Since launching the INZONE back in 2022, it has carved its own niche in gaming accessories which makes it interesting as it’s owned by Sony who also has its own popular gaming brand PlayStation. With it now hitting its third year it has managed to differentiate itself as a separate entity. As we saw with the big launch back in the mid-summer.
Out of all the accessories they revealed one of the more noteworthy ones is that of wired earbuds IEMs(In-Ear Monitors). I have been a major fan of the Sony INZONE Buds and was intrigued by how much the INZONE E9 would pique my interest.
Style
The E9 come in two colors, white and black. The INZONE branding will be on each earpiece as well as the model number. Individually they are designed to loop around your ear and go inside near the ear canal. There is also the wire on each one that is super thin and flexible based on the material helping it not get tangled up. It has an interesting black and purple reminding you of the INZONE signature black and purple colors.
Sony INZONE M9 IEM come with a carrying case which allows you to carry the IEMs themselves, and the USB-C Audio Box. Also, if needed there are replacement hybrid or noise-isolation tips.
Features
These IEMs can be used in a couple of diverse ways. You can easily just plug it directly into an audio jack either on your PC or PlayStation 5 controller giving you instant sound. Now to unlock the full potential of the INZONE M9 is using its included USB-C audio box.
When used in conjunction with the INZONE Hub app you can access additional features on the M9s. From there you can adjust the EQ which has Flat, three different FPS settings, Bass Boost, and Music. You can of course custom yourself and create sound profiles too. There is also Spatial Sound if you want more of a surround sound effect and you can go deeper with Sound Field Personalization.
The audio box will also help you connect it to your USB-C-enabled smartphone unless it by chance still has a 3.5mm audio port. I rocked out with it on my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Sound
So, as I mentioned earlier the M9s are IEM (in-ear monitors) vs the typical earbuds you might be used to. That means these go more into the ear canal rather than with earbuds that sit outside of it. With them becoming more internal you get noise isolation, blocking out any distractions around you.
Keep in mind these were developed in part with Fnatic which focus heavily on esports / gaming tournaments.
I played it with a variety of games ranging from Borderlands 4, Black Myth Wukong, Spider Man 2, Fortnite, and even Batman Arkham Knight. They helped with providing with any extra detail needed if something was creeping up on me or I wanted to get the drop on someone in the most silent areas.
Experience
These are quite a comfortable pair of IEMs. I wore them for several hours and didn’t feel any discomfort, fatigue, or soreness. The hooked portion while it doesn’t loop around my ears does provide some security if by chance they fall out my ears. But with them being right in there I didn’t see that being an issue.
The M9s don’t sound bad either if you want to use them for listening or watching content on your various devices. I do wish there was a mobile app for adjusting the INZONE E9 if by chance you don’t have a PC like you can with the INZONE H9 II.
Verdict
While I always favor the INZONE buds thanks to their approach to wireless, the INZONE E9s are splendid on the wired side of things. They sit at a decent price of $149.99, which quite frankly if you used great IEMs isn’t that high regarding cost. If you are looking for some nice, wired gaming immersion without the big headphones they might be something to give a listen to.
Unboxing of the Sony INZONE M9 In-Ear Monitors on YouTube / Instagram / TikTok
