When choosing IEMs (in-ear monitors) it used to be a case of whether you would choose a black or white finish.
Fortunately this is not the case any more!
There is a huge range of IEMs available today, with an amazing choice of designs.
In this article we reveal our favourites.
Keep reading for our choice of the best looking in-ear monitors.
“Hi I’m Jess from Aeon Reviews, and here we will look at the best looking IEMs.”
What Are The Best Looking IEMs (In-Ear Monitors)?
The best looking IEMs are covered in this article. Whether you are looking for basic/minimalist designs, or something a little more colorful and out there, you will be almost certain to find something that meets your taste due to the huge range available today.
Here we will have a look at the best offerings from Moondrop, Thieaudio, Sony, and some other popular brands also.
While we will focus primarily on the appearance of the IEMs in this article, I will try to give you an idea of the sound you can expect also (because for a lot of consumers that can be just as important as the appearance!).
So here we have 11 of the best looking IEMs on the market today.
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1/ Kinera Freya
The Kinera Freya IEMs have quite the backstory to go with their amazing looks.
Named after a Norse goddess (Freyja), the chief designer of Kinera spent months researching and experimenting with different materials, and hand-painting techniques, before finding the perfect colors and painting materials suitable for expressing the beauty of this goddess.
Each single Freya IEM is handmade and also hand-painted. The exterior design of the earpiece is first hand-sketched, then hand-painted by a skilled designer.
These wired IEMs are engineered to look great, fit great, and most importantly, sound great.
In terms of the sound, the bass is solid and the mids come through with great clarity. The highs are adequate but somewhat subdued compared to the lows and mids, so you may find yourself using equalizer settings to compensate.
The Kinera Freya also offers comfort and great noise isolation, ideal for long listening sessions.
2/ Moondrop Starfield
The Starfield IEMs from Moondrop feature a lovely deep metallic blue outer earphone case.
Each earphone case has a different design, with one side featuring ‘Starfield’ in gold metallic writing, and the other with a shining star logo.
Moondrop have used special paint here that not only glitters, but also varies its color with different light angles.
The cables included are also a nice shade of blue which compliments the earphones perfectly.
In terms of sound, the Starfield IEMs provide a nice balanced sound with low distortion through the frequency range. The bass is smooth, mid-range sounds clean, and there is a very immersive soundstage here.
A nice natural sound is achieved overall.
3/ Sony IER-Z1R
The gorgeous Sony IER-Z1R really deliver on both looks and sound.
Starting with the unboxing, Sony really want you to feel like you have been gifted a luxurious piece of jewellery or timepiece here. The box slides open to reveal different compartments and trays, and this looks really impressive (see the video below for the full unboxing experience).
These are bigger than your average IEM, but are also lightweight and sit on the ear via ear hooks. You also get a range of ear tips included.
What looks like small diamonds in the outer case is actually small sections of brushed metal, and this is really well done.
Finally, the sound these produce is INCREDIBLE! The bass is larger than life, vocals and string instruments have a great texture to them, and the highs are really clear.
There are more comfortable IEMs out there, but the look and sound of these more than compensates for this!
4/ Thieaudio Legacy 3
The Legacy 3 from Thieaudio offers a really attractive pair of IEMs without the high-end price.
The clockwork design gives a really premium look, and the blue and gold colors work well together.
Each Legacy 3 earpiece is hand built from medical grade resin, and actual watch components are arranged by hand on the faceplate.
These are then sealed in resin to capture an extremely detailed and elegant look, and one that is unique for every Legacy 3!
This whole process takes an entire day for each earpiece, which gives you an idea of the level of craftsman ship here.
The sound produced is warm and relaxed overall. The bass is noticeable and textured, the mids sound warm and full, and the highs sound adequate for the price range.
5/ Sony WF-1000XM4
If you are looking for some IEMs with a more minimalist design then check out the WF-1000XM4 from Sony.
The rose gold accents look amazing on the matte black earpieces. Also the outer case of each earpiece has a nice rounded design to it.
The storage case also looks great and fits with the minimalist design of the headphones. It even doubles as a charging case for on-the-go charging!
The sound is neutral overall, with a slight emphasis towards the bass tones, and there is a nice warm and natural midrange here.
The highs sound exceptional, and better than many wired equivalents.
The WF-1000XM4 also comes with active noise cancelling as standard.
6/ TRI X HBB Kai 3rd Generation
This collaboration between TRI and HBB (HawaiiBadBoy), called KAI x HBB, has resulted in this really beautiful pair of IEMs.
In Hawaiian, “KAI” means water, and the blue and gold colors here are meant to represent sea and sand.
The shell of KAI is made of aviation-grade 7 series aluminium alloy, the cable is made of high-purity silver plated OFC wire.
A really elegant and unique design overall.
For the sound, you get a really solid bass, detailed mids, and bright highs.
A very balanced sound overall with a nice soundstage also.
7/ Audeze LCDi3
If you are after IEMs with a vintage look, but an audiophile grade listening experience, then check out the LCDi3 from Audeze.
Features the distinctive magnesium housing and grill design from the award-winning LCD range of IEMs from Audeze.
Tailor the fit of these IEMs to your ears with a selection of ear hooks and tips which are included.
In terms of the sound, the bass is really pronounced, the midrange is nice and warm, and there is great clarity in the highs.
A natural and vibrant sound overall, with an incredible soundstage which you won’t believe was achieved by a pair of IEMs!
8/ Moondrop Aria
Another IEM with a minimalist design approach is the Moondrop Aria.
I love how the gold lines looks against the mate black of the earpieces. Simple but effective.
The braided cable looks somewhat basic, but fits with the overall look of these IEMs.
Sound wise, the bass has some punch although is noticeably less than others in the same class.
The Aria’s make up for it in the mid range, with vocals especially sounding really natural and organic. Highs are smooth and energetic.
9/ Yinyoo KZ ZST
The prize for most colorful entry on this list goes to the KZ ZST IEMs by Yinyoo.
Despite being a budget IEM, a lot of work has clearly gone into the design here.
The outer casing looks great, and you even get a nice colored cable too.
The glossy, transparent finish looks great, and these look like they should cost many times their asking price.
For the sound, the bass sounds natural and deep, the mids are particularly suited to vocal heavy tracks, and the highs sound bright and vibrant.
Overall, a really great looking and sounding pair of IEMs for the price.
10/ Moondrop KATO
Another minimalist designed IEM from Moondrop is the KATO.
The solid metal outer casing looks really good, and feels durable also.
The material for the casing is mirror polished 316 stainless steel and has a really premium look.
These are also available in blue or matte steel finishes, which also look great.
For the sound, you can expect punchy bass, clear and airy mids, and detailed highs.
11/ Whizzer Kylin HE03D
Designed in collaboration with J.IDEA+ Studio, the Whizzer HE03D has a beautiful premium design.
These IEMs combine metal and glass in an organic way, while providing you with a wonderful listening experience.
Each earpiece has a polished 3D curved glass panel on top of a reflective star pattern.
Sound wise, the bass is tight, the mids sound substantial, and the highs will sound energetic.
The soundstage may sound smaller than other IEMs in this class.
A really premium looking pair of IEMs that deliver a solid sound and won’t break the bank. Definitely worth checking out.
Final Word…
Hopefully you enjoyed this list of our picks for the best looking IEMs.
With a huge selection, at a price that is right for you, there has never been a better time to pick up a pair of good looking IEMs.
For more on audio, headphones, and more check out our articles here.
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