Electronic hearing protection devices have taken shielding your ears from loud and unwanted noise far beyond plugging your fingers or cotton balls into them. These gadgets are a welcome development for shooters, hunters, those who have to work in noisy environments, as well as for persons with impaired auditory functions. They have increased Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) thus affording better defense against loud sounds.
 Electronic EARS HEARING Protection Ear FIREARM Shooting Range Hunting Safety US $24.95 |
 Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff Hearing Ear Protection Hunting US $59.60 |
 Radians Electronic Hearing Protection Earmuff US $10.00 |
 Electronic Hearing Ear Protection Earmuff Shooting NR24 US $25.79 |
 Code Red Headset Tactical Electronic Hearing Protection RETAILS FOR $60 US $17.50 |
 Peltor Bluetooth Electronic Noise Cancelling Hearing Protection EARS Headset US $155.00 |
 Ladies Pink Stereo Electronic Ear Muffs Hearing Protection US $38.79 |
 Peltor Tactical Sport Electronic Ear Hearing Protection Protector 20 NRR 97451 US $114.90 |
 CALDWELL PLATINUM SERIES G3 ELECTRONIC STEREO HEARING PROTECTION US $.99 |
 Peltor Electronic Tactical 6S Hearing Protection Headset US $48.00 |
Advances in electronic hearing protection technology have allowed the consolidation of the functions of suppressing loud sounds and amplifying softer ones in a single unit. There are three types of technologies that made this possible. These are peak clipping, automatic level control, and compression technology.
In peak clipping, low-level sounds are amplified to comfortably audible levels by its internal mechanism. When it detects sounds exceeding 75dB, it automatically shuts itself off, relying on the cups of the earmuff to clip loud sounds. When the noise tapers off, it reverts to its amplification mode. Thus, at that moment when the unit is turned off, the only sound you will be able to hear are muffled loud sounds.
Automatic level control operates similarly to peak clipping except that instead of turning itself off in the presence of loud sounds, it turns its volume down. Also like peak clipping, when the volume is down, you will not be able to hear softer sounds.
Compression technology uses a different approach. Sounds exceeding 75 dB are compressed or adjusted by the unit's internal circuitry by as much as 45 db to safe levels. At the same time, it continues to amplify faint sounds.
The obvious advantage of compression technology is that you are never cut off from your surroundings. In contrast to peak clipping and automatic level control, this technology will allow you to hear whispers while at the same time suppressing a continuous loud sound. Although the two former methods may work for shooters and hunters, for those who work in an environment of continuous noise, compression technology may be the only electronic hearing protection feasible. We also recommend buy used cell phones for additional savings.