $100 pair will do the same actual noise reduction as a $500 pair.

And the rest...

You can pay $900 for a pair of you get "competition" ones.

[Guliver]

If you're shopping for a pair just keep an eye on how many db they will reduce the sound by.

Half the time a $100 pair will do the same actual noise reduction as a $500 pair.

Might not be as stylish, but in terms of hearing protection will do the same job for a fraction of the cash.

After starting a thread here asking for recommendations I bought these from the states http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271281437297 ... 1439.l2649 cost about $40 with postage, took about 10 days to arrive, work well the ear pads are plastic, a bit sweaty at times but for $40 bucks I'm very happy.

$69 in Oz http://westernfirearms.com.au/shooting- ... -1544.html

I've seen these for as high as $75 here in Australia.

[Sakoh]

I bought these from the states http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271281437297 ... 1439.l2649 cost about $40 with postage, took about 10 days to arrive, work well the ear pads are plastic, a bit sweaty at times but for $40 bucks I'm very happy.

For $40 it's hard to argue.

A crappy pair of foam ones from Bunnings is $15 or something. to get a decent electronic pair for $40 is a no brainer.

[creet]

After starting a thread here asking for recommendations I bought these from the states http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271281437297 ... 1439.l2649 cost about $40 with postage, took about 10 days to arrive, work well the ear pads are plastic, a bit sweaty at times but for $40 bucks I'm very happy.

Thanks mate.

I'll check them out.

[Die Judicii]

Hi All,

I realize I'm wading into this way after the original thread, however I'll add my piece and be gone.

I have a pair of "Peltor" muffs, and they not only magnify the sounds your quarry make, but also I have found they are that sensitive, if you step on a twig they blank that out for the split second then come back on automatically.

I luv em.

Cheers.

[Yelp]

I have a pair of "Peltor" muffs, and they not only magnify the sounds your quarry make, but also I have found they are that sensitive, if you step on a twig they blank that out for the split second then come back on automatically.

You don't find having the sound clip out/in all the time from minor sounds annoying at all?

I haven't used them myself, trying to imagine what that's like and all I can picture is my ears popping all the time

[Guliver]

You don't find having the sound clip out/in all the time from minor sounds annoying at all?

It really isn't noticeable unless your listening for it, We had heavy rain on the roof at the range a few weeks ago and you could hear them cutting out the rain when a shot was fired.

[Chronos]

All the electronic earmuffs I use are totally adjustable, even left and right independently so that you still have stereoscopic hearing. You can turn down the volume so you can barely hear them cut in and out or you can turn them up so you can hear game when hunting but its a bit annoying listening to your own clumsy foot steps. Dies make you more aware of how much nouns your feet, sling or pack make too

Chronos

[yoshie]

The cheap ones cut out when the noise gets to a certain level, the expensive ones filter off the loud noise while not cutting out completely. They are handy for listening to range commands especially for pistol and shotgun shooters.

[Warrigul]

The cheap ones cut out when the noise gets to a certain level, the expensive ones filter off the loud noise while not cutting out completely. They are handy for listening to range commands especially for pistol and shotgun shooters.

Stereo is an important feature to have if you are hunting, especially with birds.

[Guliver]

The cheap ones cut out when the noise gets to a certain level, the expensive ones filter off the loud noise while not cutting out completely. They are handy for listening to range commands especially for pistol and shotgun shooters.

Stereo is an important feature to have if you are hunting, especially with birds.

I've never seen any that weren't stereo. Some do not have individual controls, but they are still stereo.

[Warrigul]

The cheap ones cut out when the noise gets to a certain level, the expensive ones filter off the loud noise while not cutting out completely. They are handy for listening to range commands especially for pistol and shotgun shooters.

Stereo is an important feature to have if you are hunting, especially with birds.

I've never seen any that weren't stereo. Some do not have individual controls, but they are still stereo.

There are heaps of non- stereo(mono) pairs about(the bunnings for instance), on my firing line out of about nine or ten models of electronic earmuff four are definately mono, one is a very poor parody of stereo.

If it doesn't have two pickups (one on each ear) then they are mono. Usually a mono set (but not always) has only one control, if there are two controls and two pickups or they are advertised as stereo then they are definately stereo.

People should also be aware that many of the low profile versions don't cut it if you have big ears, the muff isn't able to seal properly so you get sound leakage.

[Guliver]

OK, mine have one control but are stereo.

Just checked Bunnings, I don't see any that are electronic.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/to ... protection



This is what I'm using, cheap and cheerful

[yoshie]

I've got a pair for bunnings (ozito) and they are mono. I think they were $20. From my experience I'd recommend another brand. They are getting scratchy at various volumes and pick up mobile interference quite badly.

[Kater]

What's the problem with mono? They both play the same sound so you lose the sense of direction, is that it?

[Chronos]

What's the problem with mono? They both play the same sound so you lose the sense of direction, is that it?

Yes, quite annoying if you're at the range and some one talks to you. You can't tell where they are. Lol surprising how often you have to do a double take.

Also if you hunt with them stereo will allow you to identify the direction of any noise or movement

Chronos.

[salate]

Yes, quite annoying if you're at the range and some one talks to you. You can't tell where they are.

Ha ha.

Um yeah, I can see that getting annoying

[Warrigul]

What's the problem with mono? They both play the same sound so you lose the sense of direction, is that it?

Yep,

I have three pairs, two are mono and the third was especially bought for shooting over orchards etc, you can actually hear the birds coming, often even wing noise if you crank them up, my hit rate has improved markedly.

I use the mono ones at the range with no real problems but as another noted it can become hard to pickup where the talking is coming from at times.

My Ozito pair from bunnings are mono and average electronic quality but they are big and chunky and the NRR is higher than anything else, they are the ones I use on the pistol firing line. Generally speaking the low profile ones don't seem to offer as much noise reduction capacity.

[headspace]

My wife bought me a pair of Ear Pro's for Christmas but they aren't electronic. I think I'll change then for the electronic ones so I can hear the range officer. Other than that they are great, nice and comfy just a little bulky.
JD

[Monty]

Other than that they are great, nice and comfy just a little bulky.

Well, style must come first

[Warrigul]

My wife bought me a pair of Ear Pro's for Christmas but they aren't electronic. I think I'll change then for the electronic ones so I can hear the range officer. Other than that they are great, nice and comfy just a little bulky.
JD

Honestly, if all you want is to be able to hear range commands then the $20 Ozito ones from Bunnings reduce noise really well, are comfortable and have a three year replacement warranty. They do get in the way occaisonally when shouldering a shotgun, are a s**ty shade of orange and are useless for hunting but for range use they are fine.

If I want to hold a conversation I move well back from the firing line or into the clubhouse, I pretty much ignore others on the firing line anyway.

Mind you, there is nothing wrong with having a better class of gear either if you can afford it and you really want it, just saying that the bunnings ones are a cheap option if you are a no frills sort of person.

[RDobber]

If I want to hold a conversation I move well back from the firing line or into the clubhouse, I pretty much ignore others on the firing line anyway.

Really?

Judging by half the guys when I'm at the range I thought you were supposed to have your conversations at the benches so you can give dirty looks to the bloke next to you whose shooting is interrupting your conversation.

[Warrigul]

If I want to hold a conversation I move well back from the firing line or into the clubhouse, I pretty much ignore others on the firing line anyway.

Really?

Judging by half the guys when I'm at the range I thought you were supposed to have your conversations at the benches so you can give dirty looks to the bloke next to you whose shooting is interrupting your conversation.

Agree with you totally,

I am not totally anti social but I just hate it when the firing line is opened for a ten minute session and someone one insists on taking up shooting time, just because I am a captive audience.

If they want to talk to someone Lifeline is always open otherwise wait until lunchtime or after when I enjoy a conversation.

There are a couple of people who think I am an arrogant prick but I only ever see them at the club so it doesn't really affect my life much. I will try to let people down politely and gently but ultimately if it happens too often and they aren't getting the hint I am just going to turn away and start shooting.

[Rakk]

I will try to let people down politely and gently but ultimately if it happens too often and they aren't getting the hint I am just going to turn away and start shooting.

You have to half the time. Some people just can't take the hint.

Ears on, eyes forward.

[Humir]

Ears on, eyes forward.

They need to put that on a sign in big red letters at all ranges I reckon.