Choosing the BEST In-ear Monitors On Any Budget

[@sweetwater]

If you found this guide to be helpful, please like and subscribe! If you have your own preferences on IEMs or tips for using them, leave a comment 👇

[@samroney6644]

You guys should really make sure the guy making the video knows what he’s talking about and isn’t just making it up as he goes. The over the ear cables are to keep them out of your hair and disguise them so they aren’t seen? Lol. No, it helps keep them from falling or being pulled out accidentally. Why would anyone need to remove a cable to clean the IEMs? That’s not all, just examples. Also, the title of the video leads one to believe the video to be a guide to which ones are best in each budget level for different uses. In fact, in each case, it merely instructs the viewer to consult a salesman. This is just an ad.

[@hilalbanai2326]

Try Blon Bl 03 and Kz Zsn

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

"Inyer monitor"

[@ubayyd]

LOL

[@RyanConnur]

😂

[@Lykapodium]

That's a riot🤣🤣🤣

[@barnabychicken2202]

Hahahahagaha

[@chrisscanlon3717]

This guy is sponsored by Westone 🤣

[@PhilRounds]

I'm not sure of Sweetwater policy, but once you buy these and try them out you might not be able to return them. So make sure you get it right the first time. I bought a set of Shure SE215 buds and found that singing with them is like talking with a head cold....it sounds all dull and boxy because you're hearing more of the vibration in your head when your ears are sealed off. They do work well for drumming though because of the excellent isolation. It's possible that earbuds with ambient sound might work better for a vocalist, but i'd have to buy them to do the experiment, and that's not an option for me.

[@jjthomas2297]

I also bought the Shure -215's and they were awful, no good seal with any tip.I bought them from Guitar Center which does not allow returns. Luckily, after a few E-Mails back and forth with Shure, they were able to issue me a refund. I then bought the -425's and got custom molded earpieces with upper and lower retaining clips (200 bucks)that held them firmly in place and they work great. Great point you make

[@mayuravirus6134]

I'm using IEMs because of 2 reasons listening to music and longevity i might use it to mix some music

[@Madurbu]

Thanks..... IEMs are also great when travelling

[@DroidLocks6971]

I bought CCZ MELODY And They Wouldn't Stay In My Right Ear So I Bought XL FOAM TIPS SO FAR SO GOOD

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

But what’s the difference between these “ear bud” things and the real ones that need to be fitted? Anybody? Thanks ✌️😊✌️

[@samlee2562]

There are so many good chi-fi iem's available, just get the ones that go with the image of your band best. 👍 It's not pretentious and shallow it's smart. If you're not in a band just spend a week or two browsing reviews until you're totally unsure of which ones to buy then go with the ones you like the look of best 😅👍 We're living in the age of consumerism option paralysis, go with your gut instincts and move on ✊🙏

[@mihailkolev992]

actual solid advice

[@jj_zeroshiki]

I use the KZ ZST X and they're incredible

[@WyattOShea]

@@jj_zeroshiki Agreed :). I just got a pair finally from Aliexpress a few days ago and they really blew me away as my first ever iem they sound very good for how little money I spent on them. Will be looking into getting some higher end iems some day in the near future :).

[@rickilydickily]

bounced around the highly recommended IEMs from reddit, decided on the Moondrop Aria because they looked so sleek and subtle. Was not let down!

[@shanep5121]

I really like when a salesman tells about his personal experience. I know I'm dealing with a human being and not a faceless corporation. It's cool that he played for T4F.

[@EnnTomi1]

when i see no KZ, TIN, CCA, BlON, NiceHck, basiclly no chi-fi there, i know it is an ad.

[@laurents1906]

Nor TRN, TFZ, Ibasso... Just realize u mention blon already XD

[@EnnTomi1]

@As a dog i must know / 0.031 alpha build i have 535 and zsx, i doubt the shure is better than my zsx build quality wise.

[@SR009s]

Alan Xu it’s not an ad, they’re just speaking about the iems they actually sell.

[@hrishikeshparab1236]

@@SR009s that's called advertising

[@SR009s]

@@hrishikeshparab1236 I'm well aware, but the advertising you're talking about and the advertising OP is talking about are different

[@TalesOfGod]

People seem to be missing a lot of things that was the purpose of the video. 1: This seems to be a company that sells the products so it makes sense that they would focus on these that are very popular and from popular brands. 2: These products are not bad when compared to Chifi, don't fall for the hype train. You should be knowing exactly what you want when buying IEMs, not just choosing from what is popular and hoping it works out for your tastes (along with use). #3: This was meant to be exploring different types and uses of these along with simple options for IEMs in general. Could have done some work but again, he said that this was only a few samples out of so many.

[@Livemusic1800]

I need one of these asap. Need to upgrade my music gear. more Professional.

[@edubatera72]

CCA C10 or C16 that’s all you need...KZas10 pro is good too!!! TIN 3 and 4 are also good!!!

[@Jojo-gf1el]

"every phone comes with a pair of earbuds" Im crying in pocophone

[@petran4018]

I'm laughing in Samsung AKG Headphones included with my S9

[@nichie1931]

My Pocophone F1 came with a free in ear earphone out of the box.

[@Jojo-gf1el]

@@nichie1931 weird

[@垃圾谷歌又出bug]

No earphone for rog phone

[@Anonymous-if9mp]

I got a kz zsn pro for free while buying the pocophone. Weird.

[@tantaloss8682]

I really wish you would include prices in these videos so we can actually get a reference to how different features will set us back in budget.

[@jjthomas2297]

After buying the Shure Audio -215's and -425's I learned one thing. Without a solid clip to hold it on your ear, IEM's simply don't work for me. I tried every tip they had, rubber and foam, and the sound was never better than with 3 dollar airline headphones. The problem was the seal, or lack thereof. I ended up going to an "Audiologist" (I believe that is what they called themselves) and got custom molded earpieces with an upper and lower earclip, much like what you see at most big venue concerts. They were held firmly in place and sounded great. It was an extra 200 dollars, but well worth it. I would advise anyone, before they buy, to try THEM ON. What I was told is that for 10-15% of people most IEM's simply don't fit. There are noteable exceptions like Apple or Bose earbuds, but these are Bluetooth and problems with latency and other issues make Bluetooth a non-starter for live applications. Also, make sure who ever you buy them on has a good return policy, because you don't want them to not fit, and get stuck with a 500 dollar paperweight..

[@jamesoncass4867]

Probably because you have satellite ears and buck teeth.

[@TonyJDas]

Drums like a god, while singing like a demi-god, sounds like Casey Kasem while speaking.. the multi-talented Mr D'Virgilio! 👏👏👏

[@fern__.]

Blon bl03 trust me it work

[@conraddevera]

Hi, I checked Amazon and I see different blon, is it linsoul or something else?

[@clarkbautista1946]

+1 for blon bl03

[@fernandagunsanchannel]

Yes, start from chifi, not from Shure 215 hahahah BLON is sooo gooooddd

[@cloggedpitot1]

@@conraddevera check Drop. Not sure but worth a look

[@giladkingsley]

@@conraddevera yup, you can also get it on AliExpress for cheaper

[@MarcStJean1965]

I have serious tinnitus and listening to music with in ear is helpful with a smile. I'm a Bass lover but also like to hear sound of the waves when walking. Is the AM Pro 30 is the best choice ? Budget could be a little higher also !

[@raygel93]

I recommend TFZ No. 3 for bass head !

[@chetansharma7626]

Se846.

[@j.d.7208]

I call the tinnitus help line it just kept ringing and ringing 🤣 sorry I'll see my self out now Love that joke

[@jamesoncass4867]

Pro 30s are bad ass

[@Killenmachine05]

I would be super interested in a version of this video but done with custom in ear monitors, having used both good pairs of universal and custom, the fit on custom is just unmatchable, but there has to be custom options out there that are affordable for musicians who arent playing big stages.

[@thezebiano]

"Every phone comes with a pair of earbuds". Well that didn't age well, did it...?

[@peterdelmonte9832]

I'm old and have tried umpteen in ear thingies over the years with all kinds of foam and rubber type tips. I've yet to find any that don't fall out in a few seconds. I guess it's my ears. I've always had to use those with a plastic behind ear hook...and that's fine. Having said that, I only have them to listen to stuff on my iPhone and iPad via You Tube. I've never learnt how to "download" anything, I have no music saved at all. Monitors? What does that mean? Noise cancelling? I've never understood that...seems the opposite of what earphones (as I call all of these in or on bits of kit) are for. I listen to vids like this one and constantly have that question..."Yes but what are they for"....in my head. Anyway, ignorance is cheap and listening to skylarks is free!

[@justinwyatt1618]

On the 215, I’ve and many other people i have talk to have had one of the earbuds dies after a couple years.

[@nanashipersonne4151]

What I don‘t like that it sounds like the more drivers the better, which does not seem the musicians‘ consensus. More the salesman’s consensus.

[@rickmaldoo4205]

So your name is just Nick? Cool cool

[@rodrigozamo]

What!? I didn't know Nick is now with Sweetwater. sweet!!! (Pun intended) one of my favorite all time drummers from one of my all time favorite bands, the might Spock's Beard

[@sweetwater]

Rodrigo Zamora He’s been doing videos and studio sessions with us for over 5 years now. 😎

[@rodrigozamo]

@@sweetwater Guess that means I have to watch more vids XD. I mostly watch Mitch's videos on everything guitar.

[@toefes]

Don’t buy the Mackies, they sound great but with every little head movement the thing pops a little bit out of your ears and you’ll lose all low end and ear protection.

[@arronclarke6760]

Very informative. This is one of the few videos I've watched on a topic I truly did not have a good understanding of and this video cleared alot up for me. Thanks Sweetwater

[@TFaminu]

Jesus loves you my brother. Thanks for the video!

[@warrenoids]

The comment section is the reason I'm a CIEM guy.

[@reghoho]

as a singer, how do you deal with occlusion when wearing in ear monitors?

[@SalvatoreCremeOfficial]

Jon Lovitz looks a lot younger when he talks iem

[@nikinik7503]

I want to ask you something, are you "shure" that you did test all those monitors? Because I own 215 and they are the worst earbuds I ever stumbled across. Terrible comfort and the sound is even worse. I can't explain how bad they sound. It is a disgusting choice. Maybe mine are faulty or something, but even my 15 USD JBL for my phone destroys them in any aspect.

[@DonAlderOfficial]

no mention of protection for each model

[@Pokey7317]

Hey great video as usual. I play guitar and sing. Can you advise on an in ear system solution for guitar and vocals at the same time? So i don't have to rely on monitors for my vocals? My stage is generally really quiet UNFORTUNATELY and of course i want my guitars loud so i can have a little more dynamics in my playing and singing. Dont care if its a mono system or not P.S. I REALLY DONT WANNA SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS... LOL

[@davidcurry6784]

Thanks for a great overview of IEMs. As a newbie to this concept; I would love a simple "menu" that includes all of the parts that a small (3 or 4 piece) group would need to use an IEM-system. In other words, what are the various options (devices) that "feed" the audio to the earbuds. You mention a mixer, but it's not clear whether that is the only device that can be used. (For example, are their devices that attach to an instrument itself that allows the musician to simply hear his/her own instrument better; a sort of stand-alone version of this idea that does not require every group member to "buy in" to a system? Thanks for any advice or links on this.

[@backpacker778]

Very natural . Very clear. Zero destortion. Highs has all the information and zero harshness unlike sennheizer . Shure has a Warm inviting sound signature and the SE 215 also. It sounds like it is made by pros While Sony , Boss , Sennheizer ..sound like toys. As a test taking the volum higher and there is zero distortion in the Shures yet if you do it in Sennheiser you"ll notice distortion like it is a toy. Trust me. I have the Aonic 215 after having sennheiser and I"ll never ever look back to Sennheiser. Night and day difference. Get the Shure se 225/ Aonic 215 and trust me you will make a Tidal registration very soon to hear all the goodness. Bass is real and warm . Vocals are fantastic . highs are accurate and not ringing harshly. It even has a spatial sound like you can feel the echo in the voices though such a small earbuds ; that is how vocals are so good . Also seperation is very very very good. You can't get this things from Sennheiser since it isn't there. I think regarding heaphones and earbuds Shure is the place to go for those that come from HiFi and want musicality and audiophile sound . You will notice the difference between shure and the Others - TRUST ME ON THAT.❤❤ That is quality staff ❤❤ I have wired Aonic 215. I prefer wires to bluetooth since I want to hear the high quality Tidal staff.❤ I use dragon fly cobalt dac or chord mojo 2 dac. I also have the one and onlt Shure SRH 1840 headphoes . The Aonic 215 reminds me the SRH 1840 and that shows how high quality of an earbuds are the 215 worth 2.5 their price. One might imagine that if the Aonic 215 are that good then what does it say about the Aonic 4 or 5 ??! Be calm also the Aonic 215 / SE 215 will give you the ability to enjoy Tidal high quality staff. TRUST ME ❤❤

[@AboutThings_byTarif]

"every phone comes with a pair of earphones"... Well that aged well.

[@sailorsaturn_]

every phone comes with a pair of nothing

[@opendebate]

If you're on a tight budget and don't know where to start, go for KZ ZST X. It's the best all around iems.

[@EdithHazel-g9o]

Johnson Lisa Lewis Kenneth Lewis Jason

[@ScottyNapaa]

sorry in advance for my naivety, ive never used IEMs. I see some in ear monitors come with microphones. I know these are intended for phone calls but does anyone have an opinion on whether this microphone could be used for a band to speak to each other in the middle of a song? im mindful that with IEMs, they call it a silent stage. could it be so quiet that feedback would not be an issue?? i get that if the mic is too close to the mouth, ill probably hear my drummer grunting all night and too far away obviously wont work either. maybe an option to have the mic easily be switched on and off?

[@bbossin]

That radio voice!

[@drumtimer]

I have a pair of KZ zs10 Pro in-ear monitors but while playing the drums hitting a cymbal and kick combinations along with the other music tracks mixed in I'm noticing in some cases I'm getting some clipping. Is it the KZ zs10 pro just not able to handle the sound or what other IEM are better for what I'm doing and trying to keep it within the approximate price budget range?

[@sweetwater]

@Steve Libman the clipping could likely be caused by the mix, possibly due to the cymbal and kick levels being too high. If you back off the levels of the drum sounds and music tracks, then raise the master volume to compensate, that may solve your clipping issue. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!

[@austinalexander238]

Thank you! Anyone ever tell you that you look a bit like Brandon Urie

[@billyhawkins5222]

Excellent video very well done with a large amount of information and no specific product pushed forward. I always look for Sweetwater videos when researching new gear. I rely on you guys to provide good content.

[@jeffcooper2554]

If you have never worn a pair on stage I will tell you this. If you like interacting with the audience you might want to rethink havening IEM's. They can really affect you being on stage and feeding off of the audience. That said finding the right balance between using stage wedges and IEM's works extremely well for this situation with the audience.

[@terrywarnold]

I have some KZ’s that I’m very satisfied with. Had them a couple yrs now. They are just now starting to every now and then cut out but, for what I paid, I can’t complain. I would definitely buy them again.

[@matthewd6306]

I recommend not spending more than $200 on Universal IEMs, and save that money for Custom Molded IEMs. They are expensive but worth it. You can get 2driver Alclair Customs for under $400 and they Will sound better for live music than $1000+ Universals because they will have a superior fit and bass response.

[@matanfel1826]

Where is ibasso it01 😠

[@pbenson56fran]

This guy played with a great band, Tears For Fears. This is great information for a beginner like me.

[@Szef4715]

This man livin in da cave

[@beeleo]

@ 9:27 'they have a looser fit because my ears have gotten bigger...' Hmmm. Is there any science to back that up? The cartridge parts of our face, like our nose and the 'pinna' (you'll probably need to look that up... lol) may continue to grow or get larger. But I don't think the inner ear canal and bone structure gets lager. If your older IEM are looser now, I'd suggest it's more likely that the resin they are made from has shrunk. Resins and other plastics gas off plasticizes and other material over time.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Pretty sure you are dead on with this.

[@Defmusicman1]

I’m a deaf bassist and I need an in-ear monitor that’s more powerful for more volume. Any suggestions?

[@law35penn]

No price

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

its important to have fixed sound first so that you know which area to improve means dac first, as best as possible

[@MoonbearDiedHere]

Thanks for the Se215 recommendation

[@kennethmeeker6369]

How about over the ear headphones are there equivalents as far as drivers ? I have problems with my ears and can’t have anything in them .

[@kyleshays]

My Shure 215's always break. It's really annoying.

[@EmoEmu]

So... the only thing you said about the Mackies is that they have a black wire. ;D

[@paulsharp5473]

Good info but keep your hands still, no good showing us when what your holding is flying around.

[@user-sw1wq8lh2w]

I'm not sure if it's age expanding your ears or sticking these in your ears constantly for years, lol.

[@tonydesousa5652]

I would love to get moulded westone W60 , price tag in this little part of Europe is just to expensive

[@TenFalconsMusic]

Didn't know John Lovitz worked for SweetWater.

[@gling5551]

Any shure se215 owner? I have done a bunch of researches but the opinions on their sounds are so different, are they any good for vocals monitoring or daily usage?

[@creationinspired200]

And again sweetwater comes to my rescue even indirectly 😅

[@dirtbikerplay11]

Me who plays several instruments and wants in ear monitors but I’m to poor to afford any of em

[@enigma3750]

Is there an IEM that “closes/blocks” sounds as apposed to isolating sounds

[@fixme.96]

Get a cheap iem, don't waste your money for brand

[@hanzohasashi7634]

I see no chi-fi, i hit dislike

[@MultiWirth]

Is there a reason why in ear monitors have a (as it seems) frequency cut off at 17khz to 18khz ? I just got a pair of in ear monitors and basically some details simply get lost and overall it sounds a bit muffy to my ears. The spec sheet says it´s frequency response is 18hz to 22khz so i thought this should be good enough. However other spec sheets from known professional brands are going only up to 17-18khz for that matter. So i wonder if this is just this particular model or if there´s a general frequency cut off for some reason? I thought some professional earbuds would actually be much better than other lifestyle and bass crap products. But the lack of treble response is really dissapointing. Btw i tried the Basn Bmaster 3. Not the most expensive ones but not cheap either.

[@sweetwater]

Hey there! Generally, any type of earphone or speaker that runs up to 17/18kHz should be a high enough frequency to properly represent any high end in your mix. The average adult can’t hear much past 15kHz anyway. If you’re still experiencing a muffled signal with your in ears, you may want to double check how many drivers your earbuds have. More drivers will result in better representation at different frequency ranges, as there is some more power to drive the separate ranges. I’ve copied a link to help with choosing between different options: www.sweetwater.com/insync/in-ear-monitor-buying-guide/ I hope this helps! Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 3230, [e-mail]

[@ActaNova]

i do not recommend 215 at all treble is non existent and they so damn uncomfortable

[@YOURINFINITEMEDIA]

why no kz zs10 pro?

[@CYMotorsport]

bass heavy vs more favorable mid ranges on the 425. Its a positive feedback loop when you see so many lovers of the KZ. Of course people review headphones positively if they think they saved hundreds and they are better than expected. For the average Tom Dick & Harry, get the KZ line. They are wonderful. But when audio matters, and every ounce of the tone matters, 9/10 you get what you pay for. The Shure's are no different. I have a podcast and make documentaries where narration matters a great deal along with live broadcast. KZ over 215 - that's the sacrifice I'd make considering the quality gap. But 425 all day 10/10 if you had to bump up. if you need anything better, you need to start considering custom.

[@MichaelDaniels]

Are these in ear monitors wireless? I have never used one so I want to find out more info

[@sweetwater]

Hi Michael! To better assist you with technical questions, please give us a call at [phone] or email us at [e-mail]. Thank you!

[@gmbh8443]

Im confused on what drivers are 💀

[@SavedPulley]

Great job thank you so much for this video. God bless

[@larrytaylor2692]

I hate foam tips I don’t know why everyone loves the foam

[@StrygianArranges]

They are used in phone not on computers right

[@Michele-W.]

Too much unnecessary talking.

[@nuthinbutlove]

Nice bit of info in a short amount of time. 👍

[@donpatrickgacutan7972]

Hi! Great review! I have a concern and would appreciate your opinion. The Fiio FH3 has so many great reviews but the price is quite out of my budget. At the same time, I’ve been hearing a lot of good reviews about the CCA CA16 which has a 7BA+1DD as compared to the FH3’s 2BA+1DD. I’ve also heard many good review about the Moondrop Aria. Now, between the 3 - the Fiio FH3, the CCA CA16 and the Moondrop Aria, which one is best for you and why? Highly appreciate your expertise on this please? Thanks so much in advance!

[@another_aaron]

all the IEMs you've listed are more for the audiophile, casual listener rather than musicians who need IEMs on stage to monitor. I'd steer more towards "musician" centric brands rather than these companies if you're strictly in the marker for monitoring IEMs. That said, I have a pair of Moondrops for listening and you can never go wrong with the arias

[@donpatrickgacutan7972]

@@another_aaron thanks so much! Any particular brand and model you’d recommend?

[@IagoVital]

any moondrops that fit your budget are your best purchase IMO but the blessing 2 dusk, variations, aria, kato and chu's all are great pieces for different price tags

[@DroidLocks6971]

I'm thinking to get the LetShouerS12

[@kristapspucens]

Shure 215 is overrated...

[@kodybryantmusic7357]

Get alclair

[@PyareDebBarma]

nothing but it’s a Westone ad

[@shalinibhagat8142]

Sorry but I am sad none of these is available in india. I have a career in english music but these dhire in ear twin system is not available in amazon india Very bad

[@CockatooDude]

I recommend the Tin T2 earphones, or anything from that company really. Make sure you see some reviews and that the one you go for has the sound signature you want, whether it be flat, bassy, or treble heavy.

[@shalinibhagat8142]

@@CockatooDude yeah I want treble earphones but they don't even have service for india.

[@CockatooDude]

@@shalinibhagat8142 Well having emphasis on the treble is just a style of earphone. But you won't really need much in the way of service, earphones don't usually break.

[@shalinibhagat8142]

@@CockatooDude not that service but the product too need to be delivered. They don't deliver to India 😥

[@CockatooDude]

@@shalinibhagat8142 Oh no, that's quite the issue then. Unfortunately, living in the US, I probably can't help you there. My best advice would be to visit any audio or music stores near you if you can find any and see if you can buy some there.

[@TempoDrift1480]

I want to hear my bass drum. Can't even hear it with cans.

[@piercegauge5800]

Do you have to be hooked up to a receiver? Can Bluetooth adapters connect to the transmitters?

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Pierce! You would want to use those with either a wired headphone amp, or a dedicated wireless body pack and transmitter. Bluetooth is not usable for monitoring live music due to the inherent latency. Check these systems out: www.sweetwater.com/c1044--In_Ear_Monitor_Systems Thanks for the interest! Spunde, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1732, [e-mail]

[@mcd5778]

Thank you for making this

[@mohamadhamsani6725]

kz ks10?

[@shlomofayvish6452]

‏ ‏‪0:59‬‏ that's over...

[@fixme.96]

This guy talk too much

[@andym7333]

do foh have vocals in stereo or mono ? and does singers own iem mix have vocals in stereo or mono ?

[@LeBronJames-ss9ij]

KZ is overrated

[@randygarcia1877]

I wished they showed you the price for each. How an I supposed to know what’s best for my budget 🙃

[@NotTheSpanner]

bruh google?

[@estevansalinas7391]

$699.00 plus tax

[@GrantSwanepoel]

That was very helpful. Thanks

[@MugCofee]

Listening with my cca c12 iem

[@husnainanwaar1992]

audeze isine lx

[@stevenburton7922]

Good video

[@drtonyhaworth6287]

I use fender and Shure super gear

[@prod.bbx666]

W video