Finding the perfect in-ear monitor driver is important whether you’re a musician, a sound engineer, or an audiophile. Keep reading to learn how to choose which driver is best for you.
The Importance of In-Ear Monitor Drivers
In-ear monitor drivers can greatly influence the way you hear the sounds coming into your ears. If you’re a musician, they may also affect the way you’re heard by your audience. If you’re a sound engineer, your in-ear monitor driver is essential to making the performance you’re working on sound its best. If you’re an audiophile, the enjoyment of the music, podcast, or audio book you’re listening to relies on the driver in your in-ear monitor.
Within all in-ear monitors (IEMs) there are drivers that act as miniature speakers. Drivers transform electrical signals into audible soundwaves that are pushed or “driven” to your ears. IEMs can come with single drivers, or can have several drivers within one earpiece.
A single driver IEM would be comparable to the headphones you receive with a new phone. These single driver headphones sound okay, you can hear the music, and they fill the need. However, if you’re purchasing in-ear monitors, you expect the sound quality to be better, more precise, and purer than the sound coming from standard headphones.
Knowing which in-ear monitor driver you need really depends on what you’re using your IEMs for. Multiple driver IEMs can be much more costly than single driver, but there is a reason for the extra cost.
Do Multiple Drivers Make a Difference?
Multiple drivers within IEMs allow for each driver to be tuned for a specific range of frequencies. By splitting the overall sound into different frequencies and having each fine-tuned, the overall sound improves. However, more drivers is not necessarily “better”.
The right sound is dependent on the purpose for using the IEMs. An audiophile who enjoys listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks can use effective, and actually in a lot of cases, superior single driver IEMs. Because IEMs are custom made and sit closer to your ear drum than standard headphones, the sound quality of single driver IEMs can be more detailed and accurate.
Dual driver IEMs offer two separate drivers in each earpiece. Each driver is responsible for producing different frequencies which results in a more detailed, defined sound. Dual driver IEMs may be beneficial for audiophiles and gamers as the sound quality may be more immersive than single driver IEMs.
Triple driver IEMs separate high, mid, and low frequencies making them a great choice for listening to different nuances in music or sound. This type of driver is suitable for a wide range of music genres. Sound engineers typically use IEMs with between 3 and 5 drivers, depending on budget and need.
IEMs containing five drivers and above separate sound into many different frequencies. Two high frequencies, two mid frequencies, and one low may be how a five driver IEM divides sound. Obviously, the more each frequency is broken down and fine-tuned, the better the quality of sound will be. However, the difference between five and 10 drivers is not going to be recognizable to most listeners.
The number of drivers in an IEM do make a difference depending on what you’re using the IEMs for. If you’re a musician, your position in the band may dictate which type of driver you use. For example, the lead singer may want as many drivers as possible in order to get an improved overall sound of each instrument in the band, whereas a guitar player may want to focus on the rhythm in the music and choose a dual or triple driver IEM.
Choosing the Right Driver
To reiterate, choosing the right driver for you depends greatly on what you plan to use your IEMs for. If you’re unsure of which type of driver you want in your IEMs, consulting with an audiologist is recommended. A specialist in hearing, like an audiologist, can review what each type of driver can do for you and advise on which would be the best.
The audiologists and specialists in hearing care at Hearing Solution Centers would be very beneficial in helping you decide which type of driver to look for. The team at HSC can also help create a customized set of IEMs for you as well.
Questions about in-ear monitors and which type of driver is best for you? Reach out to Hearing Solution Centers today!