The Shooter’s-Ear Truth — Compare dB(A), Leq & SE Δ Across Suppressors

The Shooter’s-Ear Truth (with SE Δ to spot real suppression)

Welcome to a no-nonsense, apples-to-apples look at rifle suppressor performance. Same firearms. Same cartridges. Same test positions. Clean, comparable numbers— plus a new lens: SE Δ, which makes it easier to see how well a can tames the muzzle-blast, “boom” compared to the sonic crack, “snap.”

What you’re looking at

The table below presents measured sound levels from standardized hosts and ammo, so you can compare suppressors without the usual “but that was a different rifle / different day” caveats. The test mics include the shooter’s ear (SE)—the metric most people feel on the firing line—and muzzle positions (ML/MR) that capture the blast at the gun.

Why SE Δ matters (spotting the boom vs. the snap)

Supersonic rifle shots have two key sounds: the short, sharp “snap” of the bullet’s shockwave (sonic crack) and the longer “boom” from muzzle blast. A suppressor can’t remove the crack if the bullet is supersonic, but it can crush the boom.

SE Δ (shown as dB(A) − Leq at the shooter’s ear) highlights this difference: it compares the instantaneous A-weighted level to the short-window energy level. Bigger SE Δ generally means the suppressor reduced the muzzle-blast energy more relative to the brief crack—i.e., less lingering “boominess” reaching your ear.

Read it like this: If two cans have similar SE dB(A) but one has a larger SE Δ, the one with the larger SE Δ is typically managing the blast component better. That’s a strong usability signal for shooters.

How to use the table

1. Filter quickly. Use the Cartridge and Firearm dropdowns to lock to the exact host setup you care about. The search box filters any column.
2. Sort smart. Defaults sort by Cartridge → SE dB(A) (or SE dB) → SE Δ. Use the three “Sort by” dropdowns to change priority—great for surfacing quietest-at-ear options.
3. Open up the tech. Toggle Show advanced metrics to reveal PkPr (peak pressure at the mic), Im-dB and Impulse Pa, plus all MR columns from the muzzle right position. These help detail peak vs. energy and blast directionality.
4. Click through to shop. Manufacturer and Suppressor cells link to Yowie Outdoors searches. If an item shows as out-of-stock or you can’t find it, email [email protected] for current availability or a quote.

Column cheat-sheet (plain-English)

• Manufacturer / Suppressor — The brand and model (click to search on YowieO.com).
• Cartridge — SAAMI cartridge (e.g., 5.56 NATO / 223 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, 300 BLK, etc.).
• Firearm — Host platform, barrel length, and action type (e.g., “AI-AX Bolt 20"”).
• SE dB — Shooter’s-ear, unweighted peak reading (instantaneous). Lower is better.
• SE dB(A) — Shooter’s-ear with A-weighting (approximates hearing sensitivity). Lower is better.
• SE Leq — Shooter’s-ear short-window energy level (test window per dataset). Captures “how much boom” energy reaches the ear.
• SE Δ (dBa-Leq) — Difference at the shooter’s ear. Higher typically indicates the suppressor knocked down the blast portion more relative to the brief crack.
• ML dB / ML dB(A) / ML Leq — Muzzle-left metrics (blast at the gun). Useful for understanding at-source suppression.
• MR … — Muzzle-right metrics (shown under Advanced). Helpful to see asymmetry and blast directivity.
• PkPr — Peak pressure at the mic (advanced). Correlates with instantaneous “spike.”
• Im-dB / Impulse Pa — Impulse-based metrics (advanced) that summarize energy in the waveform beyond just the single peak.
• Weight / Length / Diameter — Physicals. Pay attention to length-added and diameter for handguard clearance and balance.

Quick interpretation tips

• Prioritize SE metrics for user comfort: that’s what you actually feel behind the gun.
• Use SE Δ to rank “low-boom” cans among models that tie on SE dB(A).
• Cross-check muzzle metrics (ML/MR) if you want to understand how a can behaves at the source (flash hiders vs. brakes, venting, directionality).
• Remember dB math: ~3 dB ≈ ~2× acoustic energy. Small numeric changes can be meaningful.