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What IEM's are you currently using?
- Thread starter JJP_1984_LB50
- Start date
64 Audio A3E about $750. I like them a lot. Bass response is great. Actually these IEM's kinda show the compromises of having an amp on stage. My bass has never sounded better to me. Unfortunately in my current playing emvironment I'm back to an amp 5 out of 10 gigs. I'd go full on IEM in a second if I could.
s0c9
Supporting Member
None of the 6 different bands I’ve worked/subbed with over the last 2 years uses on stage amps or wedges.. oh wait.. one guitar player in one band still does. But that band still has it’s own onstage mixer to run the IEM’s for the rest of the band with a split to the House.
My tribute band played an early afternoon FESTIVAL gig yesterday - 4 hr drive from home with hotel provided the night before - where the SR provider had pre-wired for wedges. We bring our own IEM mixer which feeds the tracks, cues and click track to our IEM mix and splits to the House. Sound check was pretty quick after the standard line/level/EQ check - 2 songs - mostly for the bands benefit. We then had an hour to kill before going on.
The plus side of an onstage IEM mixer is the consistent IEM mix gig-to-gig. The down side is adjusting gain levels for the folks who play in other bands.
The onstage IEM mixer is pretty common in my neck of the woods, with many going ampless!
I haven’t used an amp onstage in years!
YMMV
I have used KZ Z10. KZ Castor pro and other KZ that I don't remember.
I have been using Sennheiser IE100 and IE400 for the last couple of years.
I just bought Shure 535.
The KZ Z10 sound good. Really good but I find them a little bit weak and to me, they are not very comfortable. The other KZ I have are ok.
The Sennheisers sound really really good. I find them more musically than any other IEM I ever had. However, I sometimes lose my bass in a gig in certain parts. I know it is there, but I cannot hear it clearly. They are my favourite to listen to music.
The Shure 535 are very clear. If they do not seal properly, they sound awful. Too much mids. However, When sealed properly, you can hear everything. Not as musically pleasent as the Sennheisers, but with more clarity (more mids).
However, I fell in the rabbit hole and I am still looking for better ones. Fischer FA666 and UE 350 have me intrigued...
I have been using Sennheiser IE100 and IE400 for the last couple of years.
I just bought Shure 535.
The KZ Z10 sound good. Really good but I find them a little bit weak and to me, they are not very comfortable. The other KZ I have are ok.
The Sennheisers sound really really good. I find them more musically than any other IEM I ever had. However, I sometimes lose my bass in a gig in certain parts. I know it is there, but I cannot hear it clearly. They are my favourite to listen to music.
The Shure 535 are very clear. If they do not seal properly, they sound awful. Too much mids. However, When sealed properly, you can hear everything. Not as musically pleasent as the Sennheisers, but with more clarity (more mids).
However, I fell in the rabbit hole and I am still looking for better ones. Fischer FA666 and UE 350 have me intrigued...
Alclair all the way.
I own a pair of Dual XB Dual Driver since 2019 with hundreds of gigs on them, and a pair of CMVK Five Driver that I've been using for the last couple years, and a pair of custom ear plugs.
Overall the best thing about Alclair is the customer service. My Dual XB's were my first pair of IEM's, and didn't quite fit perfectly after about 9 mos (it could have been the way my molds were taken, or I had lost a lot of weight during the same period). I hesitantly called customer support, and they were AWESOME! After a phone conversation with a real person, he recommended that I send my buds in. They remolded my IEM's and the adjustments were perfect! Plus during QC, they found a fault in one of my drivers, and rebuilt the entire IEM; all for not cost! Years, later, getting my CMVK's was super simple; they had already digitized my molds (with the adjustments), and just sent them to me.
Overall, the difference between the Dual XB and the CMVK are exactly as how the website description is written. No joke. The Dual XB's are great and clear. I could have gone on forever using these as my main IEM's. A few years ago, I decided to upgrade my stage IEM's with the CMVK's, and wow! The clarity and frequency separation was immediately clear. The bass frequencies were much more pronounced and clear. The difference was so great that it allowed me to turn down my IEM's even further on stage.
The custom ear plugs are also terrific. They cut out just enough db's so that you can still hear everything, and not feel like you're in a tube. I use these during rehearsals, and when I attend live events and concerts. Unlike a lot of cheap ear plugs, they don't change the pitch of the music.
Just my two cents for what it's worth...
PCR
I own a pair of Dual XB Dual Driver since 2019 with hundreds of gigs on them, and a pair of CMVK Five Driver that I've been using for the last couple years, and a pair of custom ear plugs.
Overall the best thing about Alclair is the customer service. My Dual XB's were my first pair of IEM's, and didn't quite fit perfectly after about 9 mos (it could have been the way my molds were taken, or I had lost a lot of weight during the same period). I hesitantly called customer support, and they were AWESOME! After a phone conversation with a real person, he recommended that I send my buds in. They remolded my IEM's and the adjustments were perfect! Plus during QC, they found a fault in one of my drivers, and rebuilt the entire IEM; all for not cost! Years, later, getting my CMVK's was super simple; they had already digitized my molds (with the adjustments), and just sent them to me.
Overall, the difference between the Dual XB and the CMVK are exactly as how the website description is written. No joke. The Dual XB's are great and clear. I could have gone on forever using these as my main IEM's. A few years ago, I decided to upgrade my stage IEM's with the CMVK's, and wow! The clarity and frequency separation was immediately clear. The bass frequencies were much more pronounced and clear. The difference was so great that it allowed me to turn down my IEM's even further on stage.
The custom ear plugs are also terrific. They cut out just enough db's so that you can still hear everything, and not feel like you're in a tube. I use these during rehearsals, and when I attend live events and concerts. Unlike a lot of cheap ear plugs, they don't change the pitch of the music.
Just my two cents for what it's worth...
PCR
Say, did you ever end up trying these Plunge Dynamic IEMs? out? I’d love to know what people think of these. Thanks!!
Westone AM20 ProX. Previously use Shure SE215s. Both are decent for my use case (bass and vocals in a moderately loud band).
I bought the Unity because I wanted a flatter response. The ones I had were also flat.
All I can say is wow! I doubted the fit at the beginning and I had to order smaller tips. Simon, the owner, is the most helpful man out there. Seriously. And always with my interest and satisfaction in mind.
The seal is absolutely perfect, at least on par with the custom IEM, and they are comfortable without having to adjust them every couple of minutes like the other universals I tried in the past.
They offer a 30-day tryout.
I'm not sponsored in any way and paid full price for the Unity. I strongly recommend them.
Great news! I ordered a pair last night and I can’t wait to try them out! This will be my first time in the IEM world and it’s probably long overdue. Glad you’re enjoying yours and thanks for the follow up!
There are 2 sets of tips included in the box in 3 sizes. Take your time to choose the right ones… and enjoy!
Update!
I appreciate all the comments and feedback and have been studying a couple "What's the best IEM?" threads. I think I'm at this point...
FYI...
The data I gathered from the three IEM threads.
Column height is number of "votes" for that item.
Current (Black Friday) pricing is shown in the label.
Red bars are the top contenders.
Model and number of drivers in the x-axis label
I appreciate all the comments and feedback and have been studying a couple "What's the best IEM?" threads. I think I'm at this point...
- I tried a set of KZ ZS10 Pro universal buds
- Very surprised how good they sounded at $42.
- However, I was constantly fiddling with them and shoving them back in my ears.
- I tried several sets of additional foam tips to no avail.
- I'll hang on to them as my new backups.
- I am sure I'm going the custom molds route.
- See comments above
- I finally made one decision, leave me alone!
- I haven't found any other manufacturers that use silicon for the molds except Sennsaphonics (???)
- Very comfortable on the set I had.
- They may be pushing my budget.
- So, I think I'm down to three choices that are in my budget comfort zone
- Alclair
- CMVK (5 driver - $679)
- Spire (6 driver - $759)
- 64 Audio
- A4s (4 driver - $879)
- Alclair
- Alclair
- Pro
- My first IEMs were Alclair Tour Customs, which I liked.
- The CMVK and Spire are both recommended for bass players.
- There have been some good customer service comments.
- Responsive to my current emails/questions.
- Reasonable color/logo customization available for no cost.
- Con
- I'm struggling with the CMVKs being "designed for bassists" and the potential for them being too bassy.
- This was a topic in another thread and didn't necessarily make me feel better.
- The nice lady at Alclair said she has never had a bass player complain about the CMVKs.
- I'm struggling with the CMVKs being "designed for bassists" and the potential for them being too bassy.
- Pro
- 64 Audio
- Pro
- Top brand for votes in the threads
- Con
- No personal experience
- Most expensive,
- Sale price is for clear molds only (minor issue)
- Pro
FYI...
The data I gathered from the three IEM threads.
Column height is number of "votes" for that item.
Current (Black Friday) pricing is shown in the label.
Red bars are the top contenders.
Model and number of drivers in the x-axis label
I got custom molds for my Sennheiser ie100. I could have chosen the ie400 (I didn't have the Shure 535 when I got my custom molds made).
I tried them in a couple of gigs and so far, I am happy with the result. At first I was really concerned because in the (disastrous) soundcheck there was too much sub lows and I could not hear the bass very defined (and I am using a Rolls PM351 to adjust my own mix). However, during the gig, everything was clear and I really enjoyed the gig.
There are gigs that I have that I need to talk to the audience (karaoke) so I cannot used custom molds because they fit so well that it is relatively slow and difficult to take them off haha.
I tried them in a couple of gigs and so far, I am happy with the result. At first I was really concerned because in the (disastrous) soundcheck there was too much sub lows and I could not hear the bass very defined (and I am using a Rolls PM351 to adjust my own mix). However, during the gig, everything was clear and I really enjoyed the gig.
There are gigs that I have that I need to talk to the audience (karaoke) so I cannot used custom molds because they fit so well that it is relatively slow and difficult to take them off haha.
Attachments
I received yesterday the Wave in ears by Soundbrenner (too much spam on Instagram and I fell). I have to admit that they are probably one of the most comfortable in ears I ever tried. I am extremely surprised. Soundwise are good. Doing some slap, the treble was too much for me. They are a little but bassy compared to the Sennheiser or the Shure 535, but in line with the Plunge Audio Dynamic. I have to say that they have far met my expectations. And the cable is really really good.
