In-ear monitoring has recently become one of the the fastest-growing products of interest for both working musicians and audio engineers. Never before has it been easier to enjoy the benefits of customized monitoring -- including lower stage volumes, less equipment to carry, and the stunning sound quality. There's also the added benefit of protecting your hearing onstage!
The dual-driver LiveWires were introduced at MacWorld 2007, and heads turned -- a fully custom-fit monitor for only $249?
The dual-driver LiveWires were introduced at MacWorld 2007, and heads turned -- a fully custom-fit monitor for only $249?
Custom Fit Comfort
As is necessary for any custom-fit earphone product, impressions of your ears are needed. A quick stop by Washington University's CID Hearing Clinic, and I had my ear impressions out the door to Earpeace's Castro Valley, California lab.
Getting your impressions taken is painless, quick, and shouldn't set you back more than $50. If your quoted audiologist's fee come to more than $50, make sure they understand all you need is the silicone impressions, not the actual molds themselves.
Upon arriving, my LiveWires fit perfectly.
The LiveWires come available in several colors; the shells and faceplates are available in multiple colors, including clear, skin tones, and blue or red. According to Earpeace's John Diles, they're also working with their lab to start production of LiveWires with custom artwork.
However, having larger connectors on the outside of the earpiece could create a problem for users using the earphones under a motorcycle helmet or who need a very low profile for theatrical use. If you view this as a potential problem, it should be no issue for EarPeace to permanently attach the cables to your earphone, instead of using the coax connectors.
Getting your impressions taken is painless, quick, and shouldn't set you back more than $50. If your quoted audiologist's fee come to more than $50, make sure they understand all you need is the silicone impressions, not the actual molds themselves.
Upon arriving, my LiveWires fit perfectly.
The LiveWires come available in several colors; the shells and faceplates are available in multiple colors, including clear, skin tones, and blue or red. According to Earpeace's John Diles, they're also working with their lab to start production of LiveWires with custom artwork.
The Cable
LiveWires also have a great feature in their cord and connectors -- instead of the industry-standard 2-pin connection, the audio cables connect to the earpieces with mini-BNC coax connectors. These strong connectors rotate 360 degrees, so the wearer can go from behind-the-ear to down-in-front with the cable, an excellent idea.However, having larger connectors on the outside of the earpiece could create a problem for users using the earphones under a motorcycle helmet or who need a very low profile for theatrical use. If you view this as a potential problem, it should be no issue for EarPeace to permanently attach the cables to your earphone, instead of using the coax connectors.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is where the LiveWires really stand out.
The first thing I noticed about the LiveWires is their sensitivity. Compared to most other products I've tried, including custom monitors such as the Sensaphonics 2X-S and Ultimate Ears UE-10, the sensitivity of the LiveWires is quite a bit more pronounced. When plugged into my 5th generation iPod, there's quite a bit of white noise present before music is played, depending on volume; I find, for casual listening, I keep the volume quite a bit lower than I would otherwise.
The high sensitivity makes using a headphone amp a non-issue. For stage monitoring, this sensitivity comes in very handy; tested with a Shure PSM 700 beltpack, the LiveWires showed great, faithful reproduction without a lot of push from the beltpack -- saving quite a bit of battery life.
Highs are silky and sparkle with extension out to 16kHz; mid-range is thick and accurate, but a little on the slow-response side. The low end is impressive, with great impact and quality extending to 20hz.
Recorded music stands out with vocals and warm instruments (acoustic guitars, for example) up front, framed by powerful bass. As I said earlier, the mid-range is a little slower in response; this takes away some of the accuracy, but definitely allows the LiveWires to have a "fun" factor; these 'phones are hardly analytical.
The first thing I noticed about the LiveWires is their sensitivity. Compared to most other products I've tried, including custom monitors such as the Sensaphonics 2X-S and Ultimate Ears UE-10, the sensitivity of the LiveWires is quite a bit more pronounced. When plugged into my 5th generation iPod, there's quite a bit of white noise present before music is played, depending on volume; I find, for casual listening, I keep the volume quite a bit lower than I would otherwise.
The high sensitivity makes using a headphone amp a non-issue. For stage monitoring, this sensitivity comes in very handy; tested with a Shure PSM 700 beltpack, the LiveWires showed great, faithful reproduction without a lot of push from the beltpack -- saving quite a bit of battery life.
Sound Signature
The sound signature on the LiveWires is very surprising, given their price. In fact, I found the sound signature to be nearly identical to the Sensaphonics 2X-S earphones, at less than half their price!Highs are silky and sparkle with extension out to 16kHz; mid-range is thick and accurate, but a little on the slow-response side. The low end is impressive, with great impact and quality extending to 20hz.
Recorded music stands out with vocals and warm instruments (acoustic guitars, for example) up front, framed by powerful bass. As I said earlier, the mid-range is a little slower in response; this takes away some of the accuracy, but definitely allows the LiveWires to have a "fun" factor; these 'phones are hardly analytical.
Comparisons
As I mentioned, from memory, the Sensaphonics 2X-S have the most similar sound signature to the LiveWires. Considering the price difference, the LiveWires scored a home run! Fat, round, and warm with great high-end detail. Sense of soundstage is fantastic; very natural. However, due to their sensitivity, there can be some high-end and mid-range distortion if you're pushing the earphones too hard; however, to get to that point, you'd be pushing audio at very, very unsafe levels into your ears -- not advisable under any circumstances.
Compared to the Shure E500, a popular triple-driver, universal-fit monitor, the LiveWire's low end reproduction meets the E500's low end; the LiveWires exceed the E500 in high-end reproduction. The E500's midrange is thicker and a little more fluid, but considering the price difference, the LiveWires win.
Compared to the Future Sonics Atrio series, as previously reviewed, the balanced armature-based LiveWires don't show nearly the textured mids and low-end, but do offer a slight advantage in high-end extension; at the price point they're offered at, it's going to be all in what "flavor" of sound you want.
The LiveWires are available now, alongside a new triple-driver model (with more bass impact); see www.mylivewires.com for more information on ordering.
Compared to the Shure E500, a popular triple-driver, universal-fit monitor, the LiveWire's low end reproduction meets the E500's low end; the LiveWires exceed the E500 in high-end reproduction. The E500's midrange is thicker and a little more fluid, but considering the price difference, the LiveWires win.
Compared to the Future Sonics Atrio series, as previously reviewed, the balanced armature-based LiveWires don't show nearly the textured mids and low-end, but do offer a slight advantage in high-end extension; at the price point they're offered at, it's going to be all in what "flavor" of sound you want.
Conclusion
The Earpeace LiveWires offer a fantastic value; at $249 (plus audiologist's fees), you're able to get an audiophile-quality earphone, perfectly suitable for stage monitoring as well as studio mixing, for a fraction of the price of the major players.The LiveWires are available now, alongside a new triple-driver model (with more bass impact); see www.mylivewires.com for more information on ordering.