Best in ear monitors OR ear phones

mattsk42 · #1 10-12-2006, 10:32 AM

I'm looking to get a good set of ear phones so I don't ruin my hearing when at practice and gigs.

I thought I might as well just get in ear monitors, since (I assume) they function as ear plugs as well.

I'm looking to spend under 300, and from what I read these are the leading ones.

Any opinions or info I should know?

Specifically, I'd like to know if the UM2 is THAT much better than UM1.

Also, say what kind of setup you have and what kind of band you are. Thanks!

Mark Latimour · #2 10-12-2006, 10:42 AM

It depends what you want it for - if you want to read reviews by people with heads so far up their asses they have forgotten why you listen to music, www.head-fi.org is pretty comprehensive. Personally, I find the earphone reviews at www.ilounge.com far superior, more informative and practical. Then again, I have never felt compelled to argue that an extra inch of cable might reduce treble

mattsk42 · #3 10-12-2006, 10:52 AM

Oh, I should say that. I'm wanting them primarily for band practice and gigs to use as monitors and sound reduction so I don't lose my hearing. Monitoring of my bass, but others possibly too. I'm into anything other than hard metal rock. I don't really listen to music through headphones, so it's just for the band situation. Thanks for the link!

RevGroove · #4 10-13-2006, 12:28 AM

I'm trying out Shure's new E500 in-ears right now...they have triple drivers per side, plus a handy push to talk function...I'm pretty impressed...they sounded better than E5s to my ear...

mattsk42 · #5 10-13-2006, 10:09 AM

Yeah those look nice. I wish I had the money to get them. Anyone know if the WM2'a are really worth that much more? I see they go down to 20 vs 40 hz, so that would be a plus, but do you notice/need it?

mattsk42 · #6 10-15-2006, 10:05 PM

ldiezman · #7 10-17-2006, 09:40 AM

I started out with shure e3s for a few months, but they have no lew end at all in them, for a guitar player its ok, but for bass it didn't cut it... I use the E5s now and I love them. Westone makes great in-ears also... Either way, you need dual drivers

RevGroove · #8 10-18-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsk42

?

What ldiezman said...multiple drivers give better tone, especially in the low end...and yes, you can hear it, and in a good set of ears like the E500s, you can feel it as well.

mattsk42 · #9 10-19-2006, 12:19 PM

OK, so dual drivers are the way to go. Now, would the extra price of the Shure's make them that much better than Westone UM2's?

RevGroove · #10 10-19-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsk42

OK, so dual drivers are the way to go. Now, would the extra price of the Shure's make them that much better than Westone UM2's?

I just heard about M-Audio IE-30s...they have a dual driver as well, and utilize the tech from Ultimate...something to look into...

ldiezman · #11 10-19-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsk42

OK, so dual drivers are the way to go. Now, would the extra price of the Shure's make them that much better than Westone UM2's?

They aren't "better" i don't think. I love the E5s, but I know a lot of cats who use the UM2's. At all shows that I play, everyone is either using Westones or Shure. It just depends. I could go either way, I just happened to go with shure

mikafdn019 · #12 10-22-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsk42

OK, so dual drivers are the way to go. Now, would the extra price of the Shure's make them that much better than Westone UM2's?

Westone is the company who actually designed the e5's before selling the design to Shure. The e5's and UM2's are actually very comparable as they are very similarily designed. I have used both and have found the only benefit of the e5's over the um2's are the way it fits around the ear. Everything else was very close. Westone actually designed the UM2's to be better than their earlier design of the e5's. There really is not much difference between them though. I would definitely reccomend the UM2's over the e5's because of the price.

mattsk42 · #13 10-22-2006, 05:46 PM

OK thanks, that's what I was wondering (and wanting) to hear.

Anyone actually try those M-Audio ones? The specs. look good.

WJGreer · #14 12-07-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikafdn019

I have used both and have found the only benefit of the e5's over the um2's are the way it fits around the ear. Everything else was very close. Westone actually designed the UM2's to be better than their earlier design of the e5's. There really is not much difference between them though. I would definitely reccomend the UM2's over the e5's because of the price.

I just bought some UM2 on the basis of similar recommendations. So far, I love them - I use them primarily with my iPod, and I am noticing things in the music I've never heard before. The isolation with the delivered foamy ear things is pretty good - I hear a big difference on airplanes compared to the Sony in-ear buds I used to use.

I must say that the bass response is not at the level I was expecting, though. I know that the quality of the ear fit is vital for bass response with this kind of product. I've got some custom-fit ear-molds on order, which I am hoping will improve the seal further and give me some tighter boom. Has anyone else had this experience?