Have you ever noticed the earbuds that so many singers wear while they sing? Have you ever wondered why they wear them? The truth is those are not earbuds. Those devices are called in-ear monitors, and they give singers their direct source of sound on the stage, essentially playing the show for them. Read this article to learn why singers should use in-ear monitors.

Better Sound Quality

People can argue day and night about whether earbuds or in-ear monitors are superior. But, when it comes to what singers need to perform, there is no doubt they get more value from IEMs than headphones. IEMs fit snugly into the ear. They block the ear canal from taking in outside noise. Furthermore, sounds that come out of the monitors can go directly into the ear canal through IEMs, which allows singers to hear the details of music but with less volume.

Hearing Health

It should come as no surprise that one of the primary reasons why singers should use in-ear monitors is to protect their hearing. Listening to anything too loud for too long puts the listener at serious risk of hearing damage. IEMs block out the amplified sound of the instruments, allowing singers to sing along while still listening at a level that protects their ears.

Bring Down Vocal Strain

If a singer cannot hear themself over the band as they sing, their natural instinct is to sing louder. But, as every great musician has learned at some point or another, louder is not always better. By using an IEM, singers can have a more balanced perspective of the sounds around them. They will not feel buried under the noise and, therefore, will not feel the need to sing loudly.

Portability

Some singers use wedges as an alternative to IEMs. These are wedge-shaped floor monitor speakers that singers put on the stage so they can listen to what they are playing. However, wedges are heavy, cumbersome additions to a tour bus. One of the great advantages of IEMs is how portable they are.