'Not for everyone': Sony announces its most premium wired earbuds yet, but their ideal use case is nothing if not niche

Sony announces new Sony IER-M500

Its most premium wired buds yet

Designed for aspiring musicians more than average listeners

Sony: big name in the wireless audio space, with the WH-1000XM6 headphones getting rave reviews from us, but not so much of a player in the wired headphone game.

Sony gets nary a mention in our best wired headphones list and to be honest, the company's most recent wireless earbuds (see the Sony WF-1000XM6) and open-fit offerings haven't gone straight to the top of the pile either.

Given that the company is basically single-handedly keeping the headphone jack alive in smartphones, though, it makes sense that this could change. Enter the Sony IER-M500, new wired buds from the company.

These are the most premium wired earbuds Sony sells right now, going for £99 (about $130, AU$200), which is at least twice the cost of the few other cable-toting buds it sells. That'll be small fry to audiophiles, where IEMs can cost thousands, but still, it's big money for Sony in this particular space. Their chief competition might be something like the Shure SE215.

And there's a solid reason for the price hike: these aren't your everyday IEMs (or in-ear monitors). Sony says this particular model is meant to "elevate stage performance experiences" and is aimed at "a wide range of performers, from aspiring musicians to professionals". So basically, they're not for everyone.

For most people then, Sony's cheaper wired buds like the funky pink IER-EX15C or big-driver MDR-EX650AP might be better to buy, but certain people might find the IER-M500 is just what they're after.

Monitor this

As with most other IEMs, the IER-M500 consist of a small in-ear bud which connects to a 1.6m cable, and this ends in a 3.5mm jack.

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The earpiece is clearly designed for fit (while your guitar gently weeps, and so on). Each bud has a "fitting supporter" to keep it lodged in the ear, and they have a "thin polyurethane wall" to block out some background sound. In Sony's announcement press release, said fit enhancements were described before any sonic specs.

They come in clear, black or red-blue, choices which Sony says are designed to "complement your onstage outfit", which is one of the reasons (along with their still-affordable price) I'd say these are targeted at new musicians, rather than seasoned professionals.

Sony also makes a point of describing how they'll survive extended use, without the constant plugging and unplugging of the buds wearing them down.

In terms of audio itself, the buds have a 5mm driver, with an acoustic chamber designed to create controlled bass. The frequency response is 10Hz-40kHz and there's a 16-ohm impedance.

Sony has made IEMs before with some, like the IER-M9, costing over ten times as much. But with wired earbuds making a comeback, it seems that the company has decided now is the perfect time to offer some affordable ones.

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Tom Bedford is a freelance contributor covering tech, entertainment and gaming. Beyond TechRadar, he has bylines on sites including GamesRadar, Digital Trends, Android Police, TechAdvisor, WhattoWatch and BGR. From 2019 to 2022 he was on the TechRadar team as the staff writer and then deputy editor for the mobile team.