1964 Ears Owners Group

[overbybr]

P.S. Is it normal to feel a little nauseous? I haven't spend this kind of money on such a small piece of gear... ever.

Yep, it's normal. But at the same time you have tens of thousands of users world-wide (not just 1964 users) who stand by the technology as a good data point to help ease your anxiety. If you've ever used universal IEM's before, a custom seal is a HUGE improvement over a very good IEM experience. You'll be pumped when you give them a spin.

 

[jfh2112]

I'm in.

My church is getting three of us (me, drummer, pianist) IEMs, and the worship leader is getting a new set also. We all got impressions made today, and the WL decided we'd all order from 1964 Ears. Ordered my Quads tonight; the others are still finalizing their designs. I am so terribly excited! We use headphones currently, but our choir can blow through that plastic like it was nothing.

 

[TedH]

Got my 1964's back after only 2 weeks to repair the cracked shells from when they fell on to a stone floor. Look great as I had them replace the translucent white covers with white so that the artwork now really pops.

Should be using them Saturday night for an impromptu gig I was asked to play on as a trio. Small place, so looking to these as hearing protection. Question for you guys- looking to have a line from the board for vocals and me in direct. Do you think the guitar will bleed thru enough without it being mic'd? He's pretty loud usually, but haven't tried this yet. Expect to have a small mic on the snare/hi-hat. Appreciate any experience here.

 

[overbybr]

I would imagine the snare mic will probably pick up enough background noise to catch the guitarist, assuming they don't use a gate with a high threshold.

 

[TedH]

I would imagine the snare mic will probably pick up enough background noise to catch the guitarist, assuming they don't use a gate with a high threshold.

Thanks; part of me was thinking even the ambient sound. I can still hear some noise with the IEMs in and was wondering if the ambient guitar sound would be audible. Will find out at rehearsal tonight I think.

 

[TedH]

So did my first gig with IEMs and it went really well. Knowing what to expect and experiencing it firsthand was of course pretty enlightening. Sound dampening was awesome as it was a small club and a stage the size of a dining room table for all of us and kit. Set up my Yamaha 6-ch, dbx limiter and my wired cable set up with the mesh tubing that mrharrell recommended in another thread. Everything fit on my amp head, took a line from the pa, and given the proximity of the vocal mike and basic sound level, I had sufficient guitar and drum levels even without them having dedicated mic's.

Biggest things I noticed was the slight disconnection from the audience and now hearing every single mistake I make. Wow. I was filling in and had to learn 20 or so songs in 2 weeks, so I was bound to duff a few notes, but it's hard not to let it get to you when it's so clear in your head.

Glad I got them!

 

[nervous]

Biggest things I noticed was the slight disconnection from the audience and now hearing every single mistake I make. Wow. I was filling in and had to learn 20 or so songs in 2 weeks, so I was bound to duff a few notes, but it's hard not to let it get to you when it's so clear in your head.

Very cool to hear they met expectations. And you are so right about the enhanced ability to hear and the audience disconnect. I am also a noob and still getting comfortable with that. Perhaps there are some 1964's in my future as well.

 

[FuturePrimitive]

Impressions accepted! I was a little concerned because the audiologist commented that I have very narrow canals and very little bend at the "second bend". He also had to do the right ear twice which sucked.

(You'll have to forgive these little irrelevant updates, I'm just a wee bit excited about these.)

 

[cchorney]

I got my impressions made today from my audiologist. It wasn't painful in any way but it was "weird". I can deal with weird. Very easy process, in case anyone is holding back on IEMs for that reason.

Now I'm at the choosing stage. I know I want to go 1964 Ears - they are just too popular here at Talkbass and too affordable to not do so. But... I was and remain torn between v3's and Qi's (v6, v8, a10 and a12 are out of my price range). The Quads are reported to be "boomy" for some in the bass range. I want to hear my bass but I'd like it to be accurate not "cab on a hollow stage" muffled.. Any thoughts on that?

Also, I am planning on doing clear shell, clear faceplate, hard tips (apparently the ONLY option now lol), 64" cable, and no logo.

Remaining undecideds:

1. Recessed or not recessed plug?
2. Ambient ports? I've heard you lose most of the bass with any porting, so I'm not sure for a bass player it's worth not being in a bubble if that means I can't hear myself.
3. Silver cable (which will turn green I've heard) or black cable?
4. Should I just buy a spare cable now or is it likely to not be necessary?

 

[Geri O]

I got my impressions made today from my audiologist. It wasn't painful in any way but it was "weird". I can deal with weird. Very easy process, in case anyone is holding back on IEMs for that reason.

Now I'm at the choosing stage. I know I want to go 1964 Ears - they are just too popular here at Talkbass and too affordable to not do so. But... I was and remain torn between v3's and Qi's (v6, v8, a10 and a12 are out of my price range). The Quads are reported to be "boomy" for some in the bass range. I want to hear my bass but I'd like it to be accurate not "cab on a hollow stage" muffled.. Any thoughts on that?

Also, I am planning on doing clear shell, clear faceplate, hard tips (apparently the ONLY option now lol), 64" cable, and no logo.

Remaining undecideds:

1. Recessed or not recessed plug?
2. Ambient ports? I've heard you lose most of the bass with any porting, so I'm not sure for a bass player it's worth not being in a bubble if that means I can't hear myself.
3. Silver cable (which will turn green I've heard) or black cable?
4. Should I just buy a spare cable now or is it likely to not be necessary?

I love the Quads. I really do. No, really, I do, seriously..

I was one of those that commented they were a little bass-heavy for my tastes (and read that again, if necessary). I never, ever said they were too bass-heavy.

On my mixer or my Aviom, I just roll back the bass control a little and the Quads open up very nicely and sound great. I highly recommend them.

I recommend the recessed plug. I think it's a good idea. Others may not.

I don't recommend the ambient ports. Especially for bassists. The seal is important for a good bass tone.

I have a brown cable. And I damaged the original cable and had to wait three days for the new one (and in the process, I discovered just how good the generic-fit Westone UM30s sound). So I ordered two when I replaced the cable. A spare anything is a good idea, if it's practical to keep and carry.

 

[overbybr]

I got my impressions made today from my audiologist. It wasn't painful in any way but it was "weird". I can deal with weird. Very easy process, in case anyone is holding back on IEMs for that reason.

Now I'm at the choosing stage. I know I want to go 1964 Ears - they are just too popular here at Talkbass and too affordable to not do so. But... I was and remain torn between v3's and Qi's (v6, v8, a10 and a12 are out of my price range). The Quads are reported to be "boomy" for some in the bass range. I want to hear my bass but I'd like it to be accurate not "cab on a hollow stage" muffled.. Any thoughts on that?

Also, I am planning on doing clear shell, clear faceplate, hard tips (apparently the ONLY option now lol), 64" cable, and no logo.

Remaining undecideds:

1. Recessed or not recessed plug?
2. Ambient ports? I've heard you lose most of the bass with any porting, so I'm not sure for a bass player it's worth not being in a bubble if that means I can't hear myself.
3. Silver cable (which will turn green I've heard) or black cable?
4. Should I just buy a spare cable now or is it likely to not be necessary?

Quads are not boomy, if anything they're more clear because of the Sub armature. If there is too much bass in your quads, it's probably the EQ you're using on your monitor feed.

Don't get ambient ports

Recessed vs standard doesn't really matter. I have 30+ gigs with no pullouts.

Cable color doesn't matter. The oxidation of the silver cable doesn't hurt the sound.

 

[s0c9]

I love the Quads. I really do. No, really, I do, seriously..
.
.
.
I have a brown cable. And I damaged the original cable and had to wait three days for the new one (and in the process, I discovered just how good the generic-fit Westone UM30s sound). So I ordered two when I replaced the cable. A spare anything is a good idea, if it's practical to keep and carry.

Same here, but I DO get to wondering if the V8's o rJH16's (for example) are "THAT" much better than the quads.. Tough to find any to compare with.. still, I wonder <shrug>

I have backup cables (1964) and ears (Westone UM1's) that I carry to ALL IEM gigs!!
Other than that.. it's winging it with stage sound if all else fails!

 

[nervous]

How much do audiologist molds cost?

 

[cchorney]

In one of my bands, the lead singer is an audiologist. So... I don't know. But I've read $50 - $100. Takes about 15 minutes total.

Also, thank you guys for the opinions. I was discussing where I am in the process with my wife tonight and she said "Don't buy a lower end model if it's not going to do the job right. I'd rather see you spend $700 and get what works best for you than see you spend $500 and end up having them sit in a drawer because you don't like them." I love that woman.

 

[cchorney]

I'm pretty sure a court of law would rule that comment as a green light for a pair of V6-Stage!

 

[TedH]

I got my impressions made today from my audiologist. It wasn't painful in any way but it was "weird". I can deal with weird. Very easy process, in case anyone is holding back on IEMs for that reason.

Now I'm at the choosing stage. I know I want to go 1964 Ears - they are just too popular here at Talkbass and too affordable to not do so. But... I was and remain torn between v3's and Qi's (v6, v8, a10 and a12 are out of my price range). The Quads are reported to be "boomy" for some in the bass range. I want to hear my bass but I'd like it to be accurate not "cab on a hollow stage" muffled.. Any thoughts on that?

Also, I am planning on doing clear shell, clear faceplate, hard tips (apparently the ONLY option now lol), 64" cable, and no logo.

Remaining undecideds:

1. Recessed or not recessed plug?
2. Ambient ports? I've heard you lose most of the bass with any porting, so I'm not sure for a bass player it's worth not being in a bubble if that means I can't hear myself.
3. Silver cable (which will turn green I've heard) or black cable?
4. Should I just buy a spare cable now or is it likely to not be necessary?

If I ever get another pair, they will be full clear.

No ambient ports.

I have silver, with low use, and have no issue with it. I simply like the color and I don't like having the wire underneath my shirt, so any color will contrast unless I always wear a black shirt and get a black cable. No big deal when you get down to it. Get I spare (I should too).

Did a gig Sat with them and I played a few things for sound check and adjusted levels for the vocals and the bass to sound the way I wanted them to on my Yamaha 6ch mixer. I listen to music with them and do not find them too bass heavy, but this is always a personal feeling. Just use your mixer controls to balance the way you sound to the room. I thoroughly enjoyed having them and I didn't even have the drums or guitar mic'd up; just vocals and a DI from my TC BH head to the mixer. Low volume, small stage and I got the drums and guitar through ambient sound and the vox mic. Great stuff.

 

[cchorney]

If I ever get another pair, they will be full clear.

No ambient ports.

I have silver, with low use, and have no issue with it. I simply like the color and I don't like having the wire underneath my shirt, so any color will contrast unless I always wear a black shirt and get a black cable. No big deal when you get down to it. Get I spare (I should too).

Did a gig Sat with them and I played a few things for sound check and adjusted levels for the vocals and the bass to sound the way I wanted them to on my Yamaha 6ch mixer. I listen to music with them and do not find them too bass heavy, but this is always a personal feeling. Just use your mixer controls to balance the way you sound to the room. I thoroughly enjoyed having them and I didn't even have the drums or guitar mic'd up; just vocals and a DI from my TC BH head to the mixer. Low volume, small stage and I got the drums and guitar through ambient sound and the vox mic. Great stuff.

Ted thanks for the info. Which model do you have?

 

[TedH]

Ted thanks for the info. Which model do you have?

Quads! Went with the 1964 suggestion for bass and the reviews here.

The number of people, including Geri (!), who recommended them as good for bass, and with a bottom end that wasn't "manufactured" like some bass-enhanced earbuds sent me in that directions. Looking at the comparison charts on 1964's site, I didn't see enough benefit to the V6s, so I decided to save the extra $100 or so. The V's I find very interesting from a scientific perspective of mitigating actual pressure, and although I could swing them, I kept the cash given I'm just re-entering music, so I've spent a few bucks on basses, amp, etc. I'm not regretting it, especially after hearing so well with the volume so low. The Yamaha mixer I use really gets me the rest of the way home. I would still play around with it a little more, but basically I rolled off some bass, tipped the high up to about 2 o'clock, and to me, everything sound about normal. I'm sure there is room for optimization, but I had no real complaints. My dbx 166 limiter did it's job in spades (had a mic feedback, dropped and had a guitar head "kick" one; no boost, but damn if the 166 didn't light up like Studio 54!).

 

[FuturePrimitive]

How much do audiologist molds cost?

Mine were $25. The audiologist was a musician as well (unbeknownst to me) and does a lot of IEM molds and has done many for 1964 Ears. He did say 1964 was pickier about molds than any other company he's worked with. I just picked from the 3 audiologists listed in my area on the 1964Ears site.

 

[Geri O]

Mine were $25. The audiologist was a musician as well (unbeknownst to me) and does a lot of IEM molds and has done many for 1964 Ears. He did say 1964 was pickier about molds than any other company he's worked with. I just picked from the 3 audiologists listed in my area on the 1964Ears site.

HA!

My audiologist mentioned that they seemed rather picky about the molds. We redid my left ear once and my right ear twice.

Mine felt perfect, unless I grinned really big, then the right ear would lose its seal. 1964 told that this was not unheard of and they could try to re-mold them accordingly. But I would have to send them in and be without them for 2-3 weeks, which I was just not willing to do. So they recommended that I try the Comply Comfort Strips to help keep the seal. The comfort strips did the trick! If I grin and lose the seal, it re-seals when I lose the grin and go back to the gargoyle-look that I usually have on my face.

(with apologies to gargoyles everywhere. Nothing but love for ya....)