ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII

I have both the HD800 and the Monarch MKIIIs at my desk and I almost always use the Monarchs. I much prefer something in my ear over something clamping my head for longer sessions like gaming or work. The Monarchs are also ridiculously good and is not as source dependent as the HD800 (using Audio-gd R2R11 for the HD800 and JDS Element II for the Monarchs).

Left to right Everyday desktop listening: 1. Linsoul x Hbb Jupiter 2. Theaudio Monarch MKIII Relaxed listening: 3. FIIO FX15 On the go: 4. Theaudio Hype4

No i went from monarch mkiii to jupiter. However between these two the upper treble is different which I find quite interesting. Without looking at a graph it seems like the jupiter has different peaks than the traditional thieaudio sound. I haven't come to a conclusion on which I like better but it's just different. Also more sub bass than the mkiii. Very spacious sound which I don't really typically hear or care about but after hearing the jupiter, I get it.

The only one in your list I have experience with is the supermix 4 and I agree with you. I have the Tea Pro now and it's pretty darn good for FPS gaming. The imaging is spot on to my ears. It has, what I feel, is the max sound stage an IEM can do. I even tested my friend's Monarch MK3 against them and the gaming performance was similar with the mk3 edging them out in bf2042. Both are tremendous for gaming. The mk3 is amazing at everything imo.

I went from the EM6L > Kiwi Ears Quintet > Orchestra Lite > Tea Pro > Monarch MK3. I head a difference with every step up. I prefer the Quintet over the Tea Pro because the Tea Pro treble is darker and smoother and sounds less detailed imo. The Monarch MK3 is just absolutely amazing imo. I hear details in songs I've never heard before. The detail in every aspect is just amazing, and they're fun to listen to. They also do some black magic with soundstage and imaging. The MK3 sounds bigger than some openback headphones I've owned.

Disclaimer: I'm not a reviewer. I'm just an audio engineer and a guy that loves music. These are my impressions. If I left anything out, please feel free to ask. I've had several days to compare both of these IEMs. Originally, I'd bought just the MkIII, but after several days with it I contacted a rep at Bloom Audio and asked him for some advice. I asked if there were something he could recommend with less mid bass and a more open sound. Without hesitation, he recommended I try the Monarch MkIV. I asked about the Prestige LTD and Dunu Glacier, but he insisted again that I try the MkIV for what I'm after. I listened to various genres over the last several days, mainly metal, rock, classic rock, and EDM. I'm using an Astell & Kern HC4 plugged into the USB C port of my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I tested both cables on both IEMs, and used both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm tips. Cable and accessories- Cables: Both sets come with a nice modular cable. The MkIII comes with 2.5mm balanced, 3.5mm unbalanced, and 4.4mm balanced tips. The MkIV comes with only the 3.5mm unbalanced, and the 4.4mm balanced. The MkIV's cable seems a bit higher end, but is a little too bulky and heavy for me compared to the MkIII. I prefer the MkIII's cable here simply for the comfort. Tips: The MkIII comes with a set of standard silicone tips and a set of foam tips. The MkIV comes with a standard bore silicone, narrow bore silicone, and foam tips. I've tried swapping in Azla SednaEarFit ASMR, TRI Clarion, and Spinfit W1 tips. To my surprise I liked the stock silicones the best, and the standard bore silicone over the narrow on the MkIV. The stock silicone tips on the MkIV do seem to be of higher quality than the stock ones on the MkIII. Case: The MkIII wins hands down here with its semi hard zip up case. The felt covered cardboard puck of the MkIV is simply trash. My package was brand new in the plastic and the sides of the puck were already starting to collapse when I took it out of the box. I've already ordered a replacement case on Amazon. Sound Impressions- Bass: This is one of the main noticeable differences between the two IEMs. While the MkIV has less upper mid bass energy than the MkIII (a welcome change), both IEMs are what I would consider bass heavy in their sound. If I could reduce it just a little more on the MkIV I would prefer it. The bass on both sets is big and punchy, if a little undefined at times, and not as snappy as I'd like, but overall of nice quality. Worth noting that the bass quality is better at moderate volumes than the lower volumes I tend to listen to. I think if anything, these IEMs tend to highlight flaws in mixes and masters. Tracks with a well defined and sculpted low end tend to shine here, while sloppy and bloated low ended tracks are exaggerated. The main thing that turned me off from the MkIII is its mid bass that does quite often tend to dominate the sound of whatever I'm listening to. The MkIV is much more controlled here, though you do have the "rumble" switch that will give you a 3dB lift in the mid and sub bass area, giving you a somewhat more controlled emulation of the MkIII's bass if that's what you're after. It can definitely make the right track bigger and more engaging for certain genres. Mid Range: This is the Monarch's wheelhouse. There's a saying in the pro audio world that "the magic is in the midrange", and I strongly agree. Without great detail in this frequency range, you're really missing out on a lot of crucial information about the song. Both sets have a natural and detailed mid range here, with nothing to objectively complain about. The MkIII is elevated, as you can see in the FR graph, at around the 4-6khz area. And while this does give the MkIII slightly more detail with vocals, drum attack, and guitars, it can also be the source of fatigue. And in my case, irritating my tinnitus. Because of this, I found I tended to listen to the MkIII at a much quieter level than I'd like after about 15 minutes, while on the MkIV I can listen to moderate levels for much longer without fatigue or amplifying my tinnitus. Upper Treble and Air: I was a little surprised at how much more open the MkIV's sounded compared to the MkIII when looking at the FR graph (last pic in my post). The slight lift at 10k and the big spike around 15k seems to contribute a lot to the general sense of space and air in the MkIV. The MkIII sounds a little rolled off in the upper treble, the MkIV sounds open, airy, and gives you a better sense of space. These are just different flavors, and I can see some preferring the warmer top end of the MkIII. It's reminiscent of listening to a recording on older analog tape to me. The upper frequencies are slightly subdued, but all of the information is still there. The MkIII shines on recordings like David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. It sounds accurate to the recording and to the era. The MkIV makes the same album sound like it was remastered for more air, cleaner bass, and more separation. This is where a case could be made for owning both sets of IEMs. Comfort and Fit: This is another area that surprised me. I find the MkIV to fit perfectly in my ear, and for long periods of time. I was expecting a heavier and clunkier feeling IEM because of its slightly larger size and the fact that it's made from aluminum. They must have fine tuned some of the contours because I don't have to twist or push the MkIV to sit in my ear like I do with the MkIII. It also feels lighter, even though I saw a review where they actually weighed both sets and the MkIV is the slightly heavier of the two. The large nozzle of the MkIII also started to hurt my left ear canal after about an hour, whereas I haven't had that issue with the MkIV yet. In the included pics I show the fit of the MkIV, which sits very comfortably in the ear, but does protrude just a little more than the MkIII. Summary: I guess it's obvious by now that I prefer the Mk IV for my own tastes, and will be sending the MkIII back to Bloom tomorrow. I didn't see many comparisons out there when I was originally searching for a replacement for the MkIII, so I'm hoping this review can help some people that are also considering these two great IEMs. Thanks for reading.

Amongst the thieaudio iems I’ve tried  Valhalla > prestige Ltd > v16 divinity > monarch mk3 > monarch mk2 

Mest MK2 ests are hardly noticeable, there’s something about legacy iems with first gens of est that they’re not even on par with BAs . (If not mistaken current gen is 3 or 4) I would say my experience with: prestige LTD( amazing, there’s so much air and anything from mid to upper range is just magic) Monarch mk3 was not as good as Prestige Volare (I have, is good, very nice punchy bass too, but remember it’s like 649$ in retail) Worth mentioning: Fiio FX17! 8 ESTs and price is 1499$ (it’s a lot, yeah) but all the reviews and comments are extremely good.

Ok so this if from my personal experience.... I have several iem range from sub 100 until 500 some I lent to my friends or I just keep on my house...I have several friends which audio hobbyist they have audio store so I have opportunity to try before I buy one..so someday I want buy 1000usd iem, read reddit and head-fi forum then go to my friend store...so I tried moondrop chu2 compare to my kadenz yes the quality is very different, compare again with letshuoer s15 the s15 better than my kadenz for my taste...so when I put monarch mk3 it's blow my ear, damn this iem so amazong and I decide to bought it....then several weeks later my friend call me then say I have 64audio tia demo and annihilator just come....with fully excited I'm going there when I tried both of them, I dont feel WOW like I tried monarch mk3 the first time then at that time I realize, mk3 is my peak and I cant tell the significant difference between mk3 - annihilator and tia So thats why I like to try and buy several 100-500usd iem and sometimes sub100 too because I can tell the difference and I can choose whats signature I want..like a week ago I choose simgot ea500lm rather than ew300 because I found the sound more aggresive because mostly my iem is warm and neutral.... So from my story, I have limitation and taste for me, spent 1000 iem in monarch mk3 is one of the best choise I ever made and beyond that price point my ears cant tell fhe difference so..but back again thats my experience and opinion....

Monarch mk3 is larger than common iem so sometimes it's exhausting for long time usage, everytime I bought new iem I always change tips mostly using spinfit W1 to make me comfortable...about build quality I dont think thats the problem....again about build, sound quality it's back to personal preference...

Bruh I've tried foam tips myself on various IEMs. The second I use them no matter how strong or weak the seal is my bass just completely dies off and all I get is peaky treble. Unless my ears just hate foam or something else is wrong. I've tried them on the Arias, the Dusk, the Monarch Mk 3s, and the Oracle Mk 2s.

Mega5ests, monarch mk3/mk2, oracle mk3, u12t used. Really depends on what you want in a sound profile

I say go with prestige Ltd. Read my review post made a few days ago. From my experience even though thieaudio support sucks their higher end IEMs are made with quality in mind it’s just sucks to get it serviced if you need it. I’ve own Thieaudio hype 4, monarch mk3, origin, and prestige Ltd and haven’t had a single issue with any of them but I could just be lucky. The prestige has a very clean natural sound that overall plays everything quite well. One of the best things I love about thieaudio IEMs is the fit and comfort, after maining the monarch mk3, it’s been my go to for fit — fits my ears like a glove and the prestige Ltd is no different. I’d say the prestige is slightly more comfortable being that it’s slightly smaller than the mmk3. Only other IEMs I’ve been considering over the prestige is the ziigaat hbb Jupiter and cadenza 12.

I like my MK3s but listening to older music (specifically Crooner Style Balads) I'm definitely leaning towards the Valhalla. $1k more but hopefully worth my while

https://preview.redd.it/is3cl1y02eyf1.jpeg?width=2193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e52f3207e2f61691d347946cd6160eaac808a18 I really like the look of my Thieaudio Monarch Mk3's with the Disco plates.

Have you tried the Xenns Mangird Top? I have it and the Monarch MKIII and still prefer it. I want Xenns to make a $1k IEM badly.

It’s my go to IEM- truly amazing. Buuut the headphone jack connector disconnects really easily and I’ve noticed a small rattle in one of the buds- I don’t hear it while listening to music, but I can when I pick them up and move them around

Valid concern. The resin seems pretty solid on mine, but something internally definitely got loose after about a year of using them. I carry them around in my backpack all the time, so that might have something to do with it. Pretty bummed considering how much they cost.

If price is really no problem, get yourself a pair of the ThieAudio Monarch MKII or MKIII. I am pretty sure you will like them. Why not?

ok, well, any budget? monarch mkIII plenty good enough. 64 audio u6t is also fantastic and I would take it over monarch. 64 audio trio and volur are both fantastic for gaming so just pick whichever tuning you like more for music. Vision ears ve10 is even more expensive but absolutely nutty. Empire ears raven isn't as good as ve10 for gaming but more fun. AME raven is like god tier for gaming but I dont like the tuning. :)

I liked the Glacier more than the LTD so I sold mine. I kept the Monarch mk3 though as I feel it's different enough from the Glacier to have in my collection permanently.

I still find the Monarch mk3 excellent with natural instruments music like folk, rock, indie, etc, there's a balance in how these genres sound I really enjoy. My Glacier is holding up really well, no scratches so far but I also take good care of my stuff so they don't get thrown around or bumped into anything, it case -> ears -> back into case. I never heard the A8000, how are they? I only heard the A4000 and I can't say I was impressed, good for the price but not touching anything 1k+.

Monarchs are not V shaped, but not neutral either so you're 50% right.

**Introduction** I attended an audio show and had the chance to listen to over 30 IEMs. Rather than going too deep on every single one, I wanted to highlight the 3 IEMs that truly impressed me and share some rapid-fire thoughts on the rest. Do note that these are my subjective impressions, and the rapid-fire takes might not convey everything. **64 Audio U12t** 64 Audio was the brand I had looked forward to the most at the show. And U12t was easily the best IEM I heard there. The first thing that caught my attention was its imaging and soundstaging, it was one of the few IEMs that gave me a true sense of holographic staging. I really liked the treble tuning, it was extended, crisp, and avoided being sibilant. The midrange was on the warmer, lusher side, with upper mids slightly recessed for my taste. I hadn’t expected the bass to sound this good coming from BAs. It was detailed, hit hard, but decayed a tad faster than typical DDs. **Softears Enigma** At first, I thought it was just another ridiculously overpriced IEM that would sound mediocre. But I was wrong, the bass quality was pretty good, better than U12t. I didn’t feel anything special about the mids, they were neither shouty nor recessed. I sensed a dip around 5-6 kHz, as I am quite sensitive to peaks there. This made vocals much smoother to listen to, but there was a lack of excitement, so vocals weren’t the strong suit of this IEM. But it was the treble that hooked me and made me want to keep listening. The treble had an 'ethereal' quality. It felt lighter, extended, refined, and more importantly, exciting. Because of this, I just kept listening and ended up staying longer than I had planned, it was that good. **64 Audio U4s** This is basically a 'baby U12t', with a dynamic driver for the bass, giving it a proper bass thump. It had all the qualities I mentioned in U12t, but the overall technical prowess was slightly lower. I am still confused whether I preferred U12t’s faster bass response or U4s meatier bass response, nevertheless it was good. The midrange had similar qualities to what I described in U12t impressions. But the treble performance was a slight downgrade compared to U12t, it was on the splashier side with touch less refinement. **Top Performers in:** **Bass** * 64 Audio Volur * Sennheiser IE 900 **Mid-range** * 64 Audio U12t/U4s * Mega5EST **Treble** * Softears Enigma * 64 Audio U12t **Rapid-fire impressions** **64 Audio Fourte** * Emphasized bass * Recessed vocals * Non-offensive treble * No wow factor * Overpriced **64 Audio Trio** * Recessed mids, but not as much as Fourte * Non-offensive treble * Third best 64 Audio IEM for me **64 Audio U18t** * Treble presentation didn’t work for me * Not as good as U12t **64 Audio Volur** * Best bass I’ve ever heard in an IEM * Treble is quite peaky **64 Audio Nio** * Darkest among the 64 Audio lineup I’ve tried * Not my preferred sound signature **64 Audio Solo** * Best planar IEM I heard at the show * Bass quality wasn’t the best compared to others * Technical performance not up to the price **ThieAudio Monarch MK3** * Chonky shell, but still comfortable to wear * Emphasized yet controlled bass * Treble was slightly peaky * No wow factor **Sony IER Z1R** * Uncomfortable to wear, lacks proper seal * Because of that, bass suffered, I had to hold it with my hands to get the best seal * Bass quality is great (not the best I’ve heard, can’t say much due to poor fit) **Sennheiser IE 900** * Vocals sounded stuffy, weird, and recessed * One of the best bass I heard at the show after 64 Audio Volur * Lacking in detail and imaging for the price **Sennheiser IE 600** * Better tonality than IE 900, especially in the upper mids * Again, not the best in technical performance **Mega5EST** * Most normal-sounding IEM I heard at the show * Quite bassy for this type of mid-range * Not the best in subjective qualities **Dunu Da Vinci** * Similar impression to Mega5EST * This type of sound signature doesn’t work well with such a bass boost **Letshuoer Cadenza 12** * Fairly neutral with a bass boost * Lacks the wow factor * Treble was slightly on the harsher side **Elysian Pilgrim** * Non-offensive sound signature * Treble is a bit forward and spicy * Lacks excitement **Softears RSV** * Bass quality was good * Vocals sounded strained * Nothing special about the treble **Softears Volume S** * Non-offensive, but somewhat shouty on some songs * Slightly peaky treble (in some songs) **Softears Studio 4** * Sounded okay (but in a good way) * Nothing particularly special **FATfreq Maestro Mini** * Driver flex * Too much bass (works well with engaging songs) * Treble not refined **FATfreq Scarlet Mini** * Driver flex * Even more bass (too much on top of the already excessive bass of Maestro Mini) **FATfreq Grand Maestro** * Didn’t felt as bassy as compared to others * Faced similar fit issues like the IER Z1R **Campfire Audio Andromeda Emerald Sea** * Warm sounding with non-offensive treble * Didn’t felt anything special about the rest **Campfire Audio Trifecta** * Very weird sounding (that’s what I wrote in the notes:) * Overpriced for what it is * But looks stunning though **Campfire Audio Astrolith** * Too much treble * Again, overpriced **Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon** * Best sounding Campfire Audio IEM in my opinion * Bass quality was good * Mids sounded recessed * Energetic treble response

I have three that immediately come to mind. The first I bought on sale for $20, the Seeaudio x Tangzu Shimin Li Encounter Edition. It's an all metal shell IEM that has a Vee shaped tuning, just a really good set especially for the price. The second is the TOTL Simgot, the EM10, it's a 10 driver set that has a Harman tuning, with excellent bass quality, and great details and instrument separation. The third is the Ziigaat Estrella, which is ok out of the box, but if tuned with the Shortbus Audio tape mod becomes a top tier set. This is one of my favorite IEMs along with the Dunu Glacier, Thieaudio Monarch mk3, MEST mk2 and Canpur CP622B.

My current top 5 in this price range. 1) Fiio FX17 2) Dunu Glacier 3) Unique Melody MEST mk ll 4) Thieaudio Monarch mk lll 5) Symphonium Europa I do own these sets and have A/B them, this is how I would rank them for enjoyment level.

I would take my hd600s over any expensive IEMs ( I’ve had the ier-z1r / monarch mk3 etc ) any day. The timbre cannot be matched. And IEMs feel too claustrophobic for me. Granted it’s great for office use but once I’m at home I’d grab my open cans over anything else.

Thanks for the insights! I was thinking about the prestige ltd for an upgrade. Have you heard that by chance? I did recently buy a monarch mk3 a few days ago and thought it was just ok. I think I liked the andro better. The andros seemed to have much better clarity, especially the treble. It's almost like the monarch mk3 actually sounded very U like(which it is), giving it a very distorted sound stage. Hard to describe. The andros had enough detail to hear the string instruments plucking with the finest of details, and the monarch seemed to just smooth over them. I might just hold off buying anything until maybe I can book a trip to go demo stuff at a shop in another state. Based on research though, thinking of either prestige ltd, symphonium crimson, monarch mk2(safer tuning), u12t or maybe cheaper option from same company(pretty sure u12t is outdated though at this point), xenns top pro, 7th acoustic supernova, and going to definitely look at your picks as well. haven't heard of any of them yet. lol. I also love your idea of just going cheaper options to find the ideal tuning preferences 1st before going endgame. Just worried that after andros, it will be a big step down.

Speaking of, I tend to reach for the Noir over the Monarchs. I have both. Noirs have a very addictive sound. Also, look for an open box or used set and save some money.

Well, we do hear differently, and I never tried them side by side. If I get a chance, I'll do just that and report back. It's the MKIII that I own.

I had already the honor to grab Unique Melody Mest MkII and Thieaudio Monarch MkIII. I'd die to grab Elysian Annihilator 2023 one day. Great collection you got!

I mean have you tried EQ? Sounds like you're otherwise happy with the Mk3's as long as you pull back the highs and bump up the bass frequencies comparatively

Ah ok, well that's a separate matter entirely, though still important to consider. The MK3 has an unusually large shell which a lot of people, myself included find uncomfortable after long periods, I have to angle them in a specific way in my ears to avoid them applying pressure. Which is a shame but personally I can deal with it. That said if you find they're too uncomfortable then that's plenty enough reason to look elsewhere.

I wasn't intending to post to reddit tonight but this whole situation has absolutely floored me and I just needed to talk to someone about it. Apologies in advance for the wall of text. (Also I'm not an IEM reviewer so don't expect any audio poetry here) So for context, I just received the Thieaudio Prestige LTD's today, 2nd hand but in excellent condition. I gave them a thorough cleaning with various wipes etc. and left them to air dry for a few hours before trying them for the first time. I decided to play one of my favourite songs from last year, Ataraxia by Mishaal Tamer. Immediately I noticed that it felt like I had some kind of serious channel imbalance. The main body of the song just felt like it sat on the left side of my head rather than in the middle with the mix spread evenly around centre-point. A little worried I listened to the next song in my playlist, The Loneliest - Maneskin and again, heard the same thing. As I continued to listen it didnt change and to be honest I assumed I had gotten a little bit of moisture inside during the cleaning process but this has never happened before so I couldnt see how it had happened this time round. I was getting increasingly paranoid that either I'd gotten a pair with serious channel imbalance or (preferably) the previous owner had gunked up the right ear piece somehow. So I removed the filter on the right side, double checked the driver holes, gave the filter another clean, put it back and tried them on again. Still channel imbalance. At this point I'm straight up panicking and I start trying anything and everything, changing tips, swapping the cable ends to swap the channels, swapping the cable entirely, trying other cheaper iems (Hype 4) on the same stack, using other AMP/Dac stacks, and even my bluetooth dacs during which I'm becoming more and more certain that I've been scammed by the seller who didn't disclose this channel imbalance. Eventually I decided to just sit down, listen to one specific song over and over again, and make mental notes of everything I was hearing. Once I was satisfied I had some particular notes and sounds to 'look out for' I A/B tested with my Monarch Mk3s and realised that what I was hearing existed in the same exact manner in my Mk3's but just to a less obvious degree. As I continued to listen and A/B test I realised I was actually just hearing detail's in the song mixes that I simply hadnt heard before AND the fact that my left ear has better hearing than my right which I've long suspected for years since I would always unconsiously choose to focus on my left ear to listen for specific things in general life (bear in mind my hearing is practically perfect in both so the difference was never large nor obvious). This revelation was a BIG source of relief for me. I hadn't received a dodgy set of IEMS, they just exposed the very minute discrepancy's in track mixes and even my own ears that I simply didn't notice before. Now the question is, do I try to compensate for the perceived channel imbalance or just accept thats how my ears are.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting there to be THAT much of a difference. But clearly given the whole fiasco I experienced yesterday I had no idea what I was in for. (I'm aware people recommend not to blind buy kilobucks but the 2nd hand price was too good to pass up) Again I'm no iem/audiophile reviewer but the Prestige LTD's have a different approach to the monarchs. To my ears they're just insanely accurate and technical compared to the Mk3's. They have a wider soundstage and come across a little more airy compared to the fuller monarchs but that's really to no detriment as the imaging seems far improved. I find the monarchs to be a much more 'fun' sounding, that pronounced bass gives more kick than what the prestige offers which is more tight, punchy and once again, accurate. Once I'd gotten over my paranoia yesterday and just let myself sit and listen to the music, I was simply taken aback at just how well they could recreate the sound of the tracks I'm listening to. The smaller shell was also immediately noticeable and I expect I'll be able to wear them for far longer than my monarchs without feeling any discomfort. I went into getting the LTD with the expectation that together with the Monarchs Mk3's I'd have reached my endgame, and at least after first impressions, I believe I was correct. The two of them, at least for me, fulfill both of the things I really wanted in my iem collection. One being an all around amazing iem, with great technicalities, imaging and soundstage but leaning into a more fun and fuller sound. And another that is just pure and simply about being as technically accurate as possible, in every facet of its sound reproduction to the point of being almost excessive. The Monarchs and Prestige achieve that. I don't see any reason to buy another iem anytime soon unless I have money burning a hole in my pocket and I'm overly curious about the current 'hype' in the community.

>I can EQ my Tea Pro or Kiwi Ears Quintet to match the FR graph of my Monarch Mk3, but they will not reach the levels of detail retrieval, attack and decay, separation, imaging, etc of the Mk3. Correct, however this is because the Frequency response in-situe for IEMs can be radically different from the FR measured on a B&K 5128. One major factor is acoustic impedance which is different for every human ear and also very different for measurement rigs, this will also be different for every single combination of IEM+ear. Our current understanding of this effect isn't advanced enough for us to completely accurately match the FR of an IEM in your own ear to the FR of another IEM in your ear. The best you could do is doing measurements with in-ear microphones but even then by introducing an in-ear mic you're changing the acoustic properties of the chamber created by the IEM and your ear canal.

You lucked out. I am one of those schmucks who now has to seriously consider kilobucks. I am already on the Braindance and actually didnt find Monarch mk3 to be "detailed" nuff for my taste...

Moondrop Variations for me. Sounded lifeless, wierd, grainny and compressed. I had very high expectations before hearing them, both my friend and I found them to be absolutely horrible. Used multiple tips and that didn't change a thing. I also didn't like 64 Audio Volur when I heard em, sounded peaky and brittle. Thieaudio Monarch MK3, CA Trifecta, Hidizs MP145, Letshuoer S15 and Truthear Nova on the other hand were amazing. To each his own, It's all about the music library, tastes and ear anatomy.

If monarch mk3 is 10 on a pain level lol, this is like a 7. After finding the right tips it became a 4. Tbh not bad at all. If you can do mo archs you will do this without no problems. I myself had to make custom eartips for my monarchs, they made some weird contact and creatd pressure points that were simply horrible. But ive been listening to the Omegas for a couple of hours, and Ive yet get the feeling i wanna take them off. Id say you could enjoy them a lot comfortably, you just need the right eartips.

Right now Im settled with Monarch MK3 becuz it got both the rumble subbass from Variations and the midbass slams really hard. But before that, I found Tanchjim Origin was really good for normal metal stuffs, not vocaloid because it lacks subbass but still has pretty good detail depsites 1DD setup. Considering how matched our library is, I think Variations could be an endgame for you, unless your music taste change in the future like me. And yes, I did listen to yuyoyuppe before but not much tho, I think only one album? May I ask for your lastfm username? It seems our music tastes are quite similar.

Currently using Thieaudio Monarch Mk III with either the Fiio M11S DAP or my S23 Ultra with iBasso DC04 Pro.

1. LCD-2F, especially now I got my tubes, makes them sound magical 2. Thieaudio Monarch Mk3, fatiguing but great sound 3. HD6xx, sound great with tubes and are very comfortable, especially with the Capra strap 4. Audeze Maxwell, just convenient and sounds good 5. Mangird Tea 2's, my go to chill IEM, sound great with metal, no fatigue 6. Harmonicdyne x Zeos Eris, fun weird sound, sometimes too much, sometimes just right

I had the Monarch mark 3's. Loved them but found them fatiguing. Sold them and got the Tea pro's. They don't fatigue me and I don't miss anything in the sound. Great IEM for the price, great IEM period tbh.

IEMs photographed left to right in first two photos: Unique Melody Mest MkII, Moondrop Variations, Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK, TSMR Halo, Thieaudio Monarch MkIII, Elysian Annihilator 2023, Elysian Diva 2023. I’ve also put a close-up photo of each IEM in the order they appear in photo one. Photography is not my skill so the photos are awful; whoops! This is just update post for my collection. Again, the post is mostly for me to look back on myself in the future (for example, I said in my last post I was looking for Diva 2023 and I finally got it courtesy of a Head-Fi seller). I’m not expecting anyone to care or be interested. But on the off-chance someone cares I’ll list a few rankings off here. You can also see the driver configurations of each IEM in photo three, listed top to bottom in the order I acquired the sets. My rankings are coming from the point of view of someone who values detail and treble extension primarily, with bass a secondary concern. Sound (most important of course): 1. Elysian Annihilator 2023 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Unique Melody Mest MkII 4. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 5. TSMR Halo 6. Moondrop Variations 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Comfort/Fit (essential for long listening sessions): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. TSMR Halo 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Stock Cable (maybe interesting, maybe not): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. TSMR Halo 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK (both cables) Finally, not photographed except for the boxes are my two DAPs. The iBasso DX340 is clearly the better of the two but I hesitate to say it’s ‘worth it’ as an upgrade to the R4. They’re both fantastic but as a value proposition I think the R4 is great. To conclude, clearly the IEM hobby is something of a chase for perfection which you will never achieve. There are tradeoffs to every IEM, DAC, DAP, cable and eartips. If you’re seeing this post and thinking about things like diminishing returns and these sets being nowhere near ‘worth’ their price – I’d say I agree. Diminishing returns (not a phrase I like much because everything has diminishing returns but I digress) set in quite early imho. For an all-rounder that you can use with practically any device the DUSK (as an example from my sets) could easily be the pinnacle of what you’re looking for and there’s really no need to chase the latest releases or constantly be looking to upgrade. Then again, I also disagree with people who look down on someone for owning more than one set – do we limit ourselves to one pair of shoes just because we only have two feet? (Bad example but maybe you get my point.) At the end of the day, yes, the IEM hobby is rife with consumerism, as are all similar tech products, but I think the craftsmanship and the various different designs, sound signatures and so on make it a fascinating hobby to be involved in. And on second-hand sites like Head-Fi (where I got my Mest, Diva & Halo from) or even r/AVexchange you can sometimes snag yourself a bargain, or at least meet more people to talk about this great hobby with. I’d be happy to discuss anything photographed if anyone has any questions (and made it all the way to reading this)! Take care and all the best, Rob

I use thieaudio monarch mk3 and pretty happy with them

Great review mate, I’ve tried both and I completely fell in love with the MkIII over the MK4, i agree with every single thing you wrote but I love that midbass on the III’s haha wish here in brazil we had better prices on those, unfortunately thieaudio it’s way out of my league as you pay twice the price cause of taxes. And btw, i think you should invest your time into reviewing more stuff, your writing is brilliant

I own the Mest Mk2 and the Monarch Mk3. I would say they're absolutely worth it. Some things to consider: You can get the Mest Mk2 new for about $850. https://shop.musicteck.com/products/um-universal-mest-mkii More expensive IEMs, like the Mest and Monarch have different kinds of drivers that you don't get in lower-priced IEMs. Like Electrostatic and Bone Conduction drivers. These add a lot of detail, imo. Most <$1000 IEMs only make use of balanced armature and dynamic drivers. You could find one secondhand r/avexchange and Head-fi The secondhand market for audio equipment is amazing. If you bought something and didn't enjoy it, someone may buy it from you at a minimal loss. For me, that peace of mind is enough. I bought both the Mest and Monarch having never tested them before. The Monarch I bought from a reputable online retailer that has a very generous return policy, in the event that they didn't fit. The Monarch Mk3's are notoriously large-shelled, and they barely fit, so I got lucky! The Mest I bought from a user on r/avexchange If you buy secondhand, always use PayPal G&S. I own IEMs from KZ, Moondrop, Campfire Audio, Mest, and Thieaudio (for reference).

The Mest is better all-around. The Monarch is my bass-canon.

I also have the monarch mk3 as well as a hd 6xx, and as much as I love the 6xx - usually - the mk3 has a much more full sound at similar volumes and tends to sound very correct to my ears. From what I hear the 6xx is as good as it's going to get for under $1000 so idk if its even worth looking for headphones to compete with the mk3

I was recently wowed by a performer 5 I got on sale for $150 even though I own other sets ranging from $400-1000 along with headphones such as the 560s and 6xx. Goes to show that price is meaningless and it’s more about how much satisfaction you get out of it. Not saying my $1000 set, the monarch mkiii, isn’t superior, it definitely is, but it’s not like leaps and bounds unless you A/B test them

No they don't, why would everyone consistently say the monarch mk3 are the kings of iems and they are 1k. You should listen to more expensive iems.

I own the Monarch Mk 3 and the ie900. I started with the Monarchs and love the sound but I apparently have baby sized ear canals. I bought the ie900 discounted and use them about 80% of the time due to comfort alone.

They’re both similar, but yeah I’d give the edge to the Monarch. The monarch mk3 is more musical, close your eyes and disappear. Meanwhile the ie900 is more analytical, details just stand out. Bass I would give to the ie900, with mids and highs going to the monarch. I would say the ie 900 is brighter than the monarch as well. Honestly they’re both really good to me, which is why it often comes down to comfort.

Keep in mind - I’m a beginner when it comes to IEMs. The fit is a little smaller than the Monarch MK3, I have big ears and they fit nicely. I don’t think vocals shine with these, it’s more about the lows and mids. They do sound clear, not sure about recessed. The MK3 were a bit brighter, the Clara more detailed. I bought these in hopes to find a more “fun” IEM than the Monarch MK3. They’re great IEMs and I’ll keep them, can’t say they’re really worth the extra $1,000 over the MK3 and weren’t as “fun” as I was hoping. I only have the monarch MK3 as a point of reference. The build quality is nicer, the clear shell is gorgeous. Accessories are much nicer (cables, cases, ear tips).

MK3s were brighter, these more lows and mid focused. More detailed. The build quality is far better, the clear shells are gorgeous. Way better accessories, stock cables are awesome and the cases. Only worth the extra $1,000 if you have a lot of disposable income, they certainly aren’t “twice as good”. They seem to sound better with genres like rock, jazz, rap. I also don’t know much about IEMs, so your mileage may vary. These words sound correct to me lol.

Sorry got work mixed with that comment lol, but maybe if you were to compare with monarch maybe that would be somewhat true

Monarch mk3 has better layering, better separation but sometimes same as with hype 4 it hurts my ears on long sessions of cs2 cause of the gunshots but not as bad as with hype 4 only tried monarch 5 days, the tea doesn't hurt my ears but I don't enjoy it as much on music. Tea has 70 of a wide stage sensation while the hype 4 soundstage gets a little well bloomy but it's not bad, some enjoy it

I am complete noob with audio, but own a couple of decent headphones (DT1990’s) and IEM’s (Monarch Mk3’s), and can speak to my own experience comparing the two. The decent difference between the two comes from comparing their soundstages vs imaging. The headphones provide a wider soundstage, whereas the IEMs provide more precise imaging, and to me more detailed representation of sound in general. Overall, prefer IEMs for the most part over headphones because of this. I personally haven’t come across headphones that can match the detail that some IEMs can provide, but if there is a pair out there I’d love to have them!!

Great iems. I have the same disco plate ones and I love the synergy with dc elite.

Monarch MK 3. Best overall with clarity. Or Unique melody Mest MK 1

i tried these in canjam london, these were by far the best iems i've tried, even after monarch mk2, mk3, these blow them out the water imo. i found the monarchs to have slightly loud/screechy vocals. mest mk2s were great, no problems, had crazy seperation, detail, lots of fun value. really like to own them one day.

I would say, Yap warning Transducer TYPE BA/DD/EST/PZT/BCD Driver count Driver Impedance Driver Tuning/Resistor Choice Acoustic Tunneling Cabinet Size EG Size of IEM Venting Nozzle Length Isolation factor THD Driver Matierals Wire size 2 pin cable matieral and guage Target Audience A lot of these factors are what make high end speakers sound different from more budget speakers. Psychoacoustic bias is also the biggest issue and factor one should always keep in mind as when I had orignally bought my Mmk3 I thought they had a average and boring sound since I had not properlly tip rolled to get good isolation and also had racked up 400 hours of total listening time on my beloved variations. Once I had a mental reset, Proper tip roll and seal for comfort. WOW 1,000 price tag did not give me any buyers remorse unlike the day of delivery. I finally understood the Tonality claims and how fun they were for being a Neutral Set(Certified Treble Violation) compared to harman. I also want to give a bit of subjective bias in that a good set of transducers should have a bare minimum cost like how most EST tribrids rarely dip below 400$ msrp but also some all BA sets are upwards of 3000$, Cadenza U12/U18 and they have big engineering teams behind them probably inflatring that number to cover costs, but price should never equal a certain level of measureable gain or enjoyment at the ear, EG the 64 audio volur, MD Dark Saber and CCA Hydro all feature a similiar driver count but all sound different or much "better" even though they vary from 90$-679$-1999$, there tuning target and demographics were ultimately weighed upon all these listed factors and whom the iem was intended for. While the prices may vary the actually sound enjoyment will also be much more subjective considering the target response and In-EAR fit and anotamy. to list some reasons that may influence wether there is some form of reason to believe a iem at higher prices may sound "better" but you should give some factor in that at a certain point there is no value in weighing wether the rhapsodio supreme legend will be % better than the MIM Dark magician considering they are Single Dynamic units, with big price diferences. While I do think most people will lose themselves faster to music and stop chasing the dragon if they do get the chance to purchase a TOTL product after countinus use of budget Products, there will always be better reason to allocate time and money to other things outside of this very subjective terrible hobby. its honestly blind high stakes gambling sometimes lol.

I listened to both back to back. Honestly, the Origin was way more immersive. The MMk3 sounded a little like it was trying to hard. Bass was a real standout on the Origin as well. If you want something more technical and precise than the origin (but still a very engaging listen) , go for the Prestige LTD and skip over the Monarch series.

I'm using Scarlett Minis and had the MMK3 which is somewhat close to the Origin? MMK3 is nice but Scarlett Mini has amazing bass. No EQ needed.

Oh the MMK3 were far better for metal and anything that needed clarity. My MEST 2 edges it out though so that's why I sold the MMK3.

For years, my audio journey was anchored in the vibrant world of Chi-Fi IEMs—budget-friendly gems like the KZ ZS 10 pro, Moondrop Arias to Multi kilobuck killer - Monarch mk2/3, Mest, QDC VX. These in-ear monitors delivered thrilling soundscapes with their bold price to performance value, punchy bass, and sparkling treble. Yet, curiosity led me to the Westone Mach 80, a flagship renowned for its clinical precision and studio-grade neutrality. The transition wasn’t just an upgrade; it was a paradigm shift—a rediscovery of what music could be. Build and Comfort: From Plastic to PrecisionMy audio journey and experience, while impressive in sound, often felt utilitarian in build—oversized shells, hefty cables, and fit that demanded frequent adjustments. The Mach 80, by contrast, felt like a bespoke instrument. Its SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (Yes in Caps), ergonomic design, molded from lightweight medical-grade resin, disappeared into my ears. The over-ear cabling and deep-seated fit provided a seal so secure and isolating like a Custom IEM that subway commutes became silent even without music playing. Westone’s decades of expertise in pro-audio ergonomics shone through; these were IEMs built for marathon listening sessions, not just casual use. Sound Signature: Chaos to ClarityThe first listen was… jarring. Gone was the bombastic bass slam or the polished midrange bloom. The Mach 80 greeted me with a stark, unapologetic neutrality. Bass was lean and taut, not thunderous. Treble was detailed but never sibilant. Mids? They weren’t “forward” or “recessed”—they just were, pristine and uncolored. It felt like swapping a neon-lit carnival for a sunlit art gallery. * Bass: The Mach 80’s 8 balanced armatures delivered bass with surgical control. Sub-bass rumble in electronic tracks like Jacques Greene’s “Feel Infinite” was textured and articulate, not bloated. Double kicks in metal tracks retained their speed but lacked the visceral “thump” I’d grown accustomed to. This wasn’t a deficiency—it was accuracy. The Mach 80 revealed how much of most of the iems was bass boosted. * Mids: Vocals and instruments emerged with startling realism. On Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why,” her voice floated with breathy intimacy, free of the midbass bleed that muddied my Chi-Fi sets. Acoustic guitars on John Mayer’s “Neon” showcased string plucks and finger slides I’d never noticed—a masterclass in microdetail, its surgically incredible! * Treble: Cymbals on TOOL’s “Pneuma” shimmered without piercing, and orchestral highs in Holst’s “The Planets” retained their airiness. The Mach 80’s treble wasn’t “exciting,” but it was ruthlessly honest, it’s very very smooth to listen. Soundstage and Imaging: From 2D to 3DThe Mach 80’s soundstage felt expansive and holographic, a stark contrast to the intimate, head-filling presentation of my Chi-Fi collection. Listening to Hans Zimmer’s “Blade Runner 2049” soundtrack, synths swirled around my head with pinpoint placement, while the decay of reverb tails in a jazz club recording felt almost tactile. Instruments weren’t layered—they occupied distinct spaces, like actors on a stage. The Adjustment Period: Learning to Listen AgainFor days, I mourned the loss of “fun.” Tracks that once felt anthemic now sounded restrained. But gradually, my ears acclimated. The Mach 80 didn’t impose its personality—it revealed the recording’s personality. Well-mixed tracks (think Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories”) became transcendent, while poorly mastered songs laid bare their flaws. This wasn’t an IEM for mindless head-bobbing; it demanded engagement, rewarding critical listening with revelations. The Chi-Fi Rat raceNowadays everyone is chasing the best of the best while many companies are releasing new items week in and week out, and we often forget to slow down and appreciate music more. And often with massive waves of iems releasing we often overlooked some of the brands that do not come out new model very often. Conclusion: A New BenchmarkThe Westone Mach 80 isn’t for everyone. If you crave bass heft, WOW factor or euphonic coloration, it might underwhelm. But as a tool for understanding music—for dissecting mixes, savoring acoustic textures, or simply hearing your favorite albums anew—it’s peerless. The is the most resolving IEM I have ever heard in any price range and I have heard a lot; and it’s redefined what I expect from them—and from music itself.

i've got the top pros now, well not only are they more comfortable than the volume, s... sound signature is really up there with monarch mk2/3 which is surprising

The PR2 issue was interesting. First run had an additional filter between the driver housing and nozzle, which tamed the treble a bit and gave the tuning a more well-balanced and natural timbre. It was a $30 planar with an excellent tuning that was easy to recommend to new hobbyists. Blew up because HBB got behind it. Started selling like hotcakes. KZ decided to pull out the filter, wither to save costs, labor, or both. Totally changed the tuning. It was shrill, sibilant, and a tinny, metallic mess. They pulled the rug out to save a few bucks, and then reframed the change as a “retune.” It was a whole thing. Ironically, the PRX was an attempt to capture that original PR2 tuning, but I don’t think they quite captured the magic of that original set. Which I still own, because it was a genuine banger for the price. Sits in the same case as an EM6L as one of my gaming IEMs. Don’t get me started on FatFreq; big longtime supporter. Owned the original GM (before the fancy repackaging) and Maestro SE, was an early supporter of the Scarlett Mini, even had Antonio from Gladiator make a custom cable for it. Was hyped. Preordered day one, took nearly 6 months after the promised ship date to arrive. Similar thing happened with Deuce; decided to pass on their planar as a result. Still waiting on additional Noah modules for the GM, how many years later? Haven’t experienced any issues with Thieaudio or Mangird thankfully. Been happy with the Top Pro, coming from the original Top and Up. Been solid, but wasn’t happy with the included cable. Been happy with most of the Monarch lineup, except the MKIVs shitty cable. That cable is an outright crime. I curse anyone that’s given it praise in a review. I never got behind Penon’s entire guerrilla marketing/forum business model approach. Something about it was always underhanded to me, especially since it was mostly the same characters from the same forums getting their review units and heaping them with praise. I know they have some legendary sets, but I’ve mostly avoided them.

Everything comes down to your preference in music and comfort. Check if you have any previous IEMs or headphones that you really liked, and see if there's a particular genre of music you listen to. Pinpoint exactly what you enjoy in that music. If you like bass, you buy stuff with a lot of bass. You like treble more? You buy something with lots of treble. If you're buying for gaming, just aim for something with a lot of sub-bass and bass. (And stage. Really important for shooters and sh). For comfort if the nozzle is too big for your ear canal, you’ll have a bad experience. Some IEMs can be bulky, and that can also affect comfort. And well, I think this won’t be too useful since you guys are already buying IEMs. Some people can’t appreciate all the sound frequencies (like me), and the effects of IEMs only really kick in after spending a bajillion on high-end ones. Had 1 iem out if each price category and got satisfied only after buying monarchs (spending so much felt like a gut punch). And like it's usually really nice to find someone who already has iems and ask for a listen (this advice literally never works but if you actually manage to find anyone willing it's amazing) Overall you have to choose yourself (what a helpful guide). Stick to the new once (zs and kefine) and then it comes to details.

I actually prefer braindance over monarch. Monarch is a safe choice, bd is something else, it doesn't need to be perfect.

Long useless post, TL;DR reached endgame. MH334SR good. Started with the KZ ZS1 a long time ago, with many incremental upgrades until I landed on the 7Hz Timeless. Then, after moving to Japan, I replaced it with the Variations paired with a DT990 for gaming. Somewhere along the way, I became that guy who kept making a fuss about cables, claiming they made everything sound so much better. I turned into a file format snob, only wanting to listen to FLAC and DSD. I kept talking about it to my friends (damn, I must have been really annoying). Ultimately, I purchased a used LCD i4 as a reward for enduring all the hard work of labor and finally landing a much better job. It stopped me from wearing headphones entirely since the soundstage and sound quality were more than enough. The bass and soundstage were incredibly addicting. At this point, I started to realize that cables were just snake oil, Bluetooth was a godsend, and my ears didn’t even care when listening to 128kbps audio. Qudelix is life. Recently, I got myself a pair of Diamond 220 speakers. However, they ruined my i4 in a sense that listening to speakers became so enjoyable that I spent less and less time with the i4. It felt like the entire area in front of me was a sound field. It was quite wild to be able to "see" (or feel) sound moving in front of me. The speaker itself looks like "muted", I don't hear sound from the speaker itself. Idk how to describe it haha. I still needed an IEM for outdoor use, though. Demoed the Z1R, Monarch, and others. They were okay, but it was hard to justify their sound when my main IEM was the i4. So, instead of deciding based on sound, I thought, why not prioritize comfort? That’s when I started looking into custom IEMs and came across the MH334SR on sale for 200k yen. Checked the frequency response, Immediately pulled the trigger and went to their clinic the next day to get ear impressions. It took about a month from there until the IEM was completed and delivered to my apartment. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting great bass (I thought it might be bloated) since it’s just a BA. But damn, maybe it’s the seal. It’s definitely not on the same level as the i4’s airy bass, but it’s good enough to satisfy my ears. The mids, highs, and technicalities are fine. At this price point, they’re as resolving as expected, just tuned differently. I listen almost exclusively to Japanese songs. Specifically, those leaning more into vocaloid, UTAU, visual novel OSTs, etc. If I see weeb art, I play it. Artists like DAZBEE, Nanami Urara, and Isekaijoucho are my daily dose. Below is just me trying too hard to explain the sound of the MH334SR: The highs are slightly above my preference (not that the IEM is harsh, but I butchered 4kHz in my i4). However, I got used to it pretty quickly in few hours. All instruments have presence. I don’t have to try hard to distinguish them (which is different from being able to hear all instruments). I can clearly hear vocal harmonies, which is a big plus. Can’t hear the sub-bass (drum) sound in the Aster Lore song at 3:37 - 3:50 though, which is a bit of a bummer (though so far, I’ve only been able to hear it on the Timeless). The beats are satisfying, most likely due to a bump at 200Hz. It’s not bloated, just a nice, punchy drum sound. I love that I don’t have to use EQ at all. I might even replace the Qudelix with something that looks nicer and has a knob in the future. But damn, the comfort is just peak, and the isolation is awesome. It’s close to Etymotics-level isolation without violating my ears. I desire nothing more for IEMs now (more like I don't care that much anymore), but I’ll still visit the shop regularly to demo IEMs since friends often ask for recommendations, especially in the budget range. Hopefully this doesn't make me plunge into speaker rabbit hole which is many times scarier. But so far satisfied since I only listen in very-very low volume anyway.

I tried TheAudio Monarch and Oracle (don't remember Mk numbers) some time ago and wasn't impressed really. The do sound good, and have good technicalities but nowhere near the headphones at this price (Arya or LCD-2C) or substantially better than good quality $200-300 planar IEMs. Tonality is different but that's taste more than anything else. Timeless (1 or 2) is where IEM peaks for me personally, and diminishing return is hitting hard after that. At least based on my hearing abilities.

Honestly for an entry level iem just save up some more for the supermix 4, skip the timeless soundstage is so narrow. Then the next upgrade with honestly be either the Variations or Xenns Top. Final endgame will be the Thieaudio big boys (Monarch, Prestige, Origin). Alternatives would be Elysian endgame range iems too.