Why Wedge Speakers Are Being Replaced by In-Ear Monitors By Most Musicians

For a musician, being able to hear while they’re playing is vital to a good performance. In the past, stage monitors were used to filling this need. These were wedge-shaped speakers that face the musicians and thus the audience wouldn’t hear them. But their high volume can be damaging, and they can clutter up the stage quite a bit. As such lately, in-ear monitors have become popular instead. These are devices that musicians use to listen to their music while doing a performance.

Compared to wedge speakers, IEMs offer much better noise cancellation, while having the additional benefit of not damaging one’s ears. This prevents ear fatigue and reduces hearing damage over extended performances. Stage monitors have also been known to affect the audiences’ enjoyment by impacting the audio. The following are some other reasons why musicians in-ear monitors have become the norm:

One of the primary benefits of using IEMs is that they provide superior sound quality compared to wedge speakers. Stage monitors aren’t heard by the audience, but they have a tendency to cause interference. This can disrupt the audience’s speakers and create phasing issues. Overall, it can give off a really poor impression of the event, making it seem unprofessional and poorly planned. To avoid such problems, many musicians have made the jump to in-ear monitors.

A problem frequently faced when using wedge speakers is the lack of mobility. Musicians are often locked in place, as too much movement can lead to disconnections. Wedge speakers also take up a lot of space on the stage, leaving less room for the performers. This is easily solved by IEMs, most of which are wireless. As such, the performers are able to move across the stage as much as they want. This provides a lot of freedom and leads to better performances.

Musicians are often exposed to high-volume tracks. Protecting their hearing should be their top priority, that’s literally their source of income after all.  Wedge speakers are notorious for their damaging effects, often leading to tinnitus for a few days after use. Compared to the noise-canceling properties of IEMs, they are outclassed entirely. It is much easier to listen to one’s performance on IEMs, as it helps to silence out the audience. Furthermore, they protect one’s ears from the damage of high-volume.