Are you looking for the best in-ear monitors for singers and vocalists? Singers need a model that can hover above the music so that their vocals can pop out of the mix and be heard clearly.
There are a lot of really great options out there and it largely depends on your preference.
One of the biggest challenges for artists performing live is finding a way to make their live shows sound better than their studio albums.
But thanks to technology, we can now recreate complex pieces on stage using record stems. The only problem is that the artist must be able to hear his or her voice as clearly as when recording in the studio.
This is where in-ear monitors come in handy. Functions as both professional headphones and noise-cancelling earmuffs, allowing artists to focus on their music without being distracted by crowd noise.
Best In Ear Monitors For Singers and Vocalists
1. Shure SE846 PRO
The Shure SE846 PRO Gen 2 stands at the pinnacle of in-ear monitor technology, delivering an audio experience that exceeds expectations.
Featuring new and improved features, these premium in-ear monitors demonstrate Shure’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
One of the standout features of the SE846 PRO Gen 2 is its new filter system that provides users with four unique sound signatures.
This versatility allows listeners to customize their experience, making it ideal for a variety of activities including gaming, streaming, listening to music, and taking calls.
Adding these filters enhances your listening experience, providing a more expansive and immersive audio journey than its predecessor.
The cutting-edge sound delivered by the SE846 PRO Gen 2 is a testament to Shure’s commitment to audio perfection.
Four HD drivers built into each earphone deliver extended high-end clarity and unmatched low-end performance.
Certified Hi-Res by the Japan Audio Society, this three-way system ensures a balanced and precise distribution of bass, midrange, and high frequencies.
The ergonomic design of the SE846 PRO Gen 2 prioritizes comfort without compromising functionality.
The low-profile design with an optimized nozzle angle ensures a secure fit over time, while the over-ear configuration keeps the cable out of the way for a hassle-free experience.
Customization is a key feature that allows users to fine-tune the frequency response. Providing balanced, warm, bright, or extended audio options with removable nozzles, listeners have the flexibility to choose a sound signature that suits their preferences.
The comprehensive package includes the SE846 PRO Gen 2 earphones, a detachable 3.5mm cable, multiple sleeves for a perfect fit, a 1/4-inch adapter, and a premium carrying case.
Shure’s commitment to quality is reinforced with a complimentary two-year warranty, giving users peace of mind and confidence in their investment.
Overall, the Shure SE846 PRO Gen 2 demonstrates Shure’s commitment to audio excellence by providing discerning audiophiles with a personalized, immersive, and unparalleled listening experience.
2. Audio Technica ATH-E70
When it comes to the best in-ear monitors for singers and vocalists, precision and accuracy are everything, and the Audio-Technica ATH-E70 is a testament to that commitment.
Boasting three balanced armature drivers, these in-ear monitors (IEMs) deliver an unparalleled audio experience that will satisfy audiophiles, musicians, and sound engineers alike.
At the heart of the ATH-E70 are three balanced armature drivers that have been carefully designed to provide accurate and extended responses across the entire frequency range.
From crisp highs to rich mids and deep, resonant lows, these IEMs deliver a balanced sound signature that brings your music to life with incredible clarity and detail.
Audio-Technica understands that comfort is just as important as sound quality, especially during long listening sessions. The ATH-E70 features a flexible memory cable that loops over your ears, providing a custom fit that ensures comfort even when worn for long periods of time.
This design not only improves stability but also lets you immerse yourself in your favorite music without the hassle of constantly adjusting your earphones.
The ATH-E70’s specially designed-housing does more than deliver excellent sound. This provides maximum isolation. Effectively blocking outside noise, these in-ear monitors allow you to focus solely on the music, creating an immersive listening experience where you can appreciate every nuance and subtlety of your favorite tracks.
The ATH-E70 not only offers excellent audio quality and comfort. Built to last. Detachable cables provide exceptional durability, ensuring a long lifespan for your investment.
Additionally, the detachable cable makes it easy to replace when needed, increasing the overall lifespan of your in-ear monitors.
The ATH-E70 comes with a carrying case, silicone ear tips, Comply foam ear tips, and a 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) plug-in adapter. This comprehensive package ensures everything you need for an optimal listening experience whether you’re at home, in the studio, or on the go.
3. Audio Technica ATW-3255
So when you hear the word headphones, you probably think of Audio-Technica. They’ve been at the forefront of this headphone game for a while, making some amazing, professional studio-quality headphones.
It features the ATW-3255 in-ear monitor system, which competes with the Sennheiser wireless system.
The system comes with headphones, a bodypack receiver, and a high-quality system transmitter similar to Sennheiser. But where this system really shines is the quality of the included monitor headphones.
Featuring improved bass, a smooth frequency spectrum, and dual push-pull drivers, it delivers a great, clean signal with ample output.
And if that’s not enough, the entire system also includes EQ, limiter, gain and balance controls, just like any high-end studio monitor system.
Audio-Technica also has an RF scan feature, so you can select the absolute best frequency that won’t interfere with your performance. This is very important.
Another really important aspect for performers is that the receiver can run for 7 hours on battery life alone.
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve heard of singers who noticed during sound check that no one was checking the batteries in their wireless in-ear system receivers.
If they hadn’t noticed that the signal was weak, they would have continued playing and probably lost all power during the performance. So major props to Audio-Technica for thinking of it.
One complaint about this system is that it only comes with 49 frequencies, despite having an RF scan to select a reliable RF channel. This is somewhat limited compared to Sennheiser.
4. Mackie MP-320
Mackie started out making mixing boards and PA systems but ended up creating a really cool set of studio monitors called the HR824.
These monitors were especially popular in the hip-hop and electronic music scene because, despite being small near-field monitors, they had killer bass.
Now with the MP-320, they’ve taken much of what they’ve learned from making great professional monitors and put it into this amazing in-ear monitor.
I like that this is a triple-driver monitor system. This means you basically break down your professional studio reference monitors and deliver separate bass, mids, and treble sounds into one small headphone.
And this monitor also works well as noise-canceling earmuffs, with 40dB passive noise isolation. Especially when playing for large festival crowds of thousands, it’s almost like performing in a recording booth.
The frequency response is also top-notch, with a full range of 20Hz to 20kHz, so you can really hear the bass on modern pop tracks.
The only downside I found is sensitivity. At an SPL of up to 100db, it’s pretty weak for a triple-driver headphone. I’m a little surprised by this design choice, as I know their studio monitors can certainly handle many more signals.
5. Westone Pro X30
Westone is a company widely known for making earplugs for both professionals and individuals. So it’s no surprise that they’ve also developed great ear monitors that effectively block noise.
Another great feature of these earbuds is their sensitivity. That’s a whopping 124dB SPL! Of course, as an artist, it is important to take care of your ears. But you also want to be hooked on your tracks. Yes? So it’s nice to have the option to turn up the volume a bit.
Don’t forget the little extras like silicone and foam tips for added comfort.
But what really impressed me was the included wax removal tool. I know it sounds a little gross, but when you sweat on stage night after night, earwax buildup becomes a real problem. This can have a big impact on sound quality. Kudos to Westone for thinking of everything.
The only thing that confuses me is why they cut off the high end at 18kHz. Maybe it’s to protect your ears or prevent feedback.
However, in-ear monitors should have a full range of up to 20 kHz, especially if you want to hear yourself over crowd noise. When you’re a pop star, clear, high-end is very important.
6. Shure SE425
The Shure SE425 are great in-ear headphones from the legendary microphone company. It has dual drivers that separate bass and treble for better sound quality.
However, it is a bit perplexing that Weston and Mackie only have two drivers when they have three. Triple drivers provide greater clarity at lower volumes, which is important when using in-ear monitors.
These headphones have awesome noise-canceling technology. The sleeve itself acts as a sound deadener and there are a variety of comfort options to choose from. It can block up to 37 dB of noise, which is impressive.
So the frequency range is pretty good, but not as good as the Mackie monitors. It can go up to 19kHz, which is almost full bandwidth. It’s a bit puzzling why they didn’t add another kilohertz to make it full range. But that’s how they designed it.
Overall, the best thing about the Shure SE425 is its comfort. Noise-canceling technology and a variety of comfort options are designed to keep you working for hours without ear pain. This is so important that we recommend Shure for this.
How to choose the best in-ear monitors for singers?
Here’s how to choose the right in-ear monitors. All you need to do is to think about what kind of music you want to play.
If you listen to pop or electronic music with lots of bass, mids, and treble, you need in-ear monitors with the most drivers that can handle all frequency ranges like a pro.
On the other hand, if you’re an acoustic musician playing in smaller venues with fewer instruments, 40dB of noise isolation may not be best for you. It may even ruin your performance.
So it all depends on the genre and style of the venue where you will be playing.
To help you decide which in-ear monitor is right for you, we’ve narrowed it down to three main categories to consider.
Drivers and Sensitivity
So, as mentioned earlier, your monitor should suit your music-playing style.
If you’re an EDM singer playing at large festivals like Coachella and EDC, you need three things: triple drivers, maximum noise isolation from the crowd, and a high SPL sensitivity specification.
But if you’re a jazz musician or play in coffeehouses and acoustic sets for less than 100 people, comfort should be central and isolation should be reduced.
Triple drivers may also produce a lot of midrange that isn’t needed, so they may not be the best option for acoustic music.
In this case, a simple monitor with a single driver will probably be sufficient.
Noise blocking
Here’s the deal on noise blocking: It’s like a double-edged sword. It was definitely an adjustment to perform with a noise-canceling monitor, but I’m not even a singer!
The problem is that it can feel a little strange to go on stage and be so quiet. This is because the energy and vibrations do not match what you feel and hear through the headphones.
So my advice is to choose the headphones with the best isolation, like the Mackie MP320, and then try other, less isolated headphones to see which suits you best.
Everyone wants to recreate that studio sound live, but a live show is all about energy. You have to bring it, you have to bring the band, you have to bring the crowd.
I’ve seen singers hesitate on stage because they felt like the isolated monitors had already made them too loud. And to be honest, I’ve seen this happen in the studio with certain headphones. But if you took one side off, not only did they sing in tune, but they sang even more powerfully.
Entire system and single monitor
Depending on your situation, you may want a completely integrated system where one company makes everything, including the receiver, wireless transmitter, and in-ear monitor.
It has its advantages. All parts are thoroughly tested to ensure they work perfectly together. Plus, sometimes it’s more cost-effective to buy everything in a bundle than to buy everything separately.
Personally, the most important thing to consider here is which system is the most reliable, won’t fail during live performances, and provides the highest quality in-ear monitor sound.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Audio-Technica ATH-E70 has established itself as a symbol of value in the in-ear monitor field. With exceptional sound quality, custom fit, maximum isolation, and durability, it meets the needs of discerning audiophiles who demand only the best.