Looking for the best in-ear monitor under $200 that provides a better sound quality? Then look no further.
Luckily, we have been found 9 best in-ear monitors under $200 on the planet. These not only offer a great listening experience but are priced a lot lower than the $1000 models we might yearn for.
If you’re on a tight budget, this article should serve you well.
Here they are, keep reading, and choosing one from them.
- KINBOOFI KZ AS 10
- Huawei Freebuds 3
- SIMGOT EN700 PRO
- Etymotic Research ER3SE
- BASN Professional IEM
- Audio Technica ATH-E50
- 1MORE Quad Driver
- MEE AUDIO PINNACLE P1
- RHA T10I Deep Bass
Our top-rated Kinboofi KZ AS10 is the best of a lot of these Best In-Ear Monitors Under $200. It will surely please even the most discriminating audiophile and, as a bonus, it also comes at a very reasonable low price!
5 Top-Rated Best In-Ear Monitors Under $200
| Headphone Brand | Editor's Pick | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
| KINBOOFI KZ AS 10 | Best for Audiophiles | 4.6 / 5 |
| Huawei Freebuds 3 | Best Wireless for Audio Purists | 4.5 / 5 |
| SIMGOT EN700 PRO | Best Low-Priced Luxurious Ear Monitors | 4.4 / 5 |
| Etymotic Research ER3SE | Best Studio Grade In-Ear Monitors | 4.3 / 5 |
| BASN Professional IEM | Best Value For Drummers, Musicians, Or Singers | (4.3 / 5 |
Best IEM Under 200$ Reviews
1. KINBOOFI KZ AS 10
Best for Audiophiles
(4.6 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable Length: 120 cm | Noise Isolation: Yes | Charging station: No | Frequency: 20-40,000 Hz | Impedance: 14Ω | Sensitivity: 105 db | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Unit: 5 (low, mid, high [2], mid-high)
Audiophiles will love the KINBOOFI KZ AS10 earphones! They offer you excellent sound output at a very affordable price. The units have five built-in balanced armatures to give you a clear and balanced sound. They are also featherweight and comfortable so you can make calls all day or listen to music in complete comfort.
Noise isolation allows smooth sounds to pass through while the light body and soft ear tips keep your ears comfortable. If the cable ever breaks, detachable pins make it easy for replacement, and the units can be upgraded to connect to Bluetooth devices.
Key Features:
- Excellent music reproduction
- Good noise cancelation
- Comfortable fit
- Good for all types of music
PROS:
- Great frequency response.
- Affordably priced.
CONS:
- Somewhat heavier than other brands.
- No built-in mic.
Why We Love It:
The KINBOOFI KZ AS10 earphones are our top ear monitor choice under $200 for Audiophiles.
They offer exceptional value for the price with good ear protection and are an excellent choice for a superb listening experience.
2. Huawei Freebuds 3
Best Wireless for Audio Purists
(4.5 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear Bluetooth monitor earphones | Wireless: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Charging station: Yes | Playtime: 4 hours | Weight: 0.317 oz | Charge time: 1 hr | Driver Unit: 14.2 mm dynamic | Bluetooth Version: 5.1
Audio purists will love these wireless stereo earphones from Huawei. The Freebuds 3 come with a charging case and feature a half-in-ear design to give you increased wearing comfort. They can connect to other Bluetooth devices and can be used for making calls and listening to music.
The low-power consumption design provides users with long battery life and each earbud contains two MEMS silicon noise-reduction mics to cancel out background noise.
Key Features:
- Good music reproduction
- Slim design
- More comfortable fit than Apple
- Compact charging case
PROS:
- Good sound quality.
- Comfortable and lightweight.
- Good battery life.
CONS:
- No-touch volume controls.
- Poor noise isolation.
Why We Love It:
The Huawei Freebud 3 wireless earphones give you everything you love about AirPods but at a lower price.
The open-fit design is slimmer than earlier models and it’s more comfortable. The charging case is exceptionally compact.
The case will easily slide into your pocket to carry comfortably.
3. SIMGOT EN700 PRO
Best Low-Priced Luxurious Ear Monitors
(4.4 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable: Braided Kevlar | Wireless: No | Noise Isolation: Yes | Frequency: 15-40,000 Hz | Impedance: 16Ω | Sensitivity: 101 db | Distortion: <1% | Driver Unit: 10 mm dynamic | Connector: 3.5 mm | Rated Power: 10 watts
The Simgot EN700 looks and feels luxurious. It includes numerous accessories and produces balanced audio with a high energy output making it a great pair of earphones for all sorts of genres.
Key Features:
- Good music reproduction
- Attractive design
- High-energy output
PROS:
- Excellent quality sound.
- Good bass.
- Premium Leather Carry Case.
CONS:
- The cable can be hard to manage.
- No mic or in-line control.
Why We Love It:
The EN700 RO is a high-resolution audio in-ear monitor with moldable over-ear hooks for lasting comfort.
The high-magnetic circuit coil dynamic driver features 2 independent voice coils to reproduce a wide frequency range. Tuning filters allow for increased depth or boosted highs.
4. Etymotic Research ER3SE Studio Edition
Best Studio Grade In-Ear Monitors
(4.3 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable Length: 4 feet | Noise Isolation: Yes | Frequency: 20-16,000 Hz | Impedance: 22Ω | Sensitivity: 102 db | Weight: .634 oz | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Unit: Detachable Balanced Armature
The Etymotic ER3SE earphones are designed for studio use with a super compact barrel design and deep depth insertion for excellent flat well-balanced and uncolored sounds. Noise isolation helps to retain the color of the source material and allow the resulting sounds to be as neutral as possible.
Key Features:
- Hallmark flat sound reproduction
- Enhanced bass
- Comfortable fit
PROS:
- Superb sound quality.
- Great frequency response.
- Excellent sound isolation.
CONS:
- Ear tips may be uncomfortable for some.
- No switch or built-in mic.
Why We Love It:
The Etymotic ER3SE earphones offer a no-compromise, high-performance, noise-isolating experience with best-in-class benefits and superior value.
High-performance, precision-matched, and balanced armature drivers plus exceptional noise isolation provide excellent studio-quality listening results.
5. BASN Professional IEM
Best Value For Drummers, Musicians, Or Singers
(4.3 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable Length: 1.2 meters | Noise Isolation: Yes | Frequency: 20-20,000 Hz | Weight: 1.12 oz | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Unit: Dual Dynamic
Drummers, singers, and all musicians will find these headphones work great for both on- or off-stage use. They’re also a good choice for daily personal use to make phone calls or listen to music from your phone, tablet, or computer. Detachable connectors make cable replacement or upgrade convenient and can connect to Bluetooth for wireless use.
Key Features:
- High-performance at an exceptional value
- Excellent studio-quality reproduction
- Noise isolation circuitry
PROS:
- Comfortable and secure fit.
- Dual drivers for great performance.
- Inline mic for convenient phone calls.
CONS:
- Limited uneven bass response.
- Foam ear tips are not sweat resistant.
Why We Love It:
These BASN Professional in-ear monitors offer balanced highs, mid-range, and subwoofer sounds that are ideal for studio mixing engineers at an exceptionally low price.
The inline microphone with control lets you pick up phone calls while controlling your music without having to remove your phone from the pocket.
6. Audio Technica ATH-E50 Professional
Best Professional Ear Monitors
(4.3 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable Length: 5.2 in | Noise Isolation: Yes | Charging station: No | Frequency: 20-18,000 Hz | Weight: 0.3 oz | Impedance: 12Ω | Sensitivity: 107 db | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Unit: Balanced armature
The Audio Technica ATH-E50 are often compared favorably and often outperform pricier Shure models costing above $500. Every single track you listen to comes in loud and clear without distortion. High-end frequencies aren’t ‘tinny’, the mid-range and lows are even but not muddy or bloated.
Key Features:
- Impressive detail separation
- Passive noise isolation
- 4 different size silicone ear tips included
PROS:
- Comfortable with good build quality.
- Neutral, coherent, and smooth sonic signature.
- Detachable cable with A2DC connectors.
- Carry case included.
CONS:
- Treble response could be stronger.
- Slightly over-sized housing may bother some.
Why We Love It:
The ATH-E50 practically disappears into your ears and provides a balanced, clear, and detailed sound in all registers.
The unit works easily in field-recording situations with smooth highs and nicely balanced mids and lows. The units provide excellent isolation with a broad and immersive soundstage providing rich detail and clarity. A very impressive product from Audio Technica.
7. 1MORE Quad Driver In-ear headphones
Best Large Soundstage Ear Monitors
(4.2 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Noise Isolation: Yes | Charging station: No | Frequency: 20-40,000 Hz | Weight: 0.8 oz | Impedance: 32Ω | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Unit: Triple balanced armature
The 1MORE headphones have an open and airy sound that works well with every type of music and present details you may never have heard before in an exceptionally large soundstage.
Each earbud has 4 separate balanced armature drivers with a mini speaker dedicated to each frequency. The result gives the listener extremely satisfying and distortion-free sound imaging.
Key Features:
- World’s first THX Certified headphones
- In-line mic and volume control cable
- Luxurious build quality
- 9 ear-tip sizes (memory foam & silicone)
PROS:
- Nicely balanced sound.
- Excellent noise isolation.
- Leather carrying case.
CONS:
- Quad drivers may be uncomfortable for some.
- Non-removable cable.
Why We Love It:
These are gorgeous premium-feeling earbuds that can make many other brands look and feel cheap by comparison.
The quad drivers provide superb performance with good noise isolation. Memory foam or silicone ear tips to assure a good fit.
The units provide an exceptional high-resolution sound with great sonic performance, industrial construction, and practicality.
8. MEE AUDIO PINNACLE P1
Best Feature-Rich Ear Monitors
(4 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable Length: 51 in | Noise Isolation: Yes | Charging station: No | Frequency: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Impedance: 50Ω | Sensitivity: 96dB | Weight 3.0 oz | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Size: 10 mm
The MEE Studio Pinnacle P1s pack a lot of technology in a small metal housing. The bass delivers a rich, rounded, and solid low-end even though the drivers are dynamic and not the multiple balanced armatures of some others. The mids and high-end aren’t quite as impressive but still manage to be quite good.
Multiple ear tip sizes are included to give you a decent fit and provide excellent noise isolation.
Key Features:
- Exceptionally comfortable
- Very neutral sound
- Good build quality
PROS:
- Natural and detailed sounding.
- Exceptional noise isolation.
- Good value for the price.
CONS:
- Treble can be a little scratchy.
- Cable is non-removable.
Why We Love It:
The MEE audio Pinnacle P1s deliver an exceptionally accurate sound profile that’s accurate and not overly colored.
The noise isolation is good and the units stay comfortable when worn over long periods.
9. RHA T10I Deep Bass In-Ear Monitors
Best For Bass-Hungry Audiophiles
(4 / 5)
Style: Closed-back, in-ear monitor earphones | Cable Length: 1.35m | Noise Isolation: No | Charging station: No | Frequency: 16-22,000 Hz | Weight:1.45 oz | Impedance: 16Ω | Sensitivity: 100 db | Connector: 3.5 mm | Driver Unit: Dynamic
If you like listening to strong, thunderous bass, you will love these in-ear monitors. Plus, the RHAs feature legendary build quality numerous nice custom touches that set them apart from the competition.
Accessories include three sets of acoustic filters, 10 eartips, and a carry case. A tuning filter system even allows you to customize the frequency response according to individual tastes.
Key Features:
- Exceptional low-end bass response
- Legendary build quality
- Outstanding 3-year warranty
- Tuning filter to customize the frequency response
PROS:
- Powerful, distortion-free bass response.
- Great accessories.
CONS:
- May be too heavy for some ears.
- Bass filters can be unbalanced.
Why We Love It:
The RHA T10i is well made with plenty of useful accessories and a powerful bass-enhanced sound signature.
However, if accurate frequency response is what you are looking for, the RHA T10i may be far too sculpted and you should consider one of the other selections in this review.
However, if you want deep, thunderous lows, the RHA T10i won’t disappoint.
Benefits of Using In-Ear Monitors Under $200
All in all, IEMs aren’t designed just for use by live performers, musicians, and other audio professionals.
They can also be enjoyed by everyday listeners who may wish to experience a more customized and accurate approach to hi-resolution earbuds.
Some of the benefits of the IEMs in this review are these:
– More Realistic Sound
Simply put, in-ear monitors are essentially earbud versions of studio headphones. They are specially designed for audio engineers or musicians to be able to hear a mix of stage and vocal instrumentation and properly monitor the sounds intended for their audience.
Although the shape and overall look to the in-ear monitors in this article may seem the same as regular earbuds, the difference is in their internal build.
Instead of regular (and cheaper) consumer-friendly in-ear earbuds, in-ear monitors have advanced technology inside. They offer a wider frequency response and better quality drivers. Some of the IEMs featured in this article contain up to five drivers.
Also, the actual driver in these in-ear monitors is typically “dynamic” or a “balanced armature”, both of which contain a more intricate design than single drivers. This build processes the audio faster and more accurately to produce a clearer audio resolution.
– More Secure Fit
Each of us has a uniquely shaped ear canal, so often when you’re pushing something into your ear, it may not always be a very good fit. An important feature for IEMs is that they are designed to have a very secure fit to your ear canal. This accomplishes two purposes:
- It provides a tighter seal for better noise isolation
- It is less likely to fall out because it forms to the exact shape of your ear canal
Even though not every pair of in-ear monitors comes with memory-foam, all of the models we’ve selected in this review come with multiple ear tip sizes.
– Different Types of Ear Tips
Different ear tip sizes are usually included with your IEM. This allows you to pick the proper size that will best fit your ear canal. All of the in-ear monitors selected for this review come with various sizes made from either silicone or foam ear tips. Often, both types are included. This gives you a much wider choice of ear tips to find the ones that are most comfortable to your particular ears.
- Silicone Ear Tips
Silicone ear tips are water and sweat resistant and will normally have a better grip. This makes them suitable for running or on-stage performances.
However, silicone ear tips will offer less sound isolation when compared to the foam type of ear tips.
- Foam Ear Tips
With foam ear tips, sound isolation is much better than silicone. But, they are not water or sweat resistant.
Foam ear tips can also feel less comfortable when worn for long periods because of their somewhat higher density and they are less moldable to the ear canal than silicone.
– Multiple Drivers
In-ear monitors in this price range generally have multiple drivers. While a single driver in an in-ear monitor can usually function fairly well, when you want a better definition of highs and lows, then an IEM with three or more drivers is much better.
With multiple drivers, each driver is designed to handle a particular frequency range. This results in a clearer and more accurate sound definition. Most of the products in this review contain at least three and sometimes as many as five drivers.
What to Consider When Buying
The best in-ear monitors under $200 we have reviewed in this article are specifically designed to bring you better quality than cheaper, department store earpods.
In the past, the best quality high-end ear-monitors ranged in price from $500 into many thousands of dollars each.
Now, with advances in technology, it’s possible to purchase an in-ear monitor that is just as good as many high-end in-ear monitors but at a budget-friendly price.
– What’s Your Intended Use?
Are you interested in a better quality in-ear monitor for listening to music? Professional musicians need good monitors to hear their work correctly. A casual audiophile listener is not likely to spend thousands of dollars on an IEM. These in-ear monitors under $200 should fit both of these listeners quite well.
– Wired or Wireless?
Wired in-ear monitors are usually fine for audiophiles, producers, and even studio recorders.
However, performing musicians may prefer a wireless or Bluetooth monitor, especially when they’re moving around quite a lot on stage.
– Detachable Cable
Most of the in-ear monitors we’ve selected have a detachable cable. This allows you to easily replace it when it becomes damaged.
A detachable cable also provides you the convenience of being able to change it in cases where you might prefer a longer or shorter cable.
– Wrap-around cable
Another important feature that sets IEMs apart from most other in-ear headphones is a wrap-around cable.
Musicians and many live performers tend to move all over the stage when they perform. A wrap-around cable helps keep the earbuds firmly in place and minimize the chance of them falling out.
– Curved or straight?
Curved models allow the in-ear monitor to hold onto your ears better because they wrap over the back of the ears.
This also hides the cables from being seen. However, many users prefer wearing the straight type instead.
What Can You Expect from IEMs?
There are lots of reasons to choose an in-ear monitor under $200 from our list.
Musicians will find an in-ear monitoring system makes their live performances sound much better than traditional monitors.
Also, In-ear monitoring helps reduce exposure to excessive loudness from the band mix while keeping the volume at an acceptable level.
In-ear monitors eliminate the possibility of feedback and can sound nearly as good as the best quality headphones.
They are more convenient, portable, and much less obtrusive. Therefore, they allow you to fully enjoy the sounds you want to listen to.
Frequently Ask Questions
In-ear monitors are similar to regular headphones in that they have very small transducers inside. Transducers produce much better sound than regular earphones.
Yes. In-ear monitors protect your ears from outside noises while delivering only the sounds you need to hear. With the controls in your hands, you can adjust the volume so it’s at a healthy and safe level.
Remember that in-ear monitors rest less than an inch away from your fragile eardrums. You must be careful to avoid playing them too loud or hearing damage can easily result.
No. When wearing a single earphone, you increase the risk of ear fatigue and can potentially pose a risk to your hearing because it forces the brain to process sound unnaturally.
Final Thoughts
The Best In-Ear Monitors Under $200 has been created to help you find the best possible in-ear monitors in this price range.
Our clear winner is the Kinboofi KZ AS10. It’s the perfect in-ear monitor for discriminating audiophiles with excellent sound at a very affordable price.
We sincerely hope that with the help of these reviews you will have found the best in-ear monitor that works best for you.
Did we miss any good IEMS? Let me know in the comments
Happy listening!