A wireless in-ear monitoring system with accurate earpieces can significantly improve nearly any show. With that in mind, here are some current offerings in custom earpieces for professional monitoring applications. Although we focused mainly on top-of the line models, which all require impressions of each user’s ears, most companies also offer less expensive options (including many in universal, non-custom versions) and URLs are provided for more information.
1of1 Custom (ACS Custom) Emotion
- Fit: Custom
- Transducers: Five (LF/2MF/2HF)
- Impedance: 63 ohms
- Sensitivity: 120 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 27 dB
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: From $1,250
- Notes: SSI (Sound Stage Imaging) technology
- www.1of1custom.com
- 64 Audio A12t
- Fit: Custom or universal
- Transducers: 12 (4 LF/6 MF/2 HF)
- Impedance: 12.6 ohms
- Sensitivity: 108 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 20 dB with Apex m20 module
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: from $1,999
- Notes: Similar U12t universal IEM also offered
- www.64audio.com
Alclair Audio ESM
- Fit: Custom
- Transducers: 13 (4 LF/4 MF/1 HF) + 4 electostats
- Impedance: 30 ohms
- Sensitivity: 110 dB/1mW
- Isolation: -26 dB
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: $2,499
- Notes: Hybrid balanced armature/electrostatic HF design
- www.alclair.com
CTM (Clear Tune Monitors) Da Vinci X
- Fit: Custom and Universal
- Transducers: Ten (4LF/4MF/2/HF)
- Impedance: 43.8 ohms
- Sensitivity: 117 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 26 dB
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: $2,600
- Notes: Five-way (split dual LF/split dual MF) crossover
- www.cleartunemonitors.com
Earsonics EM64
- Fit: Custom
- Transducers: Six (2LF/2MF/2HF)
- Impedance: 44 ohms
- Sensitivity: 127 dB/1mW
- Isolation: Not stated
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: From $1,378
- Notes: Dist. by Focal Naim America (focalnaimamerica.com)
- www.earsonics.com
Empire Ears Legend X
- Fit: Custom and Universal
- Transducers: Seven (2LF/2MF/3HF)
- Impedance: 14 ohms
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/1mW
- Isolation: Not Stated
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: From $2,299
- Notes: Ferrofluid-damped drivers
- empireears.com
Future Sonics MG6 HX
- Fit: Custom
- Transducer: Single 13mm driver
- Impedance: 32 ohm
- Sensitivity: 114 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 26 dB
- Color: Numerous color options
- Price: From $1,100
- Notes: HX Helix vent for 26 dB Ambient Noise Rejection
- www.futuresonics.com
Jerry Harvey Audio/L-Acoustics Contour XO
- Fit: Custom
- Transducers: Ten (4LF/2MF/4HF)
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 116 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 26 dB
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: From $1,949
- Notes: Universal model offered by L-Acoustics
- www.jhaudio.com
Sensaphonics 3MAX
- Fit: Custom
- Transducer: Triple drivers (2LF/1HF)
- Impedance: 14.2 ohms
- Sensitivity: 114 dB (@ 0.1V)
- Isolation: 37 dB average
- Color: Clear or optional colors
- Price: $1,150
- Notes: Field-replaceable or permanently attached cables offered
- www.sensaphonics.com
Ultimate Ears UE Live
- Fit: Custom
- Transducers: Eight (6 balanced, 1 TrueTone+, 6mm sub)
- Impedance: 10 ohms
- Sensitivity: 105 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 26 dB
- Color: Multiple color options
- Price: From $1,699
- Notes: Superbax cable
- http://custom.ultimateears.com
Westone ES80 Elite
- Fit: Custom
- Transducer: Eight balanced armatures
- Impedance: 80 ohms
- Sensitivity: 111 dB/1mW
- Isolation: 25 dB
- Color: Multiple color options.
- Price: From $1,899
- Notes: Selectable 10/16/24 dB attenuation filters
- www.westone.com
