What Are the Earbuds Singers Wear?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Singers wear in-ear monitors, small wired earphones that sit inside the ear and carry a personal mix of their voice and the band. The earphones seal the ear canal, so the sound of the stage stays out and the mix comes through clearly. A cable runs from the earphones to a monitor feed or a small personal amplifier.
What singers wear in their ears
The earbuds singers wear are in-ear monitors: small wired earphones shaped to fit inside the ear. They carry a mix made for the singer, with their own voice and the instruments they need to follow. The cable runs down to a monitor feed from the mixer or to a small personal amplifier the singer can reach. Floor wedges do the same job from the stage floor, but in-ear monitors keep the mix private to the singer.
How the seal keeps stage sound out
The eartip seals the ear canal, and that seal is what keeps the sound of the stage out of the mix. A snug fit lets the singer hear the mix clearly, since outside sound is not competing with it. Eartips come in silicone and memory foam, in different sizes, and the right size is the one that seals without slipping. The BASN MMCX comes with 12 pairs of eartips in different sizes.
What the drivers inside do
Inside each earphone, small drivers turn the electrical signal into sound. Some earphones use one dynamic driver, while others pair dynamic drivers with balanced armature drivers, so each driver covers a different part of the frequency range. The BASN MMCX uses 2 dynamic drivers and 1 balanced armature driver, and the YINYOO KBEAR Storm uses a 10mm dynamic driver. A crossover splits the signal between the drivers.
How to get a fit that stays put
Route the cable over the ear and let the earhook hold it in place, so the earphone stays put while the singer moves. Try the eartip sizes one at a time and keep the size that seals without slipping. The BASN Bmaster uses MMCX connectors that rotate 360 degrees for a comfortable fit when wearing, and its earhook keeps the earphone in place on stage.
What you need
BASN Bmaster Triple Drivers in Ear Monitor
Triple driver in-ear monitors with sound isolation, an ergonomic shape with an earhook cable, MMCX connectors, and silicone and memory foam eartips in a carrying case.
- Detachable cable
- Impedance: 34 ohm
BASN MMCX in Ear Monitor
Triple driver in-ear monitors with 2 dynamic drivers and 1 balanced armature driver, 12 pairs of eartips, two detachable 1.5 m cables, and a mic cable with volume control.
- Detachable cable
- Impedance: 18 ohm
- Driver setup: Hybrid
- 12-month warranty stated
CCA CRA PRO in Ear Monitor Headphones
A dynamic driver in-ear monitor with a 3.8μ DLC diaphragm, a detachable cable, and a 3.5mm jack that works with Android phones, tablets, and MP3 players.
- Detachable cable
- Impedance: 23 ohm
- Driver setup: Dynamic Driver
YINYOO KBEAR Storm Professional in Ear Monitor
A 10mm dynamic driver in-ear monitor with a detachable OFC silver-plated cable, 6 pairs of silicone ear tips, and a 3.5mm jack.
- Impedance: 30 ohm
- Driver setup: Dynamic Driver
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best in Ear Monitors for Singers, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Are the earbuds singers wear the same as earplugs?
No. The seal of the eartip keeps stage sound out, so the mix stays clear.
Can singers hear themselves through in-ear monitors?
Yes. The monitor mix carries the singer's own voice along with the instruments, so the singer hears the voice in the earphones. The mix is made for that singer, so it carries what that singer needs to follow.
What cable do singers' in-ear monitors use?
Most wired in-ear monitors use a detachable cable with a 3.5mm jack that plugs into a monitor feed or a personal amplifier. The BASN Bmaster uses MMCX connectors, and the BASN MMCX comes with two detachable 1.5 m cables.
Ranked in-ear monitors lists
More how-to guides
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