In-ear monitors are a great listening tool, and it's likely that not a lot people realize it can be used things other than live performers or for casual audiophile listening. With the rise of online gaming, even brands that specialize in in-ear monitors are taking a stab at catering to a new audience. Today, we’ve pulled a few worthy candidates to see what IEMs are on the market that would make for a great addition to your gaming setup. It's worth noting that not all these IEMs are specifically marketed for gaming purposes, but that should not deter you from considering them as an option. 

Final Audio VR3000 for Gaming

There are certain IEMs on the market that are geared towards gaming, and Final Audio has a couple models like that. The VR3000 is their latest gaming IEM, and it certainly does not disappoint. It has a wide and dynamic soundstage that is great for immersive gameplay, on top of some great imaging accuracy. A nice bonus with these is the built-in mic on the wire, which can make online chat features come across crystal clear. The other models of their gaming IEMs have similar qualities in soundstage and clarity, and they all retail at relatively the same price at below $100.

Sivga SW001

Sivga is not a brand I expected to dabble in the gaming IEM world, but I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy the sound of their SW001. THe mid-range frequencies in these are a bit boosted, which is great for games that are dialogue heavy and need that extra attention. A dynamic soundstage also helps these move near the top of my list, and the optional attached microphone is a nice feature. They were comfortable to wear throughout testing, and I’m sure I could have worn them all day without issue. 

Meze Alba

Meze Audio does not have a lot of IEMs, but the ones they do have are a worthy contender for gaming IEMs. You get a wide soundstage and clear sound, and it immerses you in your listening very easily. Their Advar IEMs retail at a pretty high price and deliver great sound, so if you’re looking for some of that same quality, Alba is here with a great compromise. With the Albas, you can listen to a top brand and not have to break the bank to do it. Their lightweight design makes them easy on the ears, and I can definitely imagine these being a great addition to anyone’s gaming setup.

MoonDrop Droplet

This is another item on the list that was designed with gaming in mind. The Droplet is a great IEM from a trusted company that is going to give stellar quality through and through. The wide soundstage is a bit linear, which can turn people away from this pair. Still, the frequency response is dynamic and impactful, allowing for a lot of different sound effects and dialogue to have a lasting effect. Plus, I think their unique design makes them a fashionable addition to any gaming setup, like a fun accessory.

ThieAudio Elixir

This is quite the price jump compared to the other models, but with the audio quality, I feel like I had to include this. ThieAudio is a great luxury brand that produces a lot of high class IEMs, and I really loved the Elixir when testing out different models. I thought it would be great as a gaming IEM, with the wide soundstage and dynamic frequency response. The high level of detail on the imaging side puts players right at the center of the action: they are able to fully immerse themselves into their game with great ease. 

Sennheiser IE600

Sennheiser is a reliable brand, and their in-ear monitors are no exception. You can go for a lot of their IE models, like the cheaper IE200 or the even expensive IE900, and you’ll still get a great sound out of all of them. The later models do show their worth in terms of quality and detail. I liked the IE600 best during my testing, with its wide stage and powerful low end. I could imagine explosions and combat hits being very impactful on these, if the low tone soundtracks were any clue to go by for those. They were comfortable to wear and I imagine they would be great for long gaming sessions. 

Summary

In conclusion, there are a lot of great IEMs out there that can serve as a fine replacement for chunky gaming headsets. There a lot of options to choose from, and this list doesn’t even cover half of the IEMs that are available. To find what's right for you, I highly recommend testing them yourself. I really enjoyed testing to see what monitors would be best in a gaming setting, and I walked away with some favorites and an idea of what I would look for in an IEM. It's up to your personal taste to see what IEMs you think are best. 

You can find all of these IEMs and more at Audio46.