ThieAudio - Prestige LTD

This is quite the naive sentiment (which is ok). There is no "best" in this hobby, it is more than likely what you "prefer" for the type of music you listen to and what you value from said music. Having listened to both the pLTD and Origin, and being able to comfortably afford both, I agree they are a "great" value for the price considering what many flagship IEM's go for, but someone with a tighter budget would probably disagree with us. Overall I think you made a great choice and I'm sure you're very excited about your purchase.

That's completely fair, I myself have my all arounder which I eq for most music the UM Mavenii and for EDM the Ziigaat Estrella. For me the Mavenii is an amazing IEM for the value ($1800), but that's only because I can comfortably afford it, it has also beat out multiple $3-4k flagship sets when listening side by side. This is for my ears though, other people may not agree and prefer other IEM's so I will never say the Mavenii is the best, just that its an amazing value. If 1k was my limit, the pLTD would be high on the list for all-around end game. Don't forget to enjoy the music as well!

Thieaudio Prestige LTD & iFi Go Link Max.

I have settled for Prestige LTD after owning more expensive sets (Trifecta, Grand Maestro, Maestro SE, Rn6 etc.. ) Subjectively I hear it on the same level (just a different tuning, presentation, technicalities), so I think it is amazing value. I am using it on my desktop gear but it sounds awesome even on a small dongle. Haven't heard Clara and Glacier though.

They have shells on the smaller size - I don't know how they managed to fit everything there, but the size is perfect for my ears. I had Grand Maestro and Maestro SE and those were ear destructors, I always needed to get smallest tips and with GM it caused pain after some wearing time.

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.

I have the prestige LTD as well, and I can hear EVERYTHING. Mixing mistakes, off centred vocals, bass, imbalances, etc.

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.

Prestige is pretty amazing!

Judging by hf thread on Clara - it’s not superb. You’ll be safe with Prestige Ltd.

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.

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

"best" is a bold claim in this very subjective hobby. That said I also went with the Prestige LTD after demoing multiple similarly priced IEMs at my local store. I absolutely fell in love with the airyness and how smooth the presentation was. I think you made a really good decision getting it, enjoy!

To start, it'd be best if you could somehow demo purchases this expensive first! Between the 3, if you know you like Harman tuning, Glacier would be good. A bit heavy but otherwise no issue with fit. (I can fit Thieaudio sets fine so I'm usually okay with most larger sets). I have a bias towards Prestige LTD because I own one, but the Clara has a more fun and safe tuning. The bass is more fun on the Clara compared to the Prestige LTD, but it's nowhere near basshead levels. I think I would like a bit more upper mids on Clara, but overall I like it. I didn't get a chance to have them side by side, or else I would give a better comparison. Personally, it wasn't worth it for me to own both, but it's definitely a good option for a new purchase. There's also a ton of IEMs out there if you're willing to pay up to a Clara. One that I'm interested in hearing is the Thieaudio Valhalla, I've been hearing positive things from friends who have heard it. The metal build seems nice, even if I had no complaints about the Thieaudio resin builds.

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.

why people on this sub get rilled up seeing someone say prestige ltd is best? it is actually…a phenomenal iem that can beat some top of the pricey lineup of noble audio or unique melody. it’s a stunning piece that many iems in this category can come nowhere close.

I am rocking the thieaudio Prestige LTD now for more than a week and I am really surprised from how good they sound and how comfortable and stylish they are. I ordered them from linsol AliExpress, at the beginning they said it would take 2 to 4 weeks to be assembled and sent to linsol as my order was a pre order.. after like 8 days Linsol has received the IEMs and started the delivery to me at the same day... I live in Germany it took like 10 days to get me.. For about 200 hours I left the Thieaudio Prestige LTD to burn.. When I put them on the first time it was love from the first hear ,,,,xD It has the sound signature and technical prowess. Bass: The Prestige LTD offers a robust and controlled sub-bass with a slightly recessed mid-bass, resulting in a spacious and natural low-end response. While not tailored for bass enthusiasts, it provides sufficient impact and depth when the music demands it. Mids: The midrange is very natural and detailed, especially for vocals and instruments. It’s smooth and clean, without being recessed or shouty. There’s a refined upper-midrange that brings clarity without sounding harsh or fatiguing. Treble: Thanks to its four electrostatic drivers, the treble is extended, airy, and very detailed. It’s smooth and non-fatiguing—no harsh peaks—but still sparkly enough to bring out the finer nuances in music. Soundstage & Imaging: The soundstage is wide and spacious with great depth, offering a very immersive feel. Imaging is precise, letting you pick apart layers of instruments and vocals effortlessly—ideal for complex genres or orchestral music. Build & Comfort: It’s handcrafted from medical-grade resin with a unique galaxy-style faceplate. The fit is ergonomic and lightweight, good for long listening sessions. It is small and elegant and the forum is designed well more than the other thieaudio IEMs. I have also as my second IEMs the Thieaudio Origin and how it is designed for my ears 👂, it was big and it wounded my ears all the time no matter all the ear tips I bought. I have spent more than a 100 dollar on all the available ear tips out there. Nothing helped with discomfort from the thieaudio Origin.. The Thieaudio Prestige LTD in comparison with the Thieaudio Origin from forum here is that Thieaudio Prestige LTD shell is smaller and more ergonomical in a way that there is never discomfort or fatiguing. I have discovered the IEMs world like three months ago. My journey was exciting and full of joy.. I started getting the most expensive one available in Amazon and it was the hype 4. It shocked 😲 me when I heard them the first time, coming from Bluetooth earbuds. I used the thieaudio hype 4 for 2 weeks then returned them back, to get the Origin. I thought the Thieaudio Origin was a better choice. but sadly the fit was not good. So I tried getting recommendations for ear tips. Then I ordered all of the ear tips. But the fit issue was never solved. Then I pulled the plug on the prestige LTD. And I am glad I did........xD

The monarch m3 is a solid choice. But the prestige LTD is better.. you don't go wrong with both.. But never some thing just ordinary... What should I do with 5 IEMs,, I just can't put them all in my ears at once xD I now only use the prestige LTD all the time.. when I need more bass I have the Origin..

I can understand why they are saying that... If you can't comfortably afford it or if you paid for more expensive set... Both sides are correct in my opinion... There are a lot of good cheep seats nowadays.. and also more expensive sets... In my opinion and I think also yours ,, the prestige LTD is all what a person needs.. no need to go higher and also there is no other set that do the exact same for less...xD

I have tried 3 IEMs.. one of them is the prestige LTD as I mentioned in my post.. all are good in it's way.. but the prestige LTD stands of .. because it is the only one I enjoyed listening to it... It's like the sound comes from other dimension.. all the other IEMs the sound comes out from inside your head.. when the sound comes from inside your head you don't get anything else surrounding you.. you just get the music.. But the prestige LTD as I said lets you hear the music as loud as you are willing to get without crowding your head ....... It's just magical and hard to be described Liking is as you said is subjective... But a good thing stays good even if someone didn't like it... So no doubt that the thieaudio Prestige LTD is one of the best out there xD

I Always see and hear about audiofile and the hobby.. I will say I am not that.. I am an Arabic guy who listens to all the music the world can give me .. any music I hear and it moves me even if I don't understand it.. I don't like the old vibes.. more like the new world music.. English European or even Asian or African.. that being said... I was never satisfied with normal earbuds "Bluetooth" or headsets.. I had more than a flagship from that world for example the earbuds max from apple or the Sony wf1000, boss and so many more.. When I discovered the IEMs world it moved me.. so I began to search for the best within reasonable price. I think the Prestige LTD is the one for me combined with the Origin xD

The prestige LTD is something else.. when you listen to it the music comes from the back of your head not from inside.... It doesn't crowd your head the positioning of it the sound stage the airness... It offers you music from another dimension.. something you don't get for entry level IEMs or ba drivers IEMs

I love the Origin .. it's sound is heavy and rumbly .. sadly the fit was the issue for me.. But the prestige LTD is in another league.. the refinement the positioning the sound stage the airness the separation.. you will love it

No they Mark 3 hast more Bass.. but the Prestige ltd has less ba's drivers and 2 more electrostatic drivers.. The prestige LTD has more dimensional sound.. but th m3 is not far away.. I think the Valhalla is the best overall..

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

Valhalla was much warmer than I expected. Bass was impressive deep for an all BA set. Prestige LTD was great and seems to be closer to what OP is looking for.

I liked the excitement of the Mk4s but the Prestige LTD intentionally reduces that 7-11k to be a longer term listening type signature. Both were great listens at CanJam. It’s a similar issue I am also wrestling with on between a few summit fi sets. Do I go with an insanely smooth/weighty set or something hyper exciting but may get fatiguing? Hard choice.

Thanks for your kind response! I have owned the Prestige LTD as well as briefly tried the Hype 4 and Monarch MKII and MKIII. While I do think Thieaudio makes highly competitive IEMs, I must admit to not really liking their sound signature and fit. All of their IEMs have a really rather honky midrange to my linking, it's very different from the Explorer. The treble is also usually too strong for me and makes the whole signature lack naturalness. The Monarch mkii was my preferred one from those I tried. That's not to say these aren't amazing IEMs, they are, just not my preference. Also the nozzles on all of these are 6.2mm I believe, too big for me. I've considered many IEMs as upgrades to the Explorer, though I haven't bought or tried them. From my research and auto-EQ experience (to be taken with a big grain of salt!...), I think the ISN Neo 5 and the Ziigaat Odyssey would also be a good upgrade to the Explorer. Again, I haven't tried these, but they're worth considering for anyone looking for an Explorer upgrade. But as I mentioned, Explorer is an amazing IEM in itself and you already have an IEM with an endgame tonality if you ask me. Only the technicalities are behind the pack. As for your question about driver types, tribrids, quadbrids, and what have you not, are a bit overrated in my opinion. Actually, my favourite driver configuration thus far has been all BA-sets. The speed of BAs are my preference, and ESTs really are vastly overhyped in my opinion. They do present the sound differently than BAs, being more dry and slightly more analytical to the BAs wetness and musicality, but ESTs really only handle upper-treble, so the difference is not that big really. A good BA will do as good as any good EST. All in all I'd say don't worry too much about it. What I do pay attention to is named BA drivers. Explorer has no-name BAs, so if you were to look for an upgrade I'd look for something that has quality drivers in there (Neo 5, for example). Also I'd say don't talk yourself into spending more than you want. There's plenty of absolutely great stuff in the $200-$500 range. I realise I am kind of talking you out of the Moonlight 2023 here. I would still very much recommend the Moonlight 2023 as an Explorer upgrade (with a caveat of course, tonality isn't exactly the same), but there is plenty of other stuff available at the same or lower price. It just depends on what you feel is lacking in the Explorer's tonality I would say. Here's a great big graph spaghetti of just a few of the IEMs that I feel would be a good Explorer upgrade. [https://iemocean.squig.link/?share=Yanyin\_Moonlight\_2023,AFUL\_Explorer,ISN\_Neo\_5,Night\_Oblivion\_Butastur\_DD,Sound\_Rhyme\_SR7\_00,Yanyin\_Canon\_II\_12,ZiiGaat\_x\_HBB\_Arcadia](https://iemocean.squig.link/?share=Yanyin_Moonlight_2023,AFUL_Explorer,ISN_Neo_5,Night_Oblivion_Butastur_DD,Sound_Rhyme_SR7_00,Yanyin_Canon_II_12,ZiiGaat_x_HBB_Arcadia) EDIT: Not to mention the s08, maybe that one should be on your shortlist as well.

I've had Hype 4s for over a year and I'm really satisfied with my choice and truly enjoy them. I had tried a lot of IEMs over several visits to a local shop before choosing them, so it was a pretty empirical choice, not just based on reviews. I've tried a lot of IEMs at a wide range of prices at the shop, from $10 to some $4000, and I have to say that Prestige LTD is my absolute favorite out of all of them. I like them more than any of the IEMs that were even more expensive. If you loved your Hype 4s, I'm sure you'd love Prestige LTD too. Hype 4 is great and I think it's one of the best IEMs in its price category, but Prestige LTD is a significant upgrade. The price also reflects that, obviously. With Prestige LTD, you're getting an even better soundstage and you're getting much more delicate details that make you immersed in the music. IEMs at the level of detail of Prestige LTD make you learn new things about the songs you thought you knew well and make you appreciate them even more. Tbh, if you're looking for something at a similar price to Hype 4, I don't think you'll find much. I quite liked Dunu SA6 MKII, but I don't think I liked them more than Hype 4 and they're slightly more expensive than Hype 4. Hype 10 would be a logical upgrade but the price difference is significant and you might as well consider Monarch MKIII at that point. Recently, I tried Aful Performer 5+2, which is like half the price of Hype 4, and I was really surprised as I could imagine myself running them if I didn't have Hype 4 already.

I have not heard the CA Clara yet, but I have heard the Prestige Ltd and own the Dunu Glacier. If you enjoy accurate and impactful bass with a holographic soundstage in one of the best metal shells I've seen get the Glacier. I also like the Prestige sound signature, but the build quality can't touch the Glaciers.

I'm glad you guys are enjoying the prestige LTDs too. prestige LTD gang, rise up!

IMO they're the perfect all rounder GOAT from Thieaudio and perhaps outside of their own lineups too. We should have a cult following for the prestige LTDs. They're so goood!!

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.

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 own the dunu glacier and have heard the prestige LTD, glacier. I have not heard the clara but personally generally dislike campfire's tuning (have heard andromeda and moon rover). Both dunu and LTD have amazing technicality with glacier having a little more sound stage and prestige having slightly more resolution. I think dunu glacier's bass is significantly better than LTD. Glacier sounds kind of like an upgraded version of the variations while Prestiege sounds more neutral. I ended up going for glacier partially because of the significantly better build quality and partially because i liked variations/harman tuning.

I just got the prestige Ltds recently as well, welcome aboard. They are the best iems, imo, it does everything right.

Yep, to me they are perfect! They play every genre so well!

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.

And that's just the entry end game level my friend. The really end game have all the way to 6 way crossovers with the king of drivers set ups right now DD+BA+EST+BC. Just be aware they get super chunky. Check the Prestige LTD also is really really good. And the Mystic 8

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