Shure - SE215 Pro

Shure 215 all the way. I prefer to swap the foam for the triple flanged off Amazon. They move way less for my ears.

I use the SE215’s similarly. I still bring over ear Bose on long flights for comfort, but I put in the Se215’s when I want to sleep because they’re more isolating and I can move my head to more positions without disturbing them.

The earphones and tips need to be priority one. My guess is even if you plug them directly into the board without the wireless, you will experience bass frequency loss. This could be the drivers in the earphones, but it could also be the seal of the tips of the earphones. Obviously the best way to get a good seal is to get custom impressions and molds made. Sensaphonics will make them for basic headsets like the Shure SE215. They will also make a totally custom driver set for you that is compatible with whatever wireless receiver/transmitter you use. For solutions that don't involve going to an audiologist, I like the Shure SE215 with comply professional series foam tips, when it comes to playing bass live. . Make sure you are really pinching the foam and letting it expand in your ear canal, inserting it properly. It should feel a little snug.

I only remember my first IEM in a traditional sense (people tend to call any in-ear an IEM nowadays, and I had a LOT of these) and it was Shure SE215. It went through a lot, and after several years I cracked one of the shells while trying to remove an aftermarket cable, so I’m no longer using it. Maybe I would’ve hated its sound today but I loved it back then, and I’m sure it still holds up comfort-wise (as I have similarly built E5c which are awesome in that regard).

Love my IEMs. I use Shure 535 and also Shure 215. Both sound great and very happy i made The change

I got some SE215s used a few years ago, they’re still going strong.

if you value ergonomics and non flashiness, it's hard to beat the Sennheisers or Shure style iems. I've tried a lot, and outside they are imho the best as they are flush with the ear. The Shure se215 are imho even better for small ears. They have a ~3mm nozzle, the transparent casing makes them non attention grabbing. The cable on them sucks though, extremely microphonic. People claim they are outdated audio quality wise though. All i can say is they EQ extremely well (measured).

My Shures have lasted me almost a decade. I've had to replace the cord a few times though.

Chu 2 should be fine, they are reasonably neutral. You might want to consider Shure SE215 (outside of your budget but still) for practice since they are quite comfortable and provide very good passive sound isolation. Alternatively, a proper set of cans can also be nice, something like Sony MDR-7506. I should stress that the last two options I mainly suggest for practicing/tracking and not necessarily for general listening.

i used my shure se215 pros for the tech test, though i am on pc and use a standalone microphone, im not sure what your mic setup is

Theres no such thing as good quality iems for under $100. Get the Shures or get the KZ's. Nothing at that price range sounds good but it does the trick for monitoring and hearing yourself enough. I used the Shure 215s until I splashed out on custom moulded ones and they did the track fine, the bass wasnt great but I could hear myself. The only time I ran into issues was playing bigger venues where the noise cancellation isnt great which can sometimes make it a bit difficult.

I struggled with them at first until I read suggestions online to replace the stock tips with larger foam tips to get a better seal and I managed alright. The issue with single driver iems though is you get ear fatigue quicker so the longer a gig went on, the less I felt like I could hear myself.

IEMs:- Campfire Andro 2020 > Shure se846 > Sennheiser ie800 > Dunu sa6 > Sony mdr ex800 > Sony xba N3 > final a4000 > Sennheiser ie200 > etymotic er2xr > Sennheiser ie600 > Kiwiears Cadenza > Shure se215 > blon bl03 > Moondrop Space travel Headphones:- Audeze LCD2C > AKG K701 > hd600 > hd660s > hd6xx > hd650 > Meze 109 > Koss porta pro > Grado sr225 > Grado sr80

You need In Ear Monitors or some big Vic Firth type studio headphones. Never play without hearing protection, never play with earbuds that don’t have proper hearing protection specifically for musicians. Everybody and their mother starts with the Shure se215, I’d recommend taking a look at those.

Yeah those are made for blocking big industrial machine noise so they muffle the drums way too much. Check out the se215 or something similar, they’re made specifically for musicians. If you plan on sticking with drumming for a while then look into mic’ing your kit in the future. It makes a huge difference having mics so that you can adjust your drum levels in your IEMs while jamming or practicing with other people.

I play to a click with Shure 215s and my band follows me. Forget anyone who says it can’t be done. As others have said, you’ll want to rehearse this with your band before taking the stage and you’ll need to do hi-hat chirps for any parts you aren’t playing (guitar intros, breaks, etc). You follow the click (not your bandmates), and your band needs to follow you. It takes a bit of practice to get it right, but for my band this is the only way we play. Everything you need: * https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pro-metronome-tempo-tuner/id477960671 * https://a.co/d/bTxtNF3 * https://a.co/d/iyD4kAV * https://a.co/d/gdO0Z3N * https://a.co/d/5kp4fr6 * https://a.co/d/dTvbvi8 That last link is a cable that allows you to connect the audio from your stage monitor directly into your mixer (without having to even ask the sound guy for a feed), and it splits the mono signal to left/right so you can hear your band and the click in both ears. I plug the monitor mix into channels 2/3, and the click from my phone into 4/5. Without the mixer you won’t be able to hear your phone click over the band. It amplifies the signal.

My se215 sound great for the buck. They are channeled through headphone preamp most of the time, but work with iPhone fairly great as well

The budget IEM recommendation is usually the KZ ZS10 pros. I got a set recently on sale for $40, but they’re typically $50 on amazon. Get some better fitting tips and they’re really solid for the price. They’re 5 driver and have a ton of low end. Almost too much honestly. I haven’t gigged with them yet but compared to the ultimate ears set I usually use the UEs sound much more balanced. I think the KZs might get boomy/muddy, but we’ll see. A lot of people like and recommend them. In both cases the headphones I have are universal fit, not custom molded, so finding the right tips is very important. If you don’t have a good seal on your ear you get a ton of external noise and end up having to crank the volume on the IEM which can just cause more problems, or they’re falling out all the time and you’re losing your monitor. When I first started using IEMs we all had the shure psm systems with the SE215 headphones. They’re fine. Like you said not the most robust bass response but they worked well enough for me. That band eventually split and I got away from IEMs for a while. Got back into using them more recently with some of my other projects.

I used to have a set of the SE215 when my band was all on wireless ears. Not sure where they went, I know I sold the system but haven’t been able to find the headphones. I recently got a set of the ultimate ears universal fits. They have one, two, or three driver options in the universal fits. Took some trial and error to get the tips right and the seal how I wanted, but they sound awesome. Drummer from one of the bands I play with uses the KZs and was impressed with the quality for the price, but I haven’t tried them personally.

Kind of depends on the band situation. Do you have a dedicated sound tech? Or do you use a mixer where you can control your own mix from a phone/tablet? Is the rest of your band using IEMs or are they on wedges? Do you mic/DI every instrument on stage? I use mine sparingly. With one of my bands for most gigs we have our own mixer and I can control the mix. If we have a big enough gig where we’re running subs and mic the drums/guitars then I can use a smaller rig or DI only and I’ll use my IEMs. When we have full FOH provided I’ll likely use them as well. When we have smaller gigs and aren’t micing amps/drums then I just use wedges/stage volume. With previous bands when I was singing I always preferred IEMs. I had one band where we had everyone on ears and minimal stage volume. I’ve also had bands do mixed IEM and wedge setups. I used to have a shure system with the SE215s. Currently have a set of ultimate ears. Good isolation is essential. Custom fits will always be the best for that, but as good set of foam tips which seal well and stay in your ears can work just as well. I have some friends/bandmates who swear by the KZ stuff as the best bang for your buck.

I have a pair of the KZ ZS10 pros as well as some ultimate ears and had some Shure SE215s in the past. The KZ are definitely hard to beat for the price, but I found them very boomy and bass heavy compared to the others. Like same mix or same music the KZ had huge bass where others would sound balanced, but if you’re mixing for the KZ or want that bottom end that’s not an issue. For the price the KZ are absolutely hard to beat. The xvive wireless stuff, similar hard to beat for the price, just watch your frequencies. Some friends who use them regularly have run into interference issues as they work on the same frequencies as WiFi. One of my bandmates used xvive wireless mics which have been flawless, but I’ve run into the interference issues with my mixer/tablet connection. It can be frustrating when it happens and you can’t fix it live.

I would say shure se215s for IEMs. I haven't used the transmitter you mentioned, but im aware of it and have heard nothing but good things.

These are the IEMs I use: Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating In Ear Stereo Earphones (Clear) with 3 Pairs of Triple Flange Sleeves for Better Sound Isolation https://a.co/d/gt5835h This is the most recent Xvive (I believe): Xvive U4 Wireless in-Ear Monitor System Professional IEM System Transmitter and Beltpack Receiver for Studio, Band Rehearsal,Live Performance (U4) https://a.co/d/7byUKG1

Ooooh. My first iem was a Shure 215 for drumming and then my first chi-fi was the kz Andromeda clone. I got rid of both and good riddance they suck ass. You know what doesn't suck the kz zst and the tin audio t4. Both are great

The Shure SE215s are great for the money. I've been using them for years, but I primarily use them on stage or in rehearsal. At home I use my Sony MDR-7506 for monitoring and my Steven Slate VSX during mixing and mastering.

You can plug the SE215s into anything. I used to use them on my phone on airplanes before all the phone manufacturers thought it was a good idea to remove the headphone jack.

Shure se215, have two pairs. One pair I found in a parking lot in 2015, still work. The other pair from eBay, looks like Chinese bootleg. Had to super glue the shell to keep them from opening. Both sound exactly the same.

Still go back to my first pair, owned 3 over the years Shure SE215 Cheap \~$100, super comfy and great sounding HM : Moondrop aria as a first IEM

I use Shure SE215 IEM

If you don’t have one you’ll need a decent digital rack console with enough inputs and xlr outputs your band will require. Decide if you want stereo or mono outputs. I would then get a split snake to fit your inputs and label it well. Try throwing everything in a rack and your set up will be sooo easy. IEM on a budget, get some se215 and some art hp1 if you’re staying wired. I’d recommend getting headphones with better bass response but the 215 do the trick for the price. There’s lots of other options but it’s worth putting some money into it and you’ll get consistent great sound in your ears.

I went to my ENT and got custom ones made. They were less than $200 and work great. The better the fit the better they filter. I wear Shure SE215's for in ears at the moment, but as soon as I can afford it I will get custom in ears made too.

I gave myself Tinnitus for about 3 years because of using regular Apple Earbuds while practicing drums. I bought some Shure SE215's and they work great. You can get them on eBay for like $60 instead of $100 at Guitar Center.

Shure SE215s are a safe entry pick because they’re reliable and built to last, though the sound quality isn’t mind blowing. They’re popular for a reason though, for live use. KZ does make good budget IEMs. The ZS10 Pro and CRA+ get good feedback and might be a better value. Soundbrenner Wave is more of a wearable metronome than an in ear monitor, so it won’t help you hear yourself on stage. If your main goal is comfort and being able to hear clearly, focus on fit and noise isolation no matter which brand you choose. A good seal makes a bigger difference than people think.

My Shure SE215's don't sound as good as my Chu 2's. My recommendation would be to buy a pair of Chu 2's first and see if they tickle your pickle before getting any other IEM's.

Guitarist here. Full wireless IEM rig for our foldback. I have a few ZS10 Pros as backups, but I vastly prefer my Truthear Hexas. I honestly think what musicians really want, almost always, is neutral balance, which KZs are not exactly famous for. Never the less... - KZs are cheap. Some musicians splash crazy cash on gear, but there are so many bits of gear you need that IEMs aren't high up the priority ladder. - Musicians have mixers. I have access to all kinds of parametric EQs and other adjustments, I can make anything decent sound good with enough effort. - ZS10 Pros are much better than the Shure SE215s, for example. We started out on those because they came with our IEM wireless gear. The 215s are a reliable work horse, but they sound terrible compared to a lot of much cheaper IEMs these days. I think a lot of guys are just running what their systems came with, and from that position KZ is very good. - Marketing just worked. I don't know if it was truly grassroots stuff or if this was an intentional marketing campaign, but a lot of musicians forums and subreddits have been talking about KZ for the last year or two. Word got out, and many jumped on the band wagon. They're wrong though. I think Hexa or other more neutral IEMs would go in a lot more musician's ears if they knew about them. 🤷‍♂️

I have the Shure 846G2. But I use the yellow foam inserts. Check those out on the 2nd picture. You can use them with Shure 425, and I believe the Shure 215 as well. The foam is a way better seal than the rubber. You compress it. Stick it in your ear then it expands out. Molds would be best but this is fantastic as well. [Shure846G2](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SE846G2JD--shure-se846g2-sound-isolating-earphones-jade)

If you haven’t tried the er2, then you might want to test run them. Sound will be good, but fit in the ears… not for everyone. The se215 are just ok. Safe bet in general, with a comfortable fit. I think better as a daily beater.

As far as isolating stage IEMs go there's a big gap right at your budget, there's Shure SE215s around $100 which are "ok" for stage usage but don't sound great in terms of clarity imo. Other similar priced alternatives probably have a similar level of sound quality, then there's a big price jump up to multi driver models and many will require custom molded tips rather than generic ones further increasing cost (better isolation and more comfortable though). Don't rule out good quality wired earbuds, they won't isolate as much as stage IEMs but you *probably* don't need that level of isolation for home/studio use, and at your budget they're probably more pleasing to listen to. That said I don't have any recommendations.

IEMs are best. The Shure se215 are the iconic mid range IEM and I love mine, but they’re a bit pricey - there are similar products for cheaper.  I’ve heard Linsoul and Truthear all mentioned on a positive light, I’ve never used them though.

I had two pairs of TMA-1s. Snapped the band on both. Switched to Shure 215’s in 2018. Upgraded to the 535’s in 2020. They’re not for everyone but they significantly made DJing better for me.

I know these are pricey. BUT if you are planning on playing drums for the rest of your life. I would invest in a pair of Ultra Phones. You can hear the kit clearly. Its like someone just turned down the volume. Plus they are super comfortable. [https://www.gk-music.com/product/ultraphones/](https://www.gk-music.com/product/ultraphones/) Also if your going to be playing for a while listening to a song to play with or record. I would put an EQ on it and cut the highs down. The high frequencies are what can do the most damage to your ears. I tried the Shure se215 but they just don't block enough sound out. Plus the rubber starts warping and starts leaking sound and you don't realize it. Even if you don't get the Ultra Phones. I would recommend over the ear ones.

+1 for wired IEMs , Shure cables and the 215s can be picked up for $70 multiple times during the year. Their 30" cable can loop through a belt loop and they stay pretty out of the way if it's under your shirt. Sound quality and replacement cables for $30 are pretty good combo. Still have my first set of 215s from 15 years ago. I'm currently rotating two pairs of Asus Cetra but I've lowered my listening hours to 8 hours a day. In 2 years span I've had to return 2 pairs and I've had my current 2 pairs for a year. I'm really tough on electronics, work in a warehouse, use them for weekend projects, and I can't sleep without them. Super light sleeper and tinnitus are my issues.

I've used the cheapoh Shures, then the SE215s, loved them. Caught the plug in my trap case, got the KZ10s, they are really good as well. If yours are functional and highs are cutting, possibly change out the tips!!! Rock on!!!

I use the Shure SE215 and they work great for me. You’ll definitely want an extension cable, but I don’t think any IEMs come with a long cable

If you can spend a hundred bucks, there are several options for in-ear monitors with 30+ dB noise isolation. Sennheiser IE100 and Shure SE215 are pretty common, but there are cheaper options as well.

I've had them and they're not bad, but I was unable to find replacement foam tips which kind of sucked. The Shure SE215 are pretty equivalent, but also easy to find replacement tips.

I recommend getting a cheap Amazon one first just to try it out. If you like the concept then go for a nicer one, I use and recommend Shure SE215

You'll want to consider the following: * Who controls your in-ear mix - you, the house, or sometimes you, sometimes the house? * Do you have DIs available, or are you going to be grabbing your mix from microphones? * Wired or wireless? For a band starting out, I'd suggest going for wired in-ears and letting the house control your mix. You will need to be able to play both with and without your in-ears, you will always have venues that cannot accommodate an in-ear monitoring mix for your band. A pair of Shure SE215s and a Behringer P1 body pack will cost $150 per band member. I would recommend the P1 vs the P2 as the P1 has a built-in limiter to protect your earballs if someone knocks a microphone over. If you want to control the mix, you'll need a mixer with enough aux outs for everyone, a microphone splitter, and a small rack. Cheap wireless systems are cheap for a reason and should be avoided like the plague.

id go one step up and get Shure 425's, but eh 215's have worked well for probably millions of drummers for YEARS

I have had both of them plus my current ones of the Shure 215 SE Pro. The bose ones were definitely my favorite. They were so comfortable and the sound was amazing. My dog broke them after about two years. Now I can't find a pair that isn't crazy expensive because they are discontinued (at least can't find them in canada) The truthear ones I am not sure if I got a defective pair but the sound was really muffled regardless what I did with my sound settings. I only used them for about a week. They were alright for comfort. Then I bought the shure 215 pro and I found them really good. They were really close in sound quality to bose. They are pretty comfortable too because they are really light. I ended up buying a second pair to have as a back up. They aren't as expensive as the bose either but I think they are a really good option. I know a few pros use them but I can't remember which ones

I’d recommend the SE215’s too, but I’d also recommend having a go with a Porter and Davies drum stool they are absolutely amazing to recreate the low end feedback from the kit. I have a little bit of bass guitar in the seat mix too. It means I don’t need kick and low frequencies in my ears so I clears up the in ear mix. Expensive route but definitely fun!

I use the KZ ZS10 Pro. They sound WAY better than my old Shure SE215 and are way more comfortable. Get some [Comply Memory Foam](https://a.co/d/cRC1KUp) tips to really up the game. They are easily the best value and you'd have to spend $3-400 to get better.

Shure 215s are awesome but I gotta say I've been using these on tour and they SMOKE JH Audio stuff at 1/10 of the price. KZ ZAR in-Ear Monitor 7BA+1DD... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTDG5BJR?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Shure SE215 sound isolation buds through a Rolls PM50SE Personal Monitor Amplifier. Haven’t used a wedge in years. Saved what’s left of my hearing. Cheers.

I've had both, Chu 2 is better but se215 does sound more natural, I remember first Chi-FI IEM I tried from the friend Trn V30, it was all around better than se215 only upper bass sounded kinda harsh on it, on se215 it was more polished, that was one thing it was better than $30 IEM from 5 years and a half years ago, new stuff has gotten even better, I'd take GATe over it any day even if same price

Comfort and build wise, they're great. Tuning wise, they're outclassed by what you can get for $20 these days.

I was using some Shure 215s and they started cutting out so i swapped to some XVive T9s and for the money they are excellent. Easy to put in and pop out with the silicone ear pieces (come with foam too if you prefer) and have a whole bunch of sizes. I was thinking of getting a custom set made at some point but these T9s are real good and i may just roll with them.

yet my $89 SE215's have been trucking along for years and i can monitor everything i need to just fine in a variety of situations. i've got to ask, what kind of reference material were you working with? plug them straight into your phone and listen to some commercial mixes, anything with a lot of energy and density that was put out relatively recently. compare your $300 to your $50 in this way. i guarantee you both will be usable in a monitoring situation what i've found most often with those that struggle with IEMs, and monitoring in general, is that people forget that monitoring is monitoring. it's not necessarily meant to sound good, it's just meant to ensure you can get through the gig. a lot of people listen to KZ's or SE's or UE's or 64's or whatever through their IEM mixbuses and think everything sounds bad, but monitoring isn't meant to function like a commercially optimized mix. it's *okay* that the monitor mix doesn't sound like the record it's all a matter of expectations. simply, don't expect your early-tapped, poorly balanced, non-limited, user-mixed monitor mixbus to sound like the record through some SE's or KZ's. and then when you try some UE's or 64's, don't act like that early-tapped, poorly balanced, non-limited, user-mixed monitor mixbus suddenly sounds like the record; it doesn't, it's just confirmation bias because you have a 4 figure hole in your wallet that you have to justify to yourself somehow

Never had the problem with SE215s. Maybe you need to use slightly smaller tips? When the tips are too big they can get compressed in your ear canal so much you lose the "hole" in the middle and that blocks treble substantially.

I second this. I bought the Shure 215 IEMs and they are great. I can hear better with the volume lower than with a headset and I no longer get the headset headache. I also use a separate dedicated mic to communicate

AT m50x and Shure se215

It’s weird isn’t it. I got the EW300s a few weeks ago and I immediately wanted to upgrade and read through a ton of posts here.  I think it’s because years and years ago I had the original wired apple earbuds, then I got M-Audio IE10s and was blown away by the clarity. Then I got shure se215s, then I got into KZ buds like a decade ago, then shure 425s and finally AirPods Pro. I’ve had those for like 6 years or whatever and when I got the simgots recently I remembered just how much detail music could have. And the fact that they are less than a third of what my shures cost made me think well if $80 gets me this good of sound, what does $300 get me??  I love the imaging and separation of the EW300s and I really want even more

My first proper hyped up IEM was the audio sense T800, I had others before this but this was the first big step up from the SE215 which is had owned for years at the time. I got mine pretty well as they came out in 2019 I think? I only got rid of them recently because the a few drivers in each side failed which meant they were unusable.

Just want to point out that the Shure 215's and the KZ's will both be equal or better than the Drumeos in this department.

I used Shure SE215s for almost 10 years before upgrading to my custom molded set. Use the foam tips that are included and have fun!

Shure 215s and grab a pack of the silicone "Christmas tree" style ear tips with different sizes. The fit in your ear is the biggest thing for comfort. Down the line get ear molds, as that's where it's really at. Also don't forget a headphone limiter, feedback/pops, etc can damage your ears with IEMs, good to have the limiter just incase.

Turn down the music and play the drums louder. That's where your "mixing" comes in. I have the 3M work tunes, but I don't use them for drums. They make the drums sound really bad and muffled. IEMs, like Shure 215s, with the correctly fitted ear pieces have a much flatter frequency reduction and the drums will sound better. Adjusting the music volume and playing volume should get you close to what you want.

> Shure SE215 Holy based

Bought a par of Shure se215 back in highschool bc i was a music student. They blew my mind. I think its just what you like and what you expect.

I've had me se215s for like a decade and still use them multiple times a week. Maybe one new cable in that time? I used to daily drive them when phones had audio jacks, I've worn the logos off.

for bass, there’s no replacement for custom molds. I use the ultimate ears reference remastered because i like the flat response. there cheapest model, the UE 5 is about $600 i think. they’re not cheap, but they’re totally worth it for the sound quality and ear protection. for universals, i like the shure 215 (which are $100), or any in that line

Like the other comment said, IEMs if you want a reasonable representation of how it sounded in the recording studio. [Here's a pair that's about 100$](https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/shure-se215-pro-review), not the best sound, but still miles ahead of common ear buds with overpowering EQs to compensate for poor basic sound reproduction.

The Shures have been fine for me on festival stages and places where I’m not close to my cabinet and don’t want to rely on wedges. For $99 they sound plenty good, and I play six string bass mainly.

I like the Shure SE215 PRO ($99.00 on Amazon.com). With the compressible foam sleeves you can barely hear outside sounds, so you have to rely on your mixer (split cue is your friend).

Is the low cut because your headphones distort? Because that could be a huge part of the problem depending on how high you’re cutting. If you’re cutting at 40-50Hz, that’s one thing, but if you’re cutting at 100+, you’re cutting the part of the kick that’s gonna cut through the bass. As much as it sucks, we really are one of the instruments that need the multi-driver IEMs with the low bass response. IEMs on par with SE215s are decent enough for most players when starting out, but the drummer and bass player truly need robust sound right where 1-driver and cheap 2-driver IEMs fall off. When I switched from SE215s to SE535s, it made an absolute world of difference instantly. Molded is the way to go for sure, but if you can’t swing a pair of molds, try to grab some overtime shifts, save a bit, help some buddies with odd jobs to get into something like SE535s in the mean time. It’ll be good later also when you can spring for molds because you’ll have a decent quality set of spares.

Why the hate for Shure SE215s?

Mine sound pretty good, but true they could be better.

I got a "free" set when I signed up for Drumeo. Decent sound, but they died after about a year. Went back to my SE215s, which are about 5 years old. Hard to beat Shures fur durability. At least in my experience.

If you ever decide to spend a bit more, Shure SE215's and a good DAC of some sort are game changers.

I have a set of Shure SE215. They are my daily drivers. However you need a good DAC to back them with.

If you are trying out Just get some cheap kz's or something and look for better memory foam earplugs I've been a drummer for a long time and have tested brand and of brand (I owned shure 215, 535 and 846, stagg something and 2 pairs of china bought kz's for 50eu a pair on temu) To be fair 846 is my best experience because they give me the most options for earpieces and filters But in honesty they are not worth the money compaired to the kz ones Yes much more comfortable Yes more sweat resistant and so on But 1000bucks compaired to 50

It was my first iem I ever had too about 15 years ago.. there’s better options for sure now a days but I still love the se215.. for 30$ I recommend the blon 03.. great tuning for music.. a lot of people on here are going to tell you that the shure se215 are outdated and not worth it.. but as long as you like them that’s all that matters..

I use my shure 215 at home. But I'm just a bedroom dj so it's kinda my main stage :D What is the difference between records and digital media when it comes to headphones? 

Tried shure se215 but cant get used to them, so switched back to hd 25s

As others have said Shure’s SE215 are $50 less and are excellent for the price. But, haven’t listened to these Drumeo ones.

I am a se215 absolutist. They sound great and hold up to most other things. Though the truthear nova is probably the best iem under 2000 but it's 60 more than the se215 at retail Also on the secondhand market you can get the se215 for a song so that adds to the value. Plus parts can be had to repair them which is another huge plus for me $100 for these is overpay though there's no way around it

I would say the SE-215 are ok for the isolation and comfort, but it's kind of outdated advice - there are MUCH better options for the price/sound quality ratio. KZs are a good start, but there are more "chi-fi" brands making even better sounding stuff for not very much money: Moondrop, Truthear, Simgot, Tangzu, 7hz, Tripowin and more. Not all of them will be great for isolation, that can be improved by buying foam eartips as was mentioned in the post.

I have used KZ ZS10 Pros until the cable connections disintegrated, then I bought a set of Trurhear Holas (now discontinued, Gate is the successor). Both much cheaper than the SE215 and both sound better. The SE215 are a muddy mess, definitely not worth the $100. The ZS10 Pro's sound is V-shaped, they have much more treble than the Shures so they were immediately much clearer. Can be too sharp and fatiguing in the upper-mids / lower treble if you have sensitive ears. The Truthear Hola were even cheaper than the KZs (like $20), but they sound the best and most balanced of the three to my ears, insane bang for buck. Isolation wasn't great with the stock silicone tips, but swapping them for foam ones did the trick.

First, you need some proper ear protection- ANC headphones or earbuds like Air Pods are better than nothing but the general consensus is that they should be used with either protective earbuds or cans. Adding even the cheap little foam buds to your current setup will help protect your hearing. Steps 1 & 2- get yourself some IEMs like Shure 215s or ZS10s (or whatever you find and like) with foam tips- they will provide protection even unplugged for practicing or whatever and you can connect these to your phone to listen to tracks or a click while you're practicing or to a computer or mixing board to monitor yourself while recording. You'll likely need a headphone adapter since phones no longer have headphone jacks. Steps 3 & 4- I have a Behringer P2 which allows you to pull the XLR cable from your stage monitor and put that signal directly into your ears. It has an amplifier in it so you can adjust the volume as you need. I use this for rehearsals and gigs where our usual wireless IEM system is unavailable. There are other models that do the same thing at other price points. Beyond that you're looking at wireless IEM systems which are a way more expensive and complicated bag of worms.

nothing special! 2013 Macbook Pro i7 w SSD 16gb ram. Ableton Live Suite 11. Behringer UMC1820 usb interface, and Electrovoice ND series mics. SE215 in ears. KRK monitors when i'm mixing. i hope to upgrade to a new MBP soon and maybe a next gen interface. love ableton tho! really love abarrant shapesifter compressor plug in (cheap!) makes my mix pop!

Shure SE215 is pretty much the most popular entry-level IEM. I would highly recommend them!

I wear them to ride motorcycles. Caveat is I like the ones that wired together. Best sound is Shure se215. for quality at a good price the Beats Flex are great.

Agreed. They do a pretty good job eliminating the external noise from the drums while playing however. Hard to beat for $100

Can't go wrong with a pair of Shure 215s. They block out a significant amount of external noise so you don't have to crank your volume to play along with songs. I have the Aonic4s also. It's definitely a step up in sound quality and sound scape, but also an extra $100-150. Their cables hold up for a long time as well, My first one lasted over 10 years.

Custom IEM sleeves are 100% worth it for drums. I have Sensaphonics with Shure SE215's. * $100 Ear Impressions at HearUSA * $200 Sensaphonics Sleeves for Shure IEM * $100 Shure SE215 Total Cost = $400 My sleeves also fit Shure SE535's which I bought later on.

They are still good today ig Just a lot of cheaper Chi-fi can match if not surpass it's quality. And for the same price of 100 bucks there's a lot better options. Sound wise still good, bang for buck wise not so much.

Pro and Regular are the exact same IEM the only difference are the Cable.

I've been using Shure SE215 for about 15 years now. They work for me, but I don't know how they stack up against the competition these days.

Shure SE215 Pro’s have been game changing for me. I had held on to a tattered pair of Sony Silver’s for WAY longer than I should have, TBH.

i can recommend the shure se215 for starters. there's also the drumeo iem that they include in some subscriptions (not sure about this). i always went with shure and upgraded later on to shure se535. they have very nice isolation but could have more bass on the lowend imo (i think thats common for iem anyway below 1000$).

Quite note, most of the recommendations and products talked here in this subreddit are for audiophiles (people who use IEMs to listen to music casually as a hobby). I'm of the opinion that most audiophile IEMs can still work fine for live music performance (I use the ZiiGaat Odyssey in my band), but anecdotally the most common brand of IEMs I see for actually monitoring live music are Shure, usually the Shure SE215

I started with these. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Aonic215Cl--shure-aonic-215-sound-isolating-earphones-clear I also have some Drumeo branded IEMs and I currently use a set of Behringer headphones via a Yamaha EAD 10 to play along and record myself.

Exactly. Low cost for entry, I still use mine probably seven or so years later. I also use them when lowing and weed eating. Are they perfect? No. Are they pretty damn good? Absolutely.

Same here, I love them. They're good for walkin' around too (ie. Non-studio use).

If you're not getting custom moulded, use foam tips for better insulation (and bass). Shure 215 or KZ ZS10 are commonly recommended IEM's - but equally important is what you connect them to. Your pack MUST have a limiter built in. That will make a sound mishap be a wow - that was unpleasant, instead of WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, and ringing ears for hours/days/life. I use a Behringer Powerplay P1 (and KZ ZS10), but would prefer something like the LD Systems HPA 1 pack who has an extra 3.5mm aux input for a click/other you don't want to go into the mixer.

I'm going to disagree here. As someone who uses Shure SE215 IEMs currently and have used 3 different KZ earphones over the ears, the Shures and better in every single way, including sound. The Shure are hardly audiophile quality, and there are plenty of earphones that beat them out at even half the price, but I have not found a pair of KZs that do this. They mostly just sound too unnatural and, at least for me, that is very important on stage.

It's insane. The price of the 425s for how they sound is really embarrassing (imo, I'm sure there's someone out there that loves them). I find myself wishing the 215s that came with my body pack + transmitter were still around.

Get shure se215... ironically the much cheaper kz in ears sound much better, but the shures are just so much more comfortable that they are the better choice. When you are drumming you want something that will not fall off and won't distract you.

IEMs with a least -25db ; shure SE215 are what most people start with. They are not really amazing in any way, but they are going to be just fine for practicing with music

I switch between Shure SE215 and Sennheiser IE 100 Pro depending on what mood I’m in. The Shure has more bass, but the Sennheiser has clearer bass. Fit is probably more important than anything else though. You need a really good seal for bass. I’m using a large tip in one ear and a medium tip in the other.

I've used se215s for years they're amazing

Yep I was just about to suggest it. My band mates currently use this and have told me to get my hands on one when I can. Just got mine with the Shure 215 in ear monitors. Best $320 I've spent.

I’ve used my trusty old Shure SE215 IEMs w/memory foam eartips for gaming for about 14 years so far.

I've had the itch to try getting some nicer audio equipment for a bunch of years but didn't want to spend the money before listening to what I was missing. After asking for advice I bought my first pair of IEMs (Shure SE215) and yeah, they sound great... But I don't know if I'm just convincing myself that they sound better than my 10€ earphones. I use my android phone to listen to music and I don't know if using a DAC or DAP would greatly improve the experience I'm not ready to make such an investment when the first step has been like that... Also got TIDAL to try listening to FLAC music and don't notice any different to normal Spotify (we don't have losless yet in Spain).

I’ve used both the KZ models. Prefer the AS10 slightly. Really fantastic for the price IMO. Absolutely hated the sure IEMs. No experience with the others you mentioned.

Most of my band members use Shure 215. I had a KZ ZS10PRO for a year and I thought it was a bit too harsh for live but sometimes the harshness is what gives you the energy for a better performance. As a singer, I can say that what I hear with the IEM affects drastically my performance. I also don't know the reason for the KZ ZS10 to still have such popularity between musicians when there are so much different choices now.

I have both Shure se215’s and some KZ pro 10s and would likely recommend those before these drumeo ones. The shures and kzs with foam tips have performed really well, and cost much less

For sure. For the price, I honestly don’t know if you can beat the Shures. I grabbed the KZs because they were like $50 and one of my bass players was raving about them. Once I swapped in foam tips and a longer cord I liked them a lot more

The shures came with foam tips, but the KZs did not I think I snagged shures on sale at like $89, and the KZs for about $50. Foam tips were an additional $13, and a longer cord was like $10 The Shure se215s are really flat, so it’s good for a nice even mix. There are pros and cons of this. Theyre built like a tank and have handled lots of abuse. The KZ zs10 pro X is a bit more bass boosted, but still pretty flat (imo) As others have said, the shures fit in ear a bit better, so there may be some benefits there. I haven’t had any issues getting a good seal with the KZs though. Both are pretty comfortable for long use

i use the shure se215 when i use iems - depends on where im at & genres i'm playing as to whether i use those, hd25, or mdr-v6. i know they're all entry level, but i'm not paying as much attention to a hifi audio aspect as i am for how to mix, & they all do they great for me (have a lot of time on them & know how little or much each of them color the music. they're also cheap & easily replaceable. they're [iems] also my favorite mixing at home at night when i'm not using monitors. if you're doing it more for pleasure over practice, i think it would be worth taking some of the other advice here, with custom in-ear moulds & better sounding models, that just ain't my use case. definitely worth trying out to see how you work with them at the very least.

I use the Shure SE215m+ with my nano 7 on my daily ride to university. The comfort, inline controls and passive noise cancelling of the 215s, paired with the nano’s light weight sure do wonders for someone always on the move like me. But when I’m at home or at school then I’ll whip out my Sennheiser IE300 and iPod touch 2 combo, for a more leisurely and critical listening experience.

If you can afford molds you gotta do it. I started with Se215s and then went to the 535s. The 535s were nice but pretty soon after I got 64 Audio A4s custom molds. There was a pretty night and day difference for me and I can’t go back. Isolation is better, the fit is perfect and there no fiddling and sonically they are just more detailed but more importantly, they are so fun to listen to. Get molds if you can. You won’t regret it.

In comparison to custom molded in ears - the outer Sounds like cymbal bleed in your ears is immense. I wouldnt use the 215 anymore. Ehrn i got my customs i was worried if the 215 causer damage to my ears😂

the 215s will work fine for that. I find them quite balanced/neutral in terms of coloration for casual listening, even for bass sources (I'm primarily a bass guitarist) compared to sometimes lacking in bass when in a loud, live performance environment

This is solid advice. I started using in ear monitors, shure se215s for performances where the band couldn't make much sound on stage (common in casinos and certain corporate gigs). since then they've increasing become part of my travel kit. I love over the ear headphones for comfort for long listening and mixing sessions, but the value for sound quality and noise blocking in loud workspaces/airplanes given its size just blows any other pair of headphones away for lightweight/small form factor travel. I usually travel with the se215s, my loop earplugs, and sometimes jbl wireless earbuds and increasingly leave the headphones at home.

Proper musician IEMs will have *much* better isolation than ChiFi stuff. I have a set of Shure SE-215s, and while I don't use them on the bike, they do isolate pretty well on the train. No hate for ChiFi, I have a few that I use at home and have used on transit in the past, but they're not much different from regular earbuds when it comes to isolation. Do note, though - ["Shure earphones do not carry a NRR rating and are not meant to be used as a hearing protection device"](https://service.shure.com/s/article/isolation-of-shure-earphones-and-nrr-rating?language=en_US) > Shure earphones provide between 29 dB and 37 dB of isolation. Sound isolation is dependent on the shape of the ear canal, the sleeve used, the earphone model, and the fit. A secure acoustical seal in the ear canal is vital for the best sound isolation. As every ear canal is different, an accurate noise isolation rating can only be measured; it cannot be accurately predicted. > Measurements from past models: > E2C, E2G, E2C-N, I2C Earphones > * Yellow foam sleeves: 31dB (88% of ambient noise) * Clear sleeves: 29 dB (87% of ambient noise) > E3C, E4C, E5C, I3C, I4C, E3G, E4G Earphones > * Gray Soft Flex: 30 dB (90% of ambient noise) * Yellow foam Sleeves: 37 dB (93% of ambient noise) > All measurements taken from tests done at an independent Lab on isolation vs. noise canceling. > ... > Our newer Black foam sleeve that ships with the SE model earphones will perform as well, if not better, then the yellow foam.

Ordering some shire se215s now! I been doing air pods playing the music under headphones plugged into nothing for too long. Thanks!

For an acoustic kit the first step is isolation headphones like the Vic Firth cans or basic IEMs. I’d highly recommend Shure SE215’s for that, or KZ ZS10 Pros which run about $50 on Amazon but they’re a Chinese product so lord knows how much they’ll cost by the time you read this. I’ve used both and the Shures have better isolation, and come stock with foam tips whereas you have to buy them separately with the KZ’s. Besides that you’ll want to get a dongle to connect a phone or iPad to standard headphones. Usually $10 or so. I’d also get a headphone extension cord if using IEMs since they’re only designed to reach your pocket/belt and you probably want the device sitting next to you. The Vic Firths have a long cable. With that you should be able to play music at a safe volume and hear the kit’s noise behind the hearing protection. This is exactly how I practice most of the time. If you want to hear the kit better you’d need a small mixer and a room mic to provide what the hearing protection is eliminating. That can be done with a basic analog mixer and a dynamic mic like an SM57.

Shure SE215's which run about $100. They're basic but very reliable and relatively comfortable, very discrete, and block a lot of noise. I'd also get an adapter for your phone, likely a USB-C to minijack, and an extension cord so you can have some options of where to place the phone besides your pocket. I've also used the less expensive KZ models but the Shure's are much better made and more reliable for live use. If you're using your phone I'd put it in do not disturb mode while you play. I'd also work out with your band what you'll be doing to keep time when you're not actively playing. I'd also recommend memorizing your songs and being able to play them without hearing the rest of the band. This is insurance in case your monitor situation sucks and can help if the other instruments fight for your attention. This is exactly how Travis Barker plays with Blink, and he just tells the other guys to keep up with him. It's tricky to play when you're the only one on the click so you might need to take a different approach than you're used to.

IMO get a set of Shure SE215's if you want to try out IEMs. They aren't very expensive, sound decent, and block a lot of noise. I've also used KZ's which sound better but don't give as much isolation. The Shures are designed to fully nest in the ear and provide extra isolation. IEMs are basically just discrete isolation headphones that look good on stage. The key thing to remember is that you need to use them with about the lowest possible functional volume to get the job done. They're a professional musician's tool, not meant for getting the visceral thrill of loud awesome music. Since the drivers are pointed directly at your ear drums it's easy to go overboard and have them cause damage. If you want to avoid the suffocation aspect, consider adding a small mixer to your setup that can feed the IEMs with a room mic to replace the sounds the IEMS are blocking, along with other inputs such as a click or sends/mics from the amps in the room. But again, keeping the feed volume low (under 83 dB) is essential.

No, since there are cheaper options that work just as well. These are likely something like KZ's rebranded for Drumeo. KZ's only run about $50 on Amazon, and Shure SE215's run about $100. I've used both and would recommend the Shures unless you're on a tight budget. The Shures are much better made, don't get tangled as easily, and block more sound. They don't sound quite as good but SQ is not the priority of IEMs.

Maybe I got lucky that the Shures fit really well in my ear, but I find they have much better isolation than the KZ's, using foam tips on both with very good seals. The KZ's sound like the tip is the only thing really blocking the noise but the Shures nest fully within the (*checks google*) concha of the ear to help block even more noise.

For inexpensive IEMS the KZ ZS10 pros have a better high end and low end than the 215's, but don't block as much noise even using the same foam tips since they don't fully nest within the earlobe. Keep in mind IEMs are tools and not prioritized for listening enjoyment, and you'd probably need to spend a fair amount of money to get something that has good attenuation and sounds really good. I've used the 215s and the KZ's a lot and far prefer the Shure model for better noise reduction and build quality.

Budget friendly options are the Shure SE 215 or KZ Acoustics. For better isolation i recommend switching to foam tips, if your in ears come with silicone ones.

I use the Plunge Audio Unity. KZ sound absolutely insane for the price but barely offer any isolation, even with third party tips. Shure 215 is the best for entry level and you can work your way up to the higher end ones if you like them. Noise cancelling/Bluetooth are not what you should be using for drumming.

The Shure 215’s are decently inexpensive. You can then get custom molded tips that block the most outside noise.

I play a lot live, with mine, so I typically like to get a real feel of what going on. I did get some se535’s that a friend bought from eBay and I could tell right away on sound that they were fakes. So I went back to using my 215’s.

I would genuinely encourage you to just save up a little bit more and pick up a pair of Shure se215’s for about $90 on amazon. They are great quality, they wrap over the ear so they fall out far less than other in ear options, and I’ve been using my pair for a couple years now. If it means anything, Beaulo used to use them he may even still use them I’m not sure.

I have had the 215 for quite a few years now...the sound isolation is great and I still like them alot, but I reckon there are alot of newer sets that are alot cheaper and sound decent too...my suggestion would be to look at some of the chi-fi stuff

IEMs. Shure SE215s are the ones you'll want!

I'm using the Shure SE215's with the Shure Foam tips, just ordered some of Comply Professional tips to try out. I love them and get very good passive attenuation. You can always start with the foams and if you're unhappy have some sleeves made later.

I really like the Shure SE215's with the Comply Pro Foam Tips

In-ear monitors and play quietly, that works for drumming along to recordings. Use blasticks/multi rods for a quieter sound while maintaining a similar feel to sticks. Better yet, drum and cymbal silencers, or a drum pad kit. Then it is no problem hearing the recording at a reasonable volume in the headphones/in ear monitors. The cheapest Shure in-ears are fine. 215 is the model I think.

Just good in ear monitors to protect your hearing and listen to music, drumless tracks, or just a click to practice. We are literally just talking about earbuds especially made for music and to protect hearing. It's nice to have Bluetooth buds just to mess around, but only if you wear hearing protection over it. If you're going to get into recording, playing live, or even just get an EAD-10, you're going to want wired hearing protection, anyways. Something like this is nice, but I have knock off stuff that's also pretty good. The secret is using the right memory foam tips to get a good seal. I basically bought knockoffs of these for $25.... https://a.co/d/949LpRv

Figured I'd chime in since I literally just spent money on this particular topic. I case you don't know, IEM's (in-ear monitors) are industry standard gear for live performances. Almost every person you've seen performing vocals on stage has a pair of IEM's being worn so they can hear the audio mix during the performance. They usually look like molded ear pieces with wrap-around cables going over the back of their ears and down their backs to a transmitter on their belt line or wherever they can perch the transmitter on their outfit.  These IEM's can range in price from under $100 (new but universal fit and general use quality) and quickly increase into the $1000's USD for custom-molded, quad balanced armature drivers with user spec'ed custom design (acrylic color, special outer covering designs, tuning mix, etc). Westone is a company that comes to mind.  And most (but not all) use specially designed connectors to attach your IEM's to the audio cables, a standard called "MMCX". But IEM's are just that: monitors. They are not self-powered headphones with an unremovable cable to a 3.5mm headphone jack. Years ago I bought the Shure SE215 (edit: product name) combo pack, which included a Bluetooth adapter dongle with very good battery life (yet discontinued, Shure and competing companies now mostly sell sets of separate L/R Bluetooth MMCX adapters). Although quality for sound is subjective, the Shure SE 215's offered a clear, clean reproduction of what you were listening to, with any digital effects added. The kit included clear blue SE 215 pair with the RMCE-BT2 adapter. Alas, all wireless electronics have batteries, and they wear out. So to continue to use my SE 215's, I bought a handful of Chinese knock-off BT2 adapters since I need the MMCX connector to utilize them.  I recently purchased a Mackie MP-BTA Bluetooth adapter to see if the signal and sound quality is par with the original Shure BT2 adapter, and still utilize my IEM's. But again, going the IEM route just for everyday earbud/headphone use is almost overkill at the jump, since they're essentially designed for only a few specific use cases, and it almost always involves live music performance or live vocal performances.  It's an interesting rabbit hole to dig down into though, and plenty of opportunities to spend audiophile levels of money. Have fun perusing the niche market! *edited for product name correction

Se215. They last for years, are the cheapest, high quality option and they’re readily available. They also come with multiple tips for all different ear sizes.

The Shure se215 doesn't have a lot of low-end, but I find that the foam tips isolate just enough that I can still hear the drums good enough for playing along to songs, but I do have to turn the volume up way further than if I was just listening to music. The best thing would be complete noise isolation and then mic'ing the drum kit, but that would require effort and money that I don't want to spend

> Shure se215s This is what I bought. Whacked the foam tips in and holy smokes what a difference compared to the AT studio headphones I was using previously.

Shure 215 are the best value on a budget. You can get a pretty decent mix if you know what you’re doing, but the bass is a little low. I’d recommend going a step up and looking for a two-driver or three-driver model. I think the 315 has two drivers, and heard good things. Personally I rock Westone UM30 which sounds amazing. Wouldn’t go beyond that.

Shure 215s. Ain’t the greatest things in the world, but most of the time boost mids and cut highs and lows, and play with a comp and they sound like if butter was music.

Piggybacking to second Final Audio. Their E3000 is around $50 and has a slightly warm sound but still detailed. It would complement the sound of the iPod. (I use a 5.5 gen and sometimes have used these or Shure Se215s ($100) when my Mackie MP-240s fail.

SE215 are G A R B A G E and I will keep saying it until they fix them or discontinue them Every single chinese budget in-ear on amazon for 20 dollars is better than the SE215 and I don't want to hear anything about durability when you can buy 5 of them for the price of one set of 215's I'm sorry you had to waste your money to find out this way My real recommendation is to save your money for the next two months and buy some custom molds from alclair during their black friday sale. You should be able to [get the DualXB](https://alclair.com/product/dualxb/) plus the custom mold fitting at a local audiologist for under $400 all-in during that sale.

I had some connection issues with the left ear bud cutting out - i think over times some sweat just worked its way in there. The bud can be disassembled in the middle, pulled in half to expose the connector. Cleaned it with some rubbing alcohol and theyre still going strong. Point being, even when they start to die, you can possibly resurrect them lol

Get IEM's, they have much better sound quality than those "gaming" headsets. I would recommend Shure SE215 Pro, or if you want active noise isolation, Bose QC20. QC20 might be hard to find because it is an old IEM.

I cannot un-recommend the 215s enough. Horrible bass. Could not hear myself until I upgraded to some nicer mackies. I would honestly just go for a cheap bassy earbud. Doesn't have to be a dedicated IEM.

Shure SE215's Works and sounds well. You can get replacement foams, if you like foams. Or you can get a $20 set off amazon. The price tag for the Shure's is worth it imo. ($100)

Having seen my bandmates' wireless IEMs sh*t themselves on a regular basis, or else broadcast the gig to the local taxi company, I'm very much a naysayer unless you're spending big money. For what it's worth, I used a pair of Shure 215s and a wired Behringer P2 for the best part of 2 years and probably 150 gigs so far. Add to that some cheap rechargeable AAA batteries and you're flying! I don't use wireless to my amp, so I just used some cable ties to attach the XLR for the IEMs to my guitar lead. I know that wasn't the question as such, but just pointing out that wired IEMs are a whole lot more reliable and cheaper if you can make them work. 😎

Unpopular opinion: get a pair of SE215s. They are outclassed in terms of audio fidelity by many newer designs in their price range, but they are comfortable, extremely well-made, sound great for what they are (single DD iems) and will last forever. And Shure is going to give you much better QC than any of the smaller brands.

I already have 5 xVive wireless IEMs. I got the ASI audio that has microphones so you can bring some of the stage sound into your Monitor mix but just for me. I like them, but the rest of the band can’t afford those. I give them the fairly low quality se215s and they complain about them.

I started with the Shure SE215 and they had very little bass. I got some Westones AM Pro 30s and wasn’t impressed by them either. I now have the KZ ZAX with an upgraded cable (Tripowin 16 core) and they make the little hairs in my ears *DANCE*. The frequency response is a little scooped, but they’re the absolute best bang for your buck imho.

[KZ ZAX](https://a.co/d/g0fbtrr). I started with the Shure 215 and it had NO bottom end (atleast not to my taste). I even tried our keys player's Shure 425s, and still meh. The KZ ZS10 were so-so, and probably get the job done for vocalists or guitarists, but I still wanted more bottom end. Once I bought my ZAX, I knew I was in my happy place (short of spending a boatload for custom IEMs). I also added the [Linsoul IEM cable](https://a.co/d/fjRmnac) to upgrade the cable. I greatly prefer the feel of silicon, but if you want the best seal just add some foam tips, and you have some *killer* IEMs that will tickle your eardrums at an appreciable cost.

Hey there, I am a drummer, gun enthusiast, and ride a motorcycle daily. Hearing protection is something I am DEEPLY passionate about. It absolutely matters which one you use. Anyone who tells you otherwise is giving their personal anecdotal preference. Drumming can exceed 90dB. Being exposed to that for more than 30 minutes can lead to temporary hearing loss. That ringing in your ears after playing without hearing protection? That’s trauma. Your ears will lose function if you abuse them like that over time. Occasionally playing without hearing pro is fine, but it can be avoided. Firstly, noise isolation, active noise cancelling, and turning up the volume is not hearing protection. AirPods, beats, skull candy brands do not offer hearing protection. Hearing protection will completely seal your ears. Thankfully you can buy filters that change how much of a dB reduction occurs such with these https://www.earpeace.com/products/music-pro. Or you can find hearing protection that is designed to play music like traditional headphones. https://ads.palmettostatearmory.com/walkers-game-ear-25-db-silencer-ear-buds-matte-gwpslcr.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1061029106&gbraid=0AAAAAD2kSbg-qQDwwfrWbDVaqXBPe7pwO&gclid=CjwKCAjw89jGBhB0EiwA2o1On4UGcbHawX60pV3i_qqULt1r1FliVqwVGDSk7YmNoFRbnXkTD3-02RoC94gQAvD_BwE something like this tells you the reduction in dB it offers. AND they still function as headphones. Music retains its highest quality over a wired connection. Anything wireless or Bluetooth will have a reduction in music playback audio quality (I listen to lossless), and there will be latency. After a ton of research I decided to purchase the Shure SE215 IEMs (in ear monitors). https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/earphones/se215?variant=SE215-CL these (when fitted properly and with the correct tips) can see a reduction of up to 37dB. Even cooler than that? The Shure Aionic uses the exact same IEM drivers and puts it on a Bluetooth platform if you wanna go that route. https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/earphones/aonic215?variant=SE21DYBK%252BTW2 The best possible solution is to have custom fitted IEMs from an audiologist, they are pricey and worth the investment. Most comfortable thing you will ever place in your ear. These are some examples that show protecting your ears does not have to mean stuffing orange foam in them. And cracking the volume on a pair of AirPods with ANC until you barely hear the drums is just as harmful as shouting in your own ear. If you want to enjoy the same range of audio without tinnitus driving you mad in your golden years, please invest in a quality hearing protection. I use those Shure products for both practice, and recording. There are many more options out there. Take the information people share with you here with skepticism and research some more on your own. It’s your own hearing on the line. Good luck! And reach out if you have more questions.

I tried KZ10s and didn't like them at all. That said, many do, so I think its very possible that I got a "bad" pair. With cheap stuff, you figure that quality control isn't going to be all that great. Mine work, but they sound harsh and bright, almost (not quite) overdriven. Very fatiguing. I tried a different cable, both to see if it would improve the sound quality and to reduce the horrible tangling, but it made no difference in the sound. I used SE215s for maybe 150-200 shows. I thought they sounded fine. Granted, I play keys and sing and don't need super clarity when it comes to bass. I now use Sennheiser ie 400 pros, which use a different tech so "single driver" may be a bit misleading...they sound better, but should as they are more expensive. I had a 3-driver set of customs made and hated them. Big, bulky and uncomfortable. I have a hard time singing with them in. And the worst part, they didn't really sound better than the 215s. That was before I went with the Sennheisers. I love the fact that the Senns are small and light, no physical fatigue on my ear. Our bassist uses something with 12 drivers a side, I think he said they cost 1800....I'd hope they set up my gear and drive me to the show for that much money! :)

I'd be surprised if the transmitter/receiver would make a huge difference--then again, I run mine wired so I'm just guessing. I used Shure 215s as my earbuds for a couple hundred gigs--they were fine. I see these often put down, as they are single driver and relatively cheap, but I had no complaints. I play keys and sing and while I don't need super clear bass (which may require more drivers), I do appreciate clarity. The fit of your earbuds makes a big difference in quality and how much isolation you get. I've had to try different types and sizes of tips until I was happy with them. I tried a custom IEM pair, didn't like them unfortunately. Bulky and singing with them was terrible. Tried 5 driver KZs, didn't like them (too harsh and bright). Now I use Sennheiser IE 400 pros, they are single driver but it's some kind of different tech from traditional. Sounds great, small and light. I use the largest size comply foam tips that fit on them. Another thing that improved my monitor mix was being able to go stereo. That way I can pan guitar more to one side, keys more to the other, and have vocals in the center (these are all mid-range channels that tend to obscure each other).

I've only gotten the 800's heard that modding them makes them into a psudo 1000. never heard of the xba-z5. I'll have to look at them. Right now I'm using koss porta pro I've been having inner ear problems.i have 5 IEM's now, 2 being the 800's, a set of blessings 3 , linsoul zero:2. Used to have Shure 215 but they legit fell apart and the plastic wouldn't stay together.

This exactly. I used Shure 215s for a couple decades and the latest set of KZs I just picked up blow them out of the water for 1/5th the price.

I’ll probably get flamed for this, but it’s true: I’ve had Shure 215s for a while and they’re fine. Heard so many good things about out the KZ ZS10 Pro that I recently bought some. In MY opinion, the KZs sound like shit comparatively and aren’t nearly as comfortable.

I didn't have the same exact headphones but I used my Shure SE215 under my helmet for ages. By far the most comfortable to wear and decent sound isolation. I think it help that they are quite flush with your ear so helps with preventing wind noise from a draught under your helmet. They have a Bluetooth adapter thing that also last surprisingly long, about 6-8 hours. It's also switchable so you can always charge one on the side