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Kai T chevron_right
Sony has announced the IER-M500, a new pair of professional-grade in-ear monitors built for live performance. The company positions them for amateur, emerging and professional musicians, performers and monitor engineers who need a secure fit and accurate, reliable monitoring on stage.
The IER-M500 fills a gap in Sony's professional audio line-up, sitting alongside the brand's professional microphones, studio headphones such as the MDR-M1, and codecs like 360 Reality Audio to cover more of the creator workflow, from recording through to live monitoring.
A fit you can trust. The monitors use Sony's original fitting supporters and noise-isolating earpieces, with four earpiece sizes included to help find a personalised fit. A thin polyurethane wall is designed to improve noise isolation and comfort during extended sessions, and flexible ear hangers and clips add stability.
Built for the stage. A fully sealed structure paired with a large acoustic chamber delivers strong sound isolation even in noisy live environments. A dynamic driver produces deep, controlled bass, while the internal structure is tuned to refine high-frequency reproduction. The monitors are high-resolution compatible and add higher passive isolation to help lower overall sound exposure.
Sony developed the IER-M500 with monitor engineers including Noel Edwards, who works on tours for world-renowned artists. "I usually use custom-fit in ear monitors, but the sound quality of these in-ear monitors is pretty close for comparison," Edwards said. "If you are in a situation where you need universal in-ear monitors and want a reliable pair, these are a great option."
The design targets durability, with resistance to moisture and sweat and an approximately 1.6m detachable cable rated for frequent plugging and unplugging. The monitors come in three transparent finishes, clear, black, and a combined red and blue option, with clearly marked left and right sides. Sony also notes the IER-M500 uses 35 percent circular material in its plastics to reduce virgin fossil-based plastic.
Pricing and availability. The IER-M500 will be available in Singapore from August 2026 in clear, black, red and blue, through selected retail shops and online stores, at a suggested retail price of S$139.