Shure - SE425

If you go the IEM (in ear monitor route) and don't do the full custom molds, then Comply foam tips are a game changer for isolation at a much more budget friendly cost. I bought Shure SE425 over a decade ago and still use them to this day.

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.

May want to find a way to increase your budget for the ear buds. For what you have there, that may not cover dual driver buds for bass response and kick. When I switched to IEMs I bit it and borrowed money so I could get what the rest of the band got, Shure transmitter/pack system and the se425 dual driver buds. Even the se215 is a third of your stated budget. If you have anyone you know that would let you listen through or borrow what they are using, single or dual driver or both please do it. I was fortunate enough to borrow a triple driver set for a gig years ago and it was just pant shittingly good. but, out of my budget completely.

I have the Shure 425’s but they’re my only pair or iem’s based on recommendation (not counting AirPods) So I can’t really tell you anything on comparison. With the foam ear piece it blocks out a ton of ambient sound. I just generally prefer headphones for comfort so I usually only use the iem’s when I’m doing a lot of running around in noisier environments like trade shows or docs (where I need to monitor sound).

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)

I'd try the cheaper Amazon ones (KZ ZS10 Pro for example). I use those regularly, but I've also used Shure 215 and 425. Frankly, I love the fit and feel of the Shures but don't love the sound. My KZ are WAY better than either, especially once I switched to foam tips on them. The Shure's just aren't worth the money.

Agree. I've used 215s, 425s, some UEs (don't remember the model) and currently use ZS10 Pros with foam tips. For what I do, the ZS10s are the best. The 215 and 425 are not worth the cost IMHO - they were the most comfortable to wear, but I only used them with the stock silicone dome tips and they never had enough lows nor enough isolation. The ZS10 were better sounding with stock tips, and then the foam just made them even better. You didn't say what you play. For reference, I drum at church, so it's acoustic drums playing rock style music but not super heavy, for a couple hours a week. If I was playing professionally or otherwise for significantly more time, I'd get customs that were more comfortable than the ZS10s.

I'm a drummer and have used the 215s (whole band had them to start with) and feel there was a world of difference switching to the 425s... Others in band (bass, electric, and acoustic /lead vocal) swear by the KZ ZS10 pros. At $45 on Amazon those they might be worth the shot just to test.

Significantly more clarity/articulation, and sound isolation... And yes, the result is less volume. I used to turn up trying thinking I needed more bass and click, but what I really needed was a tighter bass generally articulate sound with less bleed over from the acoustic kit. Oh one more thing... The foam tips are good, but you should change them out regularly. I'm noticing additional bleed as I smile or move my jaw around, with foams that are now 7 month old. Have read they should be changed 3 or 4 months, I believe it.

I did the same switch a while ago and can say I had the same experience. I was so used to the 215s that the more articulate highs of the the 425s irritated me at first. But in the end you just hear the band/backing track much clearer and can turn the volume a bit lower.

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

Yes. I went from Shire 215s to 425s, and the difference is ridiculously large.

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

If you’re going to go the full 9 yards, it’s quite the thing to get into. I have a behringer xr18 that I control with an old iPad. I have various drum mics going into the xr18 and can send that to a behringer 8 channel headphone amp. I have shure se 425 in ear monitors and in my practice room I **always 100% of the time also use construction/over ear style ear muffs**.  I really don’t need all this stuff unless I’m recording. I can use just the SE425s, AirPods, or whatever with the earmuffs over them and music at 50%ish volume and I can clearly hear the music and all of my drums. But all that is just to give you an example of a setup