Top 5 In-Ear Monitors For Singers And Guitarists

For audiophiles and music enthusiasts, there is no other joy than in having the best in ear monitor headphone. In Ear Monitor is called as IEMs that fits perfectly in the ear canal and gives the best noise isolation. IEMs are mostly preferred by musicians as they provide good sound quality and noise isolation. Despite numerous advantages of the IEMs, it is really tough for people to pick one from the market. So, here is listed the top 5 in ear monitors for singers and musicians.Before listing out the top 5 In Ear Monitors for Singers and Guitarists, here are some factors that are necessary to be considered while choosing an In Ear Monitor. The factors are as follows-

§ In Ear Monitors are equal to iPod Earbuds

The earphones used for casual listening in iPod are usually not great options to use on stage. The biggest problem with such earphones is that they are not designed to eliminate the loud noise of the ambience when you are on stage. Often, the users just turn up the volume too high in order to make up for the absence of noise isolation and hence lack clarity. This can even damage the ears of the users. So, cheap earphones are not going to give you any good results on stage and economizing is clearly not a good idea here. The good thing about In Ear Monitors is that you can even use them with the iPod and especially when you are in a noisy environment.

§ Wireless or Wired

Many people think that all the In Ear Monitors are wireless as they see most of the musicians using wireless monitors during concerts and also, on Television. But in reality you have the independence of choosing wired as well as wireless depending on you. In fact many manufacturing units of earphones don’t even offer wireless units of receiver or transmitter. But yes, you can make a connection of such earphones to the wireless units of other manufacturers. Though for musicians, it is a liberating fact to not have a wire as they move around too much during performances. But keep in mind that wireless link takes up much complexity and cost too.

Wireless links are useless for some musicians. Most of the drummers and guitarists don’t get a lot of benefit from wireless. So, it is better to go for wireless unless it is really necessary.

§ Custom Molded or Universal Fit

Many people think that all the In Ear Monitors are wireless as they see most of the musicians using wireless monitors during concerts and also, on Television. But in reality you have the independence of choosing wired as well as wireless depending on you. In fact many manufacturing units of earphones don’t even offer wireless units of receiver or transmitter. But yes, you can make a connection of such earphones to the wireless units of other manufacturers. Though for musicians, it is a liberating fact to not have a wire as they move around too much during performances. But keep in mind that wireless link takes up much complexity and cost too. Wireless links are useless for some musicians. Most of the drummers and guitarists don’t get a lot of benefit from wireless. So, it is better to go for wireless unless it is really necessary.

§ The number of drivers

More the number of drivers better is the quality of the sound. Each driver handles a frequency that is of narrow range. This means when the number of driver is more, they cover a wide range of frequency with more clarity and efficiency. So, models that have multi-driver perform much better than the similar models that have a single driver. Now this doesn’t mean that every model having multiple drivers performs well when compared to the model having less number of drivers.

§ Audio Specifications

Generally there are four specifications of the earbuds and they are Response of the frequency: Frequency response tells you the amount of frequency the earphone has the ability to produce. As the human range is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, more the range the earphone covers, the better it is.

Amount of noise isolation: This indicates the amount of outside noise that is blocked by the earphones. The amount of isolation is measured in dB and if the number is more then that means more outside noise is being cancelled by the earphones.

Impedance and Sensitivity: Impedance and Sensitivity translate into sound or volume. These are both inversely proportional to each other. This means higher the impedance, lower is the sensitivity. It is not necessary to worry about the minute differences in the specifications of the impedance. Note that when the audio specifications are not provided, then such earphones are for casual listening and not for the use of musicians. Be careful to check before you buy earphones.

§ Only Earphones or Full Package

Always go with the Full Package while buying in ear monitors as becomes affordable mand advantageous. The Full Packages has all the equipments necessary for the wireless transmission of the radio hence making the monitoring on stage possible.

§ Preferences

Last but not the least go with your personal choice. Go with the in ear monitor which you think gives the maximum comfort, quality of sound, and great looks. It is essential to put in your money in the best in ear monitors if you want to witness the best in ear monitor experience. A good universal pair is more likely to give a good in ear monitor experience as compared to the pair of a mediocre wireless custom.

Now the list of top 5 in ear monitors headphones.

• The in ear monitor headphones of Westone W10

Westone W10 headphones are expensive but are worth every penny you put in. Westone W10 has the supreme comfort. The design of this headphone is micro balanced armature driver. The cable is robust and is replaceable for the amazing resolution of audio. The faceplates are exchangeable and come in black, red, and blue colour.

There are two cables, MFI G2 Cable and EPIC Cable, comfortable premium tips, vault that is mini-monitor, a kit for cleaning, and a warranty of 2 years. Westone W10 has a single driver and has a standard packing. Weighing about just 4.5 ounces, it is very light in weight to use. The human range is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and Westone W10 provides a frequency range from 20 Hz to 16 kHz. Westone W10 holds the name of ‘Designed for the Serious Listener’.

There is a problem with many other earbuds that they can’t be detached. Luckily, in Westone W10 this facility is provided. You could detach the cord if there is any problem and replace it with a new one. There are two cords in this headphone, one has audio controls and microphone on it and the other one is just braided. These both cords are removable. The cord uses a three-button control and a microphone. If you prefer an added layer of customizability and style, Westone W10 is offered with 2 extra shields which replace the default shield that is black in colour.

• The In Ear Monitor headphones of Shure SE535

Shure SE 535 is a great pair for musicians as the noise isolation done is at the best. Shure SE535 makes use of a tweeter and woofer that is dual to produce loud and clear sound with amazing bass. The drivers are of high definition and the cables are detachable which means they can be replaced easily in case of any kind of damage. The packaging of this in ear monitor headphones include a carrying case, sleeve fit case, tools for cleaning, volume controls, adapters, and a user’s guide. This in ear monitor headphones has been built by a technology of personal monitors and has been tested by the music experts and Shure engineers to provide the best of everything.

Shure SE535 is amazing in noise isolation and blocks out nearly 37 dB of surrounding noise. The fitting of this headphone is very comfortable and smooth too. Being ergonomic and having a professional design, these pair of headphones suit best for both onstage and off-stage. The cables are durable and Kevlar reinforced to allow an easy customization and replacement. The MMX connectore is Gold-plated and has a mechanism of lock-snap which permits a rotation of complete 360 degrees to ensure the best comfort.  

• The In Ear Monitors Headphones of Sennheiser IE 800

Sennheiser IE 800 is another great pair of headphones for you. The ideas put into the building of this headphone are really unique. There is a housing done with ceramic and is ergonomic. The adapters of the ears are oval in shape to provide a good comfort and softness over a prolonged usage. Sennheiser IE 800 has dynamic driver which is linear-phased with a bandwidth that is extremely wide. The harmonic distortions are very minimal and you will have a good music listening experience. There are two protective and comfortable meshes, one is situated in the cushion of the ear and the other one in the cone. This allows an easy cleaning and avoids contamination of dirt.

There are absorbers of attenuated dual chambers (D2CA). The bass is free of distortion. A carrying pouch made of leather is provided in the kit with a warranty of 2 years. There are ear adapter sets of 5 different sizes provided in the kit. Cleaning tools and a user’s guide are also provided.

• The In Ear Monitor Headphones of Brainwavz ProAlpha

Brainwavz ProAlpha IEM earphones give a soft and soothing, rich bass, amazing quality of audio sound that you will fall in love with it. The sound quality is bold and rich and is worth every penny you have spent on this. For musicians, it is a perfect choice as the bass is enriched provided with minute details of the songs. Brainwavz ProAlpha makes the audiophiles very happy as it gives the best results in music listening and is suitable for any genre of music. IN the package, there are three different sets of silicone tips and a set of Comply to provide extra comfort.

Brainwavz ProAlpha provides a wide and vast soundastage. There are dynamic drivers of 10.7 mm. The cable is of 1.3 m, Y-Cord and is silver plated. The plug is of 3.5 mm and is gold plated. Another set of silicone Bi-Flange tips are also provided. There is one shirt clip for convenience. There is a Velcro cable tie. A warranty of 2 years and a user’s manual is provided in the kit. Brainwavz ProAlpha is one of the best in ear monitor headphones available in the market.

• The In Ear Monitor Headphones of Audio-Technica ATH-IM70

Audio-Technica ATH-IM70 is a great pair of in-ear monitor headphones for musicians due to its awesome qualities. It is one of the best IEM sold in the market and is imported from Japan. Audio-Technica ATH-IM70 is comfortable for the users even when they are wearing glasses. It is light in weight. The vibrations in this headphone are reduced to a great extent. They provide a very clean and clear plus accurate quality of sound which makes them best suitable for musicians. The treble and bass are emphasized which is what the musicians look for. The bass is rich, powerful and strong whereas the treble is soft and smooth.

Audio-Technica ATH-IM70 is the best for on-stage performances as the noise isolation done is at the best. The sound quality doesn’t get distorted or disturbed even at high volumes. There are default symphonic drivers which provide the best clarity. Audio-Technica ATH-IM70 is neither very cheap nor very expensive. It comes at a very affordable and reasonable price so that every musician gets to experience the incredibleness of this headphone. The material used into the making of this headphone is very strong and durable. The only drawback of this headphone is that there is much options in choosing the colour.