Breaking Sound Barriers with Dark Matter IEMs

Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

You never know where a layoff might lead—sometimes, it’s straight into launching your own in-ear monitor (IEM) company. That’s exactly what Dark Matter Audio’s Tal Kocen and Dave Friesma did, carving out a niche in a legacy industry by embracing natural sound and combining it with all the nerdy elements that go into making these things the right way.

Dave and Tal break down why ears naturally boost that frequency by 15dB, how the Harman Curve plays into tuning, and why you should watch those 150-250Hz corner frequencies. From the $699 DM2H Hybrid 2 to the $899 DMA3, they dive into what makes Dark Matter’s approach unique, balancing high-end engineering with real-world musician needs.

Transitioning to IEMs isn’t just about better sound—it’s about control. You’ve got to start with the right mindset, knowing where you’re coming from and where you’re going. Pro tip? Don’t fall into the one-IEM trap—just ask Rosanne Cash. Learn why putting drums in a submix can change your life, how to manage shared IEM mixes, and why a little education goes a long way. Whether you’re tweaking your mix or embracing the occlusion effect, one thing’s for sure: Always Be Performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 472 – Monday, March 10th, 2025
  • March 10th: National Day of Awesomeness
  • Use FACTORPODCAST at FactorMeals.com for a special deal this month!
• Guest co-host: Tal Kocen and Dave Friesema from Dark Matter Audio Labs
  • Save 15% at Dark Matter with Promo Code GIGGAB15
• 00:03:13 Layoffs lead to the dream: let’s start our own IEM company!
  • ZMF Headphones
  • Dekoni Audio
• 00:09:48 IEMs as a Legacy Industry
• 00:12:35 What’s Dark Matter’s niche?
  • Natural Sound
  • Canal resonance at 2.7kHz
• 00:17:50 Corner Frequencies
  • Watch 150-250Hz
  • JH Audio Laylas
• 00:22:47 Ears add 15dB gain at 2.7kHz
  • Diffuse field curve
  • Sean Olive’s Harman Curve
• 00:31:00 Dark Matter DM2H Hybrid 2 Custom IEM – $699 MSRP
• 00:37:38 6ms in Dave’s Studio Took 20 years of experience out of the musicians!
• 00:39:51 DMA3 – 3 balanced armatures – $899 MSRP
• 00:43:05 Choosing your IEM
• 00:50:23 Understanding where you’re beginning and where you’re going
• 00:51:51 Pro-Advice for Transitioning to In-Ear Monitors
  • With a Rosanne Cash story
• 00:56:22 IEM Tips and Tricks
  • Put the drums in a sub group
• 00:59:29 Sharing IEM Mixes
  • Seismic Audio Split Snakes
• 01:06:35 Rosanne Cash … uses ONE Dark Matter!
  • One IEM … is a trap!
  • Occlusion Effect
• 01:13:26 The value of education
• 01:16:07 More isn’t necessarily better!
• 01:19:20 Making the industry more personal
• 01:23:22 Gig Gab Outtro
  • Contact Tal Kocen and Dave Friesema from Dark Matter Audio Labs
  • Dark Matter Audio Labs Instagram
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