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Listening to a great pair of wired in-ear monitors (IEMs) for the first time can be a revelatory experience. Low profile and portable, they’re perfect for taking on the go and offer a huge leap in resolution from TWS earbuds without attracting the same attention as a larger pair of over-ear headphones. The IEM market is surging, which means competition and innovation are hot. If you’re looking for a great listening experience, you can find something for everyone’s taste among the best IEMs, even on a tight budget.
In-ear monitors have experienced an upswing in popularity over the last several years. Unlike the best wireless earbuds, IEMs still use a cable and put sound quality at the top of their priority list. You’ll need a dedicated digital audio player, a smartphone with a headphone jack, or a portable DAC to use them, and microphones and software-based features like active noise cancellation are reserved for the best ANC earbuds. But when it comes to richness, detail, and style, a great pair of IEMs is what you need. With so many options, finding the right pair for you can be challenging, so we’ve done the research for you. These are the best IEMs of 2023.
How we chose the best IEMs
I began covering technology as a budding tech critic in 2015. In 2018, I began covering personal audio for the classic PC gaming and tech site, MMORPG.com, as the Hardware and Technology Editor. Since then, I’ve covered personal audio products for numerous websites, including Tom’s Hardware, IGN, and right here at Popular Science. Collecting, testing, and enjoying IEMs has become a passion of mine, leading to a collection of nearly 60 different sets, upwards of a dozen DACs and amps, and more digital audio players than any one man should own at a time. I love IEMs and deeply appreciate the subtle and not-so-subtle…
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