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Sony's latest in-ear monitors look just as good for curling up at home as hitting the stage
Jul 8, 2026 — 4:09 PM ET
- Sony is expanding its wired earbud offerings with an affordable new in-ear monitor.
- The Sony IER-M500 offer strong isolation, a lightweight fit, and deliver frequency response up to 40kHz.
- Pre-sales are open now in three colorways for $119.99.
For as convenient as wireless accessories can be, old-fashioned wired earbuds are definitely having a bit of a moment right now. Whether you care about no-compromise audio quality or just don’t want to worry about charging, you’ve got your pick of options. Earlier this year we checked out Sony’s very affordable IER-EX15C, and today we’re learning about the company’s latest wired in-ear monitors with the launch of the Sony IER-M500.
Designed as a professional-grade solution for artists who demand high levels of environmental isolation alongside premium audio fidelity, the IER-M500 weighs just 6.9g without its detachable 1.6m cable, features 5mm drivers, and offers a frequency response of 10Hz-40kHz.
The in-ear monitors ship with four different sizes of eartips, so you can customize the buds to ensure the best possible fit for your unique anatomy. Beyond that just reducing background noise, the company says that its design also helps keep the buds from falling out during energetic performances.
Even though Sony has designed the IER-M500 as a stage-ready option for performers, there’s nothing saying you can’t take full advantage of this hardware at your desk or in the living room. Sony says it employs a large acoustic chamber for deep, satisfying bass, while also designing the earbuds’ internal structures for crisp high-frequency performance at the same time.
If this sounds like the sort of hardware that’s up your alley, Sony is opening pre-orders of the IER-M500 today. You can check out the three color options further up — we’re getting black, clear, and a dual-tone red/blue configuration (sadly, there’s no choice for a matching pair of two red or two blue buds). No matter which colorway you go with, Sony’s new in-ear monitors will set you back $119.99 (or $169.99 CAD). There’s no word yet on when they’ll actually start shipping.
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