The Sony IER-M500 ranks #1115 out of 1398 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Sony
Prices on this page were last checked October 19, 2026 at 10:32 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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#1115 Sony IER-M500: $119.99 Amazon $119.99 eBay
Pros: A compact stage monitor with a 5 mm dynamic driver whose sub bass reaches to 20 Hz and bass sits about 2 dB above target, with lower mids close to target. It has a detachable Y-type cable and Sony’s usual build quality.
Cons: Upper bass is about 4.6 dB above target, which thickens the sound, and presence is about 4 dB low with a 7 dB dip near 3.5 kHz, so vocals sound recessed. Low 103 dB/mW sensitivity needs more volume than most earphones, and the Truthear Zero Blue 2 scores much higher for less.
Is the Sony IER-M500 right for you?
Buy it if
- you are sensitive to bright or sharp treble (treble sits 2.5 dB below target).
- you want sub-bass rumble that reaches down to 20 Hz.
- you are happy to use EQ: our preset lifts its Harman match by about 28 points.
Skip it if
- you want the best value: the higher-rated EPZ G10 costs about $96 less.
| Released | Aug 2026 (2 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.87 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 5mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 61 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 61.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -5.4 dB | 0.74 |
| Peak | 3,500 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 4,153 Hz | +1.8 dB | 5.61 |
| Peak | 5,280 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,821 Hz | +1.8 dB | 5.56 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 28.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 177 Hz | -5.3 dB | 0.66 |
| Peak | 799 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.86 |
| Peak | 3,500 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 4,152 Hz | +1.8 dB | 5.57 |
| Peak | 5,280 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,823 Hz | +1.8 dB | 5.56 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 8.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -11.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 181 Hz | -7.2 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 3,148 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 3,986 Hz | +2.6 dB | 5.58 |
| Peak | 5,333 Hz | -3.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,029 Hz | +1.6 dB | 6.00 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 88 out of 100, up from 70.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 182 Hz | -5.2 dB | 0.75 |
| Peak | 3,449 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.30 |
| Peak | 4,134 Hz | +1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,369 Hz | -3.6 dB | 6.00 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 65.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 34 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.27 |
| Peak | 189 Hz | -5.4 dB | 0.76 |
| Peak | 3,500 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.96 |
| Peak | 4,153 Hz | +1.8 dB | 5.62 |
| Peak | 5,280 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,819 Hz | +1.8 dB | 5.57 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 87 out of 100, up from 16.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.3 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -5.3 dB | 0.64 |
| Peak | 2,001 Hz | -2.0 dB | 3.23 |
| Peak | 3,354 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.40 |
| Peak | 5,615 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.51 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 84 out of 100, up from 57.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 1,871 Hz | -1.7 dB | 2.47 |
| Peak | 3,354 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 4,443 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,948 Hz | +3.1 dB | 6.00 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the Sony IER-M500 measures across the audible range, against the Harman in-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the median of 4 independent measurements, so one odd sample or rig cannot skew it, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: median of 4 measurements from the squig.link databases of elrics, fernandagunsan, hbb and samreviews. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.