IEMs on a budget

C

c151

Jul 30, 2024
1
0
31
#1
Hey,
Looking to get our first sets of in ears as a band but we're on a tight budget.
Our drummer currently uses a wired powerplay in ear but we (bassist, guitarist and singer) all need wireless solutions.
Obviously on a budget we're most worried about the monitors cutting out but does anybody have any solutions about how we could use a cheap set up for people who are brand new to these systems and completely green on how they work?
 
#2
Honestly, there is not really any way to go cheap on IEM's and have it work out well.

At bare minimum you are going to need multiple IEM Transmitters and Receivers and a way to tie everything together so that you or someone else can mix them. Even if you use the cheapest IEM units with stock buds and a cheap solution for mixing, you're still going to be spending a decent chunk of change. The system will be frustrating and unreliable and you will NOT have a good experience. I hate to say that, but it's the truth.

Most bands that are on IEM systems are making enough money to warrant using them. The process of switching the band to using IEM's doesn't have to be painful but, it WILL be a major adjustment with a learning curve. Many people make the mistake of trying to get into IEM's and go cheap or don't do it the right way and as a result they have a miserable experience and then give up on the idea forever while wasting whatever money they did invest.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex, dbsfgyd1, Motown971 and 6 others
#3
How many AUX out lines do you have from your mixer? If you have as many monitor feeds as band members, everyone can have their own. If less, then some people will need to share a mix.

You'll need a transmitter for each monitor out and a receiver for each band member. If everyone has their own mix, that would mean getting a transmitter/receiver set for each. If less, then there are sets out there where you can get one transmitter with multiple receivers.

The cheaper route is stuff like the XVive U4, which operates on the same frequency as cell phones. Here's a multiple-receiver pack. They're a little more prone to interference as a result, but usually are fine. More pro would be systems from Shure, Sennheiser, companies like that.

The last component are earbuds for each player. Technically you can use any cheap earbuds you like, but for monitoring purposes people usually like to get something better articulated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crapusername, JC Nelson, StyleOverShow and 3 others
#6
c151 said:
Hey,
Looking to get our first sets of in ears as a band but we're on a tight budget.
Our drummer currently uses a wired powerplay in ear but we (bassist, guitarist and singer) all need wireless solutions.
Obviously on a budget we're most worried about the monitors cutting out but does anybody have any solutions about how we could use a cheap set up for people who are brand new to these systems and completely green on how they work?
Click to expand...
The last group I was with used XVive transmitters/receivers, Shure in ears and the Behringer X18 digital mixer. It has 6 sends which will give you 6 unique mono monitor mixes. The XVive works in the 2.4 wireless range and there are plenty of reports of interference issues with them but we never had any issues. That was the cheapest option we found and its still 300-400 for each Xvive and Shure setup plus the mixer if you need that
 
  • Like
Reactions: embellisher, Jeff Hughes and hrodbert696
#8
BaltBass5 said:
Many people make the mistake of trying to get into IEM's and go cheap or don't do it the right way and as a result they have a miserable experience and then give up on the idea forever while wasting whatever money they did invest.
Click to expand...
After which they blame the equipment and claim IEM's "suck"....
 
  • Like
Reactions: crapusername, KenSmithFan, EdO. and 4 others
#9
s0c9 said:
After which they blame the equipment and claim IEM's "suck"....
Click to expand...

We don’t have a truly expensive set of knives at home, but I still find it hilarious when my wife mangles chicken breasts every time she uses the cheap knives to cut it, and then yells asking where I keep buying the chicken from as if it’s ALWAYS the chicken being the problem :roflmao:
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: embellisher, MrVentures, DonaldR and 4 others
#10
In reality.. most “cheap” IEM’s (in the US) run in the 2.4G band which is INCREDIBLY CROWDED!!
If you can find something in the 5.8G or 900Mhz band, you’ll get less interference, dropouts and other artifacts.
The other choices are Senn, Shure and Mipro which run in the 400-608Mhz band, but will cost you more.
Buy once, cry once is a great moto.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FatBoutedGirls, KenSmithFan, bigtone23 and 4 others
#11
c151 said:
Hey,
Looking to get our first sets of in ears as a band but we're on a tight budget.
Our drummer currently uses a wired powerplay in ear but we (bassist, guitarist and singer) all need wireless solutions.
Obviously on a budget we're most worried about the monitors cutting out but does anybody have any solutions about how we could use a cheap set up for people who are brand new to these systems and completely green on how they work?
Click to expand...

If you have to be budget conscious, I'd really consider going wired.
You can get a dual cable that carries both your bass signal and an IEM signal (Ernie Ball makes them for sure: I've got one). It just requires a little thinking about how to connect things. I used to have a tiny little mixer on my pedal board, where I plug in a monitor mix and an output from a Zoom B6, and sometimes an external microphone for ambience. It's cheap and it works.
If you go wireless, budget tends to be disappointing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DonaldR, BrentD, s0c9 and 3 others
#12
I don't have experience with buying the packs or transmitter or anything, but I can say that the shure se215 IEMs are remarkably good considering how cheap they are, I have a nicer set of custom molded IEMs that I use day in day out and while they are nicer the shures are perfectly serviceable.
 
#13
I've used KZ AS10 IEM's for a good while; and I think they're incredibly balanced and at $60 a great bargain set of IEM's. Others have mentioned the dual cable where your instrument and IEM line are tethered together; I just ordered two of those from Caulfield cables and I know it's going to make for an incredibly comfortable wired approach to playing live. That's the cheapest way to do it, and it's as consistent as it gets
 
  • Like
Reactions: embellisher and One Way
#14

IEMs on a budget​


IMG_5178.png


IMG_5177.jpeg


You’re welcome 👍

😊
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: crapusername, EASonBass, pocket_groover and 7 others
#15
  • Like
Reactions: RattleSnack, BrentD, MultiScaleMale and 2 others
#16
As mentioned, your mixer's number of AUX channels will determine how many discrete monitor mixes are available.

You can get by with inexpensive IEMs if you need (KZ line, for example) but getting a good seal in your ears is paramount. I find using the Comply (or equivalent) memory foam tips gets me there better than silicone.

With one of my bands, I'm currently using the UHF wireless system below with no problems so far. It has the ability to run in stereo, or you can run two mono mixes off the transmitter and get an extra belt pack to have two discrete mixes (one pack panned hard right, the other hard left). They also sell 4-channel sets if you don't want to "a la carte" everything for a band.


phenyxpro.com

PTM-10-1B | UHF Stereo Wireless In-Ear Monitor System

Provides an immersive stereo sound monitoring experience with versatile functions. Empowers you to enhance the sound and hear the difference.
phenyxpro.com phenyxpro.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop, bobbybass85 and s0c9
#17
skyline_01 said:
As mentioned, your mixer's number of AUX channels will determine how many discrete monitor mixes are available.

You can get by with inexpensive IEMs if you need (KZ line, for example) but getting a good seal in your ears is paramount. I find using the Comply (or equivalent) memory foam tips gets me there better than silicone.

With one of my bands, I'm currently using the UHF wireless system below with no problems so far. It has the ability to run in stereo, or you can run two mono mixes off the transmitter and get an extra belt pack to have two discrete mixes (one pack panned hard right, the other hard left). They also sell 4-channel sets if you don't want to "a la carte" everything for a band.


phenyxpro.com

PTM-10-1B | UHF Stereo Wireless In-Ear Monitor System

Provides an immersive stereo sound monitoring experience with versatile functions. Empowers you to enhance the sound and hear the difference.
phenyxpro.com phenyxpro.com
Click to expand...
That unit is in the 900Mhz band - which is one of the frequency bands I suggested :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: skyline_01 and DJ Bebop
#18
Check out Pheynx Pro. I have their PTM 10 unit and have been very happy with it. About $230 for a single unit, but you could do a 3 receiver unit if you're all cool sharing 1 stereo or 2 mono mixes for under $400. The performance has been solid, there is a little white noise with them, but I have had no dropout issues, which at this price is all you can ask for. They are plastic and need to be taken care of, but again... for the money...

I am fortunate, I get to play everything from this cheap unit for local shows up to multi-thousand dollar units on the road, the difference is real but the cost is the biggest factor

I would definitely upgrade the earbuds too. $50 KZs off amazon will do you great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop, erratick and skyline_01
#19
Yeah...... I really believe this is one of those where if you go "budget" (read: cheap) to start with, you'll just end up ultimately spending more money.
I got an Xvive, then a Phenyx, and now I have a Sennheiser G4.
For ears I got a KZ, then Westones, and now I have custom molded Alclairs that are AMAZING.

Stretch the budget as far as you can to get the best quality stuff you possibly can, IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KenSmithFan, BaltBass5, erayser and 1 other person
#20
bobbybass85 said:
Check out Pheynx Pro. I have their PTM 10 unit and have been very happy with it. About $230 for a single unit, but you could do a 3 receiver unit if you're all cool sharing 1 stereo or 2 mono mixes for under $400. The performance has been solid, there is a little white noise with them, but I have had no dropout issues, which at this price is all you can ask for. They are plastic and need to be taken care of, but again... for the money...

I am fortunate, I get to play everything from this cheap unit for local shows up to multi-thousand dollar units on the road, the difference is real but the cost is the biggest factor

I would definitely upgrade the earbuds too. $50 KZs off amazon will do you great.
Click to expand...

I just posted about the very same unit. 👍

It's been great for me so far, and I'm going to suggest to my bandmates (who are currently new to IEM and using rechargeable cheapie units) that we invest in another set when we are financially able.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobbybass85
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back