8 Best In Ear Monitors For Singers In 2023


by Emma Williams | Published On

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Best In Ear Monitors For Singer

You must have noticed singers and performers wearing tiny devices in their ears when they perform on stage, which you often get confused with earphones. They are in-ear monitors which are used to monitor audio during live settings. 

In-ear monitors are personal monitoring systems in terms of delivering accurate audio details. Musicians use these devices to hear themselves properly while performing on stage. 

IEMs grant you precise control over your audio mixes while protecting your ears from loud sounds around you. They give you the perfect audio monitoring experience that will enable you to give the best performance to your audience. 

These devices aren’t just meant for liver stage performances, IEMs can also be used for audio monitoring in rehearsal rooms and recording studios. Their precise in-ear design can give you better comfort without crushing your ears. IEMs make practicing with your bandmates, recording your best label yet, or gearing up for your live performances feel like a breeze and are the ideal solution for these setups. 

Selecting from a wide range of in-ear monitoring options can be confusing, especially when there is a disparity between price ranges and additional features offered. 

This post provides you with all the information you will need before buying the best in-ear monitors, including a complete buying guide at the end to understand better the various factors like comfort, sound quality and isolation, durability, and much more. 

Read along to find out the essence of using these in-ear monitors for your singing purposes, and you will be amazed to know what all these tiny monitoring devices can do.

The 8 Best In Ear Monitors For Singers

Product Dimensions: 4 x 1 x 1 inch.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.

Positive: Sound-isolating Design, Comfortable Fitting, Delivers Superior Sound.
Negative: Sounds Low.

MEE audio M6 PRO In Ear Monitor HeadphonesThe MEE audio M6 PRO In-Ear Monitor Headphones revolutionize the listening experience with a 5um driver diaphragm and aluminum voice coil that deliver more precise movement than traditional drivers. Its sleek, closed-back design is built for endurance – sweat-resistant and with user-replaceable cables.

Its flexible memory wire provides a custom, secure fit that accurately molds to your ears and seven pairs of ear tips to further tailor the wear. It is used on any device with either 3.5mm or 6.3mm headphone/stereo jacks.

Customer Review For MEE audio M6 PRO In Ear Monitor Headphones

MEE audio M6 PRO In Ear Monitor Headphones Customer Review

Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 3.2 x 2.1 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.

Positive: Sound-isolating Design, Comfortable Fitting, Delivers Superior Sound.
Negative: Some Fitting Issue.

Shure SE215 PRO Wired EarbudsThe Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds are designed to give you a personalized and professional listening experience, providing detailed sound with enhanced bass. Their three different sizes of flex and black foam sleeves fit comfortably and block up to 37 dB of noise so you can listen uninterrupted.

To further guarantee comfort and stability during long wear, their wireform fit anchors the earphones in place securely. At the same time, their lock-snap mechanism allows for 360-degree rotation. With all these features and more, they are perfect for those who wish to take advantage of personal and professional monitoring experiences without sacrificing sound quality or wearability.

Customer Review For Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds

Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds Customer Review

Product Dimensions: 9.29 x 4.96 x 3.03 inches.
Connectivity Technology: USB.

Positive: Features Ergonomic Technology, Provides Balanced-armature Driver, Includes Detachable Cable.
Negative: Expensive Than Others.

Westone Audio Pro X50 IEM EarphonesEvery music lover deserves a quality listening experience. Westone Audio has created the perfect solution with their Pro X50 in-ear monitors. These compact and lightweight earpieces have a highly comfortable universal fit and feature a high-strength wire design, aramid fiber, and the most advanced MMCX connector.

Most importantly, these earphones produce a superior sound experience with their balanced-armature drivers. Plus, the left and right channels are accurately matched to an impressive +/- 2dB tolerance for balanced sound throughout your listening session.

Customer Review For Westone Audio Pro X50 IEM Earphones

Product Dimensions: 8 x 9 x 5 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.

Positive: Compact Design, Triple Balanced-armature Drivers, Features Twisted Cables.
Negative: Distorted At Max Volume.

Westone Audio AM Pro 30 In-Ear MonitorThe Westone Audio AM Pro 30 In-Ear Monitor boasts everything a professional audio needs in a monitor. Featuring patent-pending SLED Technology that combines passive ambient sound with the monitor mix, it is equipped with three proprietary balanced-armature drivers and a 3-way passive crossover.

Ergonomically designed for even the most demanding environments, its low profile ensures those long studio sessions remain comfortable. Its high-flex, ultra-low resistance tensile wire provides maximum flexibility. This monitor also includes MMCX audio connectors and a 3.5mm stereo plug for any connection type.

Customer Review For Westone Audio AM Pro 30 In-Ear Monitor

Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.92 x 1.89 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.

Positive: Features MMCX Connectors, Includes Changeable Eartips, 1-year Warranty.
Negative: Big Size.

BASN Bmaster in Ear Monitor HeadphonesWith its innovative engineering, the BASN B master in-ear monitor headphones stand out for their ability to isolate outside noise and their detail-rich sound. At the same time, their triple drivers create total low frequencies that give you a significant bass effect without overwhelming everything else.

Additionally, their ergonomic earbuds are designed with plenty of comfort considerations, such as being able to rotate 360 degrees for a personalized fit. And on top of everything else, BASN provides an incredible 1-year warranty for greater peace of mind.

Customer Review For BASN Bmaster in Ear Monitor Headphones

Product Dimensions: 4.33 x 3.15 x 1.57 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.

Positive: 5 Balanced Armature Driver, HIFI Earphone, Includes Detachable Cable.
Negative: A Bit Noisy.

KZ AS10 in Ear Monitor HeadphoneIf you’re looking for a monitor headphone that can bring out all of the best audio elements within songs, then the KZ AS10 in Ear Monitor Headphone provides just that. It has five balanced armature drivers to respond to frequencies ranging from low to high, ensuring an enriched listening experience.

It especially imitates the bass texture and strength of a traditional dynamic driver, allowing users to enjoy superior sound in their pursuit of an unparalleled music experience. Its incredible device also comes with a detachable cable for convenience and ease of use.

Customer Review For KZ AS10 in Ear Monitor Headphone

Product Dimensions: 5.04 x 1.38 x 8.74 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wireless.

Positive: Small & Comfortable, Stage-proof Cable, Includes Dynamic Drivers.
Negative: Too Much Bass.

Sennheiser IE 100 In-Ear Monitoring HeadphonesHigh-quality in-ear monitoring headphones are essential for any music professional. Sennheiser IE 100 In-Ear Monitoring Headphones promise to deliver just that. It uses a dynamic 10mm broadband transducer to give powerful and precise monitoring.

Its active drivers effectively reduce acoustic stress factors and provide distortion-free sound. Its slim and ergonomic design also perfectly fits most ears with the flexible silicone and foam tips. The headphones have a stage-proof cable with an internal cable duct.

Customer Review For Sennheiser IE 100 In-Ear Monitoring Headphones

Sennheiser IE 100 In-Ear Monitoring Headphones Customer Review

Product Dimensions: 3.15 x 1.18 x 1.97 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.

Positive: Affordable, Stylish Design, Features Noise Cancelling Microphone.
Negative: Wire Brokes Easily.

YINYOO Easy KZ ZST in-Ear EarphoneThe YINYOO Easy KZ ZST in-Ear Earphone provides a solid ergonomic wear experience that is durable and designed with memory wire technology. Using patent silicon tips gives the headphone user a comfortable fit, while the hybrid balance armature and dynamic in-ear earphone increase sound quality and exterior design.

These headphones deliver for those who want style, comfort, and great sound, all rolled into one package. They also come with a 1-year warranty for added peace of mind.

Customer Review For YINYOO Easy KZ ZST in-Ear Earphone

What Are In-Ear Monitors?

In-ear monitors are designed to provide accurate sound to the singer on stage, enabling you to monitor your voice and the instruments played in real-time. These devices eliminate or rather reduce stage volume levels to a minimum listening level for more precise mixes. In addition, in-ear monitors monitor these mixes directly into your ears, allowing you to move around on the stage without worrying about missing out on instrument and sound detailing. 

These tools are created to help audio engineers, audiophiles, and musicians listen to their vocal mixes or live stage performance instrument setup to monitor their sound accuracy. These devices can be custom-fitted to offer comfort with enhanced noise reduction from environmental noise. It gives real-time feedback about how you sound to your listeners. 

This tiny audio equipment is attached to the receivers and is usually worn by the singers around their belts. These receivers are connected to the transmitters that help control the audio mix.

Wearing In-ear monitors on each ear delivers a stereo mix of various instruments, adding more audio definition by panning vocals, drums, and other elements. Additionally, you can adjust the surrounding noise levels filtered out by these IEMs.

Benefits Of Using In-Ear Monitors

  • Better hearing of yourself: In-ear monitors can help you hear yourself better in larger venues where bouncing of sound can ruin the audio quality and mixes. They can help you move around and understand and sufficiently monitor your voice.
  • Can block out noises: An ideal set of in-ear monitors can block out noise. Larger venues include several audio distractions where monitoring without them can become extremely difficult for you to perform on stage.
  • Have your mix: You can control your mix with these in-ear monitors. You can adjust volume levels exactly how and how much you want for your mix without the intrusion of other noises of the instruments or fellow singers.
  • Compact: They are more compact and easy to travel than on-stage stationary monitoring systems that are performer-facing devices set to monitor the artists during liver performances.
  • More consistent mix: In ear-monitors provide a more consistent mix so you can hear and deliver uniform audio quality. Different venues have distinct surface materials through which sound must travel.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best In-Ear Monitors?

There are several factors to be considered when choosing the best in-ear monitors. Price points where some in-ear monitors come with dynamic drivers and noise-canceling features under $50, other high-end offers sound isolation under $100. Budget and other features should be known before investing in in-ear monitors like comfort levels, sound quality, durability, etc. Knowing about them can enhance your audio mix experience.

Top-quality sound feedback is essential when singing live and ambient noise is highly distractive.  Look for an in-ear monitor that can give precise sound details with accurate and clear sound reproduction, like the Westone Audio Pro X50 IEM Earphones with balanced armature drivers that can give you enhanced sonic details and a more comprehensive frequency range. Their drivers have a three-way passive crossover which is designed in a way that can reproduce specific frequency ranges for highs, mids, and lows. In addition, their precise acoustic symmetry can give you exceptional mixing control with their left and right ear monitor piece responses are balanced and symmetrically placed as tight as 2db tolerance. Thus, Westone Audio Pro X50 IEM Earphones can work as high-quality in-ear monitors and enhance how you listen and monitor audio recording and mixes through its crisp and clean sound quality features.

If you are onstage and the comfort is not up to the mark, then as a singer, you will not be able to concentrate on your performance. Hence, you may find that fit and comfort is a prime deciding factors when selecting in-ear monitors for their purposes. When performing for 4 to 5 hours straight, wearing an ill-fitted in-ear monitor can distract and irritate you. Thus, look for an option with several tip sizes available to change and adjust as per your secure and comfortable fit, like the Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds, including a customized fit of three sizes(S, M, L) of black foam sleeves. Listen to clean and full-range sounds with their single, vented balanced armature with a secure and comfortable fit around your ears. Select the size that fits you perfectly so that you do not have to readjust it every often. Its wire form fit ensures that the earpiece remains in its place, and you can effortlessly listen to your voice and instruments without cables falling in your way.

How durable are your in-ear monitors to withstand wear and tear is another factor to consider when buying them. Memory foam or silicon material is good for in-ear monitor tips because it provides comfort and does not slip away from its position. Moreover, it is lightweight, so you can perform without noticing and re-adjusting them in your ears. A good option for you is the very comfortable Sennheiser IE 100 In-Ear Monitoring Headphones with an ultra-flat design and highly long-lasting construction. The connection cable is detachable, so you experience the perks of wired and wireless in-ear monitors. The classic sound signature of Sennheiser gives you the much-needed audio clarity through their dynamic drivers so you monitor your every detail, even on the loudest of the stages. All you listen to is distortion-free, powerful, rich sound. Sennheiser IE 100 clears most checkpoints, from premium audio quality to a sturdy build that can withstand rigorous usage on the stage. The ear tips are made from flexible silicone and foam material, providing an added shield in your ears so you listen to pure stereo mix rather than loud ambient noise on and around the stage.

Isolation and noise canceling are among those factors that can make or break your entire buying decision. A premium in-ear monitor should work effortlessly in blocking out external noises enabling you to focus entirely on your performance. For instance, Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds can block up to 37 dB of noise around you and deliver a clear sound with deep bass. Their detachable cable feature is another exciting option that gives you the power to go all wireless. Their sound-isolating design offers an immersive audio-listening experience. Another good option for you is the BASN Bmaster in Ear Monitor Headphones, which feature active noise canceling, which can help keep the surrounding noises away from entering your earpieces and offer you a premium listening experience. They come with an MMCX (micro-miniature coaxial)connector detachable cable design with a lock snap mechanism by which you can rotate them 360 degrees without a flinch. Experience HI-fi sound detailing with rich audio detailing and low frequencies. Triple drivers effortlessly care for highs, mids, and lows and provide a balanced bass effect.

Thus, several in-ear monitors offer noise canceling and noise isolating features, but it largely depends on you on how well they work in your favor and fairly serve your purpose.

The price factor is the first thing that pops up in your mind when you are on a hunt for finding the best in-ear monitors. There are various options available at different price ranges. However, it all comes down to your choice and how much you agree to spend on these devices. If you are a beginner and starting YINYOO Easy KZ, ZST in-Ear Earphone can be an ideal option for your under $19 entry-level price range. It is made with memory wire technology, making it easier to move around while wearing them and providing a secure fit. Distortion-free sound gives you a rich bass, mids, and highs that can keep you on your toes. However, there can be some issues with the wire quality. Another good option under $50 is the MEE audio M6 PRO In-Ear Monitor Headphones which offer a comfortable fit and closed-back design that can reduce ambient noise. They come with memory wire hooks that fit perfectly in your ears and an option of 7 adjustable tips to choose which size suits you the best and never slips away from your ears. However, the sound levels delivered by these monitors can be low.

Suppose you are a true audiophile and want to experience every detail from your in-ear monitors. In that case, the Westone Audio AM Pro 30 In-Ear Monitor, under the price range of $373, can be a suitable option.  Experience comfort, thanks to their ergonomic design that lets you wear them for hours straight without discomfort. In addition, their silicone and foam ear tips guarantee a secure fit with enhanced noise isolation. Their SLED technology is a fascinating feature as it has a soundstage with a built-in 3-way passive crossover that effortlessly distributes frequency ranges and reproduces highs, mids, and lows, making them the perfect choice for stage performances.

In-Ear Monitors: Care And Maintenance

  • Keep your in-ear monitors clean and dry after use to avoid damaging them from sweat and wax buildup in your ears.
  • Pour some drops of rubbing alcohol on a soft towel to clean the outside of the earpieces by cleaning the dirt or wax on the shell.
  • Clean sockets by removing cables at regular intervals
  • Avoid inserting any foreign object inside the in-ear sound panel, or it could damage the device
  • Moisture-laden venues cause sweat. Let your in-ear monitors completely dry out before you put them in the case. Keep a silica packet inside their case to keep moisture away from the delicate drivers.

Final Words

In-ear monitors can be a true game-changer for your singing performance as they are an upgrade from basic stage monitors. Use them to stay in tune, monitor your singing in real-time, and listen to all audio nuances that could be overlooked. 

These devices can help you polish your singing skills and may even help you monitor the changes you need in your tunes and in instrumental music being played around you. 

However, before buying in-ear monitors, look for the type of style, additional features like sweat resistance and durability, and sound detailing you to want. Entry-level options under $50 can benefit you if you want sound isolation, but they may deliver subpar sound quality. If you want better sound canceling with more bass and lower frequencies, a mid-range option between  $50-$150 can be a favorable choice. 

A serious singer will always prefer to use a decent pair of monitors so that they are in control of most of the things related to singing. When it comes to monitoring your voice and sounds, you can depend on a decent pair of in-ear monitors. When choosing them, you may want to note that various options are listed here for the best in-ear monitors ranging between  $150-$700 that will give you high durability, secure fit, and the much-needed sound isolation you are looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs

Yes, in-ear monitors can take some getting used to when you have just started using them and you are new to listening to your voice. Audiophiles consider using in-ear monitors for a couple of days, making stiff speaker drivers a tad looser to let that high-quality sound deliverance set in, and you hear better sound quality.

Custom-made fit IEMs or in-ear monitors should be replaced after every four years as they could cease to deliver a compact seal and fit in your ear because of the subtle change in your ear canal throughout the years. However, with proper care, premium, high-quality universal fit-in-ear monitors can last you a lifetime.

In-ear monitors protect the singers from noise generated from on and around the stage speakers and amplifiers playing music at full blast modes. These devices help singers to hear themselves at lower sound levels and often prevent them from going out of tune while singing.

Using In-ear monitors as a reference allows you to deliver a more precise and cleaner recording version. These devices portray a clear picture of how the artist sounds to listeners developing a more solid connection between the artist and the listener. 

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