Drumeo earDRUMS Review

Well-made triple-driver build, but the accessories carry it: a tour-grade silver-plated cable and the best IEM case I have used. The only real knock is a wide housing that does not seat properly.

The earDRUMS use a triple-driver design and feel well made, but what stands out most is what comes around them. The silver-plated detachable cable Drumeo includes is excellent, on the level of an Ultimate Ears custom-molded in-ear.

That is not a small thing for a drummer. We wear the cable behind us, not in front, so it stays clear of our hands while they are moving and does not get knocked out of the receiver. A fragile, poor-quality cable will not hold up for a tour, and this one will.

The blue carrying case is spectacular, better than any case I have used. You also get three ear-tip options: foam, single-layer silicone, and triple-layer silicone.

There is one real knock. The speaker diameter on the earDRUMS is a little wider than most of my other in-ears and does not fit my ear properly, so I have to somewhat force them in when using the foam tips.

Full-range warm sound with excellent -29dB isolation, which matters for monitoring mic'd drums. A clear step up from the KZ ZS10 Pro, with the wide fit the only real cost to comfort.

For drumming, these perform. They have a full range of sound. You feel the kick drum, and the cymbals shine, smooth and shimmering and never harsh. The bass is deep and rich with a clear mid-range, plenty of low end without getting muddy.

When I test in-ears I play flatter music like Steely Dan or 70s yacht rock, because it is balanced and not overhyped and gives me a control sound.

On that, the earDRUMS are warm with a crisp high end that is not harsh, a fairly flat frequency response that still has a great bass response. On sound quality alone they are a massive step up from the KZ ZS10 Pro that everyone raves about.

Isolation is excellent, rated up to -29dB. When I play my kit the foam or triple-layer silicone tips are necessary; the single-layer tips let too much of the kit bleed into my ears.

Since I monitor my drums with microphones I want as much room sound kept out as possible, and with the right tips I can barely hear the kit behind the mics and the track.

The triple-layer inserts isolate just as well and are more comfortable than the foam, though after a session with the foam tips I get some ear pain and need to pull them out for a minute.

Be aware that the single-layer tips negate a lot of the decibel reduction, so you could still be harming your ears. The wide fit costs some comfort, but I still reach for these more than my Shure IEMs.

At $149, the most affordable triple-driver IEMs of this caliber I have used, and a clear sound win over the pricier Shures. The fit and comfort hit keep it from higher.

I have spent the past few years cycling through four IEM models: the Shure SE215 at $99, the Shure SE315 at $179, the KZ ZS10 Pro at $49, and the ADV Model 2 at $29. I was never thrilled with any of them, mostly because I had not shelled out for custom molds. Surprisingly, the two Shures were the weakest for what I wanted.

At $149 with a triple-driver setup, the earDRUMS are the most affordable in-ears of this caliber I have used, and they beat the pricier Shures for sound. They are priced well for both beginners and professionals.

Taken as a whole they are a good value; the main thing holding the number back is the wide fit and the comfort hit that comes with it.

Verdict

I was genuinely impressed by the quality of these in-ears. Whether it is their lesson system, their practice pads, their books, or now in-ear monitors, Drumeo has a habit of putting their name on things that turn out to be good, and the earDRUMS are no exception.

If you are buying your first set of in-ear monitors, or upgrading from bulky isolation headphones to something that also looks better on camera, these are an easy recommendation, with the one caveat that the fit runs wide. For the money, they are the best affordable IEMs for drummers I have used.