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.