Is there a decent, durable set of electronic earmuffs available for under $50? If so, what are your recommendations.
I've had three different sets over the past ten years or so. The first (which was a brand name, stereo set with microphones on both sides) were ruined by my carelessness -- I left them with a set of batteries installed, the batteries leaked and corroded the contact, and nothing I can do will restore the battery contacts, so they're now passive earmuffs. As such, they work okay -- but there are times when I'd like amplified hearing with my protection.
Then I have another set, Chinese no-name brand, that worked ... and now don't work. No corrosion this time. The batteries make contact, and when the batteries are in place and I fiddle with the knob I can hear static, and there's a "click" when the knob is switched on or off -- but there's no transmission of sound from outside the muffs to my ears. So ... another pair of passive earmuffs.
The third set is the newest, and they work. But they're not stereo, the sound quality isn't great, and the amplification isn't great. And they're Chinese, so I more or less expect them to self destruct just like pair number two. And they're hevay for passive muffs.
I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on electronic earmuffs, because for much of my shooting I'm alone and don't need to hear anything other than my own thoughts. But, for those times when I want or need to hear what's going on around me, I would prefer that when I put on the electronic muffs they work.
What would you recommend?
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