Future Sonics Ear Monitors (in-ear custom monitors)

[Kunlun]

Does anyone have experience using in-ear custom monitors? I'm looking at the Future Sonics Ear Monitors (they were the first, so they trademarked the term), as well as Jerry Harvey's custom iems.

I'm interested in how well the FS Ear Monitors sound, basically. Do they reproduce mids and treble accurately? Is any frequency range more forward than any other? Are they fatiguing?

Thanks in advance for any help.


Future Sonics Ear Monitors with a clear shell to see the drivers.

In situ

[DaInGaIlToAgL]

I have been using Future Sonics for the last couple of years and love them. I'm an engineer, and one of my gigs is mixing monitors for a country artist that is an endorsee so I got a discount, but I listened to a bunch of generic buds from the different companies before ordering.
I think the Future Sonics are the most neutral, flat sounding in ear monitors out there. If anything, they might be considered somewhat "bassy", but the mids and highs are very transparent without being hyped. The drawback I found with many IEMs was that they would have a sort of undefined mid range and then a really shiny extended top, which is not what I want when I am monitoring for long periods of time, like for rehearsals or longer shows. I can work in my Future Sonics all day with little to no fatigue, as long as I'm watching my overall volume on my pack of course.
I would call around to some audiologists and see if you can find one that has demos of the un-molded generic buds for the different drivers out there and take a listen. I do know that FS just upgraded their drivers, not sure what the new difference in the MG6Pro drivers is from the MG5, but I would assume they wouldn't change too much as they were already great sounding drivers.

[Kunlun]

Originally Posted by DaInGaIlToAgL

I have been using Future Sonics for the last couple of years and love them. I'm an engineer, and one of my gigs is mixing monitors for a country artist that is an endorsee so I got a discount, but I listened to a bunch of generic buds from the different companies before ordering.
I think the Future Sonics are the most neutral, flat sounding in ear monitors out there. If anything, they might be considered somewhat "bassy", but the mids and highs are very transparent without being hyped. The drawback I found with many IEMs was that they would have a sort of undefined mid range and then a really shiny extended top, which is not what I want when I am monitoring for long periods of time, like for rehearsals or longer shows. I can work in my Future Sonics all day with little to no fatigue, as long as I'm watching my overall volume on my pack of course.
I would call around to some audiologists and see if you can find one that has demos of the un-molded generic buds for the different drivers out there and take a listen. I do know that FS just upgraded their drivers, not sure what the new difference in the MG6Pro drivers is from the MG5, but I would assume they wouldn't change too much as they were already great sounding drivers.

Thanks, that is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Anyone else is welcome to chime in, too!

[redspork]

I've got the JH5s. They're really comfortable, I was able to wear them for over 4 hours straight when gigging, and it never felt like I was wearing anything. However, JH5s are the cheapest version JH makes, so I'm not sure where your budget is at, but they are decent for the money, but at the same time I wouldn't call them reference grade.

Also, their customer service is phenomenal. I've gotten emails back from Jerry himself when asking questions about the products. They've been a pleasure to work with, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending them.

Best of luck.
Zach

[ysmgj]

earsonics em3pro's,... machine flat with loverly loverly mids.

one thing that has to be heard though is how they reproduce the space of a mix,.... if its a nice wide mix, it'll sound nice and wide, if not it wont, ie whats there is what they produce, nothing more nothing less.

[Kunlun]

I'm sadly still waiting to purchase custom ear monitors, so any further comments are appreciated. There must be a few more of you with various custom iems.

And thanks to those who pm'd!

[edva]

The new Westones are supposed to be the stuff - haven't heard them yet......

[jasonraboin]

Future Sonics are the only (that I know of) single dynamic driver in ears. The other manufacturers use multiple armature (hearing aid) drivers, which do not imho sound as natural. The Future Sonics do not have the hyped high end that other brands have, but they are not fatiguing. I love them as does the client I mix monitors for.

[Marlan]

I haven't used them onstage when I perform yet but the Monster Turbine Pro coppers are also a single driver design. I just bought a pair and have to say they sound absolutely amazing. They also come with about 20 different kinds of earpieces so you can experiment with isolation. I'm currently using a three pronged shooting range style eartip which comes with them and they rock.

They are half the price of the Futuresonics and might be worth checking out as an alternative (especially if you can find an open box special online).

I can't say if they will come close to the Futuresonics in terms of isolation but it might be worth investigating. I got mine for under $400. I swear I could mix a record if I chose to on these things they sound so good. I will also say that I wear them in the loudest subway stations in NYC and can hear solo acoustic guitar records beautifully.

[Kunlun]

Originally Posted by Marlan

I haven't used them onstage when I perform yet but the Monster Turbine Pro coppers are also a single driver design. I just bought a pair and have to say they sound absolutely amazing. They also come with about 20 different kinds of earpieces so you can experiment with isolation. I'm currently using a three pronged shooting range style eartip which comes with them and they rock.

They are half the price of the Futuresonics and might be worth checking out as an alternative (especially if you can find an open box special online).

I can't say if they will come close to the Futuresonics in terms of isolation but it might be worth investigating. I got mine for under $400. I swear I could mix a record if I chose to on these things they sound so good. I will also say that I wear them in the loudest subway stations in NYC and can hear solo acoustic guitar records beautifully.

I have the MTPcoppers and I really like them. They have a pretty balanced sound and a ton of eartips to get a good fit.

I'm looking for the next step up from the mtpc's in fit, comfort and, of course, sound, and I think the FS Ear Monitors might be it.

We'll see. I'll report back when I get customs, whether FS Ear Monitors, Westone ES5s or JH16s.

[Kunlun]

Originally Posted by jasonraboin

Future Sonics are the only (that I know of) single dynamic driver in ears. The other manufacturers use multiple armature (hearing aid) drivers, which do not imho sound as natural. The Future Sonics do not have the hyped high end that other brands have, but they are not fatiguing. I love them as does the client I mix monitors for.

Thanks for replying. The Future Sonics customs have recently gotten an upgraded driver (from Mg4pro to Mg6pro). I've been told by folks at Future Sonics that it will keep the FS sound, but add treble extension while keeping things real and non-fatiguing. Should be great--we'll see if/when I pick mine up.

[Kunlun]

Well, I finally picked up a set of Future Sonics MG6pro Ear Monitors.

I like them a lot, they have a natural and balanced sound with excellent reproduction of an instrument's timbre.

Actually, I liked them enough to write a really long review (with pictures)

[Review] Future Sonics MG6PRO Ear Monitors: Dynamic Driver Custom-Fit In-Ear Monitors - Head-Fi.org Community


Hopefully, it's informative for other people trying to make a similar decision about custom in-ear monitors for stage or home use.

[MichaelPatrick]

About a month ago I got Westone ES5s to mix classical and chamber music. Amazing sound. Love em.

[fifthcircle]

got about 2 or 3 weeks on a pair of the Westones here as well. Love working on them- definitely a learning curve for the new way of monitoring, but they are fantastic sounding monitors of any kind.

--Ben

[Kunlun]

While I obviously liked my Future Sonics custom Ear Monitors, people seem to like the Westone ES5, too.

I've also heard good things about the UERM--the "reference monitor" that Ultimate Ears put out in collaboration with Capitol Records. It's on the Ultimate Ears website. This wouldn't be a stage monitor, more for mixing.

[edwinhurwitz]

I went through a lot of the non-custom in ears a while ago. I finally settled on the Future Sonic Atrios. I got the softerwear sleeves with them. I like them a lot. I've also used dual driver models from Westone and Ultimate Ears and have to say that I much prefer the FS style driver over the armature drivers.

YMMV more than usual. Everyone's ears are different so I can't say that anyone else is making the wrong choice, I just know what works for me.

[Kunlun]

My audiologist actually had his own personal pair of Future Sonics Atrios with custom Softerwear tips. He liked them a lot, too.

[Kunlun]

I just had a chance to hear JHAudio's JH16 and compare it to my Future Sonics MG6Pro Ear Monitors.

The MG6Pro were markedly more natural sounding, with significantly better reproduction of instrumental and vocal timbre--things sounded a lot more real and balanced.

However, the JH16 was a bit faster. I was a little disappointed in it!

[hombre]

i have been looking into iem's as well, but haven't yet heard any.

just from reading the reviews the idea of the single driver appealed to me, and it looks like from this thread i was on the right track.

there are some budget single dynamic drivers by beyer, namely the dtx 100 and there is also the RE0 from hifiman, lots of reviews on head-fi.

anyone have comments on these?

they say the bass is a bit lacking on these two models, but maybe these people are more of consumer listeners and not seasoned mixers/musicians.

[Guitfiddle]

I am researching buds at the moment. Thanks for the review on the FS Kunlun. I was thinking about just going with the Shure SE535's to start out with and then just go with some custom ones down the road. So, do you think this would be a good route, or should I just pick one and go custom? I play drums and sing, so I need an IEM that will give me that solid kick drum/bass guitar as well as wide mids for guitar/clear vocals with nice shimmering highs for the cymbals.

[Kunlun]

Originally Posted by hombre

i have been looking into iem's as well, but haven't yet heard any.

just from reading the reviews the idea of the single driver appealed to me, and it looks like from this thread i was on the right track.

there are some budget single dynamic drivers by beyer, namely the dtx 100 and there is also the RE0 from hifiman, lots of reviews on head-fi.

anyone have comments on these?

they say the bass is a bit lacking on these two models, but maybe these people are more of consumer listeners and not seasoned mixers/musicians.

The bass is both weak, not well extended and a bit inaccurate on the Re0, while the midrange is like a picture that has had the Sharpen filter applied a few too many times. It's interesting to hear for a few minutes, I wouldn't buy it for monitoring or stage. People were weirdly into it on head-fi, but I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't heard the dtrx 100.

The Vsonic GR07 seems like it would be a good choice for $170, while the FS Atrio's well regarded as a stage monitor for the same price.

[Kunlun]

Originally Posted by Guitfiddle

I am researching buds at the moment. Thanks for the review on the FS Kunlun. I was thinking about just going with the Shure SE535's to start out with and then just go with some custom ones down the road. So, do you think this would be a good route, or should I just pick one and go custom? I play drums and sing, so I need an IEM that will give me that solid kick drum/bass guitar as well as wide mids for guitar/clear vocals with nice shimmering highs for the cymbals.

The SE535 won't be good for a drummer as the bass will be weak.

Part of the issue is figuring out which product actually has the sound you need. They all say "hey, we're perfect!", yet if you listen to them side by side, they all sound a little (or a lot) different...

Here's a sensible route you might take (not that we all take sensible routes, but it's nice to have the option, right?):
Go with a company that has:

1)high-end universal fit iems

2) a custom sleeve option for the universal fit iem

3) a full custom iem as a flagship model

Here are two examples:

Westone is the first. You could get the W4 or UM3 and if you like it, get custom sleeves for perfect fit. If you like that, but want something more, you've got the ES5 custom. Westone is moving towards a mid-range-centric but balanced sound that a lot of people love.

Future Sonics is probably the best choice for a drummer/singer. You can try the Atrio, their universal-fit model (for a lot less than the Shure se535 or Westone w4). If you like that, then get the excellent Softerwear full custom sleeves. I have these as a backup and my audiologist has them too. If you say, "well, I want the best in balance, extension, natural realistic reproduction of instrumental and vocal timbre" then go for the MG6Pro custom Ear Monitor.
Here's what a drummer had to say about the MG6Pro:
“FutureSonics MG6 Pro IEM” - SammyDplus’s Review of Future Sonics Ear Monitors with 13mm MG6pro Dynamic Drivers