IEM Headphones for Gaming: The Ultimate 2025 Buyer’s Guide [Updated April 2025]

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to IEM headphones, your crash course into the audio upgrade you didn’t know you needed.

I'm someone who always thought my headphones were solid. Could I hear footsteps? Sure. Gunfire? Decent enough. But the first time I plugged in a real pair of IEMs, everything changed. It wasn’t just louder, it was sharper, deeper, and way more immersive.

In Overwatch, I loaded up Roadhog like I always do. But instead of just hearing my Scrap Gun go off in my hears, I felt it in my brain, the echo, the weight, the raw force behind every blast. IEMs don’t just play the sound… they drop you inside it.

That was my “aha” moment. And after that, every over-ear headset felt dull by comparison.

In this guide, I’m breaking down the full world of IEM headphones - what they are, why gamers are switching, and how they can help you level up, rank up, and enjoy your games like never before. Whether you're new to IEM headphones or looking to upgrade, we’ve got you covered.

Short for in-ear monitors, IEMs are high-fidelity earphones designed to seal inside your ear canal, creating a level of clarity and noise isolation that traditional earbuds can’t touch.

But why are IEMs so popular now? The answer, like most things, is because of technology and price. We now have the ability to include multiple high-quality drivers (ear speakers) in a really small form factor, and tune that sound with precision. Combined with how far 3d printing has come, the possibilities have become endless at a fraction of the cost. These advancements have made studio-grade audio accessible for everyday users at VERY affordable prices. 

IEM headphones provide enhanced spatial awareness, letting you accurately position audio crucial for competitive gaming. They offer superior noise isolation blocking out distraction, and deliver high-quality, immersive sound, making games feel more real. Additionally, they are compact, lightweight, and customizable for comfortable long gaming sessions without giving you the dreaded headphone hair.

Most IEMs lack a built-in microphone, necessitating a separate one for communication or getting a different cable with a microphone attached. Finding the perfect ear tip fit can involve trial and error, and the cable lengths are often shorter, requiring the purchase of a longer cable. Bluetooth options are good for music, but not great for gaming mostly because of lag.

Honestly the benefits that IEMs provide for gaming are worth the few drawbacks. After using IEMs for a while and going back to AirPods or over-the-ear headphones, they just sound…boring. And with there being many affordable options that far surpass the audio quality of more expensive headphones, this has become a fun and enjoyable hobby not just for gaming but for music too. 

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is an under $40 IEM far surpasses any $300 wireless or over the ear headphone. Or the new Tangzu Wan’er 2 which will still beat most headphones for only $20 that comes with multiple tips, a quality cable, and enough power to make your games and music brighten up and sound totally different than the Cadenza. And if those already do so well, imagine what more drivers and higher quality drivers sound like, like the Xenns Mangrid Tea Pro (which might change your life). 

A few others as voted by the community include:

Tripowin x 0diBi: Vivace

There are a lot of different options at different price points and new ones coming out each day. A great resource is the community voted reddit thread on r/iems to help stay on top of what people are loving the most. 

For gaming you really want to focus on a wide soundstage so you know exactly where all sounds are coming from. 

In this series, we’ll cover the best sounding IEMs for gaming, which ones give you the best bang for your buck at different price ranges, what all these acronyms mean, and the basic pieces of a perfect setup for both listening and communicating with teammates.

Disclaimer: Audio preferences vary, and what sounds great to me might not sound good to you. Use this guide as a starting point, and always test IEMs yourself to find your perfect match! As an Amazon Associate, esports.gg will earn from qualifying purchases.