“I really wish these were my first in-ears - that would have made things a lot easier”: Sony IER-M500 review

What is it?

Phil X might hate them. Your parent’s favourite band probably derides them. Someone playing in a rock ‘n’ roll tribute group down the pub will scoff when you mention them. But there is no denying that in-ear monitors are a crucial part of live sound monitoring – and there is a reason some of the biggest artists on the planet rely on them.

The cold hard fact is, they offer a much more comprehensive and personal monitoring experience when playing live in comparison to wedge monitors. For bands that rely on tracks or busy mixes, wedges simply aren’t up to task – which is where in-ear monitors (IEMs) step in.

As someone who made the permanent jump from wedges to IEMs, I am something of a convert: it took a while to get used to, but nothing beats the freedom of being able to get exactly what you want from your live mix directly to your ears.

But in-ear monitoring comes at a price, and requires some degree of financial investment to get right. There’s no shortage of entry-level options on the market. I fell for some cheapo ones when I first started, and they were really quite bad. They didn’t fit right, felt weird in the ears, sounded flat… you get the picture. It pays to get a pair that will see you through your first steps and stick with you until you’re ready for the step up.

That’s where the Sony IER-M500s come in – a set of decently priced in-ears designed specifically for live sound, with a few extra features to boot. As a guitarist in a band that relies on a rather busy live mix, with lots of instruments and tracks to juggle, I was interested to see how these would fare…

Specs

• Launch price: $119 | £99 | €119
• Type: In-ear monitors
• Origin: Vietnam
• Driver: Single 0.2" / 5mm dynamic
• Connectivity: MMCX
• Frequency range: 5Hz to 40KHz
• Max SPL: 103 dB
• Impedance: 6 Ohms
• Options: Red & Blue, Clear, Black (as reviewed)
• Case: Yes
• Contact: Sony

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★★☆

At £99, these aren’t going to feel or function like your premium IEM options, but I have to say straight out of the box I like what I see.

These don’t feel as brittle or as plasticky as some other entry level IEMs around the same price point – they feel quite bulky, if anything – and though it opts for a plain plastic cable as opposed to the twisted or braided wires often seen, it doesn’t do anything to let down the overall look and feel.

Because of that choice, these have plenty of flex and movability, and I have no problem hooking these up to my monitor pack and getting them into place. I can twist, shake, move, contort… the IER-M500s do a good job of staying with me. You can, of course, change the cable if needed. It has an MMCX connection.

I also like the black plastic ‘ear hanger’ reinforcements on the loop. Some cheap in-ear monitors I’ve tried have awfully placed guides that dig into the ear and feel really uncomfortable. Many also have the tendency to make the IEM stick out at awkward angles and not actually fit on the profile of your ear. I have no such problem with these, thanks to the way they’ve been put together.

That said, are these too snug? I can imagine they’d leave a mark if you were to wear them for a prolonged set. After about 30 minutes of having them in, the fit fatigue starts to set in. This makes trying the different sizing options even important, and I'll get to that next.

The case they arrive in also feels slightly more upscale than a set of £99 in-ear monitors, with a decent shell for protection and some internal netting for keeping your accessories in place.

Usability

Usability rating: ★★★★★

As far as giving you everything you need to plug in and play, I am impressed with the options that Sony has provided here. It shouldn't be a hard thing to get right, sure, but the AV giant has thought about quite a lot for such an affordable set.

There are your usual options for earbud size and shapes, as well as a bunch of ear guards for ensuring a snug fit in your ear and improving noise isolation. Here, you get a slightly-more-generous-than-standard four pairs of earbud tips, which can be easily and quickly secured to the headphones.

These are made out of a thinner polyurethane wall, apparently for clearer audio and increased wearability. Is that the case? Not sure, but I did have one case where the earbud remained in my ear after I took the IEM out. A firm push and a twist made sure that didn’t happen again.

As a nice bonus, you get five ear guard options, which help fill the IER-M500 in your ear. Not only does it make for a more secure fit, it should also have a positive impact on overall sound and performance, because it fills the space better and creates a better environment to prevent noise bleed. The way they fill the ear cavity out gives the more up-market vibe of custom-moulded IEMs at a fraction of the price. I like it.

This is no one-size-fits-all IEM. Sony has really thought about form and fit here, which I like. It gives you the chance to experiment and play around with guard/earbud combos to find the pairing that best suits your ear shape. A nice bonus for such an affordable kit.

All of that comes packaged in that aforementioned semi-hard case. I probably wouldn’t trust it at the bottom of my gig bag or pedalboard case, but it keeps everything together where you want it.

As for function, each headphone is clearly marked with blue or red accents to show which is left and right. The 360 connector allows for the earbuds to rotate for a more snug and versatile fit.

There really is nothing to complain about. It’s even got that must-have spacer ring to ‘bunch’ the cables behind the neck, but with the added benefit of a clip to secure it to the neckline of your top for extra security.

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★★☆

Again, I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of these. They lack the clarity and nuance that you might need for more lively live mixes, but there’s enough presence to keep the key frequency areas well accounted for.

In the enclosed headphone you get a single 5mm dynamic driver which performs well and can largely handle what I run through it. In my live mix, I need a load of tracks, a click, plenty of bass, and some of the kit to keep me rooted. It’s quite a lot to juggle, but I broadly have no issues keeping track of what’s going on.

Naturally, there are some sound shortcomings. Busier songs in my set with layered synths and strings can feel a bit woofy and dense. It can be sometimes hard to discern what’s actually going on beyond the blanket sound. But I still get the important things I need cutting through no problem – my click and guitar.

In fact, from a guitar player’s perspective, I also like how it translates my sound to my ears. Overall these are darker sounding, but there’s still a fair amount of high-end and plenty of midrange that means it doesn’t over saturate or bog my tone down with too much mud.

Hooking them straight up to a Quad Cortex mini for on-the-fly playing, they’re not as well-rounded as my over-ear studio monitors, but keep my tone intact in my ears

All in all, it is an incalculable improvement on my first IEMs, and for a set that cost less than £100 it’s hard to find any major flaws. It won’t be perfect for hectic mixes and complex setups – or those looking for a more sophisticated monitoring experience – but it will do a darn good job. Likewise, those who are just getting started in the world of IEMs will be well catered for.

Verdict

If the Sony IER-M500s are your first step into the world of in-ear monitoring, you’re in for a smooth ride. You really couldn’t ask for an easier segue into playing with in-ears. Fit and form is taken care of through its generous accessory provisions, and though you might feel them over prolonged periods of playing, they are by and large very comfortable.

They won’t set your mix alight, nor will they be able to handle ultra-professional setups that will require more complex and premium alternatives. But at £99, no one is expecting it to. I wish these were my first in-ear monitors. It would have made my first steps a lot easier.

Music Radar verdict: About as good as you could get from an entry-level set of in-ear monitors, Sony has really delivered here. The fit and form of these are snug and secure, and the added noise isolation pads are a great touch that offer a more premium feel. They might bow under more complex mixes, but for more manageable setups their darker sound will not let you down.

Also try

Shure SE215
$119 | £99 | €114
Shure is a very safe pair of hands, so the SE215s are worth a look-in. These are their entry-level model, aimed at those beginning to experiment with in-ears.

Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE
$150 | £99 | €119
In a similar ballpark price-wise as the IER-M500, the DT 30 IEs are another good entry-level IEM from Beyerdynamic. A perfect first pair or a decent backup for seasoned users.

Read more: Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review

Shure SE425
$297 | £235 | €275
These are a bit pricier than the Sony, but offer much more high-end definition for those working with denser mixes.

Hands-on videos

Sony

Sony IER-M500 In-Ear Monitor: Built for the Stage - YouTube

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