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 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!

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

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!

All but one of my sets is less than $1k retail - and that set can trade blow for blow with many well regarded $2000 sets... and out of the hundreds I've heard, it is the only one that I can say that for. It is of course the Moondrop Variations, and they easily sound like a decent $1200 - $1300 set. The only $1k set I own that does not sound like a. $1k set is the Campfire Alien Brain. I'd say 600-700 would be a fair price for these. Fortunately I got them for $500 open box & /they are my out & about set & have the right characteristics for that. My list of others, their retail price & my thoughts as to whether they represent good value. Canpur 622b - $5500 I think this is an INSANE amount of money for a set. I lucked out & bought (technically) secondhand as an unwanted gift & unused. These are so far from my favourite typical kind of set as they have very little sub bass (not that I need to have every set be a basshead set) - BUT - that does not stop them from easily being the most impressive pair I've ever put in my ears. I savour them. I used them twice a week & really make sure I have no distractions & no one is home. For funk/rare groove/soul etc, they are unbelievable. For excellent pop/rock in eg Prince, Queen & MJ, same thing. For the Blade Runner 1982 Vangelis soundtrack - best I've ever heard it & I've heard it a lot. It's really difficult to qualify $5500 as a price for ANY IEM - but if one set does - it's these. Others - Final A8000 - $2000 - absolutely. Most clear & natural anything I've ever heard. For well recorded jazz, absolutely unbeatable. Good with lots of other stuff, too. Empire Ears Raven - $3750 - the best sub bass heavy 'basshead' set that have ever existed IMO. This is basically the dream sound I had in my head as a 'basshead' set & I've been through them all. Absolutely yes - absolutely worth it, but the build quality could certainly be better for that price. Campfire Astrolith - $2200 - the best planar set that exist IMO. Decent value. Incredible proprietary tech. Thieaudio Prestige Ltd CIEM - $1800 - my most used set of all time. All day every day for two years solid. Fatfreq Maestro SE CIEM fully custom - $3500- technically sound, bass is decent but nowhere near the Raven. Still, it's great to have a bottom heavy set that are so comfy, look stunning (my choice of around 200 aesthetic designs + additional options). FiR RN6 - $3000 - the ultimate one & done! Thieaudo Valhalla - $2000 - no idea, haven't arrived yet 😅 I have more but I gotta Run.

Sorry, I can't narrow this down to one. The ultimate one & done - as in buy this & just don't bother with anything else, competent with all genres (especially with the tuning modules) - FiR RN6 Most used of all time - Thieaudio Prestige Ltd​; laid back/zero fatigue, but still has guts/excellent technicalities, but still a fun listen. This is the *only* set I've converted from UIEM to CIEM. Best basshead set of all time (coming from someone who has worked with & enjoyed bass heavy club rigs for 25 years & made ddum n bass for a similar amount of time) - Empire Ears Raven. They are exactly the sound I had in my head as the basshead set I wanted. It's just a shame about the build quality. Most impressive set I've ever heard - Canpur 655b - so so so far from my favoured tuning, but these are absolutely spectacular. They are absolutely not an all rounder, don't play nice with what are my two most listened genres (jazz/drum n bass), but for anything mid centric - Jesus CHRIST!!!!! Funk/disco/soul/rare groove/decent pop (eg Prince/MJ/Hall & Oates etc) - absolutely out this world. They raised the bar & are now the only set I can give a full 10/10 to. I savour them for a session or two a week.

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!

There were 3 IEMs for me. Ziigaat Odyssey for the tuning, I just love it and it fits my preference. Xenns Mangird Top (not the PRO as I've not heard it myself yet) but even then it was my benchmark for anything sub 600. Lastly my current most expensive and a personal "endgame" set the Thieaudio Prestige LTD, it might loose out on certain aspects if compared to other similar priced IEMs but personally to me it's just the smoothest and most lush sounding IEM I've ever put in my ear.

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.

I bought my prestige ltd about two years ago and it still sounds incredible to me every time I put it in my ears.

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.