A question for the IEM / Sound experts.

[s0c9]

I like the slight bass boost from units like the SE215.

There’s no deliberate bass boost from standard SE215’s. It might be due to the mid cuts?
Or, did you mean the Pro model?

 

[Baker69]

I believe the main objective from a bass player’s point of view is to get a good sound for hearing your own instrument, the object of an IEM mix isn’t to get a CD quality mix of the whole band through them which is what a lot of guys seem to want to achieve?

I concentrate on my bass sound and naturally setting it to be the main or primary sound source, I also mix in a very small amount of bass drum & snare, just enough keyboards, a very small amount of guitar and our 3 vocal mics proportionally balanced. As such it is only part of the main mix and what as a bass player I feel I only need to hear.

With my ZS10 Pro’s they are more than adequate for what I need, with my SE215’s and their single drivers they unfortunately don’t work for me, which is a shame as they are really comfortable, more comfortable than my ZS10 Pro’s.

 

[el murdoque]

I believe the main objective from a bass player’s point of view is to get a good sound for hearing your own instrument, the object of an IEM mix isn’t to get a CD quality mix of the whole band through them which is what a lot of guys seem to want to achieve?

I concentrate on my bass sound and naturally setting it to be the main or primary sound source, I also mix in a very small amount of bass drum & snare, just enough keyboards, a very small amount of guitar and our 3 vocal mics proportionally balanced. As such it is only part of the main mix and what as a bass player I feel I only need to hear.

With my ZS10 Pro’s they are more than adequate for what I need, with my SE215’s and their single drivers they unfortunately don’t work for me, which is a shame as they are really comfortable, more comfortable than my ZS10 Pro’s.

I start with a mix of the entire band, in the way I'd want to listen to it if I was sitting in my comfy chair at home.
Then I slightly raise the drums above that, but only a hair. Then I raise the bass about the same amount, so the result is a full band mix in great quality where the drums and bass stick out, but just a little - in no means overpowering anything.

That's where playing IEM for about 10 years has gotten me.
I started out with bass being +9dB louder than everything else and drums +6dB.
Great, I could hear myself and every nuance of my playing.
Not so great: I was now in my personal bubble.

 

[drpepper]

I believe the main objective from a bass player’s point of view is to get a good sound for hearing your own instrument, the object of an IEM mix isn’t to get a CD quality mix of the whole band through them which is what a lot of guys seem to want to achieve?

I concentrate on my bass sound and naturally setting it to be the main or primary sound source, I also mix in a very small amount of bass drum & snare, just enough keyboards, a very small amount of guitar and our 3 vocal mics proportionally balanced. As such it is only part of the main mix and what as a bass player I feel I only need to hear.

With my ZS10 Pro’s they are more than adequate for what I need, with my SE215’s and their single drivers they unfortunately don’t work for me, which is a shame as they are really comfortable, more comfortable than my ZS10 Pro’s.

I think the main objective is to meet your own preferences, which as you said is what you feel you need to hear...I'm sure I have a bit more bass in my ears than anyone else I'm on stage with but beyond that my mix is to my own preference, which it should be, and I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else that they want the same thing.

I like a generally full and balanced mix that after accounting for bleed-though is something close to what I imagine FOH sounds like (or would if I was mixing)...minus drum mics other than kick and snare or hat. I don't want to hear only my vocals or my vocals over others-I prefer to hear the blend as we're playing.

And I know this is swimming against the current here, but much of the characterization and denigration of the single driver instead of the specific IEM in question (especially when it's without regard to which type of driver) are off the mark. It's a little funny to me that the OP has FA 666, while the top of line Fischer IEM is the single driver FA 500 (made in partnership with Sennheiser). Single dynamic driver IEMs don't have some inherent inferiority or glaring problems-neither do single planar driver IEMs. Drivers of different types have different characteristic strengths and limitations, and designs that use different numbers of drivers (sometimes one) do so in part to maximize those strengthens and work around limitations to acheive an overall design goal.

 

[DaveParker39]

There’s no deliberate bass boost from standard SE215’s. It might be due to the mid cuts?
Or, did you mean the Pro model?

View attachment 7307524

it is likely due to the mid rolloff, but when i say bass boost what i really mean is "i can hear my bass more clearly than other iems"

 

[Baker69]

I think the main objective is to meet your own preferences, which as you said is what you feel you need to hear...I'm sure I have a bit more bass in my ears than anyone else I'm on stage with but beyond that my mix is to my own preference, which it should be, and I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else that they want the same thing.

I like a generally full and balanced mix that after accounting for bleed-though is something close to what I imagine FOH sounds like (or would if I was mixing)...minus drum mics other than kick and snare or hat. I don't want to hear only my vocals or my vocals over others-I prefer to hear the blend as we're playing.

And I know this is swimming against the current here, but much of the characterization and denigration of the single driver instead of the specific IEM in question (especially when it's without regard to which type of driver) are off the mark. It's a little funny to me that the OP has FA 666, while the top of line Fischer IEM is the single driver FA 500 (made in partnership with Sennheiser). Single dynamic driver IEMs don't have some inherent inferiority or glaring problems-neither do single planar driver IEMs. Drivers of different types have different characteristic strengths and limitations, and designs that use different numbers of drivers (sometimes one) do so in part to maximize those strengthens and work around limitations to acheive an overall design goal.

Like I was saying the objective (well mine anyway) is not to get a full FOH mix through IEM’s and if you look at video tutorials on YouTube they say to start with nothing and just to gradually introduce only the instruments/vocals you really need for your IEM mix. I suppose a lot depends on how big a band you’re in.

In my experience having a full FOH mix through your IEM’s can be a bit overbearing and easily becomes too loud if you’re not careful, I’ve done this and quickly got back to those ringing ears!

 

[s0c9]

Like I was saying the objective (well mine anyway) is not to get a full FOH mix through IEM’s and if you look at video tutorials on YouTube they say to start with nothing and just to gradually introduce only the instruments/vocals you really need for your IEM mix. I suppose a lot depends on how big a band you’re in.

In my experience having a full FOH mix through your IEM’s can be a bit overbearing and easily becomes too loud if you’re not careful, I’ve done this and quickly got back to those ringing ears!

^^^^ THIS ^^^^
One should only need to have what you need to do your job in your IEM mix.
Many will disagree, but it reduces ear fatigue and really does minimize clutter in the mix.

 

[TomB]

I use level 1 or 2. I just need IEM to hear my voice and some details in the mix.
For the rest I hear it directly from the stage as if I had earplugs. It bleeds through the IEM.
So it's a mix of both, the good news is I don't need super expensive IEM, I use cheap model.

This is kind of where I’m at, and the KZ ZS10’s are pretty well-suited. I expect ampless / e-drum gigs might drive other choices, but don’t know, haven’t tried.