Members Telecruiser Posted January 2, 2011 Members Share Posted January 2, 2011 I have decided to go the IEM route for my solo act instead of hauling and extra monitor rig. I will be using a modeler (Line 6 POD HD500) for the electric and the acoustic will go through the Voicelive2. As usual I like to look at the real good stuff and also the acceptable mid-high end stuff. Recommendations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 3, 2011 Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm actually contemplating an Audio Technica M2. Not only can they be had for under $400 new, but they also have an added bonus of an ambient microphone input on the transmitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted January 3, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm actually contemplating an Audio Technica M2. Not only can they be had for under $400 new, but they also have an added bonus of an ambient microphone input on the transmitter. I'm a newbie so bare with me. How do these fit in your ears? Do they require a custom molded/fitted ear piece or do they just pop in your ear right out of the box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 3, 2011 Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm a newbie so bare with me. How do these fit in your ears? Do they require a custom molded/fitted ear piece or do they just pop in your ear right out of the box? The M2 is just the receiver and transmitter. They come with ear buds, but you'll likely not find them all that great, which is on par with included buds from anyone else. You'll spend $200 - $1200 more for quality earbuds and can go with universal fit or get impressions and get custom molded ones like you see from national acts on TV. I just ordered $30 worth of various tips to try and get a better fit from my universal buds (Ultimate Ears SUPERFI5PRO). I'm thinking about Alien Ears custom in ears if I don't get my Ultimate Ears working. It's been a few years since I've done the IEM thing, but I'm going to go back to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted January 3, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 If I was to go with the M2 system (ear phones, receiver, transmitter) would I go to an ear specialist for impressions to get custom fitted "buds"? Also, do the IEM's have to be wireless? As I will be doing a single act everything will be close so being wired, I would think, would not be issue, True? Thanks for your patience with me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 3, 2011 Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 You CAN go wired, it just depends how professional you want to look. As for ear impressions you can do them yourself, Alien Ears includes 2 "do it yourself" kits and pays for postage back. That said, if I go that route I'll pay the $50 - $75 for an audiologist to do them. I watched a Youtube on it and it seems just complex enough to screw up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted January 3, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 BTW, I went to the Ultimate Ears site. If I'm reading it right you can spend $1350 for just the buds., no transmitter or receiver, (correct?) They better sound phenomenal. BTW, wireless may be the way to go. I really don't want to walk off the stage at break time and have the buds ripped from ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soulvillemusic Posted January 3, 2011 Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 I bought a used Sennheiser ew 300g2 unit off ebay recently. Works great but I've decided IEM's aren't for me. Buying a quality used system may be the way to go if you're testing the waters. The Sennheisers work great but I'm just not in love with using in ears so I'm going back to wedges. Think I paid $400 for them. I'm going to put them on ebay but if you're interested let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 3, 2011 Members Share Posted January 3, 2011 BTW, wireless may be the way to go. I really don't want to walk off the stage at break time and have the buds ripped from ears. Not to mention someone walking between you and your mixer, which we all know happens despite what we do to stop it, and taking the cord with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stix 518 Posted January 4, 2011 Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 Went with IEM's about three years ago. Grabbed a used Sennheiser 300G1 system for like $200. Picked up a pair of MiPro E8P buds (I think that's the #) for around $100. and went to my local audiologist and had him hook me up with custom solid molds for an additional $125 that he permanently molded around the E8P's. I love it. The isolation is the most important thing in IEM's and custom is the only way to go to insure good isolation. Unfortunately, with the hard molds, as you age (gain weight, etc.), you should have the molds redone every few years due to structural changes in your facial/aural anatomy (mine are actually starting to hurt my outer ear canal during extended use). The Mipro's are showing signs of wear (cable, cracked bud that I've glued) and can't be remolded so I recently scored a set of Etymotic HF5 buds off Ebay for like $50. Going back to see the audiologist next week for some new molds and order some semi-hard/more pliable removable molds that will slide on the HF5's similar to the non-custom inserts. That way there, when my ear shape changes, I can order new custom inserts and not have to order new buds. Prior to the Senn system, I used a hard wired system with a Rolls PM-50 monitor amp. It worked but didn't have limiting (VERY important for hearing safety) and I was restricted in my movements (had to stay close to the hardwired PM-50). As I'm a drummer, it wasn't THAT bad as I had the PM-50 mounted under my stool. But, I now also do a little singing to a couple of accoustical songs and need to be able to move to front of stage to do so, hence the move to wireless. Just my $.02. Hope it helps. Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members El Mojito Posted January 28, 2011 Members Share Posted January 28, 2011 I'm actually contemplating an Audio Technica M2. Not only can they be had for under $400 new, but they also have an added bonus of an ambient microphone input on the transmitter. Not sure if this thread is still getting any play, but we bought the M2 last week. The system is great, durable and works well. However, you're on point with the ear buds. Their quality is not exciting, although usable. They make everything very tinny. To get an idea of what we were missing, if anything, we took some high quality sterio headphones, passed them around to use for a song or so. It's undeniable that the buds that come with the set are just ok. The over the head style high quality phones made it seem like we were in a recording studio. Now I'm on search for a better set. I'm willing to pay the $300 - $350 for molded IEM buds, but still don't know what to get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 28, 2011 Members Share Posted January 28, 2011 Not sure if this thread is still getting any play, but we bought the M2 last week. The system is great, durable and works well. However, you're on point with the ear buds. Their quality is not exciting, although usable. They make everything very tinny. To get an idea of what we were missing, if anything, we took some high quality sterio headphones, passed them around to use for a song or so. It's undeniable that the buds that come with the set are just ok. The over the head style high quality phones made it seem like we were in a recording studio. Now I'm on search for a better set. I'm willing to pay the $300 - $350 for molded IEM buds, but still don't know what to get. The included buds are pure junk. I played around with them last week. Not really the least bit usable. Just harsh and nasty. They are nothing more than a freebie thrown in so you can make sure the unit works when you get it. Frankly, they would have been better off not including them at all. Before moving to IEM's you MUST accept that it's going to cost at least $100 for usable ear pieces. You may be able to do it a bit cheaper if you use a traditional earbud, but generally those don't do the "over the ear" thing well. For instance you can get the Klipsch S3 for $40 and S4 for $60, but I'm not sure if they'll work over the ear very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OneEng Posted January 28, 2011 Members Share Posted January 28, 2011 I have used the Carvin's (I think someone else makes them and they re-badge them) for $35.00 (watch out for the bogus $10 shipping), Shure E2's and Shure E3's (or whatever Shure is calling these models now). The E3's have more detail, but less bass than either the E2 or the Carvins. The E2's are more detailed than the Carvins. The E2's are more comfortable than the other two. The Carvins are the least expensive at ~$45 (including that insane shipping). The E2's are ~$100.00, and the E3's are around $150.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billygoatgruff Posted May 13, 2011 Members Share Posted May 13, 2011 My buddy is looking for some in-ears... he is a drummer. I use the shure E2's and they are fine (I'm sure there are better IEM's out there)... but I don't think he would like them being a drummer, I would think he would want more bass response, etc... He is using a pair of Futuresonics right now but wants to get some molded earbuds. He was looking at the Alien Ears? I didn't know what to tell him... has anyone had experience with them? How do they compare to the E2's and Futuresonics which we already have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members imnotded Posted May 13, 2011 Members Share Posted May 13, 2011 My buddy is looking for some in-ears... he is a drummer. I use the shure E2's and they are fine (I'm sure there are better IEM's out there)... but I don't think he would like them being a drummer, I would think he would want more bass response, etc... He is using a pair of Futuresonics right now but wants to get some molded earbuds. He was looking at the Alien Ears? I didn't know what to tell him... has anyone had experience with them? How do they compare to the E2's and Futuresonics which we already have? I think Abzurd just ordered some alien ears that should be delivered to him any day. I have heard good things, but have never dealt with them. I can say, speaking from experience, stay away from fidelity. I will be using ultimate ears or westone for any future purchases though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted May 13, 2011 Members Share Posted May 13, 2011 I did indeed order Alien Ears, model FR-AE3 to be exact. Next Wednesday it will be 5 weeks since they confirmed they received my impressions. That is the maximum time they say it will take before they are shipped to me. I know they received the impressions 3-4 days prior to when they said they did, but whatever. I must say, after hearing all the horror stories of months and months of waiting with other vendors, I'm I bit nervous that mine will be done "on time". I'll keep fellow forumites updated and give my thoughts on the quality when I receive. I've owned Shure E1, E3 and Ultimate Ears Super-fi 5's so I have some buds to make a comparison with. This will be my first custom set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members imnotded Posted May 13, 2011 Members Share Posted May 13, 2011 I did indeed order Alien Ears, model FR-AE3 to be exact. Next Wednesday it will be 5 weeks since they confirmed they received my impressions. That is the maximum time they say it will take before they are shipped to me. I know they received the impressions 3-4 days prior to when they said they did, but whatever. I must say, after hearing all the horror stories of months and months of waiting with other vendors, I'm I bit nervous that mine will be done "on time". I'll keep fellow forumites updated and give my thoughts on the quality when I receive. I've owned Shure E1, E3 and Ultimate Ears Super-fi 5's so I have some buds to make a comparison with. This will be my first custom set. I have heard good things from Alien Ears in the past. I hadnt heard anything about Fidelity really when I ordered. I dont think you have much to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.