Abstract: A multi-driver in-ear monitor for use with either a recorded or a live audio source is provided. If a pair of drivers is used, each driver has an individual sound delivery tube. If three drivers are used, the outputs from two of the drivers are merged into a single sound delivery tube while the output from the third driver is maintained in a separate, discrete sound tube. The sound delivery tubes remain separate throughout the end portion of the earpiece. The earpiece tip is configured to be fitted with any of a variety of sleeves (e.g., foam sleeves, flanged sleeves, etc.), thus allowing the in-ear monitor to be easily tailored to comfortably fit within any of a variety of ear canals. Due to the size constraints of such an earpiece, the sound delivery tubes include a transition region. Acoustic filters (i.e., dampers) can be interposed between one or both driver outputs and the earpiece output.

Abstract: An in-ear monitor for use with either a recorded or a live audio source is provided. The disclosed in-ear monitor combines a single diaphragm driver and a single armature driver within a single earpiece, thereby taking advantage of the capabilities of each type of driver. Preferably, the diaphragm is used to reproduce the lower frequencies while the higher frequencies are accurately reproduced by the armature driver. Such a hybrid design offers improved fidelity across the desired frequency spectrum and does so at a reduced cost in comparison to multiple armature designs. In addition to the two drivers, the disclosed in-ear monitor includes means for splitting the incoming signal into separate inputs for each driver. Typically this function is performed by a passive crossover circuit although an active crossover circuit can also be used. In at least one embodiment, acoustic dampers are interposed between one or both driver outputs and the eartip.