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
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.
Late June 2018, Howard Leight introduced a
new and improved Impact Sport model
marketed as the Howard Leight Sport Bolt.
Copyright 2018, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT
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.
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

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.
Copyright 2018, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Howard Leight Impact Sport BOLT
2018
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