In Ear Monitors - help needed...

[EBS_freak]

Interested to see that Fender are branching out into customs in 2019 (3:20 - although I'm sure when you are asking people to drop some serious cash at premium prices, it's not a great marketing move to refer to them as "the crowd")... given the pricing of their universals, I suspect they will be aiming to have their name at the top alongside the likes of Westone, UE, 64, JH, Noble, Advanced Acousticwerks, Spiral, Empire, Jomo et al... Not sure how I feel with something with Fender on them in my ears - especially at the price they are. Not exactly their specialism is it?

 

 

Edited July 16, 2018 by EBS_freak

[intime-nick]

This may have been covered before.....

i keep my IEMs in an airtight box with some silica gel pouches to help keep the moisture down after using them (I also wipe them down after use) but is there a better way to store them ?

i found this whilst looking online :

http://minervahearing.co.uk/product/uv-drying-box-iems-dreve-otovita/

I’m sure there are others available but could do with some more info on their usefulness. 

[Dood]

10 hours ago, intime-nick said:

This may have been covered before.....

i keep my IEMs in an airtight box with some silica gel pouches to help keep the moisture down after using them (I also wipe them down after use) but is there a better way to store them ?

i found this whilst looking online :

http://minervahearing.co.uk/product/uv-drying-box-iems-dreve-otovita/

I’m sure there are others available but could do with some more info on their usefulness. 

I think the silica gel route isn't such a bad one. I use a couple of punches in my IEMs case too and I also have a large pouch in my studio space that I just rest my IEMs on in between uses. No idea if it helps, but it makes for a nice little cushion for them to sit on ha ha ha!!! 

[EBS_freak]

Silica gel is a good way of ensuring your IEMs keep relatively dry. For normal use, silica gel does the job well. Just remember to recharge the silica gel every now and again in the microwave or stick the pouch on the radiator.

I also have an ACS Revivo that I put my IEMs every now and again or after a particularly sweaty gig.

https://www.acscustom.com/uk/products/accessories

looks to be the same sort of deal as the Minerva thing - just a bit cheaper. More information? - they do the job I guess. I can't say they come out looking like completely different IEMs... but if they potentially zap any nasties that may be breeding in your inears, then it's got to be worth putting your inears for a cleaning cycle now and again... right? I don't really suffer with sweat... but even some damp IEMs will come out bone dry after the cleaning cycle has finished.

All you do is take the cables off, stick the inears in and close the lid, press the button and wait for the cycle to finish. Obviously make sure any wax and the like is cleaned off before putting them in for the UV clean.

Umm... other things? Yeah, you have to put a silica gel capsule in there... and thats about it. Fan and UV light in a box essentially - all running off a battery that is rechargeable using a USB charger. Pretty low tech on the whole - but it seems well built.

Edited July 17, 2018 by EBS_freak

[EBS_freak]

Just booked hotel for UK Drum Show... so for any masquerading drummers/bass players wanting to come and talk/try IEMs... head across and chat IEMs until the cows come home with me. Will be on the Custom IEM co stand.

[EBS_freak]

https://canjamglobal.com/shows/london-2018/

For those local and wanting to try some real top end hifi stuff, the London Canjam is on. Can't go this year... but for those wanting to try some ridiculous stuff in their ears, this is the place to be! Lots of lovely boutique shizzle for you to get hands on with.

[Dood]

7 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

https://canjamglobal.com/shows/london-2018/

For those local and wanting to try some real top end hifi stuff, the London Canjam is on. Can't go this year... but for those wanting to try some ridiculous stuff in their ears, this is the place to be! Lots of lovely boutique shizzle for you to get hands on with.

Would love to go to that.. sadly I wasn't aware of it. 

[EBS_freak]

10 hours ago, dood said:

Would love to go to that.. sadly I wasn't aware of it. 

Next year then. Lets make it a hot date. x

[EBS_freak]

On 11/07/2018 at 19:54, intime-nick said:

Just ordered a set of custom quads from Robert at LUGS - should have them in a couple of weeks.  Will keep everyone who’s interested updated.   He has been very helpful so far in answering my questions and seems very amenable.  Proof is in the listening of course, but so far, so good  

Order was for clear shells, red(right) faceplate, blue(left) faceplate, thermosoft tips and std 2 pin recessed connector.  Went for a 2x low, 1x mid and 1x high arrangement. 

I thought I saw you inears on FB... but then I reread that you'd have red and blue. These are both blue. Got to be getting close...?

I've just had a query through on my 64 audio order, so I guess things are happening over there too. Can't come soon enough. I'm missing my IEMs so badly!

[EBS_freak]

Certainly looks like he's nailed the process. No bubbles either. Looking good.

 

[intime-nick]

ha, yeah i saw that pic too - same spec but red and blue as you said.  soon, soon !!

[mrtcat]

I'm in the market for wireless setup now. My options (within my budget) are:

Shure PSM300 P3TRA or Sennheiser EW300 IEM G3

Any thoughts on which is best and are there any other options I've missed at a similar price point (£700-£800)

[EBS_freak]

16 minutes ago, mrtcat said:

I'm in the market for wireless setup now. My options (within my budget) are:

Shure PSM300 P3TRA or Sennheiser EW300 IEM G3

Any thoughts on which is best and are there any other options I've missed at a similar price point (£700-£800)

Sennheiser - although just wanted to check that you do know the G4 is out now...?

My Reasons?

Build of the transmitter - I prefer the Sennheiser to the Shure, it seems a bit more pro in its appearance also. (funnily enough I prefer the Shure receiver and transmitter of the PSM900, which is I think of a closer competitor to the EW300).

No fixed bands for RF tuning (e.g. you aren't limited to predetermined fixed frequencies) = better for when you have other wireless around you and you are trying to coordinate frequencies with a high count of channels.

Balanced XLR/jack combo inputs.

Better RF performance. The Sennheisers seem to cope better with more difficult RF environments than the Shure. Not that the Shures drop out as a rule.. but in my experience, they do tend to drop out a little more than the Sennheisers do.

Sennheiser receiver is not as hungry on batteries. (Get some eneloops and a decent charger)

In short, with the pro receiver in the Shure setup, both will see you well... but for the reasons above, between the two, the Sennheiser edges it.

 

Where are you finding Sennheiser. You'll probably find some good deals on G3 now that G4 is appearing. Mercury have G4 - https://www.mercury-av.com/sales/Sennheiser-EW-IEM-G4-Series-Range-GB.html at £839 (Shared license version)

 

Edited July 25, 2018 by EBS_freak

[mrtcat]

Awesome, thanks so much for the insight. I will definitely go with the Sennheiser. I had seen this one:

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Sennheiser-ew-300-IEM-G3-E-Wireless-In-Ear-Monitor-System/1VG2?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=87410d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=377444046446&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv-DaBRCcARIsAI9sba8hnmMnGTvTGJPxD5K3aIONATbT6WFEOMFGCaH1V8CPOUJDtnXIQpYaAgvYEALw_wcB

And this:

https://cvp.com/product/sennheiser_ew_iem_g4-gb_wireless_g4_set?gclid=Cj0KCQjwv-DaBRCcARIsAI9sba_kLIWc2WBQ8vZRedd0S4wbqsqOY4ftUIIZbm9Xps8fkIPNxag7Q-saAqTDEALw_wcB

[EBS_freak]

Yeah - looks like there's some market fixing at 839 inc VAT on the G4s.

Probably worth mentioning that E band is license free, GB band is shared mic license (£75 per year, or £135 for two years - if either bought online... let me get you the link).

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/pmse/apply-for-a-pmse-licence

Of course, GB (ch 38 license) is better as there's less chance of getting interference from wedding DJs etc and their cheapo wireless mics. The Channel 70 license is generally OK to be fair - although can be a bit limiting if you want to run lots of wireless (only 3-4 pieces of kit - but generally 3 - in that piece of the spectrum)

Worth mentioning also that the E band can tune down to 823-832  - which is also covered in the shared mic license. However, in true "typical" style, the spectrum round there is a bit dirty... but again, generally OK unless you are in an area with quite a lot of RF fallout.

[mrtcat]

4 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

Yeah - looks like there's some market fixing at 839 inc VAT on the G4s.

Probably worth mentioning that E band is license free, GB band is shared mic license (£75 per year, or £135 for two years - if either bought online... let me get you the link).

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/pmse/apply-for-a-pmse-licence

Of course, GB (ch 38 license) is better as there's less chance of getting interference from wedding DJs etc and their cheapo wireless mics. The Channel 70 license is generally OK to be fair - although can be a bit limiting if you want to run lots of wireless (only 3-4 pieces of kit - but generally 3 - in that piece of the spectrum)

Worth mentioning also that the E band can tune down to 823-832  - which is also covered in the shared mic license. However, in true "typical" style, the spectrum round there is a bit dirty... but again, generally OK unless you are in an area with quite a lot of RF fallout.

That's massively helpful. I'm probably going to go for G4s on CH38 licence as there's going to be three band members on wireless iems plus wireless guitars and bass. We have 1-2 gigs a week through 2019 in the calendar already and the £72.50 a year will be covered in the first half of the first gig. 

 

[EBS_freak]

3 hours ago, mrtcat said:

That's massively helpful. I'm probably going to go for G4s on CH38 licence as there's going to be three band members on wireless iems plus wireless guitars and bass. We have 1-2 gigs a week through 2019 in the calendar already and the £72.50 a year will be covered in the first half of the first gig. 

 

OK - what wireless exactly are you using? I hope that you have discrete tuning on all the systems, as things could get a bit nightmarish otherwise!

[mrtcat]

5 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

OK - what wireless exactly are you using? I hope that you have discrete tuning on all the systems, as things could get a bit nightmarish otherwise!

Both myself and guitarist are using smoothhound systems and the singer uses a shure Beta 58a wireless mic. At the moment everyone else is on wired iems but I am pretty sure they'll go wireless shortly after me.

[EBS_freak]

38 minutes ago, mrtcat said:

Both myself and guitarist are using smoothhound systems and the singer uses a shure Beta 58a wireless mic. At the moment everyone else is on wired iems but I am pretty sure they'll go wireless shortly after me.

Which system is the 58 - thats the one that is going to give you an issue...

[mrtcat]

1 minute ago, EBS_freak said:

Which system is the 58 - thats the one that is going to give you an issue...

Pretty certain its a BLX24UK/B58 Beta 58A

[EBS_freak]

2 minutes ago, mrtcat said:

Pretty certain its a BLX24UK/B58 Beta 58A

Channel 70?

[mrtcat]

2 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

Channel 70?

I'll need to check with him

 

[EBS_freak]

36 minutes ago, mrtcat said:

Pretty certain its a BLX24UK/B58 Beta 58A

Actually, just looked - the BLX24UK/B58 K3E appears to be channel 38 (606-614Mhz)... The T11 variant is the channel 70 version (863-865Mhz). This mic has preset frequencies, so this is the one you'll have to work around... this is why if you are running a bit of mixed wireless, the EW300 is the one to go for.

The Smooth Hounds (must admit, not a fan for use with inears) should be far enough out of the way at 2.4Ghz to prevent intermodulation issues. They are going to be more bothered by neighbouring wifi and mixing desk routers. 

[mrtcat]

20 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

Actually, just looked - the BLX24UK/B58 K3E appears to be channel 38 (606-614Mhz)... The T11 variant is the channel 70 version (863-865Mhz). This mic has preset frequencies, so this is the one you'll have to work around... this is why if you are running a bit of mixed wireless, the EW300 is the one to go for.

The Smooth Hounds (must admit, not a fan for use with inears) should be far enough out of the way at 2.4Ghz to prevent intermodulation issues. They are going to be more bothered by neighbouring wifi and mixing desk routers. 

Seems he has a really old system:

 

[mrtcat]

Which guitar wireless would you use? My smoothound has seen lots of action so isn't irreplaceable.