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Description
I happen to be one the few people who owned the Monarch MK3. But recently I came across Crinacle’s review of the MK3 where he mentioned that he’d still prefer the MK2 over the MK3.
So it got me thinking about what did I miss and so I ordered the MK2 as well. And ever since it has reached my hands, I’ve been unable to put it down. The timbre of the MK2 is better that the MK3 and because of the lower bass, subjectively at least to me, it sounds more natural. Tonality is definitely superior to the MK3 but it’s not a day at night difference. I still do enjoy my
MK3 for R&B, Hip-hop kind of music, but every time I have to listen to something classic, I’d rather pick up the MK2 because the timbre is so correct and beautiful.
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you're enjoying the ThieAudio Monarch MKII IEM. We also appreciate your insights on the comparison between the MK3 and MK2. We're glad to know that the MK2's timbre and tonality have exceeded your expectations. We hope you continue to enjoy your listening experience with us.
Build Quality and Design
The Monarch MK2 stands as a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. Its resin construction feels both substantial and refined. My piece features textured gold on the faceplate, emphasizing functionality over flashiness. In an era where aesthetics often overshadow true merit, the Monarch MK2’s practical design is a welcome change.
Comfort and Fit
The fit of the Monarch MK2 can be challenging for those with smaller ears. Initially, my left ear struggled with discomfort. However, I am of a generation accustomed to enduring initial pain for lasting comfort, much like old shoe bites. Within a month, my ear adapted, bruised, and healed, allowing me to wear them comfortably for hours on end. This willingness to endure discomfort speaks to my affection for these IEMs.
Sound Quality
Overall Sound Signature:
The Monarch MK2 is remarkably well-balanced, providing a perfect blend of bass, mids, and treble. They accurately represent the mix, making stellar recordings shine while rendering even poor mixes more listenable.
My signal chain is straightforward: Audirvana Studio (Tidal and local lossless and hi-res FLAC) -> RME Babyface Pro -> Optical input of a Mojo2 -> Monarch MK2.
Bass:
The bass is adequately textured with a fantastic presence. Sub-bass is full and satisfying, while mid-bass delivers tight, fast punches with remarkable clarity. The Mojo2 enhances the bass, making it well-layered and distinct. Contrary to some reviews, I found the bass separation excellent, reflecting the mix accurately without spilling into the lower mids. The bass has superb natural timbre, with fast transients and articulate heft.
Mids:
The mids are the highlight of the Monarch MK2. Vocals and instruments sound stunningly realistic, each note resolving with breathtaking accuracy. The timbre is the most lifelike I have encountered. Using my Moon Audio Dawn Pro, Nat King Cole’s “L.O.V.E” revealed an abundance of vocal detail and fullness with the Mojo2, showcasing the Monarch MK2’s scalability. These IEMs, hailed as the king of mids at any price, make Diana Krall’s voice feel present and thrilling. Whether it’s Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Stratocaster or Steve Vai’s tender “Surrender,” the Monarch MK2 captures the essence of each instrument with fidelity.
Treble:
The treble was a deciding factor in choosing the Monarch MK2 over the MK3. As a drummer, I crave the authentic timbre of cymbals and snares, and the Monarch MK2 delivers. Each ride and splash carries a heft that feels accurate, making Keith Carlock’s performances a learning experience. Despite their detailed treble, these IEMs avoid harshness or sibilance, even in poorly recorded tracks.
Performance with Different Genres:
The Monarch MK2 excels across genres, a rare feat due to its balanced nature. Thie Audio has truly struck gold with this creation. I revel in natural music—electric guitars, organs, and other mic’d instruments sound superb. While I don’t listen to EDM or similar genres, the Monarch MK2 performs exceptionally well with classical, rock, metal, and jazz. The soundstage, while not expansive, is deep and rich with detail. Each silence brims with resolving information, the details astonishing with the Mojo2. Imaging is precise, offering sharp clarity and depth.
Accessories and Packaging
The provided accessories are more than adequate. The silicone ear tips included are of good quality, though I found the AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal Standard tips to offer a better fit and build. The cable, with its vintage aesthetic and cloth texture, is functional and covers all plugs save for a 6.5mm one. The case, though pedestrian, reflects Thie Audio’s focus on investing in the IEMs themselves rather than extras—a philosophy I appreciate.
Value for Money
The Monarch MK2 offers exceptional value for its price. After extensive research on head-fi.org, I concluded that no IEM above this price point matches the Monarch MK2’s balance of bass, mids, and treble, combined with perfect tuning and timbre. Though some may find this balance mundane, it is precisely this equilibrium that sets the Monarch MK2 apart, making it an exceptional value at any price.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation
The Thie Audio Monarch MK2 IEMs exceeded my expectations. Their remarkable balance, timbre, and tonality make them a must-have for audiophiles. Should fate befall them, I would replace them without hesitation. For anyone considering IEMs in this price range, the Monarch MK2 is an obvious choice over the MK3 and other competitors. These IEMs deliver an unparalleled music experience that doesn’t require any additional enhancements ;)
In the end, the Monarch MK2 offers a journey through sound so profound that it leaves one in awe, craving for nothing more than to bask in its pure, unadulterated musical beauty.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed and helpful review of the ThieAudio Monarch MKII IEM. We truly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that you are enjoying the product. We take great pride in the craftsmanship and design of our IEMs, and we are glad to hear that it has met your expectations.
We apologize for the initial discomfort you experienced with the fit, but we are happy to hear that it has improved over time. As you mentioned, sometimes it takes a little time to adjust to new earbuds, but we are glad that you found them comfortable after some time.
It's wonderful to hear that the Monarch MK2 provides a well-balanced sound signature and accurately represents the mix. We are thrilled that you are enjoying the bass, mids, and treble, and that you find the mids to be the highlight of the product. Thank you again for your review, and we hope you continue to enjoy your Monarch MK2 IEMs.
Any song will play effortlessly. Mids are clear and treble is also good, Bass is good.
I connected it with questyle m15 bang on.
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you are enjoying the ThieAudio Monarch MKII IEM's all-around performance, with clear mids, good treble, and strong bass. It's great to know that you have also found a perfect match with the Questyle M15. Happy listening!
Just the right amount of treble...extra clear mids(u can hear each n every instrument...it is a detail expert)...and right amount of boosted bass to make it enjoyable !!! Does justice to all fenres of music. Using it with fiio KA5 which just gives it a wider soundstage and textured bass...makes it better than with ibasso dc06 which is more clearer...but very close n intimate which i dont prefer. Using it with spinfit w1 which gives better fit and comfort... as the stock tip are quite stiff causing discomfort. Love the monarch mk 2 :D
Wow, thank you for your great review of the Thie Audio Monarch MKII IEM! We're glad to hear that you're happy with the sound quality of the IEMS and that they tune perfectly to your personal preferences. We think that they're great for all types of music - from classical to metal - and would be happy to hear your thoughts on other genres too!
This is probably the best iem I’ve ever heard
20 hours of burn in will open up the drivers,
The sound is neutral, feels airy, I’m totally happy with the purchase .
Thanks to Pritham for suggesting me this gem🙏
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you're happy with your purchase of the ThieAudio Monarch MKII IEM.
This IEM will stay with me for a very long time. Superb for daily listening and also an excellent refrence point for premium IEM's.
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Awesome work
Fantastic easy to use dongel dac by Shanling. Build quality is also 👌. For a budget music lover this is a value for money. TAS keep providing such affordable quality product to us always...👍
Sparkling music, enhance volume and gives extra wide sound instrument but some time later connection gone if audio is not play
The CD player works as advertised. The single ended headphone jack has decent output, able to drive IEMs at a loud volume level. The coaxial output also works with a 3.5mm male to coaxial cable hooked to a pre-amp. Sound signature is unolocured in the territory of neutral to slightly bright neutral and corresponds well with recording and mastering of records. Worth the money imo.
If my current HiBy R6 III (Gen 3, ESS) is compared to driving a BMW, the R6Pro MAX is a Rolls Royce.
It is easy, smooth, and suave. It doesn’t make a big deal of representing a soundstage that’s exactly studio-like. Natural, not heavy on any particular frequency (do not expect heart thumping bass) and extremely coherent. It’s like you’re sitting in front of the artists themselves, in a studio, with a performance made just for you alone. Each frequency - the lows, mids, highs and everything else in between - are effortlessly detailed and precise.
All IEMs I have tried with it, i.e. the 64 Audio Volür, Symphonium Meteor, Penon Quattro and Kiwi Ears Quintet are driven best at Low or Middle Gain, with me personally finding that High Gain makes it all muddy. I am yet to try it with my HiFiMan Ananda Planar headphones, and will update this review as the journey with this masterpiece of a device continues. Rarely do I find myself being fondly attached to any device so quickly. It may be safe to say the R6Pro MAX does have something special. Only time will tell.
Lastly, the design is phenomenal and classy. The weight of the unit is evenly balanced and not top-heavy, making it very easy to handle in spite of its 500 gramme weight.
My only gripe, because I just HAVE to find one is that the case provided is quite impractical as the device tends to slide out from the top opening, and it interferes with the UI gestures. On the flip side, the quality of the case is top-notch making the device feel extremely premium with its carbon fiber-like finish.
Kudos to HiBy. Clearly a lot of effort and thought has been put into introducing something like this. We may be looking at a potential market game-changer.
(All IEMs have been tested with the OE 2DualCPS Silver Upgrade Cable)
Superb Audio quality, Enhance the sound separation for my moondrop chu 2. i enjoyed a lot. Built quality also so good. Best Budget DAC recommended.
Bought the KZ Castor Pro from Audiostore, and I must say, I am extremely happy with my purchase. At first, I was a bit hesitant to order from them, but they completely surprised me with their service.
The delivery was super fast—much quicker than I expected! I couldn't believe how quickly the IEMs reached me, which made the entire shopping experience even more satisfying.
The product AUDIOCULAR D07 is a phenomenal DAC & Amp. It is suitable for all kinds of wired earphones. The output impedance of this DAC is sufficient for inexpensive as well as Expensive earphones. Overall I satisfied very much with this product. Thank you.
I really liked Moondrop Chu II DSP, which was my first IEM. I felt like I needed some more bass. This is perfect. Sounds exactly same as Chu II and with more bass. Shipping and delivery was also very fast. Got it delivered in 3 days. Good delivery and good product.
Sharp & Crystal clear audio🤩
For the price you can't get better value when comparing with TOTL iem's from other manufacturers, regardless of driver technology and implementation. The bone conduction driver works, which is always a plus.
Enough BASS, Treble not harsh. Smooth cable. Also, actually I've Tangzu Warner in my opinion, but i selected this. Satisfied with this IEM. Delivery was fast! Thank you TAS!!!!!
I was searching for mid forward, vocal centric IEM. Looking at options like oracle, mega5est etc. Mr. Pritam was kind enough to attend my numerous calls and indepth discussion and finally suggested me to penon voltage. Hefty price tag and becuz of my already good collection, I was not tempted for any iem if not drastically different sound signature. Again my man Friday Pritamji allowed me audition of his personal set of penon voltage.
Penon voltage is honestly outstanding and justify every penny.
Midst are lush and superb. Treble is outstanding. Male and female vocals are life like. Technically top notch. Base is full and extends deep and thumping. Best part is timber. Jazz, vocals and classical sounds so natural, it seems intimate and soulful. I had u12t, campfire Solaris og, now I have a 64audio volur, but voltage has etched a unique image in my soul. It's sounds like a headphone rather than an iem. Penon audio has an ace up their sleeves.
D32 is way better than expected. Sound imaging & separation is very good. Nice thumpy bass, crystal clear mids. Overall very value for money stuff. All bluetooth codec available. Supports aux in from DAP for hires audio. Fantastic overall.
For quite a long duration, I was looking for an budget IEM with a size that would perfectly sink within ear lobe and will not exert any pressure while being a couch potato , on one side. Atlast this is where the search ended.
Aurora is even a bit smaller in size than Sennheiser IE100 Pros, which were my only go to solution at late nights. I already referred to various other reviews about the sound signature of this tiny one, and was quite confident about the other end of the bargain any way. I will not be hence touch the audio signature stuff , since there are plenty detailed reviews on the youtube and many other forums already. It is the ergonomics which is mostly untouched area of any in ear type monitors, that was more profound for me in this case, for long duration of usage. Also liked the quality of the case supplied with , the whole package is absolutely incredible !
