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Listening at home⏱️ Estimated reading time: 11 min
On this page: Overview
Key Takeaways
Learning how to wear in-ear monitors takes about a minute, and that minute decides most of what you hear. A loose shell leaks bass and works its way out mid-song. One question comes up again and again: is it fine to wear the cable straight down instead of behind the ears? The honest answer depends on the shell.
At Bollsen, we are a family-owned hearing company from Ljubljana and the official UK and EU partner of Unique Melody. If you are new to the category, what are in-ear monitors covers the basics. Below is the wearing method in six steps, followed by depth, cable routing and custom shells.
How do you wear in-ear monitors, step by step?
To wear in-ear monitors properly, check the tip and find left and right, route the cable over your ear, lift your outer ear and twist the IEM in, check the seal, slide the chin cinch up, and take the IEMs out by the shell. Our examples are three universal-fit models: the 2HT, 3DT and From The Start.
- Check the tip and find left and right. Push the ear tip firmly onto the nozzle first, because a tip left behind in the canal needs a professional to remove it. Then look for L and R on the shell or the cable connector; many makers also colour-code them, and Ultimate Ears’ unboxing guide puts it simply: “right is always red, blue is always left”. The 2HT and 3DT use a 0.78 mm 2-pin connector and the From The Start a 2-pin connector; 2-pin IEM cables compares it with MMCX.
- Route the cable over the ear. With the cable pointing up, loop it over the top of your ear and down behind it. The loop carries the cable’s weight, so the wire no longer drags on the shell or carries rubbing noise into your ear.
- Lift the ear and insert with a slight twist. Reach over your head and gently pull the top of your outer ear up and back, which straightens the ear canal. Push the nozzle in and twist the shell backwards until the cable locks over the ear and the shell sits in the outer ear. Size matters: the From The Start comes with UM Blue Core tips in S, M and L, the 2HT and 3DT with ear tips in several sizes; choosing IEM ear tips covers which to try first.
- Check depth and seal. The IEM should feel snug without pressing. Outside sound should drop away and a familiar track should have full bass. If it sounds thin, push gently a little deeper or change tip size; some tips fold slightly as they go in, so a tip that looks right can still leak.
- Slide the chin cinch up. If your cable has a slider (a chin cinch) where the two sides meet, raise it to take up the slack, as Shure recommends. Stop before it pulls on the shells.
- Take them out by the shell. Grasp the body of the IEM and gently twist it out. Pulling on the cable wears the wire and strains the 2-pin socket over time, so never use it as a handle. On the 2HT, which has a metal nozzle with a mesh, check the nozzle is clean before it goes back in the case.
Why does the cable go over the ear?
The cable goes over the ear because that is how teardrop-shaped IEM shells are designed to sit: the loop takes the cable’s weight, holds the shell in the outer ear and stops the wire rubbing on your collar. That rubbing sound, called microphonics, travels up the cable into your ear.
This is general practice across the industry rather than a quirk of one brand. Shure’s earphone user guide tells users to “wear the cable over the ear and secure it behind the head”, and Ultimate Ears asks its custom owners to wrap the cables behind their ears.
Can you wear IEMs with the cable down? Some bullet-shaped earphones are built for it, and some people find the loop awkward, especially if their ear canal angles upwards and the cable seems to pull the shell out. With a teardrop shell, though, cable-down usually means a looser seal and more cable noise, so try a different tip size and the cinch before you give up on the loop.
How deep should IEMs go?
IEMs should go only as deep as it takes for the ear tip to seal the ear canal: snug, outside sound muted, bass full and no pain. There is no ideal depth in millimetres, because ear canals differ in length and angle.
Shure’s guide gives the clearest rule. If the bass is missing, “gently push the earphone deeper into the ear canal or try a different sleeve”, but never push the sleeve beyond the ear canal opening. Forum regulars put it more bluntly: stop at the first resistance, because going further hurts and rarely improves the seal.
The 3DT has a fairly large shell and a short nozzle, so long-stem tips usually seal more easily, while the From The Start’s compact resin shell sits snugly even in smaller ears. Our From The Start page sums up the goal: “The right tip sits snugly without pressure, and that is when the bass fills in and the treble settles.” A good seal also lets you listen at a lower volume.
How do you put in custom IEMs?
A custom IEM goes in nozzle first and then rotates into place, because the shell itself is moulded to your ear and seals without a tip. Alclair, which makes custom monitors, sets out the method in its guide to inserting custom in-ear monitors: pull up and back on your outer ear with your free hand, insert the nozzle, gently rotate the monitor forward while pressing it into the canal, then press lightly on the faceplate to settle the seal.
In our range, Custom Fit is available only on the MEXT, MEST MKII, MEST Jet Black, MEST Fortune, The Multiverse Mentor and Mason FS, made from a 3D ear scan or ear impressions taken by a hearing specialist. The 2HT, 3DT and From The Start are universal fit only. Still deciding? Our guide to universal vs custom IEMs weighs up seal, comfort and lead time.
What if your ears feel sore after wearing IEMs?
A new pair can feel odd in your ears for the first few days, custom shells especially. Alclair notes that “you may notice minor discomfort for the first few days as your ear canals adapt”. Shorter sessions can make the first days more comfortable.
Pain is a different matter. Shure’s guide says to stop using the earphones and consult a medical professional if you notice “irritation, excessive wax buildup, or other discomfort”. See your GP if ear pain persists; the NHS advises an urgent GP appointment or a call to 111 if earache lasts more than 2 to 3 days, and says not to put anything inside your ear, cotton buds included.
What should you remember every time you put them in?
Wearing IEMs well comes down to a few habits. Cable over the ear. A seal you can hear in the bass, reached without force. And the shell, not the cable, between your fingers when they come out.
All three models here arrive with cable, case and ear tips, so try every size before you judge the sound. When you are ready to choose a pair of Unique Melody in-ear monitors, shop the Unique Melody range and compare shells, connectors and tip sizes side by side. Then give your ears a few days to get used to them.
His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.
