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Sony launches the IER-M500 stage monitor at $119.99

A high-isolation in-ear monitor aimed at musicians and sound engineers on stage rather than at the audiophile market, at $119.99.

Sony launches the IER-M500 stage monitor at $119.99
Sony launches the IER-M500 stage monitor at $119.99 · Image: Sony

Sony has released the IER-M500, a high-isolation in-ear monitor with a suggested retail price of $119.99, positioned as a pro-grade option for stage use by musicians and sound technicians.

Stage monitors are designed against a brief most consumer IEMs are not: isolation and predictability at high levels matter more than a flattering tonal balance, because the wearer needs to hear the same thing every night through a loud PA. That makes them interesting purchases for listeners too, but only once someone has measured what the isolation costs elsewhere in the response.

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This is an announcement, not a verdict. Specifications come from the manufacturer and nothing here is measured until a unit reaches the rig. For tested iems, see IEMs reviews. Back to all new releases.