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Posted: 4/23/2016 5:13:41 PM EDT
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I am in the market for some high quality ear protection for some upcoming classes I am going to take (carbine and shotgun). I currently have the Impact muffs, which work ok, but I'm looking for something a little nicer. I have no need for comms, I'm not LE or Military, and none of my shooting buddies have radios (I have radios for work).
I've been looking at the Peltor brand, but there are tons of models and a huge price range. I would like low profile, and over the head is fine, since I don't wear a helmet either. What models/brands should I look at? Budget is not an issue, as long as they are good, but I don't want to pay for things I don't need, like the comms. Thanks! |
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I'm a big fan of Peltor, but lots of folks like MSA Sordin and TCI Liberators. As far as I know, they all have an option for gel filled ear seals which make them pretty comfortable. The Peltor Comtac III's I have allow me to run a 2-way radio and my iPhone. (I can even pipe iTunes into my muffs)  They also allow for 360* sound imaging which images where the sound is coming from. All of the companies I listed have non-communications equipped headsets. |
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I have a set of the Peltor tac100 muffs that they sell at home depot. Unfortunately they are off at 3M getting looked at.
They are quite a bit less expensive than the other models but the trade off is that they don't like water, at all. I was pretty careful with them but got caught out in the rain too long. When they crapped out I popped the pads off and there was hardly any water in them, just a little damp. We'll see what they say. I really liked them and would probably buy another pair. Just keep them for indoor range time though. |
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Quoted:
I'm a big fan of Peltor, but lots of folks like MSA Sordin and TCI Liberators. As far as I know, they all have an option for gel filled ear seals which make them pretty comfortable. The Peltor Comtac III's I have allow me to run a 2-way radio and my iPhone. (I can even pipe iTunes into my muffs)
They also allow for 360* sound imaging which images where the sound is coming from. All of the companies I listed have non-communications equipped headsets. Can't add too much to this. Waterproofness is likely to be a big asset; and I would suggest the extra cost of same is worth it. I would investigate the various head bands. One set of headphones I own, by coincidence Peltors, has behind-the-head suspension, and is quite comfortable, albeit with Gel earcups. While few wear helmets, many wear hats, and the behind-the-head suspension allows the hat option with the fewest hassles. Extra points if the design/mfr offer the option of changing the suspension set-up. What is good today might not be good tomorrow. |
| Dont bother with Sordins, the sound quality sucks. The mics feedback too easy and there's too much white noise caused by wind sensitivity. My wife's Howard Leight Impacts sound better than my Sordins, I hunt with her Impacts or Surefire EP7's. Luckily I paid nearly nothin for my Sordins as milsurp. |
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Dont bother with Sordins, the sound quality sucks. The mics feedback too easy and there's too much white noise caused by wind sensitivity. My wife's Howard Leight Impacts sound better than my Sordins, I hunt with her Impacts or Surefire EP7's. Luckily I paid nearly nothin for my Sordins as milsurp. I like my Howard Leights just fine, but to say that they're better than Sordins is pure idiocy. |
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I have a set of the low cost Peltiors (from HD as well) and a set of the Howard Leights. I went to a rifle class up at PFT last October and found that the Peltors clamp on the sound too much. I was ringing plate but the protection duration was long enough that I wasn't hearing my shots ringing steel. I switched to the Howard Leight's and was able to hear. They seem to be best for outdoors while the Peltor unit seem to be best for indoors based on the level of clamping and duration.
Being able to tweak the clamp duration would be nice but is obviously something that would increase price substantially. My two pfennigs. |
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I like my Howard Leights just fine, but to say that they're better than Sordins is pure idiocy. Quoted:
Quoted:
Dont bother with Sordins, the sound quality sucks. The mics feedback too easy and there's too much white noise caused by wind sensitivity. My wife's Howard Leight Impacts sound better than my Sordins, I hunt with her Impacts or Surefire EP7's. Luckily I paid nearly nothin for my Sordins as milsurp. I like my Howard Leights just fine, but to say that they're better than Sordins is pure idiocy. The sound quality is. I am not the only member here who's commented of that opinion either. They may be overbuilt but they lack at what they should do best. |
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I have a pair of the Sordin and the Leight electronic earmuffs.
The Sordin Pro X are better at sealing, add the gel ear cups and they are awesome. Of course you pay for all this awesomeness. I like teg way the housing is undercut so it is easier to shoulder a rifle withe these muffs. The Howard Leight Impact sport are much more affordable but I found they did not do nearly as good a job sealing around my glasses, even before the gel cups. The noise level is not loud enough to be painful but close, I would not want to do an extended session wearing these. the Leights are now my HD hearing protection and live in the walk in closet. |
| i have been using walker's alpha 360, these are my first electronic ear muffs. i think they are great. they pick up conversation great while drowning out the shoots. they also come in a thinner profile version so u can get your check closer to the rifle to aim. |
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The sound quality is. I am not the only member here who's commented of that opinion either. They may be overbuilt but they lack at what they should do best. Quoted:
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Quoted:
Dont bother with Sordins, the sound quality sucks. The mics feedback too easy and there's too much white noise caused by wind sensitivity. My wife's Howard Leight Impacts sound better than my Sordins, I hunt with her Impacts or Surefire EP7's. Luckily I paid nearly nothin for my Sordins as milsurp. I like my Howard Leights just fine, but to say that they're better than Sordins is pure idiocy. The sound quality is. I am not the only member here who's commented of that opinion either. They may be overbuilt but they lack at what they should do best. Strange I find the Sordins to be overall better than myHoward Leights including the sound quality. Good thing I didn't pay for it though, got it in a trade from a friend. However, the Howard Leights are still excellent quality, my only complaint is the lack of gel pads. Also, being the headband comm version my Sordins won't fit under my MICH, while the Howard Leights will. I know I can get the neckband version and/or a high cut MICH but I can't justify paying that much at this time. |
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Quoted:
Strange I find the Sordins to be overall better than myHoward Leights including the sound quality. Good thing I didn't pay for it though, got it in a trade from a friend. However, the Howard Leights are still excellent quality, my only complaint is the lack of gel pads. Also, being the headband comm version my Sordins won't fit under my MICH, while the Howard Leights will. I know I can get the neckband version and/or a high cut MICH but I can't justify paying that much at this time. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Dont bother with Sordins, the sound quality sucks. The mics feedback too easy and there's too much white noise caused by wind sensitivity. My wife's Howard Leight Impacts sound better than my Sordins, I hunt with her Impacts or Surefire EP7's. Luckily I paid nearly nothin for my Sordins as milsurp. I like my Howard Leights just fine, but to say that they're better than Sordins is pure idiocy. The sound quality is. I am not the only member here who's commented of that opinion either. They may be overbuilt but they lack at what they should do best. Strange I find the Sordins to be overall better than myHoward Leights including the sound quality. Good thing I didn't pay for it though, got it in a trade from a friend. However, the Howard Leights are still excellent quality, my only complaint is the lack of gel pads. Also, being the headband comm version my Sordins won't fit under my MICH, while the Howard Leights will. I know I can get the neckband version and/or a high cut MICH but I can't justify paying that much at this time. I got the Sordins with the bone induction mic instead of the boom. |
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