What I Wish I’d Known Before Buying In-Ear Monitors

I’ve been a rock vocalist for decades, before in-ear monitors (IEMs) became popular among everyday musicians. But while I’m used to screaming into a microphone to hear myself, times have changed. Today, at least half of all rock vocalists I know (and nearly all Gen Z vocalists I know) use IEMs.

Why?

Well, they’re smart. IEMs allow performers to hear their mix clearly on stage with reduced ambient noise, which helps improve performances. Also, they can potentially protect your hearing.

These facts — coupled with encouragement from my IEM-loving friends — prompted me to fork over $900 last May for a Sennheiser XSW IEM Wireless In-ear Monitoring System ($649) as well as a Westone Audio Mach 20 2-driver Universal In-ear Monitors set ($199). Following the guidance of my trusty Sweetwater sales rep, I also grabbed an XLR mic cable ($26.99) for good measure.

Let’s just say the unboxing was the easiest part (see my cute YouTube video!).

Only after a lot of trial and tribulation — 10+ hours reading and trying to comprehend instructions, sobbing to 5 different sound tech friends, and one false start at a nightclub —am I finally ready to wear these babies in real life.

The good news is that I’m wiser now. Here is my list of six things you absolutely need to know – that I wish I had known — before taking the IEM plunge:

#1: Your Sweetwater salesperson is not a fashion stylist

I’d only seen a handful of artists wearing IEMs on big stages at festivals like Coachella, prior to buying a pair. I didn’t realize that IEMS also included a wire that wrapped over your ear and connected the ear buds to the body pack (the receiver). I just assumed they were detached earbuds like the ones I use for my iPhone.

So when my Sweetwater salesperson suggested I buy a particular set of IEMs because of their high user ratings, I didn’t stop to think about whether they would visually match my style or blend in with my outfit. Had the Sweetwater rep asked me how I like to accessorize (and look when I perform), I would have bought a set of IEM earbuds like these (above) which are silver and blend in better with my hair (not the black ones I ended up getting).

#2: IEM instructions are written for sound engineers

Once I opened up my Sennheiser IEM system, I discovered that the instructions just consisted of a bunch of photos. There was no easy, Ikea-like guide for IEM virgins. And I didn’t understand basic stuff like, say, that sample number in the photo instructions (522.145 or something) isn’t what your actual transmitter needs to read. It only matters that the number on the transmitter box matches the one on the body pack. Thank you to the sound engineer who explained this to me IRL.

Honestly, I just wanted to look hot and sing. The instructions only complicated my ability to get to that goal.

#4: You will need watch TikTok or YouTube tutorials to figure out how to put on your IEMS

I’d like to thank Gen Z musicians who are making social media tutorials like this one for the rest of us. I could not figure out how to put on these things without watching one of these.

#5: You’ll need to mic your amps and other instruments to hear them in your mix

Don’t assume you can plug in everything, make the numbers match, and go. For an IEM mix to sound clear, instruments must be miked individually.

I did NOT know this until I had a phone conversation with an actual sound engineer!

So, if you play at a club that’ doesn’t do mike all the instruments, wearing your IEMs is almost a waste. You’d probably be better off with custom earplugs.

#6: You will need to carry extra AA batteries to all your gigs

The body pack burns through AA batteries quickly. So you’ll need to bring spares.

Putting the IEMs to Work

Ultimately, I ended up hiring a sound engineer at a recording studio — Factory Underground in Norwalk, Connecticut — to walk me through the entire process of performing with IEMs. I practiced handing over the box transmitter to the sound pro, attaching my body pack to my belt, and singing while hearing myself through the IEM mix in a simulated nightclub environment.

While I’ve yet to have the full IEM experience onstage with my band, this investment in time (about $50 for a 30-minute lesson) was well worth it.

I got to ask all the “dumb” questions I wanted and now feel empowered to hit the stage and wear my IEMs with pride.

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.