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Earphones

Our range of earphones covers wired in-ear models for everyday listening and in-ear monitors for performers who need to hear a mix on stage without a wedge. Fit matters more than any specification with in-ear designs, since a poor seal loses the bass entirely. Found it cheaper elsewhere? We will match the price.

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Earphones or in-ear monitors?

The hardware overlaps but the purpose differs. Everyday earphones are tuned to sound pleasant, usually with a lift in the bass, and are designed for listening. In-ear monitors are tuned to be even and revealing, and they are designed to let a performer hear their own vocal or a click track clearly over a loud stage. If you are performing, the honesty of a monitor is the point. If you are commuting, it is not.

Getting a proper seal

With any in-ear design, the seal does most of the work. Without it, the bass simply leaks away and you will assume the earphones are poor when in fact they do not fit. Most models include several tip sizes, so try all of them rather than accepting the ones fitted in the box, and try a different size in each ear if that is what seals. A tip that seals also blocks far more outside noise, which means you can listen at a lower and safer level.

Wired reliability on stage

Wired earphones have no battery to fail and no pairing to negotiate, which is exactly why performers still use them. On stage they connect to a belt pack receiver or a headphone output, and a cable that loops over the ear rather than hanging straight down reduces the noise the cable makes as it moves against clothing. Keep a spare pair in the case, because in-ear failures always happen at the worst moment.

Stage monitoring basics

Start every soundcheck with the monitor level low and build up, because in-ears sit directly against the eardrum and a feedback squeal or a dropped microphone is unforgiving at close range. Ask for the mix you actually need rather than a copy of the front of house sound, which usually means your own voice, a rhythm reference and little else. Using one ear in and one out is common but it tempts you to run the in-ear side louder to compete with the room.

Levels and hearing protection

Because a sealed earphone excludes the room, it is easy to set a level that feels moderate but is not. Prolonged exposure to high levels causes permanent hearing damage, and musicians are among the most affected groups. Use the isolation to listen quieter rather than louder, take breaks between sets, and if your ears ring after a performance, treat that as a warning rather than a normal part of the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between earphones and in-ear monitors?
Everyday earphones are tuned to sound pleasant, often with lifted bass. In-ear monitors are tuned to be even and revealing so a performer can hear their vocal or a click clearly over a loud stage. Choose monitors for performing and earphones for listening.

Why do my earphones sound thin?
Almost always the seal. Without a proper seal the bass leaks away. Try every tip size supplied rather than the ones fitted in the box, and use different sizes in each ear if that is what seals properly.

Are wired earphones better for stage use?
They are more dependable, with no battery to fail and no pairing to negotiate, which is why performers still use them. A cable that loops over the ear also reduces the rustle of cable moving against clothing.

What mix should I ask for in my in-ears?
The one you need to perform, not a copy of the front of house sound. For most people that means their own voice, a rhythm reference and little else. Start quiet at soundcheck and build up rather than the reverse.

Is it safe to use in-ears at high volume?
Prolonged exposure to high levels causes permanent hearing damage, and a sealed earphone makes a loud level feel moderate. Use the isolation to listen more quietly, take breaks between sets, and treat ringing after a performance as a warning.

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