ThieAudio - Prestige LTD

Thieaudio Prestige LTD & iFi Go Link Max.

What were you disappointed about them? Just curious as I find pretty incredible for the price, but alas we have different ears and are prob looking for things differently. I think the sound staging could be better for its price range and would recommend the Prestige LTD for a kilobuck set for that specific feature, but I very much enjoy the tuning.

I went to my local shop to try out some “endgame” level of iems today since I am on off day, and saw this new Truthear Zero Blue 2 on the shelf. So while waiting to test the other kilobucks iems, out of curiosity i reached out and tried the Blue 2, and….it is so damn good I thought i was hallucinating. So to make sure i wasnt being dramatic, i tried other thieaudio prestige ltd and “almostexact” same shell size 64 audio u6t and it proved that I wasnt. Dont get me wrong, blue 2 doesnt out resolve any of those kilobuck iems, but the tuning is so good! When dirextly compared to u6t, u6t sounded like theres a something lacking on the treble? Not sure if its the unit issue but blue 2 sounded so much better and natural. Just the technical aspect isnt comparable especially when full band of bass/drums/guitars coming in u6t I am still able to pinpoint everything while blue 2 is more of a mess. Blue 2 i personally feel that the vocals and treble is just nice 👌, and smooth! Not to mention very comfortable too. I have some endgame level sets and still plan to get this one just for everyday beater set! Tldr; Its crazy how much quality 64.99 can get you in 2025!

Yeah as long as you enjoy the iem. Pretige to me is like multi kilobuck killer where theres no point getting anything more expensive than this unless its some specific sound that you are looking for. It is so good technical wise!

OK First up, the really easy one, and it's a really big one - sub bass. A headphone cannot deliver sub bass like an IEM can. I own three of the big (and very good, rather than novelty type) IEMs known for their bass belivery - Fatfreq Maestro SE, which I have the CIEM version of (and thus delivers even more sub bass of due to the deep fit/isolation), the Sony IER-Z1R & thr best IEM of last year IMO, the Campfire Astrolith. There are plenty of others as well. I love my sub bass - and there are certain genres that really need it. I've tried several of the more popular bottom heavy headphones, and they just don't come close - Sony MDR-Z1R, Fostex (forgot the model number - big shiny red domes) & a couple of others. Unfortunately once you're used to how really good, sub heavy IEMs, headphones just don't come close. I do love headphones, but all of those got sold - most very quickly. --- The other big one is how hybrid driver designs work - I don't know if you're a fan, but Alessandro Cortini of NIN (Nine Inch Nails) & an artist of a very different kind in his own right is a huge fan of how hybrid IEMs work vs traditional headphones - and released a collaboration hybrid IEM with Campfire Audio; the Clara. The amazing thing with the better hybrids (done well - they need to be implement intelligently & tested thoroughly/tweaked before launch) is really how different driver types work together to create something very special. Of course you can do this with headphones, but it doesn't work in the same way as you need them to be packed together & given a small exit point to really work their magic - my personal favourite example of a hybrid design is the Thieaudio Prestige Ltd; I use these daily & I had them CIEM'd after ten months as I know I'll never sell them & CIEMs both sound better & are more comfortable. It feels like you're wearing nothing. They usd a combination of electrostatic drivers (which are incredible for high frequencies & the imaging/detail of those frequencies) balanced armatures which handle the mids & dynamic drivers which hand the bass. These are a beautifully balanced set which I have used for 8-12h very regularly & they still sound magical to me. It's not an aggressive sounding set - zero fatigue from long sessions & you cannot possibly have a similar audio experience with overheads. I absolutely adore overheads, too & I never thought IEMs could catch up - but they have - but it's a very different thing & they both have their place.

Set myself the task of having - within reason - the best line up of IEMs possible (and the best way to drive them). Fortunately I'm in a position where I can borrow loaners of pretty much anything and I tried a LOT. I only kept one IEM from last year & that was the Thieaudio Prestige Ltd - I reshelled those into a CIEM (varnished wood faceplate/clear shell) as I absolutely adore them (369 days of near daily use & counting) & nothing else does quite what they do. They're my all day listens & the comfort of them being a CIEM & that little bass boost due to a better seal 👌 One of my biggest priorities for the artillery refresh was durability. The Prestige Ltd cost me $1300 & as much as I loved the sound... Thieaudio's shells are absolute crap, when compared with the likes of Campfire or even Unique Melody who make really excellent resin (?) shells as per the Mest MKII. The other CIEM is the black & white ska pattern Maestro SE 'MK 1.5' (significantly revised internals apparently). They're kind of a bonus as FF really messed me around with a pair of Maestro SE uni's & I thought I was going to get a refund... they offered me a full custom & I'm glad I took it as they are firm favourites... but I certainly wouldn't pay $3000 for them. I produce & DJ drum n bass & these are my favourites for simple production stuff & digital 'crate digging' as well as familiarising myself with new tracks I'm going to play out... and just enjoying dnb or any bass heavy music. Those blue/green abalone shell with the gold trim are the QDC Emperor. Personally I adore them. I loved the detail & treble of the QDC Anole VX, but hated the all BA bass. Their new flagship, the Emperor (which retail at $3000, but I got ex demo for $2200) has 15 drivers per side including DD's for sub & EST's for the highs. I think these were greatly overlooked by western reviewers (because QDC don't seem to send review pairs out & do very well in China anyway) & at a quick listen they can come across as 'dark'. I can understand that, and it's typically not something I love - but I think these just sound rich & full bodied... I already loved the good parts of the Anole VX & these just seemed to take what was good with those & improve it enormously. The sound incredible with very full sounding music such as heavy electronic stuff (Justice) & heavier rock (Nirvana). They're so different from anything else & that suits me just fine - I do have to boost the bass quite significantly with the DSP on my Mojo 2 to get them to my liking - and they're certainly capable of it. You need to take your time with these to really appreciate them. Top right are the Final A8000. I'd naively decided I wasn't interested in single DD IEMs as I really didn't like Sennheisers IE600/900 or the Softears Twlight very much (def preferred the Softears over the Senns massively, but just not for me)... these single beryillium driver beauties proved me so very wrong. Unbelievable imaging. Unparalleled clarity. Some people feel the treble is too much - but that's just how drums etc really sound. These are usually $2000, but I got them for about half of that & I'd absolutely recommend them at this sort of price point. They look so sexy, too. My IEM of the year was a big surprise. Never been a fan of Campfire or planar IEM's & these are both. The bass is incredible, the second planar for the treble really works wonders, yet the mids still sound clear & forward - they sound like nothing else & have to be heard to be believed. Great all rounder, too. Lastly - the Sony IER-Z1R - I love bass & I tried so many high end pairs known for their bottom end... I'd read so many comments about how uncomfortable these are. Not for me or anyone I know who actually has or has owned a pair. They look like they should be uncomfortable, but they're not in the slightest & IMO they beat more modern IEMs known for their bass such as the Fir XE6 & the 64 Audio Volour (my biggest disappointment. Really didn't like anything about them beyond build quality & how pretty they are!). These can go to toe to tie with the Fatfreq Maestro SE as a superb very v shaped basshead set... these are the only two somewhat similar pairs I own & quite honestly I think the Sony's are a MUCH better deal given the build quality (these will last forever!). A classic for a reason. A couple of lessons I learned this year - I will never buy a DAP again (until they become very small, very fast & less than $1000 - and even then I'll just use it as a music transport)... I owned a few of the so called TOTL DAPS... A&K SP3000, Shanling M9/M9+, Sony Wm1zm2 etc & none of them were a patch on the Chord Mojo 2 in terms of sound quality, which I put way above everything else. The Mojo 2 is absolute witchcraft, and yes, I have a Poly, and yes - it is a horrible finickety device & I was lucky to get one for exactly $238 second hand & I wouldn't have paid more than $250. Lastly - if you're going to spend big bucks on IEMs, get some custom tips made. Tip rolling - forget it. Customs are the business.

Thanks. It took a lot of work - I'm far from rich! But it makes me very happy as I'm rarely without a set in my ears or a pair of headphones on my head & I worked in music for 25 years. I really got into personal audio a couple of years ago when I stopped drinking etc - I realised I missed the music on excellent soundsystems more than I did anything else... I think my booze etc money more than covered it. The SE is a nice bonus, but it's similar for my needs to the Sony IER-Z1R which is a much better deal IMO. Prestige Ltd have taken up 50% of my listening time over the last year plus now, and when I have had at any one time 12-15 pairs of excellent IEMs/headphones, I think that speaks for itself.

I couldn't give a shit what anyone else likes. I went through dozens (60+)of pairs to get through to six I love last year. IEMS - QDC Emperor/CA Astrolith/Fatfreq Maestro SE CIEM/Thieaudio Prestige Ltd CIEM/Final A8000/Sony IER-Z1R I have Xenns Tea Pro OTW as my out & about IEM as I live in Thailand & it's very humid. Anything I wear outside will absolutely get damaged & those are all 1600-3000. I wish the 'diminishing returns begin at $300' line was real. It isn't. Not even close - but it's good that you can get genuinely excellent IEMs sub $500. I'd also say that if you are goin high tier, you're better off buying one pair & a Chord Mojo 2 before you buy another pair. A lot of people love to rubbish the difference dac/amps make, but this thing is better than any truly portable device (it makes a HUGE difference - the Prestige Ltd /Mojo 2 combo is incredible & I have put a lot of people onto this. Include $4000 DAPs, of which I've owned most of the big ones). It's also the best for home use than any desktop amp/dac, including the $9000 Sony DMP-Z1 dac/amp/player, which I bought for overheads & will do me for life. I absolutely adore all of these. I owned the Prestige Ltd for 10 months before I reshelled/CIEM'd it because I know I'll never sell it - plus one thing these all have in common is that BUILD QUALITY is fantastic. Many great sounding IEMs are not & spending money like this on IEMs, I expect them to last me for many years. This is something a lot of reviewers overlook. My favourites are the Prestige Ltd & the Campfire Astrolith. I'm probably the only person I've ever heard who loves the Final A8000 as the highs are very abrasive for most ears. I used to play the drums - these IEMs are the most natural sounding & that's how drums sound. I've worked in music for 30 years & am myself through being a hobbyist producer a 'one hit wonder'. I've also tuned some of the best nightclub/music venue systems in the world. Music paid for these.

I've CIEM'd my PL's so I won't be selling them. I didn't like the Monarch 2 or 3 at all... that's what I went to the store thinking I'd buy... I'd never even heard of the PL's & was walking out when the manager came out of the back with the PL's that has arrived about an hour before I arrived & said 'try these' blew me away. Still my favourites after 14 months & my other six pairs are all things I bought after. The Astrolith are a very close #2/maybe even a joint #1. The Tea Pro are my going out pair & I haven't opened them yet. Only really interested in hearing the Glacier & the Fir RN6. How is the build on the Glacier? Does the metal scratch easily? I have to treat my A8000 very carefully as they apparently scratch very easily - they look like jewelry & I want them to stay that way. Fortunately the case they come with is the best/most practical IEM case I've ever seen/used. IEMS - QDC Emperor/CA Astrolith/Fatfreq Maestro SE CIEM/Thieaudio Prestige Ltd CIEM/Final A8000/Sony IER-Z1R/Xenns Tea Pro

You already have a better set than Tea Pros. I'd suggest saving & getting a $500 set; the two I recommend are the Moondrop Variations (technically better, still fun - overall better for me & excellent build quality) & the Hype 4 (more fun technically not as good, build nowhere near as good - I love Thieaudio, but their shells are really not good, with the exception of the Valhallla - the Thieaudio Prestige Ltd I had to CIEM/resell after 10 months of daily use as they were getting worse for wear despite me looking after them well). The jump between 300-350 sets & the right 500 sets is massive. Kids here genuinely hate the fact that diminishing returns after $300 is bollocks.

They are a very thin & flimsy feeling plastic/resin/whatever it is & are prone to driver flex... and yes, as well as people having problems with the entire piece that houses the sockets coming loose (something that didn't happen to mine, but I felt it was likely to happen sooner or later), the pin sockets get big/loose even if you're careful & aren't constantly changing cables. I'd think it would be acceptable to some of their lowest price items, but my Prestige Ltd were 1300 USD and the shell is of the same standard of their lowest price IEMs - I mean even shells with IEMs like the $200 Kiwiears Orchestra Lite (not an IEM I like, but the shells are of excellent quality) have MUCH better shells than my 1300 USD Prestige Ltd. If you look at shells from Campfire Audio or even Unique Melody for the Mest 1/2, this should be the standard for shells of IEMs of circa 1000 and up. I re-did mine as CIEMs - something I can't do with the Origin (due to bone conductor driver) & hence why I won't be considering them, or any other Thieaudio I can't reshell/CIEM. They look a lot nicer now, too... https://preview.redd.it/o609q48dp9le1.jpeg?width=1439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dba98b97fa2216c6eb8c7187c80c774c0f72dc87

As someone who owns 3 of those headphones you've mentioned (LCD 2/ Focal Clear MG Pro/Sennheiser HD800) - much to the chagrin of most of this sub who are teenage boys who have likely never heard those headphones & think $200 is 'high', have very little audio experience but think they are experts after buying a few $100 sets - I wouldn't be so rude if I hadn't seen enough of the ignorant bollocks they regularly spout. I think it's great you can get something acceptable for $100, but stubborn children with little experience will absolutely stand their ground that $100 & $1000 isn't going to get you a big difference. I've worked in audio/music for 30 years. Apparently, older guys with experience who are intelligent enough to have the financial means to make $1000 IEM purchases are idiots who just buy things because they're expensive. That is the general 'rationale' in these forums. The botton line is, youre going to need to spend around $1000 to get to a comparable level to the headphones you've mentioned. Obviously, as per headphones, there is a lot of overpriced rubbish. I think the best deal going right now is the Thieaudio Origin MKIII - they're around $850 & the level of tech you see getting for that price is absolutely fantastic. I don't own them as I own the kind of similar, but more premium Thieaudio Prestige Ltd, which are $1300 & after one year of daily use, I reshelled & CIEM'd then because unfortunately, although Thieaudio's tech is unbelievable for the price & they are tuned as well as any others on the market, their shells are not brilliant, and I want these to last me for many years as they're one of my favourite two sets. Other manufacturers sell IEMs with the exact sames parts (some of which are very expensive - EST drivers are around 130 USD wholesale for a pair & the Prestige Ltd has four pairs) for several times the price.

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

Monarch MK3 is not bright. It’s incredibly warm. I’m shopping in $2000 bracket. If you want all rounders, Monarch is not it. Prestige LTD is more up your alley. Also Thieaudio.

Straight to Prestige LTD. It is an upgrade over the Hype 4.

Small nitpick, I don't own most of these IEMs BUT I do have the Prestige LTD and I know for a fact you got its info wrong cus this is on the box. Now it got me doubting the whole list. https://preview.redd.it/zw13foftq6ye1.jpeg?width=3215&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f4ad3f4f731f73adc270fdf54d188b6d4381d12

I actually did buy the Prestige LTD lol. To me they have been absolutely worth it and I'll never be buying another set. But you're absolutely right, I could happily listen to my 7hz Zero 2 and still be perfectly happy, the bang for the buck is immense. In fact that's exactly what I recommend to people when they are looking for IEMs. No need to overcomplicate things, they just sound fantastic.

Hello, LTD is WAY!! smaller than MMK3. Also, superior sound. I love it soooooo much..

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.

How *I* Rank My IEMs (and Headphones): Best-in-Class by Price and Use Case ## My **Personal** IEM Tier List (with reasoning, specs & use cases) Figured I’d share how I’ve ranked the IEMs (and a few headphones) in my collection. These are **not** ranked by raw technical performance. Instead, I ranked them by **best-in-class for their price and use case** — what I reach for in real-world listening; these are just *my* opinions. > **Note**: Specs have been corrected after third-party review. A few values are estimates where official data was missing (especially for DSP-based IEMs). Feedback welcome. --- ### **Rank 1a – Hifiman HE1000 Stealth** - **Price**: $1,399 - **Drivers**: Planar Magnetic - **Impedance**: 32Ω *(unverified)* - **Sensitivity**: 93 dB/mW *(unverified)*, 108 dB/Vrms *(estimated)* - **Freq Response**: 8Hz–65kHz *(unverified)* - **Why**: My overall best headphone. Expansive stage, technical mastery, and refinement. - [Link](https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/he1000-stealth-magnet-version.html) --- ### **Rank 1b – Thieaudio Valhalla (CIEM)** - **Price**: $2,200 - **Drivers**: 19BA - **Impedance**: 9Ω *(unverified)* - **Sensitivity**: 103 dB/mW *(unverified)*, ~112.5 dB/Vrms *(estimated)* - **Freq Response**: 10Hz–44kHz - **Why**: Overall best IEM. Forensic detail, expansive stage, CIEM fit. Endgame for analytic listening. - [Link](https://www.thieaudio.com/products/thieaudio-valhalla) --- ### **Rank 2 – Thieaudio Prestige LTD** - **Price**: $1,299 - **Drivers**: 1DD + 4BA + 4EST - **Impedance**: 22Ω - **Sensitivity**: 99 dB/mW, **115.6 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* - **Freq Response**: 20Hz–20kHz *(unverified)* - **Why**: Refined tribrid with excellent resolution and smooth tuning. - [Link](https://www.thieaudio.com/products/thieaudio-prestige-ltd) --- ### **Rank 3 – Hisenior Mega5EST** - **Price**: $549 - **Drivers**: 1DD + 2BA + 2EST - **Impedance**: 25Ω - **Sensitivity**: **100 dB/mW** *(corrected)*, **116.0 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* - **Freq Response**: 10Hz–50kHz - **Why**: Smooth and airy with that EST treble sheen. - [Link](https://www.hisenior-iem.com/products/mega5est-hybrid-iem) --- ### **Rank 4 – Dunu DK3001BD** - **Price**: $499 - **Drivers**: 1DD + 4BA + 4 Planar - **Impedance**: 26Ω - **Sensitivity**: 108 dB/mW, **122.0 dB/Vrms** *(official)* - **Freq Response**: 5Hz–40kHz - **Why**: Crisp and detailed. Unique tribrid stack with strong technicals. - [Link](https://www.dunu-topsound.com/product-page/dk3001bd) --- ### **Rank 5a – Aune SR7000 (Closed-Back Headphone)** - **Price**: $599 - **Drivers**: Dynamic (MLD) - **Impedance**: 55Ω - **Sensitivity**: 106 dB/mW *(unverified)*, ~123.4 dB/Vrms *(estimated)* - **Freq Response**: 5Hz–44.5kHz - **Why**: Best closed-back I own. Balanced and natural. - [Link](https://www.aune-store.com/en/aune-sr-7000-high-res-headphone_110211_1252/) --- ### **Rank 5b – Hifiman Edition XS (Open-Back Headphone)** - **Price**: $380 - **Drivers**: Planar Magnetic - **Impedance**: 18Ω *(unverified)* - **Sensitivity**: 92 dB/mW *(unverified)*, 104.6 dB/Vrms *(estimated)* - **Freq Response**: 8Hz–50kHz *(unverified)* - **Why**: Massive soundstage, excellent value in open-backs. - [Link](https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs.html) --- ### **Rank 5c – Xenns Tea Pro** - **Price**: $339 - **Drivers**: **2DD + 6BA** *(corrected)* - **Impedance**: 13Ω - **Sensitivity**: 104 dB/mW, **122.9 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* - **Freq Response**: 20Hz–22kHz - **Why**: Smooth and musical. Despite spec confusion, still enjoyable. - [Link](https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/xenns-mangird-tea-pro) --- ### **Rank 6 – Simgot ET142** - **Price**: $220 - **Drivers**: 12.5mm Planar + PZT - **Impedance**: 14Ω - **Sensitivity**: 106.5 dB/mW *(derived)*, **118 dB/Vrms** *(official)* - **Freq Response**: 8Hz–40kHz - **Why**: Unique design with tuning nozzle system and solid tech. - [Link](https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-et142) --- ### **Rank 7–17 – Budget & Specialty Picks** **Niche roles, convenience use, or just plain fun:** - **Letshuoer S12 Pro** ($169) 14.8mm Planar — 16Ω *(assumed)*, 102 dB/mW *(assumed)*, **120.0 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* [Link](https://letshuoer.net/products/letshuoer-s12-pro-magnetic-planar-earphones-hi-fi-planar-in-ear-monitors-for-audiopiles-and-music-lovers) - **FiiO FT1** ($149) 60mm Dynamic — 32Ω, 105 dB/mW, **120.0 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* [Link](https://headphones.com/products/fiio-ft1-headphones) - **AFUL Explorer** ($120) 1DD + 2BA — 26Ω, 108 dB/mW, **123.9 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://afulaudio.com/products/aful-explorer) - **Letshuoer S08** ($119) Planar Magnetic — 26Ω, 105 dB/mW, **120.9 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://letshuoer.net/products/letshuoer-s08-fourth-generation-in-ear-monitor-earphone-for-audiophiles-musicians-studio) - **Artti T10** ($79) Planar Magnetic — 16.5Ω, 84.8 dB/mW, **102.6 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://artti.cn/products/artti-t10-huge-planar-headphones-wired-in-ear-monitors-hifi-earphones) - **Kiwi Ears Cadenza** ($35) 10mm Beryllium DD — 32Ω, 110 dB/mW, **125.0 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://kiwiears.com/products/kiwi-ears-cadenza) - **Moondrop Chu II DSP** ($25) DSP-only — 18Ω, 106.4 dB/mW *(assumed)*, **123.9 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* [Link](https://moondroplab.com/en/products/chu-ii) - **Truthear Gate** ($19) 10mm DD — 28Ω, 108 dB/mW, **123.5 dB/Vrms** *(user value was incorrect at 93.5)* [Link](https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/truthear-gate-dynamic-driver-hifi-in-ear-monitors) - **ND Planet** ($18) 12mm LCP DD — 32Ω, 97.9 dB/mW, **112.9 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://www.linsoul.com/products/nd-planet) - **Qudelix T71 IEM** ($229) 1DD + 3BA, DSP — ~12Ω *(assumed)*, ~105 dB/mW *(assumed)*, **124.2 dB/Vrms** *(recalculated)* [Link](https://www.qudelix.com/products/t71-iem) - **Koss Porta Pro** ($40) On-ear Dynamic — 60Ω, 101 dB/mW, **113.2 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://koss.com/products/porta-pro) - **Qudelix BalPods Open** ($29) 14.3mm Earbuds — 150Ω, 103 dB/mW, **111.2 dB/Vrms** [Link](https://www.qudelix.com/products/balpods-open-type) --- ## Final Notes - This list is **contextual**, not absolute. Rankings reflect real-world use, not just raw specs. - I’ve corrected spec errors and recalculated all dB/Vrms values using verified formulas and sources where possible. - Some models (especially DSP-based or low-profile budget sets) still rely on estimated or assumed specs. Corrections, additions, and debate welcome. Thanks to those who caught errors — this hobby’s better when we all help keep things accurate.

ISN EST50 most musical under 500. Not a Harman + bass clone I've had the Oracle MK1 and Mk3. Bought both used, sold both at a slight loss. Same boring curve. Prestige LTD (makes the target curve worth it with technicalities, staging and timbre), Campfire Bonneville, and I assume the new TA much better but outside your budget.

I think that at the kilobuck range, you shouldn’t be blind buying and really should try to audition IEMs on your specific chain, music, and most importantly ears. It’s probably even worth a trip to find a shop or at least a CanJam you can do it (or scheduling a listening session with the manufacturers directly, they may also suggest distributors that might be closer that you can visit). I recently went on a listening spree in that range. I ended up going with a Softears Twilight (it wasn’t the best at everything but the tonality/timbre was great, and was something I could see myself using as a daily driver, also recently was on sale, which made “value” seem a lot better). For the ThieAudio sets, I tested the Origin and Monarch 2/3 but the one that caught my ear as most special was the Prestige LTD. Had next level microdetail, stage etc to my ears, but I think a lot of that is going to be up to individual taste as much as anything (A/B’d with many kilobuck+ sets from 64, Elysian, qdc, Empire Ears, Symphonium, Vision Ears, UM, etc. I skipped the CAs since I’ve tested them all in the past (including the Trifecta, Supermoon etc) - honestly only one of the Solaris’ and the old Andromedas have really been to my taste from the CAs in recent history.

The Twilights are the best single DD IEMs I've heard (far better than the IE900s IMO) so I probably eventually would have picked them up eventually anyway. They have a great neutral tuning/natural decay that's has high enough technicalities/texture to make listening engaging, but doesn't make listening to them work/tiring. They have especially nice mid presentation, and (IMO) perfectly balanced staging/imaging, that's pretty rare. When I audition, like most people, I have specific things I'm looking for in each of the songs of my own playlist, but honestly, I'm most interested in if anything actually catches me by surprise (in a good way) and the Twilights did that a bunch for me, while also being very listenable. With the Qudelix and PEQ I suppose you could tune most things to your preference, but I tend to prefer to have IEMs that I like without that (I have a Qudelix 5K as well, but, I currently use an iBasso DC07Pro mainly). Honestly, especially consider the small size/light weight, and ease of driving, it's one of the sets I could actually recommend to most people sight unseen. (And if you're looking to spend $1K the fact that you can pick them up for $750 these days is a nice bonus). The Prestige LTDs had caught my ear because of the ridiculous amount of resolution/plankton and really wide staging (it's definitely doing some wonky things on the treble, but I liked it), and I found myself consistently preferring it in my A/Bs. That being said, I wasn't super in love with some of its tuning - male vocals especially sounded a bit too lean, and its piano was not as natural as I'd like. I'm not really into meta/harman bass, so fine w/ the amount (significantly less than the Monarchs as a reference), but actually was not blown away by the quality of it either. Part of why I punted and will revisit/relisten sometime later and see if I feel the same way, but still, against the sets I compared with it that day, the LTDs had the x-factor for me when I was listening. This is going to be different for everyone and part of why I think it's super important to do your own testing. All of the sets I mentioned had something (or multiple things) that it did better than the others, and there can be huge differences based on your sources and individual hearing/ear anatomy. Also the big multi-driver IEMs are all huge and shaped differently and with different bore sizes. Most of them simply won't fit comfortably for everyone. Also what you're looking for depends on what else you have covered. It sounds like you're looking for an upgrade, but don't exactly know what you're looking for (or just a single all-rounder/"endgame" set), but honestly, I think there's at least a few criteria (beyond sound/tunings) like: critical vs casual listening, travel-friendliness, sound isolation, comfort, etc that can be at cross purposes. I know you might think it's a PITA to go somewhere to audition but it'd be way worse to drop a load of cash on something that say, doesn't fit your ears, or that you end up just not liking how it sounds.. One thing you could probably do is join some online audio communities and buy/swap used gear until you figure out what exactly you want. If you're coming from a Campfire Orion as your daily drivers, there are probably dozens of options starting at <$100 that will sound better those and that you could easily swap/work your way towards knowing more of what exactly you want if you enjoy the "hobby" aspect of it. Also, the improvement of sound quality is also diminishing returns - different people have different price points, but definitely beyond $500 you are largely paying for things that you sort of have to be rather enthusiastic about to have it be worth your money. You can watch some of those "normal people listen to headphone/iem videos" to get an idea of that - in one I watched most of them actually preferred the cheapest sets (that's great btw,, they saved a lot of money!). BTW, for the price of a Prestige LTD ($1300), you could get say a pair of Dunu x Gizaudio Davinci ($300), Elysian Pilgrim ($400), and a Dunu Braindance ($500), and you'd have 3 well-regarded/popular sets with very different characters at different price points that would probably be more interesting/rewarding than a single kilobuck set, especially if you haven't actually listened to anything before. Just something to consider.

1300 for my Thieaudio prestige limited & another 300 to reshell /CIEM. 2200 for my Campfire Astroluth. Both expensive, but I get a huge amount of use out of both. Easily my all-time top 2... and neither are close to my most expensive.

I find it rather muddy, bass quality and quantity isn’t there and a lack of upper treble sparkle. However I do agree with you that the LTD punches above its price bracket and I love its tuning as well. I’ll take the LTD and Mk2 over the V19 any day.

The Monarch MKII is still by far my favourite Thieaudio IEM and it's not not even close. Even after listening to the Prestiges, Valhalla, V16, origin, hypes and oracles, I still put the MkII right at the top above all of them. It's personal preference which monarch you like more but for me, it's MKII >>> MKIII anyday