In-Ear Monitor (IEM) Systems
How do I know if my earphones fit correctly?
You can tell by the full, rich sound! For full response, your earphones require deep insertion, creating a complete seal against ambient noise. An incomplete seal results in the loss of bass response. To check your earphones, take our quick and easy Audio Seal Test.
How do I order Sensaphonics products?
It's easy. Full details can be found in the Ordering section. If you're still unsure, just contact us and we'll get you through it.
Why use in-ear monitors (IEM) instead of traditional monitoring?
IEM systems with isolating earphones offer the following distinct advantages to the performer:
- Reduced risk of hearing damage (with proper use)
- Improved and consistent sound quality
- Reduced vocal fatigue (not screaming over loud floor wedges)
- Virtual elimination of acoustic feedback
- Freedom of movement on stage (when using wireless system)
- Elimination of bulky floor wedge speakers reduces storage and cartage
costs
How safe are IEM systems?
The most accurate answer is that IEMs are as safe as the user's listening habits. There is a common misconception (promoted by several other manufacturers) that in-ear monitors, like ear plugs, are hearing protectors by design. In truth, earphones are capable of damaging hearing just as easily as floor monitors.
However, IEM earphones can be an effective tool for hearing preservation if used properly. Because they isolate the ear from ambient sound, the user can hear the intended signal (monitor mix) much more clearly and much lower volume, and has precise control over the volume level.
The critical piece of the puzzle is your own behavior! After years of playing music in a loud stage environment, musicians become accustomed to hearing their monitor mix at a certain (generally very high) volume. A recent study demonstrated that new users of IEM systems tend to set their system to the same level that they've become accustomed to. It is imperative that you re-train yourself to listen at lower volume levels.
So ear monitors can damage my hearing?
As we've seen with all the recent negative publicity regarding the iPod, any sound source of sufficient volume can create hearing damage if used improperly. Damage is not just a function of volume, but of volume AND time of exposure.
So the real question is: how loud can my in-ear monitors get and how long can I wear them before my hearing is at risk? Some of our competitors sell earphones can reach levels of 125 to 140 decibels! No one is going to protect hearing at those levels, even for short exposure periods.
Does everyone in my band have to wear them?
In-ear monitors can be used by any number of musicians in the same band, including just one.
How much ambient noise do they block out?
Despite competitive claims of equal or greater isolation, our research audiologists find that silicone material blocks out more sound than plastic. (Have you ever seen plastic ear plugs?) The super soft gel silicone used in our custom earphones and ER Series ear plugs reduces external sounds by at least 26dBA across all frequencies, the highest isolation available. Our research indicates that the actual isolation from products using plastic or acrylic, even with a soft canal portion, is only 18 dB A.
Will I feel too isolated?
Isolation from competing stage volumes is necessary to hear the monitor mix clearly and at a safe loudness level through your earphones. Some artists and engineers feel that this isolation aversely affects their performance. There are two simple and effective ways of dealing with this issue.
The simplest solution is to incorporate the use of ambient mics (typically, miking the audience). Your monitor engineer can include a controlled the amount of house sound into your overall mix, reducing what some feel is the sterile performance environment created by great isolation.
For a robust, natural method of adding ambient sound into the IEM mix, Sensaphonics engineers have developed the 3D Active Ambient IEM System. This is a self-contained IEM system incorporating precision microphones within the earphones. The 3D Active Ambient allows the musician to control how much ambient sound is heard, and when, through the use of a compact body-pack. This enables the artist to hear the audience, speak to bandmates, etc. naturally, with all directional cues. The 3D Active Ambient functions as a self-contained hard-wired IEM system, and is fully compatible with any wireless IEM system.
What about earphones that are "ported" for ambient sound?
Porting the earphone to let ambient sound leak in has serious drawbacks. Because the porting effectively eliminates the benefits of isolation and cannot be controlled, there is a strong possibility that the user will turn the IEM system to unsafe loudness levels. Sensaphonics does not and will not make ported earphones. From a hearing conservation viewpoint, they are definitely NOT recommended.
How do I know I'm listening safely?
To gain the hearing conservation benefits of in-ear monitors, one must refer to the damage-risk criteria from OSHA to determine allowable exposure times for safe use. The longer the performance (exposure time), the lower the volume must be (dB output of the earphones). This is less of a problem for national touring acts whose shows are less than one or two hours. For club bands (whose shows may be several sets totaling three to four hours), levels must be much lower and should average no more than 95 to 97dB (A-weighted).
The problem is how to determine the decibel levels coming from the in ear monitors. Currently, the only method to measure these levels is with an in ear probe microphone technology, used during rehearsals or sound checks by an audiologist. From these readings, you can be directed to a recommended volume level based the length of your show. Frankly, any other methods rely on guesswork and are not acceptable.
What about tinnitus (ringing of the ears)?
If your ears ring or you have trouble hearing after a concert, you are definitely in danger of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). But beware! It has been suggested that the absence of tinnitus following use be used as a measuring tool for safe use, e.g., "My ears don't ring so it must be safe." This is not true! Research shows that, of those suffering from NIHL, only 30% experienced "ringing" as a warning sign. In other words, if your ears ring after a performance, you're too loud. But if your ears don't ring, there's a 70% chance that you may still be damaging your ears if levels exceed OSHA safe exposure limits.
OK, I'm going in-ear. What will I need?
Your in-ear monitor (IEM) system simply replaces the floor wedges, amplifiers, and mixing desk used in traditional monitoring. In essence, you need a dedicated monitor mixing system and a means of bringing the mix to your Sensaphonics earphones, typically a belt-pace headphone amplifier or portable wireless system. We also strongly recommend using a compressor/limiter to protect against sudden bursts of feedback and RF transient hits. (NOTE: Most in-ear headphone amps and wireless systems provide a limiter. Also, Shure has a product called the P4M Mixer that replaces a monitor board at a very affordable price.) You will also need to mic or DI any instruments you wish to hear in your personal monitor mix. Feel free to contact us for suggestions about putting together your own complete system.
Do I need dual-driver or triple driver earphones?
What you need is great sound. Unless doing so improves the quality of the sound, adding more drivers to an earphone design only makes them bulkier - and thus, less comfortable and less attractive.
Some manufacturers sell earphones like loudspeakers, promoting the idea that more drivers define a superior product. This is simply not true. Think of it this way: a loudspeaker needs to fill a room. The bigger the space, the more power is required, and the more speakers are needed to provide adequate coverage.
With an isolating earphone, the amount of space being filled is roughly one-half of a cubic centimeter (0.5 cc). It takes very little power to fill that space, especially when it is acoustically isolated from the outside environment.
So, how many drivers are in your earphones?
Our ProPhonic 2X-S is a dual driver design that has become an industry standard among performers who insist on great sound quality. The second driver adds some bass depth that could not otherwise be achieved.
Our latest product, the 3D Active Ambient (available spring 2006), achieves the same sound quality as the 2X-S in a single-driver design. This is possible because, for the first time, we are providing our own, controlled ("active") power source to the earphone. This enables Sensaphonics engineers to specify a single, custom speaker - one not used in any other IEM product - to achieve the same performance. (We will offer a dual driver version of the 3D Active Ambient.)
Why should I choose Sensaphonics?
Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation has been involved with designing, manufacturing and promoting the safe and effective use of our custom-fit in-ear monitors since 1991. Ours are the only earphones made entirely of soft-gel silicone, providing a tighter seal and a more comfortable fit. We are also the only custom earphone manufacturer founded and operated by a licensed audiologist. As further evidence of our expertise, consider that Sensaphonics has developed specialized products to meet the communication needs of two of the loudest working environments known to man - the NASA space shuttle and Indy race cars.
With our combination of superb sound, custom fit, personal service, and focus on hearing conservation, we provide everything today's performers need to improve their performance while protecting their hearing. This means a longer, more productive career doing what you love - making music!
Don't take your hearing for granted. In ear monitoring can damage hearing unless you know how to use it safely. Contact us. We can help.
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