What are you using for IEM.

TakePride

TakePride

Mar 29, 2009
45
16
4,551
Minnesota
#1
Hey guys,

I am curious as to what everyone is using for IEMs. I mainly play at church and have the ability to adjust my own mix. Even with the adjustments i struggle to get the bass just right. I own a set of Westone UM Pro 50’s. They seem to be pretty good overall, but i still struggle with isolation. The echo/bounce back from the room is hard to deal with. It is obviously worse when the sound guy has the bass cranked up. I assume that getting a nice molded set would help but I am hesitant to spend that much.
I sure do miss my early years of playing with a big amp next to me. As much as I appreciate IEM you just don’t get the same feel. Any tips or recommendations? How are you guys dealing audio isolation?

Thanks in advance,

Pete
 
#3
TakePride said:
Hey guys,

I am curious as to what everyone is using for IEMs. I mainly play at church and have the ability to adjust my own mix. Even with the adjustments i struggle to get the bass just right. I own a set of Westone UM Pro 50’s. They seem to be pretty good overall, but i still struggle with isolation. The echo/bounce back from the room is hard to deal with. It is obviously worse when the sound guy has the bass cranked up. I assume that getting a nice molded set would help but I am hesitant to spend that much.
Click to expand...
It sounds like you are not getting a proper "seal" with the tips on those buds.. It's always been a problem with universal fit style buds.
In my case - I used to have the same issue where the seal would be lost every time I turned my head or sang. Then, I was talking about it with an audiologist (that happens to do custom IEM impressions for a large local megachurch) during a hearing test. She told me I had small ear canals and universal fit would never provide enough seal. I ended up splurging $500 (back in 2010) on a set of 1964 Qi's (4-driver). Took a little getting used to, but worked well. I could could hear everything a much lower volumes than wedges.
I've since upgraded to their A8's and absolutely recommend custom IEM's when universals don't fit/seal.
 
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#4
Hmm...I've experienced less than ideal isolation, but I can't say I can identify with anything I'd describe as "echo/bounce back" due to it.

Anyway, I used Westone universals for close to 10 years and while custom molds do provide more sound isolation, I found a lot to like about the Westones that was due to aspects of their profile/form factor that are shared across models.

So, while we can't hear what you're hearing, I'd tend to agree with @Sub-Frequency that it'd be a good idea to look at your tips. Maximizing the potential isolation and bass response is dependent on the quality of the seal, and it's certainly possible to use IEMs and not be aware that your seal is lacking (because it's the best that you've experienced). But I'd add that it's not about using a particular tip that's out there because someone or a lot of people recommend it, it's about finding and using the best tip for you. Ears vary in shape, size and contours to the degree that people can have opposite experiences with the same tip.

Foam tips might give you the best seal, or silicone tips (particularly multi-flange) might give you the best seal. It's something of a myth that one or the other is universally or inherently better. It's a matter of experimenting with and comparing different tips and different sizes. You might end up with a big ah ha moment.

In my experience and because of my ears, I found that medium Comply foam tips worked best for me with the Westones. Westones have a narrow nozzle, so foam tips will have more foam material than larger nozzle IEMs (which most are), making it more likely that they will be able conform well to the contours of the ear canal. They also have a relatively small and low profile shell, and for my ears, that meant that they would fit completely inside of my outer ear without being pushed in any direction, which also helps the tips to seat well. I've seen where for other people, multi-flange silicone tips worked better with their ears and Westones.
 
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#5
I recently got some molded sleeves made for my Shure 425s from Sensaphonics. They weren’t terribly expensive, are very comfortable, and allow for easy cleaning. I’m happy with them. Would I rather have fancy 64 Audio molds? Sure. Do I have the $$$? Nope…
 
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#6
I spent part of my career designing In ear earbuds, and the most important thing in how they work is.... a good seal. You don't need molded sleeves to get that, but you may need to try a few different sleeves to find one that seals well for you. I have Shure 425's - they give me what I need to do my job - clear, relatively uncolored audio. I use triple flange sleeves - they keep the things in my ears (which is an issue with other sleeves), and they seal well.
 
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#7
micguy said:
I spent part of my career designing In ear earbuds, and the most important thing in how they work is.... a good seal. You don't need molded sleeves to get that, but you may need to try a few different sleeves to find one that seals well for you. I have Shure 425's - they give me what I need to do my job - clear, relatively uncolored audio. I use triple flange sleeves - they keep the things in my ears (which is an issue with other sleeves), and they seal well.
Click to expand...
To add - everyone has different ear canals, so what works for person A, may (or may not) work for person B.
I recently bought the Linsoul KZ AS16 Pro (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B75J21HZ?th=1) to try out!
Smallest [included] rubber tips were TOO BIG.
I tried the Compy tips (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DY92UA) and the
Spinfit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C98KMVD) and even just the
Comply foamwraps (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B29LQ9YN) wrapped around the barrel.
Basically the exit barrel on each bud was too large for my ear canal. PAINFUL to insert.. never mind wear for more than a few mins.
So.. I will still be using my 64 Audio A8's for the foreseeable future.

BTW - for anyone interested in the "Linsoul KZ AS16 Pro" buds, they DO SOUND REALLY GOOD ~!!
Wish I could use them as backups.. but alas... :(
 
#8
Hey thanks for all the great advice! All excellent replies! Sounds like I will be exploring some new tips. I have been using foam tips as they sealed better than other silicone tips that they came with. I have not tried the triple flange yet.
I will say that in my experience (even with what I think is a good seal) it is hard to deal with the low end rumble coming from the mains. When I actually feel the bass as opposed to what I hear in my ears. That is my main struggle. And it only really becomes an issue when i am playing fast driving bass. I get lost between the tactile and audible. A few years ago I played at a place that had a bass shaker installed underneath that bass players platform. That was probably the best setup i have experienced for IEM’s.
 
#10
I've been using Westone Custom IEMs with 6 drivers per side for the last 7 years. They were expensive but worth it. Recently, the right side started shorting out on me so I bought these KZ IEMs for $99 til I can get mine fixed. They're kind of amazing. 8 drivers per side and good isolation. Not sure I'll go back to the Westones anytime soon.
 
#18
Two things: the earbuds have to seal well. I use some of the cheapest earbuds on the market, Shure SE215's, and I have TONS of low end. Yes there cleaner/better earbuds out there, but these work fine for my purposes. The foam tips and a good seal are the most important factors.

Second: the transmitter/receiver matters. I use a Shure PSM300 system now. Previously I used another system that was much cheaper, and the overall sound, including low end, was terrible. So don't cheap out on that part.
 
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#19
Sensaphonics 3DME Custom Tour Gen2 Enhancement IEM System with quad drivers. I don't play enough to justify the $2,500, but like them because (1) the system comes with EQ controls that allow me to compensate for my high-end hearing loss (2) they sound very good, (3) our church uses live drummers and I want to protect my hearing from further damage with excellent isolation (3) I can add as much or as little ambient sound as I like, or just turn up the external mics so I talk to band members without removing the IEMs. Spendy, but worth it to me.
 
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#20
I use 3DME with custom fit tips. I use the ambient mics to hear the general mix. Sometimes that's it.

Depending on the rest of the sound reinforcement (particularly on loud stages with less coming through wedges) I will daisy chain the 3DME with a MiPro receiver, which is receiving my bass and everyone's vocals (mine the loudest) from the transmitter/my mini-mixer.

It works well for me to hear vocal pitches well, hear my bass well, and keep the db to a reasonable level.
 
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