IEM shopping overload, $50 ish

[Jimbilly]

I've got a birthday coming up, - don't waste your birthday and ask your wife for some music/guitar stuff rather than risk getting something weird.  I'll be using them live as monitors, wired from an Allen&Heath personal monintor/mixer for bass guitar or electric guitar.  I'm currently using some really cheap in-ears, they do the job (pitch and timing), but I'd probably enjoy some nicer ones.

I'm looking on Amazon and reading reviews, there's a whole lot that get good reviews, prices all over the place, I'm currently leaning towards the Linsoul Kiwi ears Cadenza ii. Really good reviews and $45

other suggestions?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GD5XQ96R/ref=twister_B0GD55WYZP?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

[scottcald]

I was looking at Paul Bond's YouTube (plays for Russ Ballard and some others) on his livestream talking about his Valeton GP-200 setup and these look like they might be what he was using.  He said he liked them better than the molded ones he paid 700 pound for.  I asked for a link for them so I'm sure he'll post that up. 

[Jimbilly]

I ended up getting those I mentioned above, they're quite a bit better in the low end than the cheap one's I've been using, and the fit is quite good, I think I will be happy with them for a while  

[velorush]

10 hours ago, Jimbilly said:

I ended up getting those I mentioned above, they're quite a bit better in the low end than the cheap one's I've been using, and the fit is quite good, I think I will be happy with them for a while  

By "above," do you mean the linked Amazon IEMs? 

I should have done more research as I went with the recommended Shure 215s at around twice that price - am I getting twice the performance? Ah, not likely, but that was what was recommended based on price/performance.

This is my first experience with IEMs (required because we're playing with a click and cues). I just need something that can get louder than the tinnitus! The Shures have been fine, just spendy.

[Jimbilly]

3 hours ago, velorush said:

By "above," do you mean the linked Amazon IEMs? 

I should have done more research as I went with the recommended Shure 215s at around twice that price - am I getting twice the performance? Ah, not likely, but that was what was recommended based on price/performance.

This is my first experience with IEMs (required because we're playing with a click and cues). I just need something that can get louder than the tinnitus! The Shures have been fine, just spendy.

yes, the Linsoul Kiwi ears Cadenza ii. 

I bet the cheaper $25-30 Linsouls are good too, and fit is very important of course. - And take my review as from someone who hasn't tried a whole bunch of IEMs.

Agreed about the tinnitus, it's so easy to run headphones/iems louder than necessary: I practice nearly every day through headphones, and I've gotten in the habit of having them as quiet as possible. It sure sounds good a little bit loud, but I don't remember this low level ear ringing a few years ago.  Some expert or other on youtube was talking about how in ears can be worse for tinnitus because they are jammed right in your ears and sealed up.  

 

[geoff_hartwell]

Several bandmates use KZ zs10s, which are like $50. They don’t fit my ears. But I’d guess the Kiwis are a fair comparison.

I also use those Shure ones which are  about $100-110, but they are far better for me in how they actually fit, but I don’t use the provided tips. https://a.co/d/0bpOyEXh

I use these XMAS tree kind of tips and trim them because I can get the right fit without cramming lol: https://a.co/d/0hIZiqya

 Good luck 👍 

[velorush]

Thanks so much for that! "Cramming" is a good word for how I'm trying to get the 215s to fit - not terribly comfortable. I'll try those tips.

[geoff_hartwell]

3 hours ago, velorush said:

Thanks so much for that! "Cramming" is a good word for how I'm trying to get the 215s to fit - not terribly comfortable. I'll try those tips.

Right On! The bulbous hard tips they come with are the worst for me. One drummer I know uses the foam tip replacements, like expandable earplug material - give those a look too. For me it’s also trying to find a balance of bass response and isolation.

They’re cheap enough I’d try both the foam and the Xmas trees - I trim some off the trunk with scissors before I put them on the earpiece 👍