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best universal IEM

B

bass_extremes

Jul 9, 2005
242
1
#1
Hey, at my church we recently started using IEM and I want to upgrade my headphones. I think that custom moulded headphones are out of my range but want to know what are the best universal fits. I'm looking to spend around 400 dollars. I've heard good thing about the westone ears but want to know about some others. is there a standard IEM that everyone is using.
 
#2
I've used Westone UM2 for about that price, and they were pretty nice, but you can do really good for $400.
You can get custom dual drivers from 1964 Ears (Invalid Link Removed) Search the internet, and head-fi.org, 1964 are getting rave reviews, I'm hoping to get some of their quads soon.

Edit to add:
When using IEMs, I think the fit is the single most important part of the equation. Everything else is secondary, so it's worth dropping the money on some lower level customs rather than high end universal fit montors.


-RTK
 
#3
Future Sonics Aterio are one of the very best universal in-ears for bass. You can now find them for $160. To get the best bass response use the foam tips! Also, pan the guitars left and right and bass in the middle. Also, pan keyboard on one side acoustic guitar on the other, etc. However; if you want the very, very best sound, use the Igrado (small band around the back on the head type) headphones for about $62. However; you may not like the look. I sharpied black the silver ends. Turn the drums to zero as they are open air design and mix the rest as stated above. Since they are so clear, and have a large soundstage, I can really get into the music w/out having extremely expensive $1,000 IEM's like the touring big act pros.
 
#6
I know you said you want to hear about other earphones but you are going to have trouble finding anything better than the Westone UM3X at $400. Added benefit is they're US made in Colorado Springs and also have a great warranty and customer service. I use mine for stage, recording, work, etc and they have been fantastic.
 
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#8
Eric Moesle said:
By far, the Westone UM3x. They smoke everything else mentioned above. Triple driver, premium components. I personally prefer the long Comply memory foam tips both for comfort and best seal for bass response.
Click to expand...

I have these and they're amazing! The only thing I would say is for a little more you can have a triple driver custom mold IEM from 1964ears. If my Westone's die on me, I'm going straight for the 1964 Triples
,
 
#9
You can get 15% off today at earphonesolutions.com with this coupon code;

"Just enter coupon code: MEM15 at checkout and take 15% off Audeo, Etymotic, Westone, Jays, Denon, X-1, H2O. (Cannot be combined with other promotions or coupons.)"

I have been doing business with this company for years now and they are great. I have no affiliation with them, they have just treated me well, and you can't beat it when they have sales like this!
 
#10
I am on my second pair of custom IEM. My first pair was Sensophonics and now I use Ultimate ears.(which I like better) As a back-up I have a set of Westone UM2. I like those better than the other non custom molds I have tried. IMO, I would try to get custom IEM. You will not regret it in the long run.
 
#11
Memorial day sale at 1964ears.com today. I believe it's $75 off the triples, which I think brings them below $400. Put in the order today and they'll save your spot at the sale price, then mail your molds when you can.

(I'm not affiliated with 1964 in any way)

I do, however, have a set of UE Triple-Fi 10s that are currently at 1964 awaiting a reshell as soon as I get my ear molds made later this week. That said, if you don't want to, or can't do customs, I love my Triple-Fi 10s. They sound great and are well below your price point. Also, I've heard great things about the UE900s, which replaced the Triple.Fi's. Never used them, but a quad driver UE Universal for ~$400 can't be too bad.
 
#13
overbybr said:
Ditto on Westone. You could also try Shure SE215
Click to expand...

I have a pair of the SE215s and am having some trouble getting good bass. I play an active Spector 4 string and get a lot of buzz. Not just on the low E but also on the 7th fret A. I don't know if I'm clipping or the drivers won't go that low even they are spec'd down to 20 Hz. My seal is tight enough not to fall out, but I can hear ambient sound, such as a hand clap.
Don't know if I need a better seal, or if a dual driver iem would handle more input before clipping, or go low enough to hold the open E.
Any suggestions?
):
DL
 
#14
DLESSING said:
I have a pair of the SE215s and am having some trouble getting good bass. I play an active Spector 4 string and get a lot of buzz. Not just on the low E but also on the 7th fret A. I don't know if I'm clipping or the drivers won't go that low even they are spec'd down to 20 Hz. My seal is tight enough not to fall out, but I can hear ambient sound, such as a hand clap.
Don't know if I need a better seal, or if a dual driver iem would handle more input before clipping, or go low enough to hold the open E.
Any suggestions?
):
DL
Click to expand...

Is the buzz due to your bass (e.g. Fret buzz) or is it only present when you monitor your bass via the headphones?

If your bass is buzz-free, my next question would be aimed at how you are monitoring your bass? You might be overdriving the input into your headphone amp, and it might not be the buds at all. Also, if you are using a low quality device, it might not be able to reproduce the lower frequencies as well as your buds...garbage in, garbage out.

As for the hand clap, no seal is perfect. I have 1964 quads and I can hear a hand clap with them as well but only when there's no audio coming through my monitors. When they're producing sound a truck could drive behind me and I wouldn't hear it. I used the professional series Comply foam tips with my old Westones and they were great.
 
#15
DLESSING said:
I have a pair of the SE215s and am having some trouble getting good bass. I play an active Spector 4 string and get a lot of buzz. Not just on the low E but also on the 7th fret A. I don't know if I'm clipping or the drivers won't go that low even they are spec'd down to 20 Hz. My seal is tight enough not to fall out, but I can hear ambient sound, such as a hand clap.
Don't know if I need a better seal, or if a dual driver iem would handle more input before clipping, or go low enough to hold the open E.
Any suggestions?
):
DL
Click to expand...
Classic symptoms of an imperfect seal. Speaking only for myself, the seal has to be far more than just enough for the bud not to fall out -- it has to be good enough so that a hand clap is inaudible. Sounds like you're using the wrong tips, or not seating them deep enough, or not putting them in your ear correctly. With music playing through the buds, push and rotate them, try to find a deeper spot in the canal where bass content suddenly shows up. That's where the tips need to be located. A too-small tip will never seal no matter how deep; a too-large tip will seal but will dislodge with a quick turn of your head or a change of facial expression (like a smile). I spent a LONG time choosing which tips would a) seal and b) stay sealed.

Though the buzz could be driver overloading due to compensating for a bad seal with more volume and/or more bass, it could also be a gain stage problem up the chain. I've seen the latter problem where the summed feed to the belt pack is too hot, so the belt pack overloads and starts distorting, especially down in the bass region. We generally run the packs wide open and cut back on the gain up at the transmitter or the signal feeding the transmitter.
 
#16
craig.p said:
Classic symptoms of an imperfect seal. Speaking only for myself, the seal has to be far more than just enough for the bud not to fall out -- it has to be good enough so that a hand clap is inaudible. Sounds like you're using the wrong tips, or not seating them deep enough, or not putting them in your ear correctly. With music playing through the buds, push and rotate them, try to find a deeper spot in the canal where bass content suddenly shows up. That's where the tips need to be located. A too-small tip will never seal no matter how deep; a too-large tip will seal but will dislodge with a quick turn of your head or a change of facial expression (like a smile). I spent a LONG time choosing which tips would a) seal and b) stay sealed.

Though the buzz could be driver overloading due to compensating for a bad seal with more volume and/or more bass, it could also be a gain stage problem up the chain. I've seen the latter problem where the summed feed to the belt pack is too hot, so the belt pack overloads and starts distorting, especially down in the bass region. We generally run the packs wide open and cut back on the gain up at the transmitter or the signal feeding the transmitter.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the good advice. What tips do you recommend?
):
DL
 
#17
Oooh, man, that's a tough question because everyone's ears are different. In fact, even on the same person the left ear may need a different tip than the right because there can be that much variation. My Westones (UM Pro 20) came with an assortment of silicone and memory foam tips. 5 different sized pairs of each type if I remember correctly. The silicones are a new design for Westone and they do work well. They seem to seal well but they don't leave your ear canal feeling like there's a massive wad of crap jammed into it like the memory foams do -- though I think the memory foams do seal better.
 
#18
craig.p said:
it has to be good enough so that a hand clap is inaudible.
Click to expand...

Not true. The seal has to be good enough to reduce ambient noise to the point that you don't overdrive the monitor to compensate. The point of an IEM is to let you hear just what you want, and they do this effectively by reducing ambient sound. Another way to think of it is signal to noise ratio. The critical aspect is the seal, essentially reducing the noise so the signal (monitor feed) is heard better. You'll never have a seal that will prevent you from hearing any ambient noise (I have -33dB earmuffs for shooting, and I can still hear a hand clap through those). This is only part of the problem the OP is having, though trying different tips is a definite must. I'm a fan of the Comply foam tip family, they are excellent for ambient noise reduction.

The distortion aspect may be the buds, I would evaluate all parts of the signal chain until you can isolate the noise.
 
#19
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#20
Agreed on the Westone triple drivers I have them and short of dropping the $$ on custom molds it's the best you can get. IEM's are one thing that it's worth it to spend a few dollars on. My old drummer would get earbuds for $5 from Big Lots and go you're wasting your money there's no difference. I'm like right ok that's why all the top pros use cheap earbuds and never spend $1200 and up for custom molds. Oh wait lol
 

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