FIR is a newer IEM company relative to the more well known companies, but they are not new to the IEM game. Bogdan and Alex Belonozhko, formerly of 64 Audio, know what we as monitor engineers need on the road and are creating products to help us do our job better.
FOH engineers have long been able to measure and tune PA systems to know mathematically if their ears are lining up with what is actually happening. Until recently, there were only a few very expensive tools to do the same at monitors. In comes FIR who created a tool for monitor engineers to accurately view the output of a custom IEM to know exactly what may be happening in their artist’s ears. Now, when the artist says “Hey, it sounds like I have no low end.”, we can actually confirm that a driver is broken causing that issue and not something else in the chain.
It comes with 4 different sizes of silicone tips to match different ear sizes. It houses both the headphone amp and the measurement mic. This means you do not need an external interface like with the Audix TM2 or the SLS miEMi RTA mic coupler. I have not had firsthand experience with the two aforementioned measurement tools, but due to the sheer size and simplicity of this device, it made the most sense for me. It even works with an iPhone/iPad app so you can truly measure in almost any environment.
MSRP - $1999
Notes:
This is NOT a tool to help create a “flat” transfer function as the science of hearing does not lend itself to ever actually wanting to hear something flat. Google the Fletcher-Munson curve if you don’t believe me.
This can be used with Smaart or any other measurement software. However, if you choose to use it with newer versions of Smaart be aware that as of Smaart 8 there is no longer a loopback for pink noise. You will have to use a software like Rogue Amoeba Loopback to accomplish this.
If you have any other specific questions, feel free to email me at josh@spacebearaudio.com