Sony’s Latest Hi-Fi Release Is Both Unexpected and Affordable

They’re designed for more budget-conscious audiophiles and rising musicians.

Young person wearing dark earbuds and a purple hoodie, holding a remote, sitting near a wooden shelf filled with vinyl records and a lit table lamp.

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Last fall, Sony released the IER-EX15C, a pair of $30 wired headphones with a USB-C audio jack. They were designed as an affordable option for people who listen to music on their smartphones but don’t want to deal with a wireless connection. Wired audio is still king, after all.

Now, in a similar spirit of affordability, Sony is introducing pair of in-ear headphones designed for more budget-conscious audiophiles and aspiring musicians.

Sony IER-M500

Pair of Sony in-ear headphones with blue and red translucent housings and black ear hooks. — The Sony IER-M500 is the brand’s most entry-level pair of in-ear monitors.

Sony has a long history of making professional-grade in-ear monitors for artists and music professionals. The company’s most recent flagships, the Sony IER-Z1R, cost roughly $1,700. Its latest release, the IER-M500, is more entry-level than other offerings.

According to the brand, they’re “the perfect partner for amateur, emerging, and professional musicians, performers, and monitor engineers who require reliable and accurate in-ear monitoring for live performances and practices.”

Three pairs of Sony in-ear monitor headphones with ear hooks in black, blue, and clear colors. — The Sony IER-M500 come in three transparent finishes.

Person playing a white electric guitar on stage with warm lighting and wearing a black shirt. — Designed for musicians and audio professionals, Sony claims the IER-M500 delivers “deep, controlled bass alongside refined high-frequency detail, so monitoring stays accurate and reliable on live stages.”

The IER-M500 are wired earphones that feature Sony’s original fit supporters, which wrap around your ears to keep everything in place, alongside noise-isolating earbuds. In the box, Sony provides four sizes of noise-isolating eartips to ensure the perfect fit.

The earbuds themselves house a dynamic driver and feature a large acoustic chamber. Sony claims they “produce deep, controlled bass, while the optimized internal structure refines high-frequency reproduction, to help nail every cue and harmony.”

Sony black carrying case, wired earphones with red and blue connectors, red and blue wireless earbuds, multiple black ear tips, and red and blue ear hooks. — The Sony IER-M500 comes with a detachable cable, and various-sized earwings and eartips to ensure a perfect fit.

Drummer with dreadlocks playing a drum set under purple and blue stage lights. — At $120, the Sony IER-M500 are its most affordable in-ear monitors.

Sony is offering the IER-M500 in three transparent color options. Black and clear are the most straightforward options, while the red/blue option has the two earbuds in different colors.

They also feature a 5-foot (or 1.6 meter) detachable cable that Sony claims is engineered for frequent use, including “repeated connecting and disconnecting, supporting reliable performance on stage and in the studio.”

Transparent Sony in-ear headphones with over-ear hooks and copper-colored cables on a light gray background. — The Sony IER-M500 are shown above in clear transparent.

Availability and pricing

The Sony IER-M500 In-ear monitors are available now from Sony and other authorized retailers. They cost $120.

Clear wired in-ear monitors with black ear tips and red and blue left and right indicators.

Sony IER-M500

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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