Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Been running IEM systems on stage in Churches for quite a while now. I finally just grabbed a set of decent regular wired phones as they sound good I don't have something stuck in my ear and they don't break the bank. A good sounding set of regular cans can be had for what $50? Would NEVER go back to regular in ears now. Yes they do show but are really comfortable on a long set and they sound GREAT!
 
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Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Yeah, I am not ready to wear earphones on stage at a festival yet, so I will stick with these when they are ready. The goal of good IEMs that are custom-made is that it doesn't feel like something is stuck in your ear. As far as breaking the bank, my thought is that they re as important as a good amp (which I have a few), so I don't mind spending the $$, although as a musician, these types of purchases are never impulse buys.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

They take a lot of getting used to, and yes, it feels very disconnected at the beginning, it doesn't really go away, I think you just get used to it.

Let us know how the custom ones work out! I don't think I'll be making that leap just for playing in church, I've been using some older UM20(?) dual drivers for a few years now, definitely an improvement over department store ones (which they should be, they are older models that were $500 but on clearance for the new models for $180, so it is a commitment even at that level).

And no, I don't get awesome guitar tone through them like standing in front of a great amp or something, but it sounds decent, and you are getting the whole mix, not just a guitar tone so ones that work well are going to be ones that would sound good listening to your iPod or stereo, not just your guitar cabinet.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

I decided to take a chance with the KZ brand I mentioned above.
I got a quad driver to try out as my monitor for live playing.
And for the heck of it I grabbed a dual driver pair for my iPhone as well as a Bluetooth cable for it.

All total $60.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Yeah, there is certainly an adjustment period. It took me about 20 gigs to get used to the single driver generic Shures I was using, and no, it isn't like standing in front of a wailing amp. But I understood the potential for custom ones, especially feeling how uncomfortable those generic ones are.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

I looked up the KZs, they look interesting, might be worth trying out for the price, I do like my Westones but a backup wouldn't be a bad idea.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Mincer said:
Yeah, I am not ready to wear earphones on stage at a festival yet, so I will stick with these when they are ready. The goal of good IEMs that are custom-made is that it doesn't feel like something is stuck in your ear. As far as breaking the bank, my thought is that they re as important as a good amp (which I have a few), so I don't mind spending the $$, although as a musician, these types of purchases are never impulse buys.
Click to expand...

Have put a lot of thought into what I did and do feel you on the look of wearing a pair of phones. Have had a lot of issues with my ears and ear infections so to have something inserted in the ear was an issue. I right now am running a little black set of TDK's I picked up for get this $20 at big lots! They are super comfortable and sound great!!
May not be a solution for some but work very well for me!!
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

devastone said:
They take a lot of getting used to, and yes, it feels very disconnected at the beginning, it doesn't really go away, I think you just get used to it.

Let us know how the custom ones work out! I don't think I'll be making that leap just for playing in church, I've been using some older UM20(?) dual drivers for a few years now, definitely an improvement over department store ones (which they should be, they are older models that were $500 but on clearance for the new models for $180, so it is a commitment even at that level).

And no, I don't get awesome guitar tone through them like standing in front of a great amp or something, but it sounds decent, and you are getting the whole mix, not just a guitar tone so ones that work well are going to be ones that would sound good listening to your iPod or stereo, not just your guitar cabinet.
Click to expand...

Agree here but with us running a silent stage and me having my cab off stage I am getting a better sound than I would with floor monitors. On the disconect couldn't disagree more. We do a lot of spontanius stuff so being able to get my own mix and actually hear what the others are playing gives me more connection to the band not less!
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Yes, we do the same thing, no amps, I'm running a GT-1000 which sounds really good and set up is 2 mins. I'm not going to lug an amp, cab, and pedalboard around, and we never do decent soundchecks or anything, so direct is so much easier, and I can control the mic'ing and everything in the box.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

devastone said:
Yes, we do the same thing, no amps, I'm running a GT-1000 which sounds really good and set up is 2 mins. I'm not going to lug an amp, cab, and pedalboard around, and we never do decent soundchecks or anything, so direct is so much easier, and I can control the mic'ing and everything in the box.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is why we do it, too. Also, there are no wires all over the place. Just that alone drives me crazy.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

devastone said:
Yes, we do the same thing, no amps, I'm running a GT-1000 which sounds really good and set up is 2 mins. I'm not going to lug an amp, cab, and pedalboard around, and we never do decent soundchecks or anything, so direct is so much easier, and I can control the mic'ing and everything in the box.
Click to expand...

Mincer said:
Yeah, this is why we do it, too. Also, there are no wires all over the place. Just that alone drives me crazy.
Click to expand...

Where do you guys mount the transmitter? Do you have a small rack or you just find an out of the way spot?
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

I have a cord running to an Aviom personal mixer, not doing a lot of running around at church so it's not a problem. Only our leader out front is wireless.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Gtrjunior said:
Where do you guys mount the transmitter? Do you have a small rack or you just find an out of the way spot?
Click to expand...

Our transmitters are in a rack (a cube, really) with our mixer on top, the transmitters and reverbs below. There is empty space in there, which used to house the power amps (powered PA speakers now) and that empty space stores the snake. The transmitters/receivers are wireless.
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Gtrjunior said:
Where do you guys mount the transmitter? Do you have a small rack or you just find an out of the way spot?
Click to expand...

I use a 20 ft cable and loop it through my belt loop to keep from stepping on it and unplugging my phones. The only way to keep me in one place on a set is to nail me to the floor LOL so have to watch not getting my phone cable and guitar cable tangled though. Set up so that my headphone cable comes out from under my board and runs parallel with where i plug into my pedal board .
 
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Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

I have the triples from Alien Ears. Great products and good people
 
Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

Mincer said:
I think maybe my ears are shaped weird.
Click to expand...

I think ears are like fingerprints. If your's weren't weird, that would be weird.

Mincer said:
Yeah, I am not ready to wear earphones on stage at a festival yet . . .
Click to expand...

I do remember seeing a concert where Jeff (Skunk) Baxter did the whole show, sitting on a generic dining room chair, with full cover headphones on. He sounded killer. And I respected him for protecting his ears over worrying about the "cool" factor.

I've heard he's a rocket scientist now. ;)

Edit: I almost forgot to ask . . . Mincer, did you get these yet? How are they?
 
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Re: Took the leap and ordered IEMs

ArtieToo said:
I think ears are like fingerprints. If your's weren't weird, that would be weird.



I do remember seeing a concert where Jeff (Skunk) Baxter did the whole show, sitting on a generic dining room chair, with full cover headphones on. He sounded killer. And I respected him for protecting his ears over worrying about the "cool" factor.

I've heard he's a rocket scientist now. ;)

Edit: I almost forgot to ask . . . Mincer, did you get these yet? How are they?
Click to expand...

No, they aren't finished yet. But they are ordered and paid for, so now I wait. Robert Fripp sits and wears earphones as well, so there is precedent.
 
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