Monitor reference IEM
Apr 15, 2023 at 10:59 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 2

SukSuk

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I have been looking for an iem that can be used during trips for mixing and mastering. Would prefer a flat and natural reference tone like the monitors, a more separated and higher resolution earphone where vocal can be at the back. See if anyone has any suggestions.

(Currently using um30pro but Er4SR is a bit too much for me due to the in-ergonomic design)
 
Apr 16, 2023 at 6:38 PM Post #2 of 2
That's a difficult question to answer for anyone. You have a unique frequency response that no one else knows called Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) that will affect sounds you hear.

Monitors are relatively easy because the audio engineers don't have to guess your HRTF, so those are usually the best option. Studio monitor headphones usually get away with tuning around Diffuse Field target curve or some derivative to compensate for removing the mastering room's frequency response, so it's a bit more complicated, but not terribly so.

IEMs are an entirely different story because now the the room, your body, the shape of your pinna, and the shape of your outer ear canal all have to be compensated for, and finding the right one for the job will require that you figure out what your HRTF is and survey graphs to figure out what IEMs can even begin to qualify for such a purpose. Nevermind the quality and technical performance of the IEM.

It's much less important for consumer end audio, since it just has to sound good enough to enjoy music on. For production, it's likely to lead to bad masters because IEMs introduce too many variables.

IMO, stick to over ear designs for that purpose, it will be far cheaper and less effort than to try to find an IEM that can do what you are asking for.
 

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