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[SHOT Show 2017] New 3M-Peltor Super-Smart Earpro

Anyone can make a pair of clunky muff ear pro (*snicker* chunky muff ear pro) to minimize the impact of shooting. Peltor, a 3M Company, just upped the ante a bit by introducing some pretty advanced digital ear pro at SHOT Show.

SHOT Show 2017: 3M-Peltor Super-Smart Earpro

Their new Sport Tactical 300 and 500 lines of earmuff-style hearing protection are comfortable muffs with some powerful signal processing onboard to help keep bad noise out while still getting your ears the sounds you want in. New, proprietary 3M SMART technology automatically adjusts volume and noise attenuation to your environment. The muffs block out firearm noise through traditional manner, of course (soft, padded cups with rubber bumpers that surround the ear). But the smart part of this equation starts with durable, recessed stereo microphones slickly incorporated into the cup on level with the ear canal. These microphones on the 500 model quickly and continuously sample the surrounding noises, and filters out background noise while allowing voices through for clearer conversations and hearing of range commands. This Clear Voice Tracking Technology measures the energy in each gunshot, as well as echoes in indoor range environments, and automatically sets suppression time to block as much of the bad noises as it can, but keeping vocal bands audible.

3M Peltor Ear Pro 1

Doug Fletcher of 3M explained the Adaptive Frequency Response system, saying that “since it is a digital muff, the signal is sampled through the microphones, and based on immediate measurements of the background noise in your environment, we have digital filters that come closer and closer to the voiceband area, blocking out noises around these vocal bands, removing out extra noise around these vocal bands so you can hear voice and commands better. There’s a variable suppression feature, measuring echoes, in say, an indoor range, opening and closing the noise filtration as needed as firearm sounds drop off or increase.”

Lindsay Adams of 3M Safety noted that these new muffs “fit great and are comfortable for extended wear” – and the improvements are as useful as they are simple. Recognizing things like the longtime complain that baseball caps with the hard button on top get uncomfortably pressed into the wearer’s head; 3M skeletonized the top headband with an opening to take that pressure off. The entire headband has been revamped and features venting for airflow and heat release, shaped to squeeze the head less uncomfortably for long use, and fold compactly for storage in a range bags. On the 300 and 500 models, the low-profile cup system – great for long gun use, letting the user get closer to the stock – gives a 24-26 decibel reduction, respectively. The microphones are very low profile and recessed, instead of the older style “bulb” mics and volume controls on early electronic muffs that were prone to breakage. The recessed microphones also reduce wind noise.

The Peltor Sport 300 features a standard mini-microphone jack so you can run in audio from phones, music players, and the like. The model 500 adds Bluetooth capabilities, with volume and controls on the side of the muff, making it possible to feed in your smartphone’s audio without it leaving your pocket. Both have tethered battery doors on the external side of the muff so you don’t lose them – no more having to rip the padded buffer off to access a dead battery. On the note of “dead batteries”, everyone that’s had a pair of electronic muffs die on them because they were accidentally left on gets a second chance – these feature programmable auto-shut off feature that will shut them down at the 2-or-4 hour mark. There is an audible voice prompt in the speaker alerting the user that auto-shutoff pending. The units use 2 standard AA batteries.

You can find them online and at booth #'s: 6403 and 1625.

 

 


 

This has been a special SHOT Show installment of Industry News. It is not a review nor an endorsement.

What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.

Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc

View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show here; 2015's is right here.

SHOT 2017 Schedule

January 15 — Special invite-only events; Veterans Training Fund/Wishes for Warriors at The Ranch, SIG Sauer Range Day, and others
January 16 — Media on the Range, Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club
January 17 — 20, 2016

Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours
Tuesday, January 17 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Shot-Show-2016

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