GEAR REVIEW
SENSAPHONICS UNIVERSAL CUSTOM SLEEVES | Michael Hodge
KEY FEATURES
• Custom silicone sleeves
• Fits several other brands
• Affordable in-ear option
This is a different kind of review . I ’ m sharing my experience with In-ear monitors , and I hope it ’ s helpful . In-ear monitors are everywhere . Apple , of course , might be the biggest seller of consumer earbuds , along with brands like Beats , etc . For modern musicians and singers , however , highquality professional monitoring is essential for live performances .
Finding the right fit and choosing the best one for you individually can be challenging with so many options . You have two choices : generic earbuds or custom molds . House of Worship musicians often use generics because custom earmolds can cost you hundreds or even a couple thousand dollars for advanced features . Dr . Michael Santucci at Sensaphonics has a unique in-ear product solution that has worked best for me . But first , let ’ s look at some issues
affecting us as musicians and singers . I ’ ll share some insights about the custom silicone sleeves and my in-ear journey at the end of the article .
THE PROBLEM : If you are at a big , thriving mega church , they may provide you with top-quality in-ear monitors . Most average and smaller churches with volunteer teams can ’ t afford to have custom earmolds made for each musician and singer on the team . Some will help by providing some less expensive generic earbuds . Most people I talk to in that situation eventually prefer to provide their own . The house-issued earbuds can be dodgy and not well cared for . They might be filled with earwax left by some team members , and the little foam tips don ’ t work for everyone . After many weeks , months , and years , it can get discouraging . As with many things , the best solutions tend to be more expensive ones .
In the case of in-ear monitors , you can expect to pay for what you get . I recommend people at least try to buy their own personal earbuds ; this way , you ’ ll take care of them . Also , get the best pair you can afford . The biggest challenge most people have is getting their earbuds to fit and seal correctly . For example , it ’ s almost impossible for musicians to hear the bass without a good seal in your ear . Custom ear mold companies can add as many as eight or even sixteen drivers to help the low-end get loud enough . Unfortunately , large numbers of drivers also present the possibility of failure in one of those individual drivers . Also , there can be phase issues and several other complications .
I have friends who have to get their earbuds fixed or replaced when suddenly something doesn ’ t sound right . One of those eight or sixteen drivers might bite the dust . Also , blowing the drivers from high volume is quite common in loud environments , especially with drummers and bass players . Still , I ’ ve also noticed that some musicians prefer the generics with a foam seal that works better than the typical hard-shell custom molds that don ’ t seal well . There are two deciding factors . Having the audiologist get the impressions just right and then having the manufacturer do the same .
44 January 2025 Subscribe for Free ...