Ambient Ports vs. Ambient Mics: What You Need to Know


Ambient ports (also called pressure vents) are small tubes built into your in-ear monitors. They run from the outside of the shell down the canal toward your eardrum. We now insert a special filter into the tube to help retain some low-end response — but there are trade-offs.


The Upside of Ambient Ports

  • They let in outside sound, so you don’t feel completely isolated

  • You can hear audience reactions, stage chatter, or cues from bandmates


The Downside

  • Ambient ports only fit in the AE1 and AE2 models due to space limitations

  • When the port is open, you lose almost all low-end response — yes, all

  • Even with our special filter, you’ll still lose a significant amount of low-end


A Better Solution: Ambient Mics

Personally, I use an ambient mic that feeds into my personal monitor mix. It gives me full control and lets me hear everything clearly — without sacrificing low-end.

  • You don’t need a fancy mic for this. Any basic room mic will do.

  • A PZM (pressure zone mic) works well because of its wide pickup pattern

  • Many venues already have ambient mics installed — talk to your sound tech

Pro tip: Bring your sound guy a Starbucks or some kind of peace offering.  It helps. You know what I mean.



One Last Word of Advice

Please don’t waste $1,100 on a belt pack with a built-in mic and limiter marketed as an “ambient solution.”  You can build a better setup for a fraction of the cost — and keep your low-end intact.