I've used mine mostly at the range. Even with earplugs and the electronic muffs on I can hear other shooters talking and walking. Once I noticed I could follow the conversation of other shooters at about seventy yards. I've haven't had to replace the batteries yet, so I can't say how long they last. I have been using them since last spring in several matches, range sessions, and hunting once with the original batteries. I bought them from another shooter who told me that they didn't work correctly for him while rimfire shooting. Apparently rimfire shots aren't loud enough to shut off the amplifier on this model.