New Howard Leight Digital Electronic Ear Muffs

First topic message reminder :

Maybe seven or eight years ago I wanted to replace my old earmuffs with something more appropriate.  After a lot of research, I ended up buying the Howard Leight Leightning L3 muffs, with an NRR rating of 30.  Several years later, I became interested in "electronic ear muffs", which included an audio jack, allowing the user to listen to music or whatever while shooting.  I didn't understand the technology, but got another set of Howard Leight Impact Pro earmuffs.  They seemed similar to the L3, and included an audio jack.  They were bulkier, and heavier, but for practice I thought they were similar.  

My L3 muffs are showing signs of wear, and I wanted to know how both of the muffs I now have compare in terms of specs, so I called Honeywell Tech Support, and had a fascinating discussion with Lucas Gallardo.  He answered the questions I wanted answers to, along with questions I hadn't yet thought to ask.  When I asked if there was anything new, he told me about that as well.  There are now three styles of shooting earmuffs, those like my L3 which are designed to acoustically reduce the noise level of gunshots to a safe level, Electronic (analog) earmuffs, like my Impact Pro muffs, and a newly released series of Electronic (digital) earmuffs.  The analog electronic muffs and the newer digital electronic muffs both use electronic circuitry to reduce the sound.  Since analog is slower than digital, the newer digital muffs react more quickly to control the sound that reaches your ears.

The Impact Pro analog circuitry doesn't function unless they are turned ON.  I thought the on/off and volume control was for music being played using the audio jack.  When turned off, the sound is essentially the same as when I use the non-electronic L3 earmuffs.   Once turned on, the volume from gunshots is reduced both by the acoustic design of the earmuff, and by the electronics.  The volume control allows the earmuffs to pick up normal speech, such as the range master giving instructions, or a friend saying something.  Audio volume can be adjusted up/down.  From what Lucas told me, the new Digital earmuffs do the same thing, but react faster.  I'm just starting to read the specifications on the new technology.

I asked Lucas at Howard Leight if I could post his contact information here - for more information, catalogs, etc., call 800-873-5242, select the last option (press 6), and ask for Lucas in Tech Support.
I took notes as we were talking, but there's a nice improvement in the technology built into the new digital earmuffs.

CR10X wrote:If you want to go all out, get good foam plugs and a nice tight fitting motorcycle helmet with some extra foam inside.  Lot of guys used them for the Long Range event at the Masters. It works and really cuts down the percussion effect when shooting big / loud pistols.  I think Doug has a short clip showing one in a Masters video somewhere.  
CR

Whatever happened to The Masters? I always thought that was one event I would be good at, but it seems to have disappeared while I was doing other events. Do I remember reading somewhere that there was some scandal or something?