Electronic vs Passive

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:51 pm

I have an technical Ear Muff question for all who can help. Comparing 2 models of ear muffs:
1)Pro-Ears Pro Mag Gold Electronic Shooting Hearing Protection NRR 33 rated.
2)Pro-Ears Ultra Passive 33 Shooting Hearing Protection NRR 33 rated.
Question: Do these two models of ear muffs provide "equal" protection for the shooters ears ? Note: one set is electronic, the other is passive. Both rated NRR 33.
Haka

blue68f100 · Post by **blue68f100** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:54 pm

Yes, Both will provide equal hearing protection with a 33NNR.

I have the ProEars Pro Mag Gold and they are great. There the only one on the market that clamps the dBa at 70dba. All the other I looked at start around 82dBa. OSHA say that any noise over 80 dBa can damage your ears. So the other brands do not meet OSHA requirements. The nice part about the ProMag Gold is that it clamps the noise at 70dBa so you still hear every thing around you. I shot my MKIII from the back porch over the pond which around 50 yrds. Being on a porch it's an echo chamber with 3 sides. Surprisingly you actually hear the impact along the mud bank. Kinda of like a artillary round going down range. Each side is totally independent of each other, seperate controls. The gain on these are pretty powerful. These do have a white noise if you crank the gain up over normal hearing levels. The aux input worked real nice with my iPod.

The ProEars Mag Gold come with leather ear pads and are really comfortable over the std plastic ones.

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:20 pm

I received my Pro Ears Gold muffs yesterday and put them through a trial test. The hearing protection quality of them seemed great, but they hurt my ears in the comfort category. In other words, they didn't fit my head properly and put undue pressure on my ears that was very painful at the base of the ear canal??? Bottom line: I sent them back to MidwayUSA today. There isn't alot of space for the ear to fit into the muff, the electronics extend out quite far and impede some. For me, I am disappointed in the ProEarsGoldMag's.
Haka

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:55 pm

Added point, MidwayUSA was very accommodating to my returning the ProEars. Another positive mark for them.
H

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:11 pm

After ordering the Pro Ears Mag Gold Electronic NRR33's and sending them back for refund, I started to think I wouldn't find any elec muffs to my liking. I looked at the MSA Sordin's, and they get good reviews, but I decided to get a pair on the lower price range. The HL's actually get some pretty good reviews, and for the price they are offered at, I don't think I could go wrong? I intend on doubling up with some quality ear plugs as well. I also decided to by the Pro Ears Passive NRR 33's for those really loud sessions.

Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Noise Amplification Earmuffs $49.99
http://www.opticsplanet.net/howard-leig ... 01526.html

I received the HL's and am somewhat impressed with their funtionality (is that a word ?). They seem to block out the sound quite well, and their amplification is great, to me anyway. I'll try them at the range tomorrow.

Haka