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Stage & Studio: Musician’s In-Ear Monitors Buyer’s Guide

This Musician’s In-Ear Monitors Buyer’s Guide is designed to help musicians and engineers make more informed decisions about in-ear monitors and find the monitoring solution that will help them perform better. Our recommendations are based on listening to hundreds of in-ear monitors, including entire product lines from well-known manufacturers such as Shure and Westone, as well as and having discussions with countless musicians and engineers about in-ears. We selected only the best-performing products at every price point, based on current street prices. The first half of the guide offers some background information for educational purposes, so feel free to skip straight to the Recommendation sections using the links below.

Page 1

Benefits of in-ear monitors
Types of in-ear monitors
Considerations for using in-ears on stage
In-ear monitor qualities
Custom in-ear monitors, fit, and country of origin

Page 2

Sound signatures
Recommendations: Musicians
Recommendations: Mastering & Engineers
Additional in-ears worth a look

BENEFITS OF IN-EAR MONITORS

  • In-ear fit can effectively block out ambient noise, reducing exposure to damaging sound pressure levels
  • Audio performance of in-ears can be far superior to that of stage monitors
  • Reduced time for sound checks as room acoustics are not a factor
  • Each band member can have their own mix
  • Consistent sound regardless of stage position
  • Compact and easily transportable
  • Excellent personal listening experience when not on stage, with noise isolation

When it comes to stage use, the noise reduction properties of in-ear monitors are especially important to consider as repeated exposure to loud music will result in noise-induced hearing loss. Typically, hearing loss cannot be reversed, and by the time it becomes detectable, it is too late. Read more in this NBC News article on musicians and hearing loss.

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TYPES OF IN-EAR MONITORS

Type

Description

Pros

Cons

Universal fit in-ear monitors (IEMs) Earphones that use foam or silicone eartips in various sizes to create a seal with the user’s ear canal. • Off-the-shelf purchase
• Lower cost
• Very large number of options
• Can be uncomfortable
• Relies on finding the right eartip size
• Eartips can come off and/or get lost
• Foam ear tips wear out and replacing them can become expensive over time
Custom fit in-ear monitors (CIEMs) Earphones that are custom-made and custom-fitted to the user’s ears. • Offers best sound quality
• Long-term comfort
• Highest noise isolation
• Most manufacturers offer artwork and other customization options
• Typical lead time is 1-4 weeks
• Requires ear impressions
• May require re-fits (see CIEM Fit section at bottom of page)
• Typically only made in the manufacturer’s country of origin
Customized ear tips for universal in-ear monitors Eartips that have been custom-fitted to the user’s ears and installed on universal in-ear monitors. • No need to rebuild/re-mold if earphone itself needs to be replaced
• Long-term comfort
• Don’t wear out
• Typically doesn’t improve sound quality
• Designed for one nozzle size (one type of custom eartip won’t fill all universal in-ears)
• Typical lead time is 1-4 weeks
• Requires ear impressions
• May require re-fits
Musician’s plugs Custom ear pieces that allow for the use of filters for noise attenuation or driver units for audio playback. • Flexibility to use drivers or filters
• Long-term comfort
• Offers varying levels of noise isolation, from low to very high
• Sound quality isn’t as high as custom in-ear monitors
• Typical lead time is 1-4 weeks
• Requires ear impressions
• May require re-fits

CONSIDERATIONS FOR USING IN-EARS ON STAGE

  • Your live mix will require some getting used to, as the sound of in-ears is presented in a different way compared to speakers. In-ears are more of a personal experience and the sound is coming from in and just around your head, depending on the earphone. Once your brain adjusts for the new presentation, chances are you will clearly hear things in your mix you didn’t hear before.
  • Many mixers have built-in EQs, but unless you are making cuts, boosting frequency sections can change the strengths of an in-ear, lead to distortion, and result in an unnatural sound. It is recommended to get monitors that perform as close to what you want as a starting point.
  • Wireless transmitters/receivers allow for freedom of movement on stage, which is great for singers, guitarists, and bassists.
  • Extension cables can provide sufficient freedom of movement for drummers and keyboardists.
  • Use of a hearing aid dryer between stage use and/or storing your in-ears in a water-tight case with desiccant will keep them performing at their best over extended periods of time as sweat and bodily fluids can block sound tubes and damage internal components.
  • Having a backup set of in-ears, or at least a replacement cable for detachable-cable in-ears, is great in case of an equipment failure.
  • Universal-fit in-ear monitors use ear tips that can get lost or wear out; therefore, having spares in the desired size is recommended.

IN-EAR MONITOR QUALITIES AND FEATURES

  • Form factor: Most lower-cost in-ears use a cable-down wear style. In-ears designed for pro use typically use an over-the-ear design, which provides a more secure fit, keeps the cable out of the way, and is oftentimes more comfortable.
  • Isolation: Since in-ear monitors are inserted into the ear canal, they all block external noise, but many factors play into the amount of noise attenuation. Custom-fit IEMs isolate best, but there are still variations depending on ear anatomy, shell type, and shell fill. Universal-fit IEMs use ear tips to create the isolating seal between the earphone and ear canal, and different ear tips will offer varying levels of isolation, with foam usually providing the most.
  • Sound signature: Ideal sound characteristics are different for different instruments, and different still for sound engineers. See the Sound Signature section below as well as each detailed recommendation for more information.
  • Sound quality: The quality of sound is derived from the Attack, Decay, Sustain, & Release (ADSR). Accurate recreation of ADSR and capability to reproduce a wide range of notes results in more detail, recreating not only the main note but also the harmonics, room reflections, and even making audible the sounds of fingers on instruments such as a guitar or harp. The more accurate the ADSR, the more precisely soundstage proportions and stereo imaging will be recreated, and the more realistic the environment will sound. While some in-ears listed have high price tags, their performance is oftentimes also very high, making them an excellent music tool and providing a more natural and “live” experience.
  • Driver types: There are two main driver types for in-ear monitors: 1) dynamic drivers, which are like miniaturized conventional speaker drivers and can recreate the entire frequency spectrum; 2) balanced armatures (BAs), which were designed for hearing aids but adapted to in-ear monitors for their high efficiency and resolution. Different drivers offer different sonic characteristics. Balanced armature designs with multiple drivers are plentiful these days, using up to 12 drivers per channel in an attempt to offer the best performance in every frequency range. Hybrid designs use both dynamic and balanced armature drivers in combination, typically with a dynamic driver for the lows and a balanced armature setup for the mids/highs.
  • Durability: As with any earphone, the most common failure point is the cable, and a detachable cable allows for a relatively low-cost replacement if needed. Also, since in-ears are placed in the ear, sweat and ear wax can cause damage, either immediately or over time. Proper care, including using a hearing aid dryer and/or desiccant will extend the life of the in-ear monitors. We recommend avoiding permanent-cable monitors with built-in microphones/remotes, as the long-term durability is typically worse.
  • Specifications: Manufacturer-provided specifications for earphones don’t make much of a difference as there are no enforced standards for testing or reporting. This means that each manufacturer is free to use whichever method makes their product look best, making comparing the specs of different earphones worthless. Additionally, it is very difficult to gain insight into sound quality from the specifications.

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CUSTOM IN-EAR MONITORS, FIT, AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

As the name indicates, custom in-ear monitors are custom fitted to the owner’s ears. In order to do this, a pair of ear impressions must be taken and sent to the manufacturer, who then builds the custom-fit shells using negative molds of the impressions. This means there are additional costs on top of the custom in-ear monitor’s base price, both for getting the ear impressions taken and for shipping them to the manufacturer, as well as additional time necessary for the process. However, custom-fit earphones can offer better comfort, isolation, and sound quality. Some CIEM manufacturers have gone global and have offices or resellers in multiple countries to simplify shipping. Our recommendations attempt to provide options on multiple continents in every category.

Quality ear impressions are the first step in ensuring you get a proper fit when you finally receive your completed monitors. While some companies offer do-it-yourself impression kits, it is recommended to go with a professional audiologist for your first set of impressions (call a few local offices to find the best price). Impression depth is key but making sure the impressions are free from voids is also important, as is making sure your ears are in a healthy state, which is best done with a professional checkup. The goal is to get a perfect fit the first time.

Custom In-Ear Monitors Buying Process
Typical custom in-ear monitor buying process; process steps may vary by manufacturer. Purchase may be required when you place your order or when they receive your impressions.

Once the completed CIEM is delivered, it is important to make sure you have a proper fit as quickly as possible. Improper fit will lead to lower isolation and/or discomfort, plus the sound quality and sound signature can change considerably. For more information on how to check the fit once you receive your CIEM, read the CIEM fit guide. CIEM manufacturers realize there may be fit issues and offer free re-fits, usually within the first 30 days but sometimes longer (a re-fit consists of the manufacturer modifying or remaking the shell to improve fit). Most CIEM companies will work with you on all fit issues, but it is key to find the issues and inform the manufacturer early on.

Read on to page 2: Recommendations

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ABOUT AUTHOR

average_joe

average_joe

Having a life-long love of high-quality audio and gadgets, average_joe got back in touch with his audiophile side after a hiatus caused by life. His focus became headphones and related gear as the size and price fit his life better than home audio. He believes the entire audio chain is important, and likes to continue to think past the headphone and on into the head, as he believes understanding the details of how we hear will lead to a better audio experience.

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60 Responses

  1. Custom-fit or universal? For universal-fit it will be difficult to be more cost-effective than the Shure SE215. It’s one of very few musician’s monitors that have enhanced bass, has good build/fit/cable/etc, and its price is sub-$100.

  2. Yes, definitely, as long as your instrument has a way for you to plug in headphones and route all the audio there (i.e. not an acoustic drum kit – IEMs won’t help you control the noise there).

  3. What is the best IEM for a bassist that wants clarity with great bottom, mids and highs that is cost effective???

  4. Depends a lot on your budget, but the Shure SE215 is nice and versatile, with great isolation and a good track record in durability. Dynamic drivers like the ones used by the SE215 are also a little less prone to being damaged by moisture than the BAs in higher-end sets.

  5. Hi,
    I am a lead vocalist/guitarist for a contemporary carribean band. I was wondering what would be the best IEM in terms of quality and isolation, without the worry of a budget. I tend to sweat a lot when performing, so that would also need to be a side note as well. Thank you for your input.

  6. Hi, what is better in sound and quality BA and construction, etc. ue4pro, ctm ct200 or alclair reference? for mixer, guitar and vocal? is best quality ue( 2 drivers) or ctm (2 drivers) than alclair (3 drivers)? thanks

    Sorry for my english

  7. Hi James,

    There are several options that would fit the £400 budget ($530 USD currently) including the Alclair Reference, Proguard P2+1, Perfect Seal PS3/PS4, Custom Art Music Two, or InEarz P350 to mention a few. It depends on how you want them to be voiced (what sound signature do you want) and if you be using them with a mixer. Silicon provides better isolation, but in the price range, there are very limited options such as the Music Two, but that is on the warmer side, which may be OK based on the sound signature.

    What are you currently using, and what do you like/dislike? If you are looking for sound quality/vocal detail, I would recommend the PS4, although it is at the upper end of your price range. If not, the PS3 or P350 will provide good vocal detail.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  8. Hi, I’m a lead vocalist/guitarist in a modern rock band, what would you recommend as the best choice In Ear Monitor when I have a £400 budget? I would like true isolation and good detail for vocals. Is silicone best for isolation? Sound quality being of optimum importance. Thanks!
    James Seaward

  9. Unfortunately there’s probably not a lot you can do – bass frequencies, especially deep bass, can be carried to the inner ear/ear drum via bone conduction, meaning that physically blocking the ear won’t help in canceling them out.

  10. Sometimes when I am djing on a stage with the subs below/beneath or by me, the low frequencies kind of drown out my IEM monitor feed. The mids and highs are perfectly fine but the deep “rumbling” of the subs makes it harder to hear. I have noticed this with customs as well with great isolation so I do not think that is the issue. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to counter the effect? Thank you for your input.

  11. Sounds like a good plan. Please feel free to share how the M6 works for you and once you get the A1D, how that compares.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  12. Thank you very much for the reply, I’ll save money for the A1D but meanwhile I’ll buy the regular M6 with the comply foam ear tips, possibly an extra one for a backup. It is very helpful to have someone who has tried many in ears, once again thanks for the help.

  13. Hi Abraham,

    Pushing your budget, the AAW A1D would provide very good isolation + great sound, but with shipping and impressions, the cost would exceed $200.

    The BA200 is a good choice, but with a BA IEM you have to make sure you are extra careful if you sweat a lot while drumming. I wouldn’t recommend the HF5 for a drummer because of the lack of bass sustainment.

    Between the M6 Pro and SE215, you will get a bit better sound quality from the 215, but you are paying more. It depends on your ear anatomy which of the two will provide better isolation, and foam ear tips are generally a must (unless you DIY foam under silicone). It may be worth getting the lower cost option and having more $ for comply foam ear tips as they wear out quite quickly. The regular M6 isn’t too bad, and you can get several more of those for the same price and have backups!

    Let me know if you have any other questions.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  14. Which is the best IEM for drummers under $200? I was thinking in TDK BA200 and Etymotic HF5 but I read in the comments that it’s form is not adequate for live use. Also thinking about the MEElectronics M6 PRO $50 or the Shure SE215. I’m into isolation first and then comes the audio quality. Which one you recommend me?

  15. Hi brykupono,

    Thank you for reading. Spiral Ear monitors are an exceptional choice for stage use. The UEPRM is a great monitor, but the SE has a better ability to recreate exactly what you want to hear, and exactly what you should be hearing. Also, the silicone will isolate better, which is better for your long-term hearing health.

    Vocals will have a natural tone, but the advantage of the PRM is it’s ability to adjust to an individual’s hearing specifics. If that doesn’t apply, the SE is the ideal choice.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  16. Thank you so much for all of your great reviews Joe! As a full-band stage vocalist, I’ve settled on Spiral for a high-end set of CIEMs. From the reviews I’ve read, it seems that the reference model would be the slightly better choice for a vocalist in my position versus the ultimate model. Would you agree? If you have other input for my specific situation, I’d love that as well.

  17. Nothing wrong with the SE215, it’s a versatile entry-level monitor, and doesn’t have any serious limitations. Certainly not the most well-balanced or resolving option under $500 (you can easily go custom in that price range if you wanted to) and it does tends to emphasize bass and de-emphasize upper treble a bit, but again for the price you’re paying it’s quite great.

  18. Hi, I am currently supplied with a Shure (universal) IEM on stage, but would like to invest in my own personal set of headphones instead. Thinking about getting the Shure SE215 headphones. Please advise.

    I am a guitarist/singer and generally have my own voice and guitar in my IEMs on stage, and seem to be able to hear the rest of the band without having them in my mix as we are very close to each other.
    Please recommend a range of suitable IEM headphones for my use. Price range upto $500.
    Many thanks, Clive

  19. Not sure what you mean by “fittened”, but pretty much the only Bluetooth IEM I ever recommend is the Sony SBH80. As long as your device supports aptX, it actually sounds very, very good (comparable to similarly-priced wired earphones) and the “wearable” form factor is certainly usable.

  20. I am not a musician just a music lover. Any recommendations for a fittened Bluetooth IEM. I realize that Bluetooth and quality occasionally can stand in contradiction, but trying to find the middle ground between comfort and quality.

  21. Not sure about the M6 Pros but the Atrios and SE535s do sound very different from each other, though the Shures wouldn’t be my pick for most fatiguing. Maybe it was the big bass of the Atrios that was helping him keep the volume level (and fatigue) down? M6s are more bass-heavy than SE535s as well. Or maybe it was the Shures’ forward mids…

    Anyway, my recommendation for an Atrio replacement in a similar price range would be a Yamaha EPH-100. Similar bass-heavy sound, not too much midrange or upper midrange for it to be overbearing. They aren’t designed for a cable-up fit like the other earphones mentioned but they can still be worn that way if needed.

    If a “musician” fit/form factor is a must and he’s willing to spend the money, a Westone the UM PRO 30 or EarSonics SM3 or SM2 might be the ticket. Those tend to sound warmer and bassier than the SE535, and very smooth/non-fatiguing as well.

  22. Hello! I’m seeking help choosing an IEM for our worship pastor. He currently has the MEE M6 Pros, having previously used a set of Future Sonics Atrios, which I broke. He’s decently content with the M6, but it is not proving to be very durable. I have a set of SHURE 535 earbuds, but he has tried them and finds them to be fatiguing. Being used for a monitor mix of: click track, lead vocal (him), backing vocals (up to 4), acoustic, drums, bass, keys. What would you recommend having him try?

    Thanks!!
    Lisa

  23. While it’s called a stage monitor, the SE215 has more bass than you might think. It’s probably closer to the M6 in that regard than to the higher-end Shures or the lower-end Westone sets.

    I’ve seen some great feedback from drummers and bass guitarists using the M6 as well. The bass-heavy sound does seem to work well and the difference in midrange and treble performance between the M6 and a higher-end set may go unnoticed or unvalued. However, I’m sure price is a big part of it, too – given equal pricing I have no doubt they’d be just as happy with the SE215. One other thing those Shures will do is isolate outside noise better than the M6.

    Anyway, to me it sounds like there’s a lot of pros here for the using the M6 – you are relatively cost-sensitive, the environment isn’t conducive to taking advantage of the better fidelity of the Shure/Westone sets, and you’re not upgrading from other in-ear monitors.

    You can also mix it up and simply get more balanced-sounding monitors for the vocalist(s). Entry-level balanced armature sets without the stage monitor look are about $40-50 (e.g. meelectronics A151, Astrotec AM-90, or Rock-It R-20) and will give you balanced audio performance more comparable to the Westone 10 than to the M6.

  24. Thanks for your in depth discussion of the options. I can’t decide if I’m closer to a decision or more confused than I was before! We’re looking at getting IEM’s for our church’s music team to eliminate the stage sound from all the floor monitors we have considering we have a smaller sized room.

    Budget and cost are constraints, but more so because we aren’t using our own money and take seriously the notion of being good stewards of that which we are effectively managing from what people give. We started the process by looking at the Galaxy Audio AS-1100 system and some Skull Candy earbuds, which a friend of ours had suggested as they were quite satisfied using that setup, and ended up going all the way to the Shure PSM 300 with either the Shure SE215 or Westone UM Pro 10.

    Obviously the more you go up, typically, the better and more refined you’re going to get quality wise, but with that comes price. Essentially we get way too much bleed of sound from the stage both into the audience and on the stage, so my thoughts were the Galaxy’s would more than suffice and prove to be an improvement, so the cost would be low and good value. But, the flip side of being a good steward is not wanting to buy something that we’ll soon want to upgrade or migrate from and incur all new costs. So, perhaps you could weigh in a bit on that?

    Lastly, it sounds like the SE215 or the Pro 10 would work fine for a vocalist, correct me if I’m wrong and there is a better option in that price range for them, but would you suggest the cheaper MEElectronics M6 specifically for drummer and bass, or stick with one of the others? Not sure if it’s a pricing reason or if the M6 is better suited than the other 2 for that application.

    I appreciate your input

  25. Hi Bharath,
    1) Yes, some CIEM manufacturers can adjust specifically for your hearing issues. I am not sure which ones can/will, but do know the Dream Earz and InEarz will. I suppose sending an email and asking would get the answers 🙂
    2) If that is what you prefer, a warm sound may be fine. What a brighter sound will do for you is help compensate for the hearing loss (assuming it is high-frequency) and balance the sound. I don’t know anything about your specific hearing loss, the severity, and the response, but I know that compensation consists of boosting the frequencies with HL. While this helps, the ability to differentiate sounds is often reduced, and even present before severe loss in certain frequencies. A clearer, more articulate note should help compensate for these issues.
    3) Isolation is important for all people! If you have HL, isolation will help protect against more, and if you don’t, isolation will protect against HL in the first place. The better the isolation, the lower the volume can be set to for audible music. Hearing loss will result in the volume needing to be higher all things considered.
    4) I can’t offer much help here since I have just demoed 2 different units. One was the Sennehiser EW-300 and and the other was a Galaxy Audio, but I can’t recall the model. I thought the Sennheiser sounded marginally better, but there wasn’t enough of a difference for me to make a buying decision based off what I heard.
    5) The NT-6 is more neutral while the NT-6 Pro, while brighter and more articulate, has a laid-back midrange in comparison, which isn’t the best for vocals. The JH16 Pro is very bass-heavy and doesn’t have the articulation and localization of the music isn’t as good, taking away from my ability to clearly understand the sound compared with the NT-6.

    If you do want warmer, the EarSonics EM32 is an excellent choice, as is the Spiral Ear SE 5-way Ultimate. The EM32 can have a filled shell, which will increase isolation, and the SE5U is silicone, providing better isolation.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  26. Hi Joe,
    Many thanks for your quick response. I have some queries

    1. Can my hearing deficiencies be boosted up by the CIEMs, which you have suggested . I can send my readings for both my ears.
    2. I usually like warm sound ( similar to the output from a valve amplifier). Will this sound be better than the brighter tone for a hearing impaired person.
    3. I think Isolation would be critical for a person having hearing defects, what is your say ?
    4. which transmitters/receivers would you recommend along with the CIEM’s which you have mentioned.
    5. which is better NT-6 or NT-6 pro ?? what about JH16 pro …

    regards
    Bharath

  27. Due to your hearing loss comment, it would lead me to believe a brighter sound would be better for you. If you agree, the Hidition NT-6 and Custom Art Harmony 8 Pro will be bright and clear with good articulation, which should allow you to really hear your voice. If you know you don’t want brighter, the options include Hidition Viento-R, Rooth LS-6, and EarSonics EM32. If you want something lower cost, the 1964 V6 Stage or AAW W300.

    Let me know if you have any other questions.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  28. Hi Joe,

    my preference would be more on quality. The price is secondary.
    looking forward to your valuable suggestions

    Many thanks

    Bharath

  29. Hi

    I am a singer. I need a good IEM. I also suffer from hearing loss on both ears which are manageable.

    Can you please suggest me the best solution

    regards
    Bharath

  30. Hi Jamison, we don’t measure the isolation, just test it in a comparative way. Silicone provides the best isolation, but the acrylic shell with a silicone fill of the M-Fidelity products is just about as good overall with a bit more high-frequency isolation. Fit and canal length also play into isolation, so ask if the manufacturer has a “musicians fit” which makes the canal longer.

    Since you are a drummer, the SE-3 or SA-43 would be better suited to your instrument due to the superior bass capability. Let me know if you have any other questions. Please be sure to let us know what you decide to get and how they perform for you.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  31. Incredible reviews. I’m a drummer so I want maximum isolation to protect my ears. Not as concerned with fidelity. I haven’t been able to find noise reduction ratings for some of these IEMs. Do you have any idea what the NRR is for the 9/10 and 10/10 isolation, or the difference between 9 and 10? I currently use earplugs that give me 33 dB NRR (the best available). I’ll get either the Spiral Ears 3-way, SA-43, or Sensaphonics 2X-S. Noise reduction is the deciding factor for me. Thanks!

  32. The MA750 just didn’t have the ideal form factor – it’s a little too flashy and too heavy in the ear, the cables aren’t replaceable, isolation is not quite as good, and so on. It’s a nice consumer-class earphone, but it’s also pretty bassy and I doubt RHA themselves thought it would find use as a monitor.

  33. Hey Joker

    Any reason you don’t include the rha m750 on this list? Kinda contemplating between the m750 and the se215s, and everywhere I read seems to make the m750s out to generally be the better product.

    I’m a bass player, for an idea of what I might need.

  34. Yes, GR07 Classic should be $99, though some sellers try to sell it for more.

    The VC1000 is a very good earphone. Few reasons I recommend the HF5 over it in this guide:
    1) HF5 is more neutral. VC1000 is slightly brighter than true neutral, much the same way BA200 is slightly warmer than true neutral. Both are still neutral compared to most other earphones on the market, but with the HF5 is a benchmark the minute differences become noticeable.
    2) I tend to trust the construction quality of the HF5 more, especially since you won’t just be using them on the go and in the library.
    3) Noise isolation is better on the HF5.

    GR01 is more neutral than the VC1000 but I also wouldn’t recommend it for durability in a pro setting. Plus, it’s more expensive.

  35. hi joker,

    sorry i need to ask one more question. apparently i still can find VSonic VC1000 on lendmeurears website. i’ve concluded that both HF5 & VC1000 are in the balance sound signature category. but from this website reviews, VC1000 has better sound quality than HF5. and actually VC1000 is quite cheaper. so how do you compare between HF5 & VC1000? thanks.

  36. wow nice! now i’m leaning towards GR07. in amazon and ebay it’s priced around $99 now. i hope it’s the same product that you’ve reviewed. thanks a lot! your work and dedication reviewing/introducing IEMs are amazing! greetings from Indonesia =)

  37. HF5 is probably your best bet then, if within budget. Isolation doesn’t get any better than that and the performance is about as good as it gets for the price, too.

    If you really need a more stage-friendly form factor then I guess you can give up some isolation and go for a VSonic GR07 Classic, which is not as flat as the HF5, or the Creative Aurvana In-Ear 3 or Shure SE215, both of which are warmer / even less neutral.

  38. thanks for the reply!

    could you recommend other IEM for those purposes? BA200 seems to be the one, but it’s beyond my budget (though it’s really tempting to stretch it). i consulted to the “headphone list” page with each reviews back and forth, and i was also considering VSonic VC1000. but i couldn’t find it anywhere on amazon nor ebay. even the BA200 is discontinued (though it still exists on amazon). don’t they make successor product for it?

  39. The BA200 is pretty close to reference flat, but a little on the warm side (meaning slight emphasis on the bottom half of the spectrum vs the top). In the case of the BA200 this is very mild, but it’s still a colored sound vs the more neutral HF5. This is by no means uncommon with stage monitors – the Westone UM PRO 30, for instance, is even warmer, and the entry-level Shure SE215 is far more bass-heavy – but for me it’s just off the edge of what I’d call “reference”.

    With that said, the form factor of the HF5 is not great for stage use, so if your purpose is split between performing and mastering, the BA200 is still the better option as it will be usable for both.

  40. hello joker,

    i was considering to buy TDK BA200 after reading your reviews on this website, until i read this page. i’m a musician (performing & arranging), so i want IEM that falls in the reference sound signature category. but on “mastering & engineers” section, the recommended IEM that suits my budget is the Etymotic HF5. so, is the BA200 still recommended for mastering & engineering? how do you compare BA200 & HF5 in terms of that? thanks a lot in advance.

  41. I haven’t tried it myself but from looking at the measurements comparing the 1st and 2nd gen the 2nd gen actually looks better on the whole. It should be brighter than the 1st gen (which was a little dark for my taste) and may be a little less forgiving, but overall it should work about as well.

  42. I was thinking of picking up the MEElectronics A151 with the intention of using it for male vocals. In your recommendation for them, it seems you were using the 1st generation A151. Now that MEElectronics has released a 2nd generation model of the A151, do you know if it would also fare well for monitoring male vocals?

  43. I can only comment on the silicone 4S model. The reason it wasn’t included in this guide alongside the V6-Stage and UERM is that’s it’s more of a consumer take on the balanced sound signature. It’s smooth and mellow, which is typically not the case with reference earphones. The UERM and V6-Stage tend to be a bit more bright and “analytical”.

    I compared to the 4S to both the V6-Stage and UERM in depth here: https://theheadphonelist.com/headphone_review/noble-4s/

  44. Hello! I’m a musician who does a little of both studio work and live work. I’ve been looking to invest in a set of ciem, and it seems that either 1964 V6, UERM, or Noble 4C would fit the sound and qualities I’m looking for.

    Could you possibly include the Noble 4C in this rundown? Or comment on it? I’d love to know how it stacks up against the other two that I’ve mentioned.

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