When and why did we start calling earbuds “in ear monitors“? In my book, IEMs are custom-molded high-end on-stage In Ear Monitors for monitoring your sound returned from the soundboard. I don’t think these over-the-counter “Designed to look like custom IEMs but absolutely not custom “ earbuds qualify.
captainWhen they invented earphones that aren't earbuds and people needed something else to call them. IEM is easier to say than in-ear headphone, or whatever other term you want to call them, be they monitors or not. I'm afraid it's too late to change the course of discussion on them now.
captainHey captain,
The way I delineate "earbuds" vs. "in-ear monitors" is whether they seal + isolate. True...in-ear monitors were developed as a replacement for the large "wedge" speaker monitors on the stage that blasted a musician's sound back at them. These wedges were causing hearing damage. An in-ear monitor could block out the other sound on stage, giving a musician a quieter environment plus the exact mix of sound desired by each member of the band (including some of the audience sound). Whether that is custom-fit or "universal-fit" using replaceable silicone ear tips to get a seal and isolation, we generally refer to this type as an "in-ear monitor" or "IEM". Though originally developed for professional use, audiophiles found out about them and slowly started to adopt them and become a large part of the IEM business.
Earbuds like the Apple iBuds don't create a seal, they just sit in the ear and let external sound in. Lots of earbuds come with a small foam sleeve to fit over the plastic, but there is no seal.
captainShure has been calling the same thing IEM for over 10 years. These have 3 balanced-armature drivers and replaceable tips to fit your ear and create a seal for isolation. What you are looking for are called CIEM.
CEE_TEEI would say that the problem with wedge monitors are a combination of giant loudspeakers facing the audience + wedges + guitar amps + battery (the drummer and his drum rig), not the wedges alone.
Some DJs outright use IEMs underneath a protective earmuff, like what construction workers and such use.
Some groups stick their drummer inside his own building altogether, lol!