After taking a few new people to shoot, I decided to upgrade to electronic earmuffs. At a crowded range, these provided much better protection than the slim passive earmuffs and foam plugs I had been wearing. With the electronics turned on, I could hear my friend, and even people in other ports with ease. Despite their size, the Pro Tac Golds are comfortable enough to wear for a few hours.
Each side has one battery, one circuit board, and one on/off switch. The switches have a solid click, but can still be accidentally turned on or left on there is no automatic shutoff I am aware of. Two circuits mean twice as many parts to break, but also redundancy in case one board does (which I prefer).
If you shoot at an indoors range, especially one that allows rifles, and want electronic protection, I think these provide a big advantage over other electronic models with a lower noise reduction rating. Easily twice the size of passive muffs and much more expensive, but you get what you pay for and I'm glad I bought them. Made in the USA.
Pros: Great hearing protection with redundant electronics
Cons: Bulky
This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.