DIY in-ear monitors

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DIY in-ear monitors

Postby ignotus » Fri Sep 23, 2016 2:49 pm

Hi,

This isn't directly related to Megadrum, but as a lot of you here are into DIY stuff this might interest you: DIY IEMs.

There's a really long thread on how to make your own custom IEMs; making the shells, crossover circuits, etc here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/430688/home-made-iems.
I went for a simple build using a Shure replica replacement shell and some triple drivers with their ready-made crossover circuit made by Knowles, which are the ones found in the Westone UM Pro30, for example.

So, once all the parts arrived, this is how I put them together:

First, I attached small lengths of tubing (this came with the drivers) to the driver spouts to let the sound past the small squares of poron foam I used to seal the drivers against the shell, and then I soldered some wires -recycled from some old broken earphones- from the driver's crossover circuit solder pads to some female MMCX connectors:
IEM_3.jpg

Now, I squeezed evrything into the shell. It's a really tight fit and there's no need for glue to keep evrything in place:
IEM_4.jpg

You can also get these colour-coded sound dampers to tweak the sound signature to your taste. I bought green and white one and finally settled on the green ones. They basically determine how much you tame the high frequencies (these drivers with no dampers can be harsh sounding) and balance them with the lows:
IEM_5.jpg

That's it. They sound great and isolate really well, which is what I was looking for to use them with my ekit.
IEM_6.jpg


Parts list:
Shell (€11/pair): http://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/High-quality-C0-Repair-DIY-Unit-Housing-Shell-SE535-se425-se315-se215-W40-Earphone/333670_32499329423.html?spm=2114.30011108.3.27.LkI%20lSt&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_4%20_10037_10017_10044_10043_507_10032_10042,searchweb%20201603_2&btsid=832b0778-a57f-430c-86cf-2249bc0bfa32

Drivers (€75/pair): http://es.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-2pcs-pair-DIY-Earphones-GK-31732-Experience-Balance-Armature-Speaker-Receiver-Earphone-Accessories-from/1000001308317.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.81.kNzP49

MMCX connectors (€0.54 each): http://es.aliexpress.com/item/NEW-MMCX-Female-Jack-RF-Coax-Connector-PCB-Mount-With-solder-post-Straight-Goldplated-wholesale/32461249217.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.89.kNzP49 These aren't actually the right ones; you need ones with a notch in the body so it fits on a ridge in the shell and stays put. I used a hacksaw to make the notch.

Dampers (€1.52 each): http://es.aliexpress.com/item/Unidad-de-alta-frecuencia-Para-Knowles-Inducido-Equilibrado-filtro-Tapones-Amortiguador-de-Amortiguaci-n-Ac-stica/32580267018.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.57.kNzP49

Cable (€7): http://es.aliexpress.com/item/Earphone-Upgrade-Cable-Snakeskin-Line-With-MMCX-Interface-Cable-For-Shure-SE215-315-425-535-SENFER/32704869936.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.65.kNzP49
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If it ain't broken... fix it until it is.
ignotus
 
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Re: DIY in-ear monitors

Postby airflamesred » Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:11 pm

I bought some cheap Shure IEMs this week and am now converted. Mightily impressed that I can work at a lower volume and stick noise is just a thing of the past!

koby drums - Triggera krigg/Bix - megadrum - Kontakt........... Samples from all and sundry.
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Re: DIY in-ear monitors

Postby ignotus » Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:01 pm

Yeah, the first time I tried them it was an eye-opener for me - no more sweaty ears, great isolation and they stay put. Which ones did you get, the 215?
If it ain't broken... fix it until it is.
ignotus
 
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