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Yeah - sorry about that. I'm going to try and do the photography today. It's basically written, and just needs a final edit, and photos added.
I think this is a wake up call for anyone who uses IEMs for extended periods of time in a day.
I'm not sure if this is relevant to the audiophiles on here, but I often wear/use mine for 8+ hours on a weekend, while playing live music.
Being "live", the audio we monitor comes with all kinds of added artifacts, distortion, frequencies outside hearing range, and harmonics that have nothing to do with the music itself. It's not like listening to CD's... it's not "raw" either and the IEM mixes can be pretty good with appropriate used of stereo mixes and effects.
This has been shown to cause ear fatigue over time and folks "turn up" during the gig - to compensate!
A friend clued me into a product called REV33 - designed for monitoring live music that passively removes all those artifacts, giving you clean monitoring all night.
They match a device to your IEM's.. so I bought the ProTan unit for my 1964 Qi's and it has been everything it promised. I'm actually turning DOWN as the night progresses.
It's unclear whether I'll need one for my A8's (not yet finished) based on commentary here, but I'm more than willing to do so.
Thought this might be worth exploring.. YMMV
PS: I have no affiliation with REV33, I'm simply a customer.
The iPhone / smartphone apps aren't accurate. And jamming a tip against the mic isn't simulating an IEM in your ear.
My advice - get an SPL meter - they're not that expensive, and very worth it - not only for checking your listening level, but also for volume matching if you are ever A/Bing. Simple but crude set-up (see photo).
Methodology
- Choose IEMs
- Play in DAP at your normal comfortable listening level
- Keep track playing, insert eartip into coupling tube - leaving around 0.5-1.0 cm away from tip of the meter (simulating an ear canal)
- Note approx average reading on SPL meter using C weighting (with track I'm listening to now - Sultans of Swing, I'm at volume 22 on my X7 (AM2 module) with the U6 (auto modules installed). It is plenty loud for me. SPL is varying mostly between about 65 dB and 70 dB with some occasional parts lower and louder.
- Switch meter to Hold/Max - so it measure the loudest peak and let it play for a minute. Loudest peak I got was just under 74 dB.
Notes:
- The coupler I use is simply stiff paper rolled into a tube, and then lined inside and outside with tape to give it a lot of rigidity. I intend to get a actual piece of plastic specifically for the job so that it is more accurate (just haven't had the time to look yet)
- Tips must be large enough to seal properly in the coupler. My coupler is specifically sized for this purpose.
- I probably listen a lot quieter than many of you - and considering I have permanent tinnitus already I do find it troubling that I can do this and be satisfied (despite the constant background ringing) while some of you may be listening at 4-8 times as loud as my default. My hearing really isn't that good (49 yo, and nothing much above 14-15 kHz).
- Should also qualify - I am in a room by myself, there is little background noise (apart from the hum of a PC fan) - so it is pretty quiet. And I get an extremely good seal
I looked into Rev33 a few months ago but never really understood what they do. Since you have one, could you explain what it does based on what you're hearing?
Thanks for this info @brooko. Say, I am willing to spend $50 on an SPL meter, would I benefit from buying the Veritas instead, by spending $30 more.
on my iphone i use ue spl
That will be very helpful. 'Decibel Ultra' for iPhone
Not the clearest picture but the chips look like white scratches...
The Bass is definitely there and well balanced. Punchy, clear and articulated. Truly is amazing
The soundstage is crazy! A couple times when I closed my eyes I was caught off and thought someone was in my house! You hear EVERYTHING. Hearing the artist tap his foot or breathing away from the mic... It's pretty amazing how you feel like you're there In front of a live band
If for whatever reason, Alex doesn't get back to you by this time tomorrow, let me know and I'll text him or Isabel (the other person in customer service). I work remotely from Boulder, so I can't just walk upstairs to their office.
They're always busy but still have a really quick turn around time on emails, calling is always the quickest option if you don't like waiting for email.
Assuming the mic on your phone is accurate at those levels that is probably right. Remember for an iem, SPL will be higher in your ear when you get a proper seal, which is harder to emulate outside the ear.
If your intent is measuring IEMS - for either building or reviewing - then yep. If it's just for testing SPL - then no.
So I tried both apps along with my Galaxy CM130 SPL meter. I used the C weight like @Brooko recommends. For reference, I played it straight from Itunes, using a macbook at volume level "l" which is where I listen to at most times. For a reference song I used "Pillowtalk" by Zayn and used my U8s. On my SPL meter, it averaged between 62 - 64 dbs (C-weight) on the loudest pieces. However, I wasn't able to get consistent measurements on the apps (c-weight also) and had to just stick the ear tip straight on top of the iphone's mic. I found that the "UE spl" app was a little closer and more consistent and on average was about 5 - 7 dbs louder. The Decibel Ultra app was at times about 10 dbs louder, but not as consistent, as the UE app.
Overall, I know it's not the most effective way to measure, but I think one could get a general idea on how loud one is listening. Pretty interesting. By the way, I tried to match 96 dbs on the UE app and it was pretty loud for me, but I also listen at very low volumes.
So I tried both apps along with my Galaxy CM130 SPL meter. I used the C weight like @Brooko recommends. For reference, I played it straight from Itunes, using a macbook at volume level "l" which is where I listen to at most times. For a reference song I used "Pillowtalk" by Zayn and used my U8s. On my SPL meter, it averaged between 62 - 64 dbs (C-weight) on the loudest pieces. However, I wasn't able to get consistent measurements on the apps (c-weight also) and had to just stick the ear tip straight on top of the iphone's mic. I found that the "UE spl" app was a little closer and more consistent and on average was about 5 - 7 dbs louder. The Decibel Ultra app was at times about 10 dbs louder, but not as consistent, as the UE app.
Overall, I know it's not the most effective way to measure, but I think one could get a general idea on how loud one is listening. Pretty interesting. By the way, I tried to match 96 dbs on the UE app and it was pretty loud for me, but I also listen at very low volumes.
How's the connectivity? Is it like mojo in that I can just plug it up to my phone and maybe click a box or two on the phone and voila I'm good?