FOG HORN
Aug 2018 Twobirds Flying Publications
Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT Hearing Protection by Honeywell
Copyright 2018, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.
Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT
Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT By: Sal Palma
Howard Leight hearing protection products have enjoyed wide acceptance among shooters worldwide. Their low profile cups are accommodating to rifle buttstocks so shooters don’t have to adjust how they mounted their long gun. The company recently introduced an electronic headset featuring fast digital noise suppression and low level ambient sound amplification.
2018
The BOLT retains the low profile cups of the original Impact Sport along with the features enumerated below: 1. Automatic 4 hour shut-off increases battery life. 2. AUX jack connects to MP3 players and scanners. 3. Automatically clamps loud impulse noise to a safe 82dB. 4. Amplification of voice and other low ambient sounds. 5. A single power on and volume control. 6. Sensitive microphones (one per ear cup). 7. Same two AAA battery power source, accessible from the outside of the ear cup.
Late June 2018, Howard Leight introduced a new and improved Impact Sport model marketed as the Howard Leight Sport Bolt.
So, what’s new and exciting - the electronics package, which outperforms the original Impact Sport. Howard Leight, now a Honeywell company, revved up ambient sound amplification while keeping the impulse noise to a maximum of 82db. Sound suppression is still 22NRR but the digital circuit attack time is now .5 milliseconds; therefore, impulse noise attenuation occurs much faster than in the Copyright 2018, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT
2018
original Impact Sport; eliminating its characteristic initial loud impulse. BOLTS’ noise suppression is noticeably faster One of the benefits of a digital circuitry design is that audio dynamic range is far superior to an analog circuit. I was not able to determine if audio goes through an analog to digital conversion process using a PCM1 codec in the BOLT, but audio is discernibly clearer with greater dynamic range. Succinctly stated, BOLT delivers fast impulse attenuation and excellent audio dynamic range. The BOLT fit and comfort is outstanding. I have large ears, which make prolonged wear uncomfortable with compact ear cups, like my MSA Sordin. That was never an issue with the Impact Sport or BOLT headsets, they’re both extremely comfortable. My initial test procedure was sitting for a couple of hours watching MSNBC, which I successfully attenuated. All kidding aside, the Howard Leight Impulse Sport BOLT hearing protection headset is comfortable with superb audio clarity. No hearing protection evaluation is complete without range time and no range time is more challenging for hearing protection than indoor ranges. It seems that regardless the degree of acoustic treatment, gunshot impulse noise is often reinforced by in phase surface echoes. The range session proved the Howard Leight Impulse Sport BOLT to be worthy of 4.5 stars. Sound suppression was noticeably faster than the original Impact Sport. 1
Pulse Code Modulation is a technique used to convert an analog signal, your voice for example to a binary digital stream.
I was firing in lane 6 and I was able to clearly hear the conversation that lane 1 shooters were having. Sound amplification is significantly greater than the Impact Sport and you’ll want to keep your volume control down so you won’t be picking up machinery sounds, like ventilation system vents and other air handler sounds common in an indoor setting. Start with a low volume setting and work your way up; even in an outdoor setting. My only improvement recommendation to Honeywell is explore the feasibility of using a bandpass filter in the range of 900 Hz.-2,000 Hz. to help mitigate “white noise” artifacts; yet keep enough high frequency components to retain directional accuracy. I’ll wrap things up by saying that Honeywell has a hit on their hands. The Honeywell site has the Impact Sport BOLT at an M.S.R.P. of $116.95. At M.S.R.P. the Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT is a great value. However, they are selling at $77.95, so BOLT at the chance to snag a great pair of earmuffs for range time or your next hunt. -SP
Copyright 2018, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved