July 2015

Serene Innovations ReNew IEM Dryer
Drying and fighting bacteria growth within your IEMs the right way.
Review By Steven R. Rochlin

 Being a music lover and audiophiles leads us in some strange directions. While the smart consumer avoids mystical chips, wonky clock, radio foolery, or the expensive pseudo-belief mystical thimbles, pucks and dots, there are some common sense ways to tweak and maintain your high-end audio system. As am example, for many years I’ve been recommending Dynamat to cure resonances within your audio gear. But what about those of us who enjoy music via in-ear monitors? Surely there must be a way to ensure we're getting the best from our CIEMs while also keeping them operating at their very best? Well, the good folks at Serene Innovations are here to answer the call!

Serene Innovations created their ReNew for those who use hearing aids and want to keep them clean and functioning at optimum performance. If you think about it, what is an IEM other than a different take on a hearing aid. You put it inside your ear and perhaps wear it for many hours at a time. We all know this causes humidity build-up. Furthermore, while we all do our best to keep out ears clean, how do you sanitize your IEM(s)? Serene Innovations ReNew answers the call in applying gentle heat plus you can turn on the UV light to keep the icky bacteria stuff away too. So how do I write 1000+ words about something so very common sense that benefits IEM wearers? Frankly, I can’t so here’s the short script on it.

In Use
First use the tool(s) that came with your IEMs and clean those small port(s). Then spray some disinfectant on a lint-free cloth and clean the outside part of your IEM. Once completed, it is time to use the ReNew. You simply open the blue plastic cover and place your IEM(s) inside. A switch to the right allows you to choose the drying duration. I choose 8 hours (Hi Hum) during the humid summer months and 4 hours (Norm) during the dryer winter season. Then close the top and press the power On button and UV light On button and walk away. The UV light stays on for about an hour to fight the ickies whilst the inside platform gently heats us to remove moisture for the time period you selected. It truly is that easy and generally do this at night just before going to bed so that my IEM(s) are ready in the morning for hour after hour of musical bliss.

Seen above is the unit with Ultimate Ears UE 18 Pro, Noble Kaiser 10 in custom Italian rose gold Tiger Stripe, JH Audio JH13 and Roxanne custom fitted IEMs. Generally, I only have a single pair or two CIEMs in the unit at a time and not all four pairs as seen above.

Another problem some users of IEMs have is itching behind your ears. Look, you know it's true and someone needs to say it. You could also place your cable within the ReNew of course. I also suggest using antibacterial cleaner on a lint-free cloth and cleaning the cable that runs around the rear of your ear. None of us desire ear or skin infections. Using this simple process will keep your IEMs and cables clean and happy. So did I hear a difference?

Did I Hear A Difference?
Well, maybe but not sure. What I can say is that for a brief period I did get itchiness behind my ear yet by keeping everything clean and disinfected that has gladly gone away and never returned. I also clean the small hole openings on my IEM both before and after the ReNew process for good measure. My IEMs, even the old UE 18 Pro, are working great. Now that there are four sets of IEMs here, with a fifth being made as this review is being typed, we’re talking some very serious coin for custom in-ear monitors! So naturally it is best to keep everything clean, disinfected and operating at their optimum level.

I can highly recommend the Serene Innovations ReNew as it is a common sense way to keep your IEMs clean whilst also fighting bacteria. There are over 400 customer reviews of the ReNew on Amazon and 96% of them rate 4 or 5 stars. With such great feedback as the Serene Innovations ReNew works great, we music lovers who cherish our IEMs need to treat them with care the same way people who wear hearing aids on a daily basis do. Common sense solutions got a long way here folks, and for only $60 it should deliver many years of reliable use. The ReNew is not just highly recommended, it is a must-have for every IEM owner. 

H/T to Head-Fi’er George Lai who recommended this on Facebook. A most humble thanks as all help is always appreciated.

Specifications
Type: IEM and hearing aid cleaner and disinfectant
Uses dry heat to remove moisture and condensation
Powerful UV light to inhibit bacteria growth
Includes a universal AC adapter for 110-240V
Dimensions: 5.8" x 3.5" x 2" (WxDxH)
Price: $75 ($59.99 at Amazon and it has free Prime delivery too)

Company Information
Serene Innovations, Inc.
14731 Carmenita Road
Norwalk, Ca. 90650

E-mail: info@sereneinnovations.com 
Website: www.SereneInnovations.com