After the release of the successful IER-Z1R, Sony has launched a new pair of professional in-ears, called the IER-M500 they are aimed at musicians, live artistes and monitor engineers. Designed to deliver clear, accurate audio, excellent passive noise isolation and a secure fit to support energetic gigs, the new model offers traditional stage monitoring at a more affordable price.
Designed with monitoring engineers, the IER-M500 aims to complete Sony’s creator audio set. While the company currently has recording and mixing/mastering products, the new in-ear monitors will focus on stage monitoring.
Sony hopes the IER-M500 will be useful whatever your experience level, from wannabe musicians to seasoned professionals on the road and in the studio. Fit and stability are one of the biggest considerations behind the new model. Mostly when the performer is constantly moving on the stage.
In-ear monitors need to stay in and Sony have addressed this with the IER-M500 models original fitting supporters; soft flex-hangers and a clip system to attach them to clothing. It offers various fitting options or options to modify the setup for different ear shapes.
Sony states they supply four sizes of noise-isolating eartips, but the Japanese product announcement lists five fitting-supporter options.
The eartips are made of a polyurethane type material to increase passive noise-isolation without sacrificing comfort on long listening sessions. Monitoring–Much more important in a live environment is monitoring. With loud stage instruments, speakers and the noise of a crowd it’s easy for artists to not hear themselves clearly.
The IER-M500 contains a fully sealed acoustic design and large acoustic chamber to block out unwanted sound and focus what is heard. Per Sony, the monitor’s acoustic design ‘integrates the super-compact dynamic driver with resonator-enhanced internal architecture, to deliver deep, tight bass, with crisp high detail’.
On top of that, the high resolution is said to make them perfect for general use and not just stage monitoring. The earphones are designed around a 5mm dynamic driver, and have a response on paper somewhere between 10Hz and 40kHz, by both the spec sheets and the initial coverage of the launch in the press.
It is not in any way about producing a “better than consumer” music driven sound, but actually on the contrary, a predictable sound that will allow performers and engineers to hear the cues that they need during a performance. Another large component of the IER-M500 is durability. Sony has given the monitors a removable cable of approximately 1.
6 metres in length that will withstand constant plugging and unplugging. The design is built to be used in live stage environments, such as in humid and sweaty conditions. Transparent Style Clear Black, Red & Blue which is practical where the colour yellow is not.
Having marked clear left and right sides easier to identify quickly in darker backstage/stage areas. In addition, Sony added one new feature to the product –an environmental aspect.Modified by the company, 5% (total plastic amount in IER-M500) is allocated the circular material, like biomass based renew plastic and so on, by using a mass balance system.