IEMs on a budget

[iTzPrime]

I have used Kz zs10 and they were great and Behringer PM1 worked decently too.
Wireless and cheap are sadly not compatible at all.

 

[PiquetBass]

I have four of the Xvive wireless IEM systems that I use with two different bands. While there are drawbacks and some shortcomings, they have not failed us at any of the gigs or rehearsals where I've used them in the 18 months I've had them. They did not play well with my G30 guitar system, but I've sold that as it was often susceptible to interference irrespective of the monitor system. They're only mono, but then I only have six aux outputs on my mixer and need to feed four people in each band. They're only rechargeable, but then the batteries have lasted 5+ hours without hiccup. If I paid my mortgage by playing live music, I'd have something else, but I don't, so I don't.

My band uses XVive transmitter / receivers as well. We've had no issues in 2 years of rehearsals and gigs.

 

[RattleSnack]

Another vote for going wired IEM, unless you really need wireless and have budget.
One XLR cable, Behringer PM2 and KZ ZS10 ProX is all you need for about $100.

 

[s0c9]

Another vote for going wired IEM, unless you really need wireless and have budget.
One XLR cable, Behringer PM2 and KZ ZS10 ProX is all you need for about $100.

As a major IEM proponent, this is definitely the most cost effective route to take.
I would add that the buds are the most important part.. get the best you can afford.
And.. if you buy universal fit buds, make sure they seal.. or NO BASS!!
You MAY find that the included tips don’t work for you, so be prepared to add a small expense to acquire Comply tips (or other brand).
SEAL is key.. the rest of what you use for IEM’s is worthless if your buds don’t seal properly!

 

[DJ Bebop]

As a major IEM proponent, this is definitely the most cost effective route to take.
I would add the the buds are the most important part.. get the best you can afford.
And.. if you buy universal fit buds, make sure they seal.. or NO BASS!!
You MAY find that the included tips don’t work for you, so be prepared to add a small expense to acquire Comply tips (or other brand).
SEAL is key.. the rest of what you use for IEM’s is worthless if your buds don’t seal properly!

I've bought two different pairs of KZs.
I am fortunate that the mediums that are on them out of the box fit me perfectly

 

[Al1885]

The good news is off the 2 IEMs and the System, you can focus and allocate funds more on the System than IEMs. Xvives monitor is pretty decent. I’ve not had any bad luck with it. Just have to make sure that you sound check at the venue and charge it up.

You can go with the “Fun” tuning IEMs and they are more affordable than the premium ones. So many to list, I like HBB collabs. $40-75 will get you quality Gig ready IEMs. Highend IEMs are more focus on balance and more trebles which is great for listening but not for stage use. You need to hear yours in the mix the rest let everyone else worry about their mix.

 

[RattleSnack]

I've bought two different pairs of KZs.
I am fortunate that the mediums that are on them out of the box fit me perfectly

Same here!
I did order also foam tips, but ordinary rubber ones that came with KZ fit great, last longer and are easier to clean.

 

[s0c9]

I've bought two different pairs of KZs.
I am fortunate that the mediums that are on them out of the box fit me perfectly

That's great. I bought a set of KZ AS16 Pro's a while back.. to try out!
AWESOME, LOVE the sound.. easily equals that of my 64Audio A8's at about 1/18th the cost... but..
I also bought - to try out:
Comply T500 tips - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DY92UA
Comply Foam wraps - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B29LQ9YN
SpinFit CP145 tips - Amazon.com
Radians Custom Molds - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006GWRJK

NONE if them worked for me.. I have SMALL ear canals and none of the SMALLEST above 3rd party tips - or even the wraps around the exit barrel - will fit in my ear. The spinfit "small"s came the closest, but still pop the seal if I move my jaw/head.
Even the barrel of the Pro16 is almost too large to fit.. I can squeeze it in there, but there's no seal and it's quite painful.

While my A8's are absolutely awesome, I'm somewhat envious of those able to use universal fit buds - as I'm limited to impressions and custom IEM's ... for ever!!

 

[drpepper]

Same here!
I did order also foam tips, but ordinary rubber ones that came with KZ fit great, last longer and are easier to clean.

It's an individual matter. Silicone tips work just as well or better than foam on given IEMs for some people. I think is unfortunate that this gets lost in the way certain things get hyped in and by forum discussions and that myths even get created.

The performance of IEM tips is primarily dependent on how well they seal. How well they seal for you is dependent on their ability to to conform to the contours of your ears (not someone else's ear). I found a comparison study and, surprising even to the people conducting it because they were subject to the same myths as all of us, they found that between silicone and foam and given an equal seal quality, silicone had a slight but measurable advantage in overall sound isolation.

If you find that they work equally well for you, it's not because something is wrong...consider yourself lucky. You can chose between other aspects, like relative comfort and ease of use, how long they last and which you find easier to clean while not actually being stuck with only one option working for you.

When using universals, I've found that I prefer foam tips on some and silicone tips on others. It seems that for me, it has partly to do with the nozzle size where with small nozzle diameters (like Westone and Shure), foam tips work better for me and with some larger diameter nozzles, like the seeming majority of chi-fi models, silcone tips tend to be preferable but not always.

 

[DJ Bebop]

That's great. I bought a set of KZ AS16 Pro's a while back.. to try out!
AWESOME, LOVE the sound.. easily equals that of my 64Audio A8's at about 1/18th the cost... but..
I also bought - to try out:
Comply T500 tips - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DY92UA
Comply Foam wraps - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B29LQ9YN
SpinFit CP145 tips - Amazon.com
Radians Custom Molds - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006GWRJK

NONE if them worked for me.. I have SMALL ear canals and none of the SMALLEST above 3rd party tips - or even the wraps around the exit barrel - will fit in my ear. The spinfit "small"s came the closest, but still pop the seal if I move my jaw/head.
Even the barrel of the Pro16 is almost too large to fit.. I can squeeze it in there, but there's no seal and it's quite painful.

While my A8's are absolutely awesome, I'm somewhat envious of those able to use universal fit buds - as I'm limited to impressions and custom IEM's ... for ever!!

I had ordered a set of Comply tips with my first set but never used them because of the fit out if the box with the IEs.