These things are like other amplified ear pro in the sense that hearing-safe sounds – the human voice – are amplified, handy for old-timers like me. Unsafe sound levels are suppressed. The manufacturer alleges some aspects of the “SMART technologies,” like “clear voice tracking.” All I can say is that I was able to hear –and understand – folks speaking around me.
The suppression time varies through some alchemy according to the “energy of the report and echoes in the location.” A sudden loud noise with no echoing reverberation is clipped while the thundering racket on an indoor range, say, would be muffled for a longer period.
The top band of the muff has vents to allow that troublesome button atop some billed caps to protrude . . . instead of being pressed into the shooter’s melon. The TAC 500 features blue-tooth technology. It’s untried by me so far as I don’t answer calls at the range – full time and attention being given to machinery being operated – and I don’t listen to music from a ‘smart’ phone while working at the range.
The muffs feature a 26 dB Noise Reduction Rating, auto shut-off feature, a “voice guidance feature” (“Power on” – kinda spooky), recessed microphones to reduce noise from wind/fans, and low profile cups for use with shouldered firearms.
I’d been back from SHOT for a couple of months when I was notified of a package at the local depot. I found the TAC 500 unit awaiting me. I used them on the next range trip during which I fired under a covered firing line as well as having used them for a half-day excursion to the retirees’ range. At that event, there was always a line of shooters. The TAC 500 gave transparent functioning; I could clearly hear and understand everyone who spoke – though some couldn’t hear me as I spoke in a normal tone – and my ears didn’t ring from repeated exposure to gunfire. And that’s what this unit is designed for.
From the “I have famous friends” department, I was notified yesterday of a new video about a man I’m happy to know. The video is Up Close: with Sheriff Jim Wilson and it’s an interview of the Sheriff by the Outdoor Wire’s own Richard Mann. It’s available on Amazon Prime Instant Video.
Richard describes it like this: “For those unfamiliar with this production, while at Gunsite Academy in early March I had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Wilson while four cameras recorded him playing music and telling stories in a way that only he can. I’ve been involved in a lot of cool projects in this industry, but none like this. It was an honor to produce this video for an icon of the gun writing world and a good friend.”
“Jim Wilson has some stories and songs a lot more folks need to hear. Now, it has been saved for generations to enjoy.”
If you’d like, you can check it out at the links below:
Amazon Prime link: http://a.co/d/4z3baS0
YouTube Trailer link: https://youtu.be/Xg47D38SlAQ
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/EmptyCasesBLOG/videos/2360923357473813/?t=0
- - Rich Grassi
