Shure - SE425

I second these as a long time professional live/broadcast sound engineer and life long percussionist. My Shure SE425s split after a decade of sweating with them in. Someone along the way recommended the KZ ZSN Pros as a cheap but great throw away pair of IEMs. Ive had them for years now and they just keep sounding better and better as they break in. Its takes a little time for the high end to mellow out but I’ve never felt the need to have my SE425s repaired because these sound plenty decent enough. You absolutely have to get the foam isolation tips though if you wanna use them while playing drums.

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)

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 those as well, the 425s are more natural/neutral, closer to the source. The ZS10s definitely add a lot of bass which sounds great and helps especially for us drummers. 

I practice with my 425s with earmuffs over them so I don’t really notice the lacking bass honestly. If I ever start playing live again I’ll probably buy a new pair of KZs

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

I’d say you did however much you love them (or are disappointed by them I guess?) Though the quality of chi-fi is amazing for the price, I think the fit of the Shure buds - especially with those deliciously foamy tips - are unparalleled. Obviously, results will vary depending on people’s ear shapes/sizes, but getting a good seal in the ear is genuinely transformative for sound quality, and I’ve yet to try anything that beats the Shures in that regard. I’m currently rocking my second pair of 535s. To be honest, I think you get a lot more ‘bang for your buck’ with the 425s, but - as with most things in life - it’s hard to go back, and I’m such a sucker for separation & soundstage that I’m thankful I’m (just about) able to afford the difference in price. Anyway, IEMs are fucking ace, and I’ve no doubt you’ll get a lot of joy from your investment. Don’t let anyone on Reddit tell you you’re not having a good time if you think you are. Happy listening!

IEMs are the answer. You will finally hear yourself and the detail of your voice. You will sing much better, and won’t feel the need to “over” sing. You will also be protecting your hearing. I bought the xvive u4 about 2 years ago and have done probably 25 gigs (bars and small clubs) with them. They work well. Occasionally small interference but very negligible. I’ve never had a sound engineer complain. I think most are pretty used to it at this point. I only have myself in my mix. I can already hear the band. I also will turn off the floor wedge if there is one because I no longer need it. This reduces stage volume and gives me more room to connect with the crowd. Long term I’ll probably invest in more pro level rack system. But for bar gigs the xvive is a great solution. Well worth the price. You’ll need earbuds as well. I ended up spending a little more for the shure 425.

I’ve been using mostly my IEMs lately for the best isolation. Just Shure 425 generics, they sound like ass but I know them really well. When I’m using cans I have a pair of Sony MDR7506s

I have a pair of Shure SE425s and I hate the way they sound. They're incredibly bright - overwhelmingly so. My tone for 90% of our songs leans closer to a 60's - 70's funk/motown kind of sound with just enough highs to add some definition. Sounds exactly how I want out of my amp and our subs, but the 425s make the highs sound unbearably loud and obnoxious. Looking for suggestions on a pair of IEMs that might be a bit more neutral, or at least not so aggressive in the high frequency range.

Forget Drumeo and forget the Shure unless you don't like having some bass in your mix. If you want bottom (and most drummer will), get a pair of KZ Zs Pro. Much better sound than my high en Shure 425 for a fraction of the price.

KZ all the way. I own a paire of Shure 425 which are much better than the 215. I also own a pair of KZ ZS10 which are cheaper than the 215 (not to mention much much cheaper than the 425). The KZ sounds MUCH better with more bass than my 425. The Shure are back ups now.

Yeah from a Hi Fi perspective the 425 are probably better but as you say, for us drummer, having bottom make so much sense. I love my KZ but after maybe 6 or 7 years, I feel they just lost some bottoms, I'll order a new pair soon.

Shure SE425. For almost 10 years now.

[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.

I use Shure 425s for gaming, and I can hear everything. Will never go back to normal gaming headsets.