IEM Conundrum ....... possible solution??

[Pirellithecat]

Hi, Mixed results with IEM's at the moment ...... 
Can get all the feeds to sound "good" in my ears ....... EXCEPT bass. 
Probably because I care more about how the bass sounds than just being able to hear and blend the rest of the band.  
The issue is a very "clanky" bass tone in the IEMs' but a great tone from the backline bass Rig, and the FOH.   So, without IEMs the bass sounds good on Stage and FOH (as does the band).   But, once the IEMs are in place the bass is completely different ... and not in a good way. 
The IEM's are Shure SE 215's via  Xvive U4 wireless set.  (I will get these (or replacements) custom fitted to my lugholes over the next week or 2). 

Just working up to using my new A&H CQ18T live so wondered whether the following might work well as I now have 8 Monitor Outputs - 

One monitor mix with "the Band, plus Ambient Mic"
Another monitor mix for a specific Bass output. 
Combine the 2 Jack outputs using a lead taking 2 mono Jacks to an XLR connector - then Via XLR onto the Xvive Transmitter?  
I could pan the two channels if I need different balances or just change each channel volume?? 

If this isn't daft ....I'll give it a try over the next few days and report back! 

Thoughts??
Cheers 
Ian

 

[Al Krow]

Hi Ian,

 

TLDR: recommend upgrading your IEMs. Plenty of options: in my case I've found KZ ZARs work very well and at around £50 from Ali Express they're excellent value. Combine with a decent preamp pedal and a tailored mix from your desk and you'll be good to go!

 

The desk we both use (A&H CQ18T) has very decent preamps and the quality of sound was a step up from our Soundcraft MTK12 which isn't bad, by any means. We are also both using Xvive U4s (which btw are purely mono, so not sure your cunning plan for stereo is going to succeed!)

 

My first IEMs were also Shure 215s. I'd say they were ok (say = 4/10). I subsequently upgraded to Shure 315s (= 5/10).

 

Having read through the first 300 posts (!) on the IEM bible thread, I got some KZ ZS10s which seemed to be the BC go to value model at the time. The KZs with their multi-drivers were a definite step up in articulation and clarity over the Shures (= 6.5/10), but a little harsh in the treble and I found them a little wearing, and I was half tempted to give up on IEMs at that point.

 

I then came across KZ ZARs IEMs, which are double the price of the ZS10s (but still amazing value at £50 on Ali Express), but have been worth every penny for me. Fuller more rounded response (= 8/10).

 

The CQ18T also allows each of us to have tailored mixes, and I've found the combination of a decent preamp pedal and tailored mix from the desk (with the bass guitar boosted in my personal mix) has made IEMs work very well for me.

 

Hope that helps!

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Al Krow