A New Budget IEM For Musicians: Sony IER-M500 Review

Sony has always delivered high-quality sound in both the over-ear headphone style and as in-ear monitors. They've released a new affordable IEM for musicians, the Sony IER-M500, retailing for $119.95. This IEM is perfect for people who need a reliable IEM for stage monitoring, or just a simple pair of earphones for solid, everyday listening. Is this new IEM set to become a new favorite? Or do models like the Sennheiser IE 200 still take the cake as a budget reference sound? In this review, we tackle all the details and see what you get with the IER-M500.

As mentioned just previously, the Sony IER-M500 comes in a few different style variations that all hold the same basic shape. You have the choice between black, clear, and a red-blue combination that clearly distinguishes right from left. All the M500 variations have the same shell shape, which is relatively small and has a standard nozzle to fit an assortment of eartips. The Sony eartips are a special noise-isolating variation that you might see in the true wireless series. If these eartips aren't comfortable, you'll be able to fit third-party tips onto the M500 with no issue. 

The IER-M500 stands out not only for its affordable price point, but also for its adjustable sizing. With each pair of M500 earphones, you have 5 sizes of outer fitting supports that grip the inside of your ear for a stable, secure fit. I found that the extra small size was perfect, where it was essentially just the shape of the earbud and no added curve. The other four sizes are perfect for adjusting to your individual ear shape, and you can play around with the sizes to find the exact right fit. The fitting supports come in coordinating colors depending on the style you get, so they are sure to match and look uniform. 

• IER-M500 Headphone Type: Closed, Dynamic
• Driver Unit: 5mm (0.2 in)
• Weight (approx.): 6.9g (0.25 oz) without cable
• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 40kHz
• Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW
• Impedance: 16 Ω (1kHz)
• Cable Length: 1.6m (63 in)
• Cable Type: Y-type
• Plug: L-shaped stereo mini plug

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

From past experience, I know that Sony sound signatures are reliable and honest in both IEMs and over-ear headphones. The Sony IER-M500 follows that trend and gives you reliable sound you can trust. Like many other Sony products, the IER-M500 has a darker profile that accentuates the bass more than anything. It was the first thing I noticed when I started listening; the rumble from the sub-bass into the low frequencies really made the listening experience all the more immersive and realistic. The sound reproduction overall was quite natural, and instruments sounded honest from one range to the next. If you're after high-end clarity, you'll likely be underwhelmed by these earphones. For the bass lover, the IER-M500 is a great choice that really enhances that low-end response. 

The soundstage was very wide and expanded in depth more than I expected. It was a great way for things to stay even in the IER-M500's sound field without overpowering one another, while still capturing detail in textures and timbres across a host of genres. The low-end comes forward in the signature and lays a good foundation for everything else to build on; instead of extending in height, it extends in depth and width. Elements were placed fairly accurately in the sound field and allowed you to paint a clear picture of what was being presented. The IER-M500 proves to be a great quality to have in a reference IEM for musicians to get an accurate and honest reproduction of their music while they perform. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The bass in the IER-M500 is certainly a forward one. The low-end in the Sony earphones is the first thing you notice, no matter if you use the all-black color variation or the clear one. The bass is thick and has a large body, which makes it take up a lot of space in the signature. While this range is very thick and heavy, it stays light by making sure details come through just as much. You hear the texture of the low-end instruments just as much as their depth, so the low end didn't feel all-consuming. It struck a good balance between detailed but still punchy, so you didn't get a washed-out or muddy sound. The IER-M500's bass stayed consistent and level in every genre, so people who really love the low end will find these to fill that quota perfectly. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The IER-M500 doesn't have the strongest midrange, as the bass really comes in to make the overall tonality come through to highlight detail throughout the profile. It isn't terribly strong, but it does come forward just enough to have impact and make you hear those main melodies. You can hear the depth of the soundstage more clearly, as the elements filter backwards to create a larger space. Even the horizontal width is more noticeable by the way elements have a slight separation to immerse you in your listening. Despite the midrange not being as powerful as the bass, the melodic details come through clearly and with natural color. Vocals come to the front to give the midrange a feature, and the voices are realistic in the way they are produced. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble in the IER-M500 is a bit more recessed, stays towards the back, and is subtle when it comes out. The treble in the IER-M500 hides behind the bass and the midrange to just be a slight lift for the signature, not drawing out too much attention to make the earphones sound shrill or too piercing. It lightens the signature just enough to be less compressing with the isolation and makes sure the bass doesn't completely overtake the profile. The treble carries detail throughout the signature, bringing clarity and added sharpness to elements that would otherwise likely get lost in the mix. You get to appreciate some of the smaller, minute details in your tracks and still not get too much sharpness from the range coming too far forward. This makes the IER-M500 more balanced than you would think given the forward bass. 

The Sony IER-M500 is a budget IEM geared towards musicians and live performance. They aren't the first to do it, and they certainly won't be the last. How does this IEM compare to others in the same price range? 

The first comparison I immediately made was to the Sennheiser IE 200. The IE 200 is a very popular and studio standard at a decent price point, so the Sony IER-M500 makes the argument for even better value. In terms of sound, the M500 has a bassier profile, and the Sennheiser IE 200 has a more treble-focused signature. The small shell of the Sennheiser IE 200 is nice for small ears, but can be difficult to adjust to larger ears with just the eartip adjustment. The Sony IER-M500 has an already small shell and can be adjusted further with the outer ear supports to grip the ear. 

Similarly, the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE is a studio IEM that retails for $120 and could be thrown into the mix. Like the Sennheiser, the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE has a small shell that is ideal for small ears and subtle wearing. The Sony M500 is bulkier and has a more noticeable shell, but its customizable fitting supports allow for adjustment and personalized comfort beyond just an eartip. There are more sonic similarities between the DT 30 IE and the IER-M500, with a darker tonality that still has good treble detail. The treble and bass are punchier in the Beyerdynamic, though the soundstage is a bit narrower than the Sony. 

Looking at all three, you get a clearer distinction of what might make one more desirable than the others. If you like a secure fit that can adjust over time, the Sony IER-M500 is a great choice with reliable sound. Sennheiser has more of a treble-forward signature, and the Beyerdynamic is more balanced, both with smaller shells for better subtlety.  Depending on what you value most in an earphone, you may find one is a better match for your needs than the others.