TAS Commitment
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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🎧 KZ Castor Pro IEM – Review
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The KZ Castor Pro delivers clear and detailed sound with excellent separation across lows, mids, and highs. The decent thumping bass is tight and controlled, giving energy to tracks without overwhelming the vocals or instruments. Its super-balanced tuning ensures a natural, enjoyable listening experience suitable for all genres.
🎚 Unique DIP Switch Equalizer
What sets the Castor Pro apart is its DIP switch physical equalizer. With up to 16 different tuning options, it allows listeners to adjust the sound profile on the go—boosting bass, enhancing treble, or keeping it neutral. This feature gives it a level of flexibility rarely seen in IEMs at this price point.
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Although it lacks active noise cancellation, the design offers an excellent passive seal. The snug fit ensures that outside noise is effectively blocked, making the listening experience immersive and ensuring ANC doesn’t feel like a missing feature.
🎼 Hi-Res & DAC Performance
For those using Hi-Res lossless audio, pairing the Castor Pro with a DAC is highly recommended. The extra power and clarity from a DAC enhance the already impressive soundstage, detail retrieval, and overall dynamics, making the listening experience truly premium.
💰 Value for Money
At its smart price, the KZ Castor Pro punches well above its weight. It combines detailed sound, punchy bass, balanced tuning, and innovative features—making it a strong choice for both audiophiles on a budget and everyday music lovers.
Have been using these buds for like an year now, they gave me a great time all that while, only recently the cable started getting green and there was an issue with audio drop on even a slight movement (like every earphone ever), but still a great investment for an year.
Got this as my first iem from audio store.. much much more worth than the price.. the bass!!.. my gawddd, it's something which is gonna surprise you.. I got it paired with the moondrop echo a dac.. and trust me, couldn't have asked for anything better.. and the delivery was done to me in kolkata, just within a day.. remarkable job audio store!♥️
Loved the new gear they sound absolutely phenomenal and mind if say the looks and aesthetic of the KZ Castor Pro is underrated for its price, as a newbie I was a little hesitant to jump in this rabbit hole, but it was worth it. Shoutout to The Audio Store to build up my courage, they were very helpful as I was placing my order I fumbled and they responded very positively and helped me correct my mistake. Thank You
Excellent performance with ANC good mic this song is like heaven
Perfect for beginners to start their audiofile journey
I'm satisfied and convinced of this product
The packaging
The quality
And The performance
Trust he go for this one if you never try this one
Just give it a try you will not regret it
I have manny IEM's I'm my collection
But this one is really fantastic
Thanks to The Audio Store
They have many discount in compar to others in market
And shippment is on the time no worrys
1999 is nothing the engineering is perfect of this IEM,,,
Amzing product
Love the way it sounds rich in every range perfect for beginners but if you're not a bass head go for non bass varient.
This is my first ever IEM that I purchased after research of couple of months. And I can say that this was a good decision on my end. Cable is good. Buds look stylish. Comes with a small carry pouch and 6 pairs of ear tips. Sound quality is awesome. Love the instrument separation. Customisable EQ gives them versatility. You can actually experience how other IEM sound just be playing around with the EQ.
Actually, l'm new to this IEM world. Such an amazing product. If you are new to iem just as me, I would highly recommend his product to try out. The OG. There are 16 types of tuning options to play around and explore your favourite music in a new way and the build quality is also pretty good. Overall a nice product 👍.
Good sound
5/5 Mids and Highs
5/5 Well balanced Bass, doesn't overpower the music
5/5 Design look premium and classy
They are quiet heavy and huge
Its my first time buying an iem and it sounds sooo good the design is good the wire can be improve, the bass is somewhat missing and the app has some glitches regarding equalizer. Otherwise this iem is better than my tws. I really like it.
Good
