The weapon, which is non-lethal, is a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) connected to an MP3 player that emits targeted blasts of sound for more than a mile. A full-power beam is "excruciating" at 100 to 200 meters, and effective up to 1,000 meters. It causes permanent deafness within 50 meters. But most don't want to come that close -- in last week's case, the Somali pirates slowed down at 600 meters and stopped at about 400 meters before waving their AK-47s in the air and turning away.