Sony continues to expand its offerings for the professional live sound market with the release of the new IER-M500, a pair of wired in-ear monitors built for musicians, performers and sound technicians alike who require an accurate listening experience without interference from external sound sources. Just as the consumer audio sector has become saturated with Bluetooth earbuds and noise-cancelling headphones, the IER-M500s takes a very opposite approach.
They are not meant for phone calls, streaming music or replacing standard earbuds.
Sony has designed these to do one task: to allow performance artists to hear their sound accurately in tough live situations. The IER-M500 was designed by monitoring engineers, with potential users of all levels in mind, from up and coming musicians, to seasoned professionals. Sony states their new model “plugs a crucial hole” in its professional range, expanding the company’s creator centred environment, from stage to studio and recording.
The necessity of in-ear monitoring is obvious to anyone who has experienced a concert from the sidestage. A performer is fighting to hear the sound from multiple sources, and the ability to clearly distinguish a vocal cue, a guitar line, a click track or a backing vocalist can prove crucial for a successful show. Musically Sony’s solution is a design that emphasizes passive sound isolation above almost all else.
The fully sealed shape coupled with a large air chamber means the outside world is pushed back so the listener can concentrate more intently on sound through the monitors. The earphones themselves use a 5mm dynamic driver and are high-res capable with a frequency response of10Hz to 40kHz.
Sony claims the gear is designed to give controlled bass with full high-frequency detail. Fit is another significant aspect of a product. For those who have performed with in-ear monitors, the difference the quality of fit can have on the perceived quality of sound is, of course, all too evident.
To combat a poor fit, the IER-M500 include Sony’s proprietary fitting supports, the flexible ear hangers and the cable clip. Four sizes of noise-isolating ear tips are supplied to find a close and comfortable fit. Sony claims the ear tips are made with a thin polyurethane wall which aids isolation for extended use and ensure comfort at long rehearsal, recording or performance sessions.
This could be a benefit to the musician intending to use the IER-M500 for a long time. The same applies for equipment that is designed for the stage. When designing the IER-M500, the engineers intended for it to perform in tough conditions, as can sometimes be the case (moisture sweat etc). The also considered the detachable 1.6 metre cable, and understood that it would need to be reliable for repeated connecting and disconnecting in a stage situation.
