Howard Leight Electronic Hearing Protection Now in Two Sizes

1. Howard Leight, I like their hearing protection and prefer it over others I’ve tried. Recently had a big box with hearing protection stuff in it I’ve tired over the years, to it took the range and gave ’em away. The Howard Leight muffs are the only ones I use now.

2. I prefer the OPScore which I recently purchase from FSW you can find this here superior audio and hear through technology. https://firstsourcewireless.com/collections/ops-core

   • OPScore at your link, kinda expensive. $800.00’ish and up.

   • The OpsCore are an entirely different beast, especially if buy their NFMI earplugs, which pass the sound through a diaphragm in the plug. Comparing $1000 of equipment with communication capabilities to amplified headphones isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison. Plus, I don’t think the OpsCore comes in youth sizes.

3. 22 dB doesn’t sound like a lot, particularly for indoors.

   • I always double up and use the amplification to hear people through the plugs.

   • Its depends on what the general environment is. For a general environment steady constant noise level of, for example, 100 Db 22 Db NRR isn’t much compared to say 33 Db NRR. But for the sudden high frequency impulse noise of weapons fire, at for example 160 Db, 22 Db NRR is a lot.

     For general environment, the math (OSHA method); (NRR-7)/2=Reduction … then > steady constant noise level – Reduction = 87db reaching the ear.

     If the person is wearing both earplugs and ear muffs for hearing protection the actual NRR is calculated by taking the higher NRR number and adding 5 to it then using that number in the above calculation to determine the exposure level while wearing the earplugs and ear muffs.

     But when we consider the frequency ranges of weapon fire sound and apply the physics involved – for sudden high frequency impulse noise weapons fire, the math – for effective average using the physics of the sound pressure energy and that energy is what causes the hearing damage; -6 Db = 50% reduction > so, for example for every 6 Db of NRR rating the high frequency impulse noise weapons fire sound pressure level (energy) is reduced 50% —- for example, if NRR is 6 Db then 160 /2 = 80 Db reaching the ear > then > if 6 Db more NRR is added for 12 Db NRR then 80 / 2 = 40 Db … and on for each 6 Db NRR added.

     However, while mathematically this works out in reality and actual implementation efficiency is only 50 % in an open system which hearing protection actually is in the physics involved, which in the logarithmic nature of the high frequency impulse noise weapons fire (and sound in general) increases the level of the reduced sound reaching the ear by (variable) ~40 Db to ~50 Db effective average. So for example —- 22 Db NRR with 160 Db impulse noise weapons fire = 20 Db reaching the ear + ~50 Db = 70 Db effective average reaching the ear. So 22 Db NRR is a lot in its context, just not perfect – 70 Db effective average is 15 Db below 85 Db effective average which is considered the point where most people start having permanent hearing damage from sustained or frequent exposure. The once in a life time exposure level without, on average, permanent hearing damage is 140 Db effective average.

     • For general environment, the math (OSHA method); (NRR-7)/2=Reduction … then > steady constant noise level – Reduction = 87db reaching the ear.

       clarification:
       where NRR = 33 Db and steady constant noise level = 100 Db

       (33 – 7)/2 = 13
       100 – 13 = 87 Db

       (sorry I left the clarification out of the original)

       • steady constant noise level – is a linear state nature.

         sudden high frequency impulse noise weapons fire – is a logarithmic state nature.

         For steady constant noise level the linear OSHA calculations work to get a specific noise reduction number but this is reasonably close to the effective average.

         For sudden high frequency impulse noise weapons fire to have an “accurate” value we need to consider the physics involved on the energy level. Although all sound has a logarithmic nature on the energy level, its state more (e.g. steady, variable, transitory, pulse, etc…) determines what the effective result is in human hearing. High frequency impulse noise weapons fire is both transitory and pulse that is logarithmic and contains high frequencies out side the normal human hearing range as well as within and the sound pressure energy from even those you can not hear can do hearing damage.

       • Note: All shooting (and commercial) hearing protection manufacturers use the OSHA linear math method to determine an NRR rating. This rating does not take into account the average effective noise level which is the level that is going to do the damage if its high enough.

     • Note:

       ‘effective average’ of sound is AKA ‘Effective Sound Pressure’ AKA ‘average sound pressure’ and is the root-mean-square of the instantaneous sound pressure (for hearing at the ear drum). High frequency impulse noise weapons fire is ‘effective average’ sound.

       people often confuse this with ‘Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level’ which is the time-averaged sound pressure level over a stated measurement period. Steady constant noise level in an environment is an ‘Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level’ but also has an ‘effective average’ component for impact noise if there are periodic high level impact noises at levels above the ‘Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level’

       In effective average;

       hearing damage lower threshold = ~ 85 dB (this can be temporary or permanent, depends on the person)
       hearing damage pain threshold = ~120 dB (will always have some level of permanent damage)

       Indoors high frequency impulse noise weapons fire is perceived as ‘amplified’ because each time you fire the sound pressure energy is reflected back from walls and hits you a second time. Greater and faster hearing damage can occur with indoor shooting than with outdoor shooting because indoors you are subjected to a stronger double dose of the sound pressure energy. The farther the walls are from you the more distance the sound pressure wave has to travel and the more time it takes to come back to you and the more time it takes the more energy is dissipated – the opposite happens the closer the walls are to you.

       Sound Pressure is a field (energy) quantity, also known as a root-power quantity which has an average half power point of 6 dB for the energy component. (note: this field energy quantity is what actually causes the hearing damage).

4. I’ve been using HL’s for over two years now and I love it. I highly recommend them.

5. They are uncomfortable and not deep enough. They also suck at sound attenuating. I added foam around the inner components which helps. They would be better if the ear pads were thicker holding the cup off my ears.
   I use them only when instructing and with ear plugs.
   Multiple colors won’t help and I would never let my kids wear them. They are over hyped due to their shot damping while amplifying sound.
   Turn up the amplifier and wear ear plugs.
   They are only good in the woods, not at the range. Take that for gospel.

   • My primary pair has aftermarket gel pads, which make them very comfortable. Unfortunately there isn’t really isn’t anything between them and significantly more expensive options (which is what led me to the gel pads in the first place, since even with gel pads a new pair is still far below the next step up).

     • The HL only fit if I wore a hat. Otherwise they were too low on the ear and did not shorten up enough. I’m not petite. I bought Peltor and Walker. Both fit fine and work just as well, (with and without a hat). The electronics are great in both of them, too.

6. I think it’s __Great__ that they are introducing these. I think it’s Way Safer to have the electronic hearing ones so can hear others talk. Very, very valuable in an indoor range or outside range. I think indoor ranges should have these for brand new shooters since it would be way more safe for them and most likely a better experience. I think Howard Leight… should sell 2-4 for new people at the ranges for like $5 – $10 each. If they like the sport I’m sure they will buy some themselves very shortly.

   Have a pair of the originals and they work ok. If using a rifle and need to get cheek very close to the buttstock then they are very good for the money.

   However I prefer my Howard Leight (Honeywell) Impact Pro NRR 30 Electronic Shooting Earmuff. Have 2 of these and these are my go to ones.

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