I could not find a thread on this fairly important topic so I thought I would start one.
Please relate your review on electronic ear protection that you personally own  or have used.
Please include specific brands and model number because there is pile of crap for sale on the net and they all claim to be wonderful.

I will start with this review:

I just picked up a set of "Howard Leight" electronic ear muffs model#  R-01902. ($63.00 on Amazon)
I have owned other electronic muffs before and the cheaper units kill all the sound when shot are fired so you cannot hear someone talking to you.
The electronics in these muffs supress the shots while allowing other sounds (like speech) to pass.
But the thing that really impressed me about these particular muffs was the engineering and thought that went into them.  They are well built, comfortable  and easy to use.They also have a very high natural NRR. So they really block out loud booms.
The only negative is that they are large (thus the high NRR) so I don;t think they are suitable for rifle shooting. I shoot mostly pistol so it was not my concern.

My next review  is forthcoming and not so happy

I have these
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001T7QJ9O/?tag=2ahawaii-20

they are very good for the money. I highly recommend them if you're looking for affordable electronic protection for shooting pistol. For rifle, even though they're fairly slim, they get in the way. I either have to shoulder the rifle at an uncomfortable angle, or wear foam plugs with them and slightly push them to the side. Even with the plugs in I can still hear conversations around me, and when I hit the steel plates far out, which is why I have them on in the first place.

It may be that I'm shooting the rifle differently now, because when I first started shooting with these muffs didn't get in the way. Now that I think about it, I was shooting with a scope with a medium riser that put it up pretty high. Lately i've been shooting with irons and a new scope with a lower mount.

I have these
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001T7QJ9O/?tag=2ahawaii-20

they are very good for the money. I highly recommend them if you're looking for affordable electronic protection for shooting pistol. For rifle, even though they're fairly slim, they get in the way. I either have to shoulder the rifle at an uncomfortable angle, or wear foam plugs with them and slightly push them to the side. Even with the plugs in I can still hear conversations around me, and when I hit the steel plates far out, which is why I have them on in the first place.

It may be that I'm shooting the rifle differently now, because when I first started shooting with these muffs didn't get in the way. Now that I think about it, I was shooting with a scope with a medium riser that put it up pretty high. Lately i've been shooting with irons and a new scope with a lower mount.

I have these muffs as well. They are very comfy for me. I use them all the time and add foamies if I am next to someone with a muzzle break. For most all other shooting situations just the muffs are good enough. I shoot rifle and with higher scope mounts they are not an issue. But with iron sights and lower mounted scopes they get in the way like all other muffs will. I have had them for close to a year now and I have not replaced the batteries yet. And this included leaving them turned on for a week (I think they turn themselves off after a while).

I have types right now.  In order of preference,

1 - MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X with gel ear pieces.  One of, if not the best out there.  Great noise reduction, great amplification, extremely comfortable, rugged / durable, mold well around glasses.  Very expensive.

2 - Howard Leight Sport Impact.  Have a couple sets of these.  I T&E'd a set for about 1.5 years even in the rain.  Excellent budget electronic muffs.  Don't fit everyones head size well, gaps with glasses. 

3 - Peltor 6S behind the neck.  Work well, when they worked.  Electronics portion crapped out early.  I know of numerous headsets that also had this issue. 

MSA Supreme Pro X with the gel caps. My only pair of electronic ear pro. Comfortable with the gel caps and easy to carry conversation or hear commands.  I haven't found that they affect my cheek weld at all with AR or bolt gun.

They are pricey, but they've taken a beating and none the worse for wear. I have to be sure to wipe them down and air them out occasionally as mine were starting to get pretty stinky. Wipe with those cleaning wipes and occasionally spray with Febreze or Lysol and gtg again.

How much are those Msa supremes and where can I get some?

Is this it?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSA-Sordin-Supreme-Pro-X-ear-muffs-OD-Cups-Black-/160896296083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25762aa493

30 years ago, I bought a primitive set of electronic ear muffs. They worked really well but the technology was not quite there yet. They did not have stereo mics and speakers. Just 1 mic and 1 speaker. Those lasted maybe 10 years before corrosion in the electronics rendered them unusable.

 I got along with passive muffs for the last 20 years.

So last year I figured technology must have progressed to the point where even the lowest priced muffs work as well as those old muffs that I had. Boy was I wrong.

These Caldwell muffs (Caldwell 497700 E-Max ) have this funky sound "cutoff" circuit. Yes, they do cut off loud bangs pretty good, but they also cut off your buddy trying to talk to you at the same time. When you are in a practice session at the range with lots of people shooting, these shut off almost constantly. Another weird behavior these muffs have is that they also shut off from quiet NON-shot noise. For example they will shut off when I release the slide on a 45 auto or an AR bolt. Very strange. I absolutely cannot recommend these for use at a busy firing range.

Other than that, they are low priced and fairly comfortable. I suppose they would be fine in a rural area. I could see these working fine in a duck blind or sitting under a dove flight. The sound amplification works well so you can communicate with your hunting partner. When the birds pass over you wouldn't be talking much anyway.

I just picked up a set of "Howard Leight" electronic ear muffs model#  R-01902. ($63.00 on Amazon)
I have owned other electronic muffs before and the cheaper units kill all the sound when shot are fired so you cannot hear someone talking to you.
The electronics in these muffs supress the shots while allowing other sounds (like speech) to pass.

I see lines like this in the product claims, but I don't believe them.  I do a bit of audio work in my day job.  I understand the "why" behind how mics work, the limits of what filtration can do, and a bit of the physics of sound.  I don't believe that it's possible for a set of headphones to do this.  When I've mentioned this to people at the range, they always say something like "Oh, well, you should try this pair that I'm using.  They don't cut the voices out."  So I pop their sweaty headphones on my sweaty head, and what do you know?  They lied to me.  The voices get cut out with each bang. 

I see lines like this in the product claims, but I don't believe them.  I do a bit of audio work in my day job.  I understand the "why" behind how mics work, the limits of what filtration can do, and a bit of the physics of sound.  I don't believe that it's possible for a set of headphones to do this.  When I've mentioned this to people at the range, they always say something like "Oh, well, you should try this pair that I'm using.  They don't cut the voices out."  So I pop their sweaty headphones on my sweaty head, and what do you know?  They lied to me.  The voices get cut out with each bang.

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To make statements such as "I don't believe them" or "They lied to me" is pretty harsh don't you think?
In starting this thread, I asked for specific brands and model numbers that you own or have used. That is the only way people can get useful information.
If you have specific information to share please do so.

How much are those Msa supremes and where can I get some?

Is this it?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSA-Sordin-Supreme-Pro-X-ear-muffs-OD-Cups-Black-/160896296083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25762aa493

This is the model that I have.

http://www.srstactical.com/communications/electronic-ambient-listening-headsets/msa-sordin-supreme-pro*x/75302*x.html

I bought mine for around $180 from BoTach.  I've heard some VERY mixed reviews about BoTach, but my experience with them was just fine.  The unit that I received did look like an overrun, but it works great. 

I've heard that SRS Tactical is one of the best places to buy MSA Sordin headsets though. 

+1 on those MSA Sordins. I paid $300 from SRS Tactical and I would do it again if I lost mine. I also have Howard Leighs, Peltor Tacsport, Caldwell... Peltor would be a close second. Very good for the price, I think I paid around $90 from Amazon. Howard Leigh is distant 3rd and Caldwell ones are crap. I had 2 broke within a month and returned them both.

I have MSA Sordins.

I have a lot of the Howard leights, and we use them for class. For the price, I don't think they can be beat.

=====================
To make statements such as "I don't believe them" or "They lied to me" is pretty harsh don't you think?
In starting this thread, I asked for specific brands and model numbers that you own or have used. That is the only way people can get useful information.
If you have specific information to share please do so.

Harsh?  Perhaps, but also accurate.  However, I have not kept records of make and models.  Didn't seem to be any point.  If ever I am proven wrong, though, I will certainly document it!

I run $30 Caldwell electronic muffs I bought awhile back from Roy's Fishing

i bought these in 2011
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000XN22XW/?tag=2ahawaii-20
no longer in stock at amazon
pros- cheap, high NRR even without electronics
cons- large/bulky, kinda hot wearing them (i think because of the material/construction of the padding)

i bought them so i could have a spare pair to loan out at the range
i think if i bought another spare pair, i would skip the electronics
there's so much noise at the range that they are constantly cutting out, so it is impossible to converse with them on

aloha

steve

ps- pyramex has a 31NRR low profile pair on amazon for less than 12 bucks that i would pick up as a spare
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000XN0798/?tag=2ahawaii-20

I run $30 Caldwell electronic muffs I bought awhile back from Roy's Fishing

I bought the howard leight and Peltor 6s, here's my comparison between the two

Howard Leight:
+ more comfort
+ 3 more db reduction, noticeable
+ easier to change batteries
+ single on switch
+ on switch doesn't accidentaly turn on and drain batteries
+ audio in port
- larger size
- cannot be worn with a helmet.  peltors can supposedly be work under a helmet (overhead version)

I wish there were earmuffs that would ventilate to avoid sweaty ears.  Thats the reason I just bought some custom sportear electronic earplugs which cost $1k, let you know how they do.

I wish there were earmuffs that would ventilate to avoid sweaty ears.  Thats the reason I just bought some custom sportear electronic earplugs which cost $1k, let you know how they do.

For that price, I sure hope they cook, do the dishes, and wash the laundry! 

and some other functions too

aloha

steve

For that price, I sure hope they cook, do the dishes, and wash the laundry!