M-AUDIO IE-20xb User Manual

User Guide

English

IE-40 | IE-30 | IE-20 XB | IE-10

Professional Reference Earphones

IE Professional Reference Earphones | User Guide | 3

Thank you for choosing M-Audio’s IE professional reference earphones. Your IE earphones have
been designed to provide you with the best in professional-quality personal monitoring and music
enjoyment. Whether you use your IE earphones for onstage monitoring, with your digital audio
workstation software or just to listen to your favorite tunes, you’ll find that they deliver the ultimate in
audio performance.

Safe Listening Warnings

English

Please be sure to read all warnings and
instructions before using your M-Audio IE
earphones.

⚠ To avoid damage to your hearing, we
recommend that you do not exceed 50% of the
maximum volume on your audio device and that
you limit your use to one hour or less per day.

⚠ Always turn the volume down on your
listening device before inserting your M-Audio
IE earphones into your ears . Once your IE
earphones are inserted, gradually increase the
volume to a moderate listening level.

⚠ Using earphones at high volumes (greater
than 85dB) or for extended periods of time
(more than one hour per day) can permanently
damage your hearing. Ringing in your ears or
other discomfort can indicate that the music
volume is too high.

⚠ Hearing damage can be gradual and
cumulative. In many cases there are no obvious
warning signs. A hearing test and medical
examination are the only way to accurately
diagnose hearing damage. However, we strongly
recommend you make an appointment with your
ear doctor if you notice any of the following
symptoms:

< Ringing or buz zing in the ears

< Difficult y in understanding speech

< Muffling of sounds

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Listen Responsibly !

Hearing health is critical to your enjoyment
of music and to your quality of life. Protect
your hearing by listening to your music in a
responsible manner that protects your long-term
hearing health.

Please review and consider the following
Occupational Safety Health Administration
(“OSHA”) guidelines regarding the maximum
time exposure to sound pressure levels before
hearing damage may occur.

OSHA has established the following noise
exposure limits:

Sound Pressure
Level dB (A)

90 8 hours

95 4 hours

100 2 hours

105 1 hour

110 30 minutes

Permissible Noise
Exposure Duration
(per day)

WARNING: Exposure to sound pressure levels
above 115dB(A) for even short periods of time
can cause permanent hearing damage.

The preceding OSHA exposure levels should
be considered maximum limits. Compliance
with the OSHA limits will not provide you
with protection from potential hearing loss.
Accordingly, we recommend never exceeding
50% of the permitted volume on your audio
playing device and limiting your use of
headphones to durations of one hour or less per
day. Decibel levels of 85 dB(A) are dangerous
to your hearing and may cause hearing loss.

For more information visit the OSHA website at
www.osha.gov.

IE Professional Reference Earphones | User Guide | 5

Additional Safety Tips for Proper Use

⚠ Do not use these earphones in any environment where a failure to hear surrounding sounds could
be dangerous. In no way should these earphones be used while driving a car, biking, walking or
operating machinery.

⚠ Do not submerge or expose the earphones to water (see the section on Earphone Care and
Maintenance).

⚠ When using your earphones with an unfamiliar or unstable sound system (airplane, public access
ports, etc. ) make sure volume is low and is kept at a moderate level to prevent “break-in” bursts of
loud sounds.

⚠ Keep your M-Audio IE earphones away from young children. This product includes small parts
and cables that may create a choking hazard.

⚠ Remove earphones if they cause any ear discomfort or you have difficulty inserting the ear tips
(see the section on Suggestions for Using Ear Tips). Remember, ears are sensitive and you should
never force anything into the ear canal.

⚠ Consult regularly with a physician or audiologist if you have problems hearing, excessive wa x
build-up, or any discomfor t after use.

⚠ Your M-Audio professional reference earphones are intended for your personal use. If you are
sharing your earphones, remove your ear tips, and clean your earphones with antiseptic wipes before
and after sharing.

What’s in the Box

< User Guide

< IE reference earphones (46-inch cord, cable

adjuster and gold-plated 1/ 8-inch input plug )

< Universal fit kit: 6 single-flange silicone ear

tips (2 small; 2 large; 2 medium, attached to
earphones ), 2 double-flange silicone eartips
and 2 disposable foam tips

< Cleaning tool

< Soft carrying pouch (included with IE-10,

IE-20 XB, and IE-30 only)

< Airline attenuator/limiter (included with

IE-20 XB, I E-30, and IE-40 only)

< 1/4-inch adapter (included with IE-20 XB,

IE-30, and IE-40 only)

< Hard metallic storage case ( included with

IE-20 XB, I E-30, and IE-40 only)

English

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7

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Earphone Components

< Earphones

< Ear tips

< Ear conductor

(visible only when ear tip
is removed)

< Ear loops

①

②

③

< Cleaning tool

< Airline attenuator/limiter ⑤

< 1/4” adapter

< Cable adjuster – Y-Junction ⑦

(see page 9)

④

⑥

Individual product and accessory color and styling may vary.
Hard metallic storage case, airline attenuator/limiter and 1/4” adapter not included with IE-10.

IE Professional Reference Earphones | User Guide | 7

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Fitting the Ear Tips

M-Audio has included a variety of ear tips to
ensure a good seal for your ears. All ears are
unique so you will need to determine which tips
are most comfortable for you.

Most users find that the single-flange silicone
ear tips provide a good fit for their ears and are
the easiest to use. However, some customers
prefer the foam tips for the best seal and more
secure fit (see section on Suggestions for Using
Ear Tips).

Your M-Audio earphones come with medium
single-flange silicone ear tips already attached.
Included with your earphones are the following
additional ear tips:

Single-flange silicone ear tips

①

(2 small and 2 large)

Double-flange silicone ear tips

②

Disposable foam ear tips

③

Attaching the Ear Tips

The ear tips can be attached or removed by
using a gentle grasping and twisting motion.
The ear tip should fit securely over the ear
conductor and—once the ear tip is in place—the
ear conductor should not be exposed.

Care and Cleaning of Flanged Silicone
Ear Tips

The silicone ear tips are reusable and should
be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe after each
use. They should also be removed and cleaned
regularly with mild soap and water. The ear tip
should be completely dry before you place it on
the ear conductor.

Care of Foam Ear Tips

The foam ear tips are designed for limited use
and should be discarded when they appear
discolored.

Connecting to a Listening Device

M-Audio earphones come with an 1/ 8-inch
input plug that is compatible with most personal
listening devices. In addition, our optional
1⁄4 inch adapter (included with the IE-20 XB,
IE-30, and IE-40 earphones) will allow you
to connect to a variety of other consumer
electronics equipment.

English

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Earphone Insertion “Rock ‘N’ Roll”

It is important to get a good ear fit to maximize
comfort and optimize the listening experience.
A correct seal will help eliminate background
noise and offer the best frequency response
when listening to music.

Go to www.m-audio.com/earphones to view the
Earphone Insertion Demonstration.

⚠ Be sure that the volume is turned down to
a minimum on the device that you will be using.
Next, plug your earphones into the output.

Step 1

Identify the left earphone (marked with an “L”)
and the right earphone (marked with an “R”).

IE-10, IE-30, and IE- 40 : Holding each
earphone with the cord pointing straight
up and the
glide the ear tip into the ear canal.

IE-20XB: Holding each earphone with the
cord pointing straight up and the
pointing to the left/right accordingly, gently
glide the ear tip into the ear canal

Step 2

Keeping your earphones in the same position,
rock your hands slightly for ward to slide the ear
tip comfortably into the ear canal.

logo pointing forward, gently

logo

Step 1

Step 2

IE Professional Reference Earphones | User Guide | 9

Step 3

Now, gently roll your earphones back to create
the seal desired. ( Note : if you are having
difficulty please see the section on Suggestions
for Using Ear Tips) .

Step 4

Wrap the ear loops around the top of the ear
to secure the earphones. The cables will hang
behind the ears and either down your back, or
in front of your chest. Use the adjustment slider
located near the Y-junction to change the length
of the cables.

Now you are ready to gradually increase the
volume on your listening device and begin
your M-Audio professional reference earphone
experience.

Proper Reference Earphone Removal
– Reverse “Roc k ‘N’ Roll”

To remove, grasp the earphone and gradually
rock forward to break the seal. Once the seal
is broken, gently slide the earphone out of the
canal. Be sure to clean the earphones before
your nex t use and store them in your storage
case.

Remember: never pull on the cables to remove
your earphones.

Step 3

Step 4

English

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Earphone Care and Maintenance

< Keep earphones clean by using a moistened

antiseptic wipe after each use.

< Avoid exposing your earphones to water,

extreme temperatures, high humidit y or
prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light.

< Use the cleaning tool regularly to keep the

ear conductor clear and unobstructed.

< Clean and change the ear tips regularly.

< Avoid physical abuse of earphones.

Dropping or striking them may damage the
components.

< Do not pull on the cables to remove the

earphones from your ear.

< Do not pull the cables to remove the input

plug from a listening device.

Using the Cleaning Tool

< Remove ear tip and wipe the exterior of the

ear conductor with an antiseptic wipe.

< Using the cleaning tool, angle into the ear

conductor and use a gentle upward and
outward sweeping motion to remove any
build-up.

< Clean the ear conductor again with an

antiseptic wipe and attach a new and clean
ear tip.

Suggestions for Using Ear Tips

< If the ear tips on the earphones don’t seal

well or are uncomfortable, try some alternate
ear tips until the best fit for your ear is
achieved.

< If you have difficulty inserting the ear tip into

your ear canal, identify the left earphone
(marked with an “L”) and the right earphone
(marked with an “R”). Inserting them one
at a time, gently grasp the top ridge of your
ear and extend the ear upward and outward
to open up the ear canal while you rock the
earphone for ward and then roll it back into
your ear canal.

< Flanged silicone ear tips: For best results,

moisten the external surface of the flanged
silicone ear tip before you insert it into the
ear canal. This will allow the ear tip to slide
more easily into place and create a good
seal.

< Disposable foam ear tips : Compress the

foam at the end of the earphone by pressing
it between your thumb and forefinger before
inser ting it into the ear canal. Hold the
earphone in place for five seconds while the
foam expands to create a tight seal in the
ear canal.

IE Professional Reference Earphones | User Guide | 11

Troubleshooting

< Diminished Sound Over Time

If you experience lower per formance over time, use the cleaning tool to make certain that the
ear conductor is unobstructed.

< No Sound

If you are not receiving any sound, make certain that the jack is properly attached to your
listening device and that the volume has been gradually increased. If you are still not receiving
sound, confirm that the connections between the cable and your earphones are secure.

If the suggestions listed above do not solve your problem, please contact one of our customer
service representatives.

Product Specifications

Specification IE -10 IE-20 XB IE-30 IE-40

Speaker Type Precision

balanced
armature

Input Sensitivity 115 d B/ mW 119dB/mW 119dB/mW 117d B /m W

Impedance 13 ohms

(@1kHz )

Cable Length 46 inches 46 inches 46 inches 46 inches

Complete Assembly Weight .5 oz .7 oz .6 oz .6 oz

Input C onnector 1/8” ( 3.5mm)

gold plated

Noise Isolation 26dB 16dB 26dB 26dB

Precision
balanced
armature and
dynamic driver

11 ohms
(@ 1kHz)

1/8” ( 3.5mm)
gold plated

Two precision
balanced
armatures

21 ohms
(@ 1kHz)

1/8” ( 3.5mm)
gold plated

Three
precision
balanced
armatures

32 ohms

1/8” ( 3.5mm)
gold plated

English

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Optional Accessories

M-Audio offers a variety of accessories for your IE professional reference earphones. To purchase
replacement cables, tips, adapters and more, visit the M-Audio web store at ww w.m-audio.com.

Warranty

Warranty Terms

M-Audio warrants products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, under normal
use and provided that the product is owned by the original, registered user. Visit www.m-audio.
com/warranty for terms and limitations applying to your specific product.

Warranty Registration

Registering your product immediately entitles you to full warranty coverage and helps M-Audio
develop and manufacture the finest quality products available. Register online at www.m-audio.com/
register to receive FREE product updates and for the chance to win M -Audio giveaways.

IE Professional Reference Earphones | User Guide | 13

Certification for the European Union

This product conforms to European EMC Directive 89/336/ EEC. Meets applicable tests and
performance criteria in European Standard EN 55103 (1996) Parts 1 and 2, for residential (E1) and
light industrial ( E2) environments.

⚠ The exclamation mark symbol shown on the left is designed to draw the attention of the reader to
the need to consult this Instruction Manual.

© 2007 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system
requirements and availability are subject to change without notice. Avid, M-Audio and IE are either
trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein
are the property of their respective owners.

WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to
cause cancer, and bir th defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hand s after handling.

IE Professional
Reference Earphones

Tested to comply with
FCC standards

FOR HOME OR STUDIO USE

English

M-Audio USA 5795 Martin Rd., Irwindale, CA 91706

Technical Support Sales

web: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.m-audio.com/tech e-mail: . . . . . . . . . [e-mail]

tel (pro products):

tel (consumer products):

. . . . . . . . . . . . [phone] tel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-657-6434

. . . . . . . . [phone] fax: . . . . . . . . . . . . . [phone]

fax (shipping): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [phone] Web . . . . . . . . . . www.m-audio.com

M-Audio U.K.

Technical Support Sales

Floor 6, Gresham House, 53 Clarenden Road,

, WD17 1LA, United Kingdom

Watford

e-mail: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [e-mail] tel: . . . . . . . . . . [phone]

tel:(Mac support):

tel: (PC support): . . . . . . . . . .

M-Audio France

Renseignements Commerciaux Assistance Technique

tel : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 810 001 105

e-mail : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [e-mail]

Assistance Technique

PC : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . [phone] fax: . . . . . . . . . . [phone]

[phone]

Floor 6, Gresham House, 53 Clarenden Road,

Watford

, WD17 1LA, United Kingdom

Web . . . . . . . . . www.maudio.co.uk

e-mail : . . . . . . . [e-mail]

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fax : . . . . . . . . . [phone]

0 820 000 731

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Mac : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 820 391 191

M-Audio Germany Kuhallmand 34, D-74613 Ohringen, Germany

071105_IE40_UG_EN01

Technical Support Sales

e-mail: . . . . . . . . . . . [e-mail] e-mail: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [e-mail]

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Quebec G2E 5B7, Canada

Technical Support Sales

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460-0002

カスタマーサポート セールス

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環境）

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