What Do Drummers Wear in Their Ears?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Drummers wear in-ear monitors, small earphones that sit inside the ear and carry a mix of the band and their own drums. The earphones seal the ear canal, so outside sound is shut out and the mix comes through clearly. A cable runs from the earphones to a monitor feed or a small personal amplifier.
What in-ear monitors are
An in-ear monitor is a small wired earphone that fits inside the ear, with a cable that connects to a monitor mix. The mix carries the drums, the other instruments and any backing tracks, so the drummer hears the whole band in the earphones instead of through floor wedges. The cable can be unplugged from the earphones, so a worn cable can be swapped for a new one without replacing the earphones.
How they keep outside sound out
The seal of the eartip in the ear canal is what keeps outside sound out. Eartips come in silicone and memory foam, and the right size is the one that seals without slipping. If the seal breaks, the outside sound comes back in, so check the fit before you play.
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 a dynamic driver with balanced armature drivers, so each driver covers a different part of the frequency range. The KZ ZS10 Pro pairs 4 balanced armature drivers with 1 10mm dynamic driver, and the Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro 2 pairs 1 dynamic driver with 4 balanced armature drivers. A crossover board splits the signal between the drivers.
How a personal amplifier fits in
Some drummers add a small personal amplifier between the monitor feed and the earphones. The amplifier clips to a belt or waistband and gives the drummer a volume control within reach, plus a switch between stereo and mono. The FZONE P4 is one such amplifier, with XLR and TRS combo inputs, a 3.5mm output jack, and two AAA batteries that run for 12 hours.
Choosing the fit and the mix
Start with the eartip size that seals the ear without slipping, then set the monitor mix so the drums and the rest of the band sit at a level you can follow. A 3.5mm jack is the standard connection for wired earphones, and a 6.3mm adapter fits larger mixer and amplifier outputs. Keep the cable routed behind the ear and out of the way of the sticks, so it stays put while you play.
What you need
Kinboofi KZ ZS10 Pro IEM Headphone
An in-ear monitor with 4 balanced armature drivers and 1 10mm dynamic driver, a detachable 2-pin cable with a 3.5mm jack, and a 304 stainless steel shell.
- Detachable cable
- Impedance: 30 ohm
- Driver setup: 4Ba
BASN Bmaster 2Pin Triple Drivers in Ear
Triple driver in-ear monitors with sound isolation, an ergonomic fit with an earhook cable, a detachable 2-pin cable, and silicone and memory foam eartips in a carrying case.
- Detachable cable
- Impedance: 34 ohm
- 1-year warranty stated
Linsoul KZ ZS10 PRO 2 1DD+4BA Hybrid
A 1DD plus 4BA hybrid in-ear monitor with a 4-level tuning switch, a 3-way crossover, and a detachable silver-plated cable.
- Impedance: 25 ohm
- Driver setup: 1Dd+4Ba
- 1-year warranty stated
FZONE P4 Wired in-Ear Monitor IEM Amplifier
A portable in-ear monitor amplifier that clips to your waist, with volume control, stereo and mono switching, XLR and TRS combo inputs, and two AAA batteries.
- Impedance: 60 ohm
- 1 year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Iem for Drummers, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Can drummers hear the band through in-ear monitors?
Yes. The monitor mix carries the drums and the other instruments into the earphones, so the drummer hears the whole band. The seal of the eartips keeps outside sound out, so the mix stays clear.
Do drummers wear earplugs or earphones?
Drummers on stage wear in-ear monitors, which are earphones that carry a monitor mix.
What cable do in-ear monitors use?
Most wired in-ear monitors use a detachable 2-pin cable with a 3.5mm jack that plugs into a monitor feed or a personal amplifier. A 6.3mm adapter fits the larger outputs on mixers and amplifiers.
Ranked in-ear monitors lists
More how-to guides
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