Best IEM under 100 – Review & Buyer’s Guide

When it's about getting the best kind of studio monitor, you might not want to consider over-ear headphones. But these studio monitors can get sweaty and get your ears wet when you wear them for long hours.

In that case, the in-ear monitors work better than them. They fit right into your ears, and your ears get breathing room as well. That's why here I will be talking about the best in-ear monitors.

Best overall

 Best wireless

best in budget

Hybrid HiFi Stereo Noise Isolating IEM

Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0

MEE audio M6 PRO Musicians’ IEM

Even though the monitors I am going to talk about come with quality, they are also very affordable. I kept the list under $100 dollars so anyone can get a load of them. So, let’s get started with this.

Contents

Top ten IEM under 100 (in-ear studio monitors)

As an audiophile, it's my passion to find out the best in-ear studio monitors. So, what you get here is my experience with these headphones and my research information as well. Let’s get going then.


1. Shure SE215-K Professional Sound Isolating Earphones

In terms of getting professional sound quality for Shure has always been a reliable choice for many people. This one is no different from any other Shure headphones. And the best part is this one comes at an affordable price rather than the expensive ones.

Coming to the sound quality, there is nothing you can complain about this one at all. From this, in-ear monitor you get the precise sound that lets you monitor the sounds properly. It’s essential to have all the little details from these kinds of headphones.

Along with the clear audio, you get excellent construction on this one as well. This is important for on-stage use. As there will be a lot of movements, you can use some rugged headphones.

And the best part of this one has to be the comfortability of these headphones. Even if you wear these for a whole day, you won't feel any fatigue or discomfort. With the perfect fit on these, you don't have to worry about these coming off from your ears.

Shure SE215-K Professional

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Detachable
  • Driver: Dynamic micro driver
  • Sensitivity: 107dB
  • Impedance: 20ohms
  • Color: Black/ Blue/ Opaque
  • Weight: 5.6ounces
  • Dimensions: 7.8 x 3.2 x 2.1 inches

Pros

  • The sound quality is super clear and clean
  • It gives this one a great construction which is rugged and has great support.
  • This headphone fits perfectly into your ear for better comfort
  • You can pump up the volume without distorting the sound with these headphones
  • It comes with a case for better storage 

Cons

  • The headphones are made of plastic which can be a deal-breaker for some
  • It's not suitable for advanced users 

2. 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones

Here I have got an earphone that will satisfy your needs for studio monitoring with its sound quality and comfortability. You can work on your projects without having sweaty ears after every session with these in-ear headphones.

The sound quality, as I said, is just perfect for studio monitoring purposes. It has three drivers inside that give it that crisp and clean sound quality you would expect from a monitoring headphone. Along with that, the bass is deep enough for you to enjoy some music as well.

When it’s about comfort, this one doesn’t lack it one bit. You get extreme comfortability from the ergonomic design of the headphone. With the correct ear tip size, you get the perfect fit as well.

What you don’t expect in these earphones is decent microphone quality. So, in that aspect, this will surely exceed your expectations with some good quality microphone performance. And for the price, you simply can't ask for anything better.

 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Fixed
  • Driver: Triple driver (2 armature, 1 dynamic)
  • Sensitivity: 99dB
  • Impedance: 32ohms
  • Color: Gold/ Silver
  • Weight: 0.8ounces
  • Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches

Pros

  • This one comes with some high clarity treble and deep bass
  • You get great comfort and fitting coming from these earphones
  • It has got an inline remote for controlling music and answering calls
  • You get a quality microphone for calling
  • It comes at a very reasonable price 

Cons

  • The build quality isn’t that great
  • It has a questionable durability 

3. Sennheiser Pro Audio IE 40 PRO

If you have any interest in music and audio equipment, you already know the name Sennheiser. Among all their quality headphones, this one is appealing to talk about solely because it’s affordable while providing quality.

First of all, if you want some warmth in the tone of your music, then this is the perfect headphone. The sound is balanced and gives a warm sound quality that is soothing to the ears. Even at the highest of volume, you get precise and dissonance-free sound.

The earphone design has a lot to play in the comfortability. Even without the design aspect, you get excellent comfortability because of the perfect fit it gives you. They just snug into your ear without causing any discomfort whatsoever.

A reason a lot of people might find this appealing is its value for money aspect. You can already see how much quality and features you are getting from this earphone. And for that quality, you are not paying a whole lot of money.

 Sennheiser Pro Audio IE 40 PRO

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Detachable
  • Driver: 10mm dynamic
  • Sensitivity: 115dB
  • Impedance: 20ohms
  • Color: Black/ clear
  • Weight: 0.8ounces
  • Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.3 x 0.01 inches

Pros

  • The sound quality on this one is very warm and appealing
  • It comes with detachable cables, which is a plus
  • You won’t feel any discomfort when you have these on
  • This one doesn’t distort at higher volume levels
  • It's surely a value for a money in-ear headphone. 

Cons

  • The wires may tangle every once in a while
  • The design of the earphone isn’t the best for everyone.

4. LINSOUL TIN Audio T2 HiFi 2DD

When you are out there looking for quality, this is the earphone you should be checking out. It comes with exceptionally well-built quality along with top-tier sound performance. And for the price, you can't ask for better anyway.

Let's talk about how great the sound quality is, and it's unlike any other earphone I have gone through till now. This one has a wider sound that can create a neutral sound environment for professional sound monitoring.

Something that many earphones struggle with is the cables, but not this one. It has got very high-grade cables that are braided perfectly. You can rely on these cables to not tear apart while you are on the stage using them. And the end TRS jack is easily replaceable as well in case it breaks.

As for the build quality, it’s one of the best you can get within the price range. It has a metal headphone built which is durable for a long time. And combined with the quality cable, you won’t have any worries about the durability.

 LINSOUL TIN Audio

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Specifications

  • Driver: Double dynamic drivers
  • Sensitivity: 102dB
  • Impedance: 16ohms
  • Color: Gray
  • Weight: 0.8ounces
  • Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.3 x 0.01 inches

Pros

  • This one has got a wider soundstage with great scope for editing
  • The cables on this are of high quality, so no need to worry about cheap wires
  • It has got an all-metal built material which makes it a sturdy choice
  • These are valued for money earphones supporting professional sound monitoring
  • The bass on this one is quite deep, and the sound is more natural for music 

Cons

  • The customer service isn’t that good
  • The foam plugs don’t last much long

5. Lypertek SoundFree S20 - True Wireless in-Ear Headphone – Best wireless

Don’t like the trouble of wires? Then go wireless with these earbuds that come with just the perfect quality for studio monitoring. For the looks and build, I have got only one word, "Premium."

Getting on with the sound quality, you will love it if you are a bass kind of person. The bass goes deep while having a quick punch to it as well. And the mid-range is perfectly separated from it, so you get to hear the vocals without them getting mushed up.

Now, moving on to comfortability, I can't say anything bad about it at all. It just feels so good while in-ear that you may even forget you are wearing earphones. And that’s something you will love when you have to wear earphones for long hours.

The main concern with every wireless headphone is the battery life. But here, say goodbye to that concern. Because with the earbuds alone, you get 10 hours of playback time. Add the casing to the equation then you get a total of 80 hours of playtime on this.

 Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 True Wireless Earbuds

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Wireless
  • Driver: Graphene Dynamic
  • Battery backup: 80 hours (with case)
  • Charging: Type-C fast charging
  • Color: Black/ White
  • Weight: 2.47ounces
  • Dimensions: 4.53 x 1.77 x 4.21 inches

Pros

  • This gives you the true wireless experience and frees you from all wires
  • You get the perfect quality for bass, mid, and treble with this earbud
  • The comfortability is so good that you may not even feel a thing
  • It gives you a total of 80 hours of playback time and 10 hours without the case
  • Even with all those features, it comes at a reasonable price tag 

Cons

  • It’s easy to lose the earbuds while you are moving too fast

6. Erjigo In-Ear Monitors, KZ ZSX 1DD+5BA – Best overall

Well, if you are looking to get the full professional studio monitor vibes on your earphones, then this is the closest you can get. This earphone has all the features of being a professional studio monitor headphone without any doubts.

Starting with the sound quality, you will for sure love it. It has got that professional touch of using amp and DAC with your speakers. In terms of sound quality, you can’t even expect to get anything better than this one at the price you are getting this.

While the sound quality is top tier, the comfort is as good. It's not too small; that will just get inside your ears and stick at the same time they aren't too big to stick out either. With this perfect fit combined with the ear tips, the comfort reaches another level on this one.

Lastly, even in this list of affordable in-ear monitors, this one is a class above the rest. The value for money aspect of this earphone is just unmatched.

erjigo IEM

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Detachable
  • Driver: 1 Dynamic, 5 armature
  • Sensitivity: 111dB
  • Impedance: 24ohms
  • Color: Black/ Cyan/ Purple
  • Weight: 5.6ounces
  • Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.5 x 1.8 inches

Pros

  • They have the absolute best-balanced sound quality you can get
  • These earphones are very comfortable in your ears
  • It comes with the perfect size for a perfect fit
  • It’s the best value for money in-ear monitor out there
  • The build quality is also quite good 

Cons

  • The cables can be tricky to manage
  • It’s not suitable if you want overpowering bass 

7. Cystereo Fusion Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds

I have got another wireless option for you when you want to get rid of wires. With the latest Bluetooth connection technology, you get seamless audio transmission. And you get all of that within a budget price.

Even though it’s a budget pick, that doesn’t make the sound quality go down at all. The sound you get from this one is still rich and clear to the ear, accompanied by deep rumbling bass.

Along with that quality sound comes the extreme comfortability factor on the earbuds. There are no wires on this, so that nothing will be tugging them either. Altogether you get a perfectly comfortable fit in your ears.

Lastly comes the extremely affordable price. And the price looks more attractive when you consider that you get 26 hours of playback time with the charging case.

Cystereo Fusion Bluetooth IEM

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Wireless
  • Driver: Graphene Dynamic
  • Battery backup: 26 hours (with case)
  • Charging: Type-C fast charging
  • Color: Black
  • Weight: 0.16ounces
  • Dimensions: 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.6 inches

Pros

  • You get complete wireless operation without any hassle
  • The sound quality is balanced and rich
  • These earbuds are very comfortable in the ears
  • They are very much affordable
  • It has got amazing battery backup with the case 

Cons

  • They don’t work the best while watching videos
  • The ear tips need to be replaced for better comfort 

8. Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless In-Ear Earbud

If you want to spice up your life with some colorful earbuds, then this is the pick for you. And they come from Skullcandy, so your worries about music quality should end right there.

There is not much to say about the sound quality of these earbuds because of the brand name. You get that classic sound quality from Skullcandy that makes listening to music much more enjoyable.

Something to look at this one is the color choices you get for this. You can go for unique colors and have great looking and great sounding earbud in your ears.

While the looks are good, it comes with some serious protection as well. You get IP55 sweat protection along with water and dust resistance—all these things within a budget price; how cool is that.

 Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless IEM

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Specifications

  • Cable type: Wireless
  • Driver: Graphene Dynamic
  • Battery backup: 24 hours (with case)
  • Charging: Rapid charging
  • Color: Black/ Pure mint/ Deep red/ Grey/ Blue/ Sky
  • Weight: 0.05ounces
  • Dimensions: 7.28 x 4.21 x 1.54 inches

Pros

  • There are lots of color choices to choose from
  • The sound quality is as good as you would expect from Skullcandy
  • It has got a lot of protective measures for better durability
  • It comes with a rapid charging feature
  • The price is very reasonable 

Cons

  • The battery backup isn’t as good as it says
  • The charging case doesn’t last long 

9. FiiO FA1 Over the Ear Earphones

Do you work on a lot of stage audio monitoring? Then this can be the perfect fit for you, and I mean this literally. Because over the ear design of this one gives you a secure fit when running around the stage.

The sound quality is quite good with the customized drivers on the earphones. The tuning they have done on this earphone is top-notch, which gives it a great performance throughout.

I think the best feature of this one is the build material. It’s a 3D printing material that is super lightweight, but it still gives you great durability.

Because of its lightweight nature, it feels very comfortable in your ears. Also, the design gives you a perfect fit.

Specifications

  • Cable type: Detachable over the ear
  • Driver: Balanced armature
  • Sensitivity: 111dB
  • Impedance: 15ohms
  • Color: Smoke/ Blue and red
  • Weight: 0.317 ounces
  • Dimensions: 2.76 x 2.76 x 1.57 inches

Pros

  • The over-the-ear design gives you a perfect fit that doesn’t come off
  • You get excellent sound quality from these earphones
  • It has got extreme comfortability throughout
  • The build material of this headphone is excellent
  • The cable is quite sturdy 

Cons

  • It may not satisfy the bass lover

10. MEE audio M6 PRO Musicians’ In-Ear Monitors

This is an IEM that will give you the fulfilling experience of having a monitor headphone. Whether you are looking for sound quality or searching for comfort, you get both here.

To start with the sound, I loved the responsiveness and the details coming from it. This makes it great for monitoring purposes. There is a boom in the bass that you can feel a lot.

Next up is its extreme comfortability. There is nothing else at this price that can beat the comfortability of this earphone. You can wear them for long hours without having any issues whatsoever.

Lastly, I just have to bring up the value for money aspect on this. It’s so good and top quality that you will never think twice about spending money on this one.

Specifications

  • Cable type: Detachable
  • Driver: Dynamic
  • Sensitivity: 100dB
  • Impedance: 16ohms
  • Color: Smoke/ Blue/ Black/ Clear
  • Weight: 5.8 ounces
  • Dimensions: 4 x 1 x 1 inches

Pros

  • You get top-notch sound quality one this IEM It gives you great comfortability
  • The size is just perfect for everyone
  • It comes at an affordable price
  • It looks perfect and has various color choices 

Cons

  • The cables aren’t that strong and tangle easily

Buying guide for best IEM on a budget

To buy the best IEM, you have to consider some factors. These factors help you choose the best earphone that suits your preferences the most. Here are the things you should be looking at-

  • Sound quality 

Unlike headphones for music, IEM’s need a balanced and neutral sound. You would want to have as much detail as possible in everything you hear with your headphones. So, go for a headphone that gives you clarity first and then a good balance of mid and bass.

Also, you would want to have the sound as noiseless as possible. In this case, a noise reduction or noise cancellation feature on the earphone can go a long way. These are the things you should be looking for in an IEM earphone.

  • Comfort 

Comfort is a crucial part of any headphone when you think of using them professionally. Because you don’t know how long you will be working with the audio. So, it’s important to have something that doesn’t cause fatigue.

  • Fit 

The fit of your earphone is important; especially you do sound monitoring on stage. Because then you have to move around a lot which brings up the possibility of your earphones coming off your ears. Now, this is a reason many people prefer over-ear headphones.

So, if you want an earphone for your purpose, then make sure it has a snug fit into your ears and doesn’t come off with movement.

Final thoughts 

To sum up, finding the best IEM under 100 is no joke at all. As you can already see, I have listed so many amazing options. It’s tough to choose one, even for me.

Still, I have some quick suggestions if you are looking for something specific. For the best wireless experience, I suggest Lypertek SoundFree S20. For the best performance without paying Erjigo In-Ear Monitors, KZ ZSX 1DD+5BA should be your pick. And for the best budget pick, I would go for MEE audio M6 PRO Musicians’.

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