To help you choose the right pair for your needs, we’ve looked at the best cheap IEMs under $300. There are a few things to consider when choosing the best budget IEM.
Sound quality is obviously the most important factor, but it’s also important to make sure your new IEMs are well-made and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Without further ado, let us show you our list of the best cheap IEMs under $300, taking these factors into consideration and more!
Best Cheap IEMs under $300 in 2024
1. Lean Soul 7HZ Timeless IEM
The Linsoul 7HZ TIMELESS in-ear monitor rounds out our list of the best budget IEMs under $300 due to its impressive specs. Listing all the little details that improve sound would probably take up an entire article.
The 7HZ Timeless IEM does many things well, but two aspects stand out: design and drivers.
Machined from a single piece of aviation-grade aluminum, the perfectly circular enclosure is textured, bold, and sure to turn heads every time you wear it.
There is also a double-sided driver setup featuring a 14.2mm planar magnetic driver and an ultra-thin diaphragm.
Together, these two components deliver nuanced sound enhanced by powerful power, and thanks to a massive 5-40kHz frequency spectrum, the earphones shine from bass to high-end.
The package comes with a detachable MMCX cable for ease of use, with your choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm termination.
2. DUNU TALOS 14.6mm flat driver in-ear monitor
Hold on to your hats and guitars, because technology is about to advance. Top-end IEMs under $300 have some impressive specs to justify their higher (but unaffordable or unjustifiable) price tags!
This is where you start hearing phrases like “monocrystalline,” “high definition,” and “flat tuning,” and the beautiful sounds that come with them.
Introducing the DUNU Talos IEM: Custom-tuned dual balanced armature driver units for exceptional clarity and resolution at high frequencies, precision machined aluminum alloy cavity for natural sound response, high purity silver plated single crystal base cable for high-efficiency signal transmission with low coloration.
Don’t forget that we’re talking about 14.6mm planar magnetic drivers that deliver incredibly detailed and immersive soundscapes, especially at a still-budget price point.
3. Etymotic ER3SE Studio Edition Earphones
In Etymotic’s acclaimed latest IEM lineup, the ER3SE and ER3XR utilize precisely matched, high-performance balanced armature drivers.
These high-sensitivity IEMs are ideal for mobile sources such as smartphones or portable digital audio players.
For those who prefer a stronger bass response, the XR version offers a modest bass boost compared to the SE.
If you know that most custom IEMs offer -26dB isolation, you’ll immediately know that these Etymotic IEMs are pretty special.
These ER3 and ER4 IEMs are the best detachable IEMs in my collection.
In fact, this product has proven to have the highest level of noise-blocking performance among earphones or headphones currently on the market.
4. Final Audio E5000
Final Audio E5000 is the best IEM in the $300 price range. Ears come in different shapes and sizes and have different sound signature preferences.
Additionally, the sense of depth felt incredibly complex and specific. The vocals felt most intimate, providing a nice contrast to the distant-pitched strings and classical guitars.
Between those two extremes, other instruments could fill the middle. However, the upright bass felt closer in space due to its emphasis.
If you like a warmer sound signature, you’ll like the E5000. Unlike IEM designs, they are closer to a typical bullet-shaped design, so they fit better in your ears. It has a nice, deep bass.
So if you like hip-hop, pop, electronic music, or very bright recordings that need breaking in, go for the E5000.
5. Shure SE215 PRO Wired IEM
The Shure SE215 PRO IEM turns out to be the best budget IEM. And it delivers a beautiful performance that will satisfy even the most skeptical of minds.
Tested by professional musicians, these IEMs deliver detailed sound with enhanced bass for both professional monitoring and personal listening.
This is thanks to a single ventilated balanced armature driver that delivers excellent full-range sound.
The SE215 PRO’s noise-isolating technology blocks up to 37dB of noise with a traditional over-the-ear design that ensures the earphones stay in place despite the double reinforcement and keeps the (potentially annoying) cable out of the way.
And there are no tangles. We have a burning love for them.
Even the best budget IEMs inevitably have some limitations, but the Shure SE215 PRO Wired IEM earns a spot on our list of the best budget IEMs under $300 for its great features and musician-friendly performance.
Providing sound, comfort, and durability is what All Shook Up is all about. Plus, Shure’s stellar brand reputation means you’ll be in good hands with Elvis, too.
6. Moondrop Aria high-performance
If your maximum spend is $75, the Moondrop Aria High-Performance LCP Diaphragm Dynamic Driver IEM is the best budget IEM for you.
It features a dual-cavity magnetic high-performance dynamic driver (known as -) with a diameter of 10 mm. Liquid crystal polymer diaphragm (known for excellent transient response and high-resolution sound)
All-new Waveguide technology that reduces distortion caused by high-frequency phase interference. All of this makes the treble sound smoother, more detailed and Makes it more natural.
This killer sound may be down to Aria’s N52 neodymium magnet internal magnetic circuit, patented anti-clogging filter, or metal injection molded ergonomic design approach that is highly HRTF (or head-related transfer function) compatible.
But when you hear and record sounds this good, you probably won’t stop asking how and why.
7. Linsoul 7Hz Salnotes Zero HiFi 10mm
If you’re new to IEMs, an amateur musician, or a learner audio technician, you’ll be satisfied with the HLinsoul 7Hz Salnotes Zero 7Hz Salnotes Zero HiFi 10mm Dynamic Driver In-Ear Earphones, even if they’re inadequate.
Especially if you are trying out IEMs for the first time.
You also have the option of an integrated microphone via a detachable OFC cable.
Considering that the price of a great-sounding in-ear monitor can quickly exceed $1000, the idea of a list of the best budget IEMS starting in the $25 bracket may seem fantastical.
Of course, you won’t get amazing sound from such cheap IEMs, but you can try the Linsoul 7Hz Salnotes Zero 7Hz Salnotes Zero Linsoul 7Hz Salnotes Zero HiFi 10mm Dynamic Driver In-Ear Earphones
Linsoul is an established brand among audiophiles, so it’s no surprise that they’ve produced some of the best budget IEMs in the sub-$25 category.
The noise-canceling features here are quite rudimentary, but the metal composite diaphragm inside the Salnotes Zero models improves sound reproduction enough to satisfy most listeners, with sufficiently clean mids, crisp highs, and surprisingly impactful lows.
Although nothing to write home about, these IEMs are perfect for practice or bedroom mixing.
8. BASN Bsinger PRO
BASN offers a variety of IEMS. It’s definitely the best in terms of variety. But we like the $50 bracket for the best budget IEMS, the BASN Bsinger PRO (In-Ear Monitor Headphones).
Dual dynamic drivers deliver clean vocals, highs, mids, aggressive attack, and slow decay that make it fantastic for musicians and critics, even at this affordable price point.
Again, noise isolation technology will largely depend on the shape of the IEM device, but BASN’s expertise in this field ensures that ambient noise is managed much better.
Like the Linsoul Salnotes, the BASN BSinger PRO also offers a few different cable-based options to choose from.
It includes an integrated microphone call remote and volume control cable, a silver-plated woven cable, and a 4.9-foot long 3.5mm jack memory cable. Shaped around the ears for comfort.
Conclusion
For under $300, these best IEMs deliver excellent fidelity and a fairly flat sound. When you’re using them, the are easy to believe you’re using much more expensive equipment.
These are the true hallmarks of the best budget IEMs you can get today.