What Are IEM Earphones?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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IEM stands for in-ear monitor: an earphone that sits inside the ear canal on an eartip. Musicians wear IEMs on stage to hear their own mix, and listeners use them for studio mixing and critical listening. Many models have a detachable cable and more than one driver in each earpiece.
How an IEM sits in the ear
The shell is shaped to follow the curve of the ear. Because the earpiece sits inside the canal, the fit of the eartip sets how much outside sound gets in and how steady the earphone stays while you move. Try the eartips that come with the set and pick the size that sits secure without pressure.
What the drivers inside do
A driver is the part that turns an electrical signal into sound. A dynamic driver uses a diaphragm to move air, and the CC10X, the SIMGOT EW300 and the Moondrop CHU II each use a 10 mm dynamic driver. A balanced armature driver handles one part of the range: in the KZ ZS10 Pro, two balanced armature drivers cover the highs and two cover the mids. A hybrid set mixes driver types in one earpiece: the CC10X and the KZ ZS10 Pro each pair four balanced armature drivers with one dynamic driver. The SIMGOT EW300 adds a planar driver and a piezoelectric ceramic driver beside its dynamic driver.
Detachable cables and tuning switches
Many IEMs let you unplug the cable from the earpiece, so a worn cable can be replaced without replacing the earphones. The CC10X and the SIMGOT EW300 use a 0.78 mm 2-pin connection for the cable, and the KZ ZS10 Pro has a detachable cable with a limit slot that protects the pin. The Moondrop CHU II has an interchangeable cable and a replaceable acoustic nozzle. Some IEMs also let you change the sound without changing the earphone: the CC10X has four physical tuning switches that give up to 16 tuning combinations, and the SIMGOT EW300 has two sets of detachable nozzles with two tuning styles.
Wired connection and impedance
IEMs in this guide connect with a wire to a 3.5 mm jack, so they plug into phones, laptops and portable DACs that have that jack. Impedance is listed in ohms and shows how much power the earphone needs: the CC10X lists 10 ohms, the Moondrop CHU II lists 18 ohms, the KZ ZS10 Pro lists 24 ohms, and the SIMGOT EW300 lists 28 ohms. The CC10X states a 104 dB per milliwatt sensitivity and a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, and it can be powered by smartphones, laptops and portable DACs. Check the jack on your own device before you buy.
What you need
CLE CLO CC10X Tunable IEM
A tunable IEM with four balanced armature drivers and one 10 mm dynamic driver, four tuning switches, a detachable cable and an in-line mic.
- Detachable cable
- Driver size: 10 mm
- In-line mic
- Impedance: 10 ohm
- Driver setup: 4Ba+1Dd
- 12-month warranty stated
Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro
A hybrid IEM with four balanced armature drivers and one dynamic driver, a stainless steel faceplate and a detachable cable with mic.
- Detachable cable
- In-line mic
- Impedance: 24 ohm
- Driver setup: 4Ba+1Dd
- 1-year warranty stated
Linsoul SIMGOT EW300 1DD+1Planar+1PZT Hybrid Driver IEMs
A hybrid IEM with one dynamic driver, one planar driver and one piezoelectric ceramic driver, plus detachable nozzles and a silver-plated cable.
- Detachable cable
- Impedance: 28 ohm
- Driver setup: 1Dd
- 1-year warranty stated
Moondrop CHU II High Performance Dynamic Driver
A dynamic driver IEM with a 10 mm driver, an alloy casting cavity, a brass acoustic nozzle and an interchangeable cable.
- Impedance: 18 ohm
- Driver setup: Dynamic Driver
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Iem, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What does IEM stand for?
IEM stands for in-ear monitor. The name describes an earphone that sits inside the ear canal, and musicians use IEMs on stage to hear their own mix.
Do IEM earphones need an amplifier?
Not always. The CC10X lists 10 ohms impedance and states it can be powered by smartphones, laptops and portable DACs. The other sets here list 18, 24 and 28 ohms, so check the impedance in the specs before you buy.
Can I replace the cable on an IEM?
Many IEMs have a detachable cable. The CC10X and the SIMGOT EW300 use a 0.78 mm 2-pin connection, the KZ ZS10 Pro has a detachable cable, and the Moondrop CHU II has an interchangeable cable.
Ranked in-ear monitors lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.