Best IEMs With Planar Magnetic Drivers Under $300

Starting our list, we turn to MoonDrop, a Chinese company famous for making in-ear monitors at the most affordable prices. For IEMs under $100, people often seek out models like the Aria 2, Chu 2, or even the LAN. However, if it's planar magnetic you want, MoonDrop's May should be on your radar. This IEM retails for only $75 and comes with a USB-C DSP cable so you can start listening right away. The assorted eartips and carrying case are great additions and perfect for when you want to take this IEM on the go. 

In terms of sound profile, the MoonDrop May delivers well beyond what you would expect at this price point. You get a surprisingly spacious soundstage, as well as excellent detail and space at the top end. The bass comes in for a well-balanced sound, and you're able to place instruments fairly accurately in the field in any genre.

This IEM features a 14.8mm planar magnetic driver with a large diaphragm that helps deliver a powerful bass response. I find the aesthetic design to be very modern with its metallic color scheme and futuristic silver cable. These pack a surprisingly thick and driving sound for a planar unit, with a punchy low end, powerful mids, and reserved-yet-realistic highs. They're particularly versatile, and I would recommend them for a pretty wide array of genres, from rap to rock to soft pop to heavy metal.

With the S12, you get the option between a 3.5mm or a 4.4mm termination. You'll get them at the same price, along with all the same included accessories. If you have some room to go up in your budget, you could upgrade to the S12 Pro, where you are met with a blue color scheme and interchangeable terminations for easy adaptability. You get the same great sound that only gets improved with the more precise tuning.  

From TinHifi, you can get a lot of different budget IEMs to fit any kind of listening you find yourself in. If planar magnetic is the choice, I suggest turning to the P1 Plus. This 10mm planar driver gives you incredible detail across the soundstage, and the stainless steel casing makes the look just as premium as the sound. If you're a fan of controlled bass, full-clarity highs, and a forward midrange, the P1 Plus is definitely the IEM for you. 

While the regular P1 Plus retails for $169, the company also has a special Commemorative Edition that retails for $235. The main difference between the original and the upgrade is the included cable. The P1 Plus gives you 5N OFC cable in translucent orange; the Commemorative Edition comes with a Mogami 2381 coaxial upgrade cable for a boost in sharpness and clarity. 

The Muse HiFi Power IEM contains a 14.5mm planar driver and acoustic chambers specially designed to minimize distortion and enhance clarity. It comes with a well-insulated and sturdy black cable that compliments the dark, gem-stone-like design on the back of the IEM housing. It also comes with an impressively diverse array of 12 ear tips that lets you find your exact preferred fit. While the weight is heavier than some of the competition, this heaviness shows off high-quality and durable build as opposed to potential discomfort. 

The benefits of the planar drivers come through not only in the crisp and airy treble, but also in the exceptionally wide and fluid imaging. The Muse HiFi POWER is excellent for the spatial imaging it provides and the textural detail across the board. The emphasis on dynamic highs and lows makes this tuning highly versatile, resulting in an IEM that suits most genres.

The Sivga Nightingale rounds out our list as the most expensive, though we don't go too far past the $200 price point. This IEM features a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver and a low impedance of 16 ohms, allowing it to be driven by anything from a phone to a DAC. The 4.4mm balanced termination makes it a great option for audiophiles looking for stable and secure connection, despite it being an extra step you need to take before starting to listen. 

The raindrop shape is perfect for a comfortable in-ear fit, and with the proper eartip, the seal gives you ideal sound isolation. Its sound signature focuses on the bookends of the frequency spectrum – big lows and spacious highs, but with better imaging than some other Sivga IEMs. It's relaxed profile invites easy listening all day long, no matter the genre. Everything is perfectly balanced with a nice depth for layers of instruments. You can listen to any genre in these earphones and enjoy the sound for hours.