Price: $99 (or $85 if you catch the sale) – Honestly, cheaper than replacing one lost AirPod

Listen, I was fully ready to write these off. A $99 wired IEM from a metronome company? Cute. I figured I’d test them, shrug, and toss them in my drawer next to the earbuds that didn’t make the cut. Plot twist: these haven’t left my gear bag since they arrived. Let me set the scene. I’m halfway through a band rehearsal in a badly soundproofed garage. Our drummer’s going full Animal. The singer’s belting into a hot mic. My old earbuds are slipping, I’m cranking the volume, and I still can’t hear my own damn guitar. Cue frustration. Cue fatigue. Cue the ringing in my ears afterward.

Then I switched to the Soundbrenner Wave. One song in, I could finally hear everything. And I mean everything. My tone, my timing, the click, the mix — locked in like I was back in the studio. No lag, no bleed, no guessing.

Why I’m Lowkey Obsessed:

• Actually Zero Latency: Bluetooth buds? Great for commuting. Terrible for practicing. The Wave plugs in via 3.5mm and delivers sound instantly. Click tracks stay tight. No delay, no drift, just locked-in rhythm.

• Noise Isolation That Works: The foam tips sealed out the room like someone hit mute on the chaos. I didn’t have to blast the volume to compete. My ears thanked me later.

• All-Day Fit: These come with six tip options — foam and silicone in multiple sizes. I found my perfect fit, popped them in, and forgot they were there. No slipping, no soreness, even after a 3-hour session.

• Built for Musicians, Not Casuals: Long braided cable. Over-ear design. Gold-plated detachable connectors. These aren’t dressed-up consumer earbuds. They’re real-deal stage tools.

Room for Improvement:

• Hard to Catch in Stock: Like that one bandmate who’s always late but worth it, these IEMs tend to sell out fast. If you see them in stock, don’t overthink it.

• They Might Ruin Your Other Headphones: I went back to my usual buds after a week with the Wave. Immediate regret. Everything felt off. Honestly, these spoiled me.

Real Talk Time

After three weeks of rehearsals, tracking sessions, and blasting reference mixes, I get why more musicians are making the switch to IEMs — and why this one, specifically, is gaining a following. It just works. There’s no gimmick here. No “Bluetooth 8.9” or flashy app integrations. Just great fit, clean sound, real isolation, and zero latency — all at a price that doesn’t make you feel like you need to sell a pedal to afford it.

If you’ve been winging it with AirPods or whatever came free with your phone, this is the upgrade you didn’t know you needed. Your ears (and your mix) will thank you.

Final verdict? Best $99 I’ve spent on my playing in years. Skip the extra coffee this month. Get the gear that makes you sound like you actually know what you’re doing. Just remember to buy from Soundbrenner’s official site – there are already knockoffs popping up faster than Instagram beauty brands.