War Bird seems to be a company on the rise. I can’t be the only one seeing their marketing campaign. From their marketing, it’s easy to think of them as a body armor company, but they seem to be involved in all manner of safety from gunshots. This includes protecting your eyes and ears. War Bird sent me a set of ear protection recently, and it’s been my go-to in the last month. Is it worth the 159-dollar price tag? Let’s dig in and find out.
The Intrepid BT – High Tech Hearing Protection
The Intrepid hearing protection series is electronic; honestly, it had better be for 159 dollars. I’m a firm believer that serious shooters need electronic hearing protection. Maintaining situational awareness at the range, receiving instruction, and even having conversations is a must-have.
There are two models of the Intrepid. You have the Intrepid RC and the Intrepid BT. I have the BT, which stands for Bluetooth. The Intrepid BT can hook up to your phone to make phone calls, listen to music, or whatever else you might need. I enjoy listening to a little Wu-Tang Clan when I’m turning money into noise at the range. I’m actually convinced that listening to Run The Jewels helped me achieve a sub-second draw.
The RC system is 40 bucks cheaper at 119 and doesn’t have Bluetooth capability. It’s still electronic and features an input jack, so you can still have a wired connection to your phone or Zune. Both sets have a noise reduction rating of 23 dB with a 0.01 sound reaction time. It cuts off gunshots in a heartbeat.
Getting Electric with the Intrepid BT
I’ve had more than a few sets of electronic hearing protection, but this is the first time I have had a set that goes over my ears and is also rechargeable. I prefer the rechargeable design since I will always forget to swap batteries and won’t have them when needed. They recharge via USB-C and can recharge in 1.5 hours from empty to full.
The Intrepid BT battery life will vary depending on how you use it. The muffs have multiple modes. You have Bluetooth, Hearing Protection and amplification, and a hybrid mode. The Bluetooth lasts the longest, and the hybrid mode kills the battery the fastest. They can last for up to eight hours, but volume, mode, and similar factors will alter that time.
The muffs have four buttons to control power, volume, and swap modes. It took me a second to figure it out while wearing them, but eventually, hitting the right button when needed became second nature.
The Sound Of Freedom
When it came time to start shooting, the muffs did exactly as advertised. They shut off any and all noise before I can detect it. That’s their most important feature, and it works and does it well. The muffs use gel seals that create a comfortable experience and an excellent seal to prevent any noise from leaking inward.
The Intrepid BT mics are omnidirectional and do a decent job of letting you pick up some form of sound direction. It’s not perfect because it really can’t be, but it’s pretty decent. I can typically detect the general direction of the noise, and that’s good enough for range use, competition, and similar events. Sure, sometimes the guy talking beside you sounds like he’s right in front of you, but that’s the name of the game with hearing amplification.
Those conversations, briefings, or instructions issued will all sound surprisingly clear. It’s not HD IMAX Dolby Digital quality, but dang, it’s close. It’s some of the best sound transitions I’ve heard through electronic hearing protection. Once I get Wu-Tang bumping, the sound quality will be up there with a decent pair of headphones. I’m sure audiophiles will disagree, but Bring Da Ruckus sounds fantastic.
Form and Fit
The Intrepid BT’s gel cups make a huge comfort difference. I used to love my Walkers, but I don’t think I can go back after the gel experience. These things are solid and super comfortable. They don’t squeeze my head or tend to cause excess sweat. If they do, I don’t notice, and they don’t slide off or back. That’s important because Florida is hot.
I’ve worn them for about four hours, with a few very short breaks. Training is continuous and all. After four hours, I wanted them off, but it wasn’t until the last hour that I got sick of wearing them. That’s the longest I’ve ever worn hearing protection continuously. I don’t think any set of muffs is comfy for four hours.
Overall, the Intrepid BT headphones provide excellent performance. They are comfortable, have great microphones, clear audio, and, of course, excellent ear protection. Is it worth the price? I think so. Check them out at WarBirdPro.com.
