Every musician has been in a situation where they can’t hear themselves properly on stage and it’s something all just put up with the best in-ear monitors (Best IEMs Under 200) and thus you no longer have to be prepared to take the help of the audio engineer in case something goes wrong. These monitoring systems will allow you to take back control of your mix, protect your ears and play to a click live while providing the best possible sound quality.
So what is an IEM in simple words? IEM or In-Ear-Monitors almost resembles earbuds in the basic function but overall are different kinds of audio devices altogether and are mainly intended for professional use. When it comes to fit, they’re somewhere between the tight seal of headphones and the low profile of earbuds and are referred to as monitors because they were initially created for musicians and performers to monitor a combination of audio sources in different places like a member of a band would hear a mix of different instruments and vocals that would directly come into the IEM.
You would be mistaken if you think that the best in-ear monitors are purely for live use and they can also be of benefit in other scenarios, such as the studio or rehearsal room. They can win over the standard over-ear or on-ear studio headphones by eliminating the discomfort felt by many as a result of ill-fitting earpads that squish your ears into your head.
Whether you’re rehearsing with your bandmates, practicing on your own, recording epic vocals at home, or you’re simply preparing to get back on stage, IEMs are an ideal solution for monitoring in any situation.
Going through many options lets you decide which one is made to do what and provides you with a better idea of what is technically better in performance in the IEM market. The company, which is more extensive in brand name and market, is offering its product at various prices.
Let’s not take so much time talking about the IEM’s features and specifications, now I’m going to show you the best IEMs available on the market.
List of the Best IEMs Under 200 Dollars:-
1- Moondrop KXXS
The design of the Moondrop KXXS is really similar to that seen on other earphones in the Kansas lineup and KXXS is a part of the family. The shells are entirely made of metal with a polished, shiny, chromed-like finish. They are roughly triangular in shape with a slightly angled nozzle and have curves over the whole shell that helps them be more comfortable to the ears.
The build quality leaves nothing to be desired and instead appears very good. The all-metal build, with just two pieces, means that the earphone should be quite resistant to rough usage. The shiny finish, though, may prove less durable as it is quite prone to scratching and this is not one of those cases where metal pieces align perfectly and leave no gaps, so in this sense, they could be better.
Comfort is, at least in my experience, exceptional. The absence of sharp edges and the ergonomic shape make the KXXS comfortable despite its large size and the cable is soft enough which doesn’t push the earphones too much.
Measuring the sound isolation, the Moondrop KXXS doesn’t have a lot to offer as it offers only basic isolation, which is not enough for common noisy situations such as public transport, open-space offices, and busy streets and to keep listening to music I always have to raise the volume, even significantly, which is not ideal.
The KXXS adopts the feature of almost-neutral tuning which was not easy to find on a sub $200 priced IEM and was found on more significantly expensive options like the Moondrop Kansas Pro. They couple this feature with good technical ability that makes them especially interesting given their price and use a single 10 mm “diamond-like carbon” dynamic driver.
The bass is thoroughly enjoyable and close to neutral while the sub-bass is relatively recessive. While the mid-bass is a bit emphasized and gives a tad of warmth to the sound in general, although It’s a small emphasis, it somehow offsets the lack of sub-bass.
While testing I could hear the upper midrange to be emphasized.
Treble is the only part where I would change substantially, not because it is not good, but because there are some issues with linearity and although the extension is good, there is a very large dip around the 10 kHz mark which is felt and despite this dip, treble is sparkling and airy enough, with a very good sense of space and a very good portrayal of nuances.
2- The Audio Voyager 3
The ThieAudio Voyager 3 came in a metal case and included a tool like those is used to remove SIM cards from phones, as well as a set of three silicone tips. The ThieAudio Voyager 3 is not really original when it comes to design where the shape is usually like the ones that are seen on IEMs these days, similar to the Peacock Audio P1, BGVP DH3, CCA C10, and many others.
I felt the build quality to be quite good, without any apparent flaw in how the earphones are built while the plastic appears solid and the assembly is done well. The comfort is quite good, in no small part thanks to the fact that this shell shape has now been widely tested with hundreds of models that share it.
The ThieAudio Voyager 3 has three drivers, all of which are balanced armatures: two Knowles CI-22955 for bass and midrange and one Knowles ED-29869 for treble and the three armatures focus on different areas of the sound thanks to a crossover network: one 22955 produces bass, while the other focuses on midrange; the 29869 armature is used for treble.
The bass is on the slightly heavier side, with a larger presence in the mid-bass area than in the sub-bass area. the audio went for a bass presence that exceeds that of a theoretical neutral tuning but did not go too far with that as the bass has just a light emphasis, which gives it some additional weight in the signature and adds some color without making it overbearing.
Midrange can be described as mostly “safe”, with a relatively neutral tuning that privileges the upper-middle part. From a technical standpoint, the midrange is reasonably good: the level of detail is commendable for earphones in the sub-$260 bracket.
Treble is decently detailed and extended and if you are looking for super-extended or super-detailed treble, the Voyager 3 will not suit your needs, but they’re otherwise pretty good considering the price range they’re in.
3- Moondrop Starfield
The Starfield is aptly named as it is an exquisitely finished product, spectacularly painted like a clear nighttime sky. The deep blue colorway is tinged with shimmering sparkles and this design is beautifully captured by the name Starfield. Depending on the light source, it not only sparkles but displays a gradient of colors as the color coating is applied over zinc-aluminum alloy, die-cast shells. This gives Starfield an excellent intrinsic feeling of premiums. There are no lightweight plastics used in this product.
While the sound of full-size headphones and the level of comfort depends on the size of one’s ear, small details like the inner shape of the user’s ear and the fit of an IEM greatly impact not just the listener’s comfort but dramatically change the perceived performance of an IEM.
The weight of the IEM makes them feel premium, but it may lead to fatigue issues for some users and thankfully the shape is smooth and tailored to the shape of the ear. They are medium to small-sized and fit nicely in my medium-sized ears. Even with long listening sessions, I never experienced any lack of comfort or usability.
The bass on the Starfield is very tight and full, with ample lower sub-bass which brings warmth and richness to the sound without overpowering the rest of the frequencies and notes hit with a punchy and controlled impact. These aren’t very bassy IEMs and have a balanced sound with sufficient low end to still be fun.
The meringue is a bit disappointing with regards to the low end but not to say that it isn’t good sounding, just that the midrange is not quite as pronounced. Voices remain natural and clear on the Starfield and the overall midrange is transparent without excessive warmth or thickness.
The Starfield is a smooth-sounding pair of IEMs and gives plenty of detail without becoming grainy or too analytical.
4- Letshuoer Tape Pro– Best IEMs Under 200
It seems that Shuoer, a newcomer to the IEM market, is aiming to change things as for a product that utilizes an electrostatic driver, they’re inexpensive, easy to use, and not at all difficult to obtain.
In my opinion, Tape is a product that needs to be refined before it reaches maturity, in almost all respects. But still, I appreciate the creators of the Tape for creating something new, and in some areas of performance and it paid off.
The Tape tries to imitate a vintage look, perhaps associating itself with the history of electrostatic products from the 1960s. The capsules have two screws, mimicking the reels of a cassette tape and maybe it’s a bit awkward looking, but it’s also very likable. I don’t generally have a problem with headphone manufacturers that try to go for something unique but the Tape’s looks won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and it felt like they were trying too hard to appeal to a sense of nostalgia that didn’t really connect with me.
Comfort-wise, the Tape is a blocky affair that grew uncomfortable in my ear faster than I would’ve liked. Not every “blocky-shaped” earphone has given me this problem. The Tape has a sharp edge that digs into my outer ear, leaving it irritated and sore.
The dynamic driver supplies the Tape with a very nice, impactful low end. The sound is typical of a dynamic driver – fat, lively, and very slightly slow. The bass of the Tape is fairly typical, in a good way; there’s not much to complain about here.
The mids represent a big problem with the Tape’s sound signature. In aiming for a detailed sound, Shuoer seems to have overdone it, resulting in a very thin and shouty midrange that is almost torturous.
The Shuoer Tape represents very interesting developments in the budget-friendly IEM market and has received a lot of attention from audiophiles. For those that want to experience an electrostatic sound at a lower price, it will undoubtedly fulfill their needs, but unless you just have to experience the electrostatic treble, I can’t recommend the Tape. With its ergonomic failures and its often unpleasant sound signature, it simply seems too much like a prototype and there are some issues that Shuoer still has to solve.
Conclusion – Best IEMs Under 200
It’s time I reached the end and I have picked the best and top-rated items of in-ear monitors (IEMs) based on reviews and ratings under the price point of $200. Every one of them is really liked by the users who have been using these IEMs for a very long term and are also very satisfied with the performance of the IEMs.
When comparing them to many expensive IEMs, these give tough competition to the upcoming IEMs or their previous generations. If you are a music lover or sound creator, stage performer, or stage holder, these will attract you. Most audiophiles do not even think twice about which IEMs to pick while purchasing. But it is important to know which one serves the features that you specifically need. Many of the users who are into music professionally are making a profit by creating content making or stage performing, which gives them so much clarity and no sound reduction while performing, making these items the best pick for the budget product under $200.
So what are you waiting for? Go for them and make your destiny or feel the real music across you? Just go on and grab them soon.