Gear & technology
IEM
Also called in-ear monitor, in-ears, earphones
An IEM, or in-ear monitor, is an earphone that seals in the ear canal with a silicone or foam tip. Born as stage monitoring for musicians, IEMs, especially at the budget end, are among the most competitive parts of the headphone market.
The seal does two things: it blocks outside noise, often as well as a Closed-back headphone, and it lets a tiny driver produce full Bass. Fit is therefore everything, and the included tips decide more of the sound than most people expect.
IEMs come with a single dynamic driver, several balanced armatures or a Hybrid of both, with prices from under twenty dollars to several thousand. Much of the affordable end is made by Chinese brands, the so-called Chi-Fi scene, which has pushed quality up and prices down.
Most have a detachable cable with a two-pin or MMCX connector, so cables and balanced plugs can be swapped. IEMs are their own category in the catalog, separate from over-ear headphones and from consumer earbuds such as AirPods.
Where you’ll see this on tonistry.
- Browse every product in the IEMs category.