Wanna get a taste of an audiophile’s dream? I did just that with the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII. When I picked them up from the post office, I was surprised by the sheer size of the box. Inside, I found the in-ear wired monitors, ready to roll straight out of the box. These flagship IEMs boast a hybrid setup featuring 2DD+6BA+2PLA drivers.
What does the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII bring to the table?
THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII In-Ear Monitors — Sound Quality
These earbuds pack 10 drivers in each earpiece — yes, 10! You get 2 dynamic drivers, 6 balanced armature drivers, and 2 electrostatic drivers all connected to a 4-way crossover with 9 passive components. All this tech is neatly packed into a small earphone shell. Plus, there’s a unique high-tech cable that I’ll dive into later.
For my listening tests, I used two players: the QUESTYLE QP1R and QP2R. The QP1R highlighted the detail and analytical nature of the Monarch MKIII’s sound, while the QP2R added warmth and richness to the midrange.
When you put these in, there’s a noticeable diaphragm pop due to the lack of a compensatory vent in the sound channel in front of the dynamic driver. It’s a bit disappointing since you’d expect better attention to detail for a flagship model.
- Low Frequencies: The THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII’s bass is driven by two 10mm IMPACT2 dynamic drivers, delivering a textured and powerful sub-bass. Tracks like “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd showcase the impressive bass, capturing diverse tonalities and creating a deep, massive feel. In Metallica’s “Sad But True,” the bass guitar and drums come through harmoniously, highlighting the heavy notes with pinpoint accuracy.
- Mid Frequencies: Six balanced armature drivers—Knowles DWFK 31785 and Sonion 28UAP—handle the mids, providing a clean and natural sound. Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” features the captivating melody of the saxophone and piano, complemented by the double bass and drum solo, all rendered with exceptional realism. In Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde,” the tenor and soprano voices are vividly conveyed, capturing all the emotions with impressive detail.
- High Frequencies: The two Sonion EST electrostatic drivers are in charge of the highs, adding brightness and clarity to the sound. Daft Punk’s “Digital Love” shows the high frequencies through synthesizer sounds, creating an airy and transparent feel. Radiorama’s “Desire” showcases the highs with exceptional precision, preserving all the nuances and texture of the recording without excessive brightness or harshness.
- Detail retrieval: The Monarch MKIII offers maximum detail retrieval, letting you catch every little nuance and imperfection in the recording. In “Desire” by Radiorama, all details are reproduced with outstanding accuracy but without a focus on analytical harshness, maintaining the melody and naturalness of the sound.
- Soundstage: These earbuds create a wide and deep soundstage. Tracks gain volume and spatial depth, making the listening experience more immersive and realistic. The techy cable also contributes to the enhanced soundstage, ensuring stable and clear playback.
- Conclusion: The THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII excels across any genre, delivering detailed and melodious sound. They render compositions with high precision and clarity, creating an engaging listening experience. However, I sensed a lack of “breath” in these headphones, as if there’s a damping layer in the mids and highs, preventing the drivers from fully opening up. This results in a slight deficiency in emotional impact. Of course, the richness of the low frequencies compensates for the emotional shortcomings in the mids, and over time, you adapt to the sound signature of the Monarch MKIII. Nevertheless, I agree with Alexander’s review and can’t award a top score.
Sound Rating
- Sound for its price $998 is a 9.5/10
Comparison with competitors
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- IEMs THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII
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- HIDIZS MS5
In my reviews, the Hidizs MS5 has been the reference point. Comparing them with the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII, you can see clear differences in sound. The Hidizs MS5 delivers a more emotional and emphasized sound, but they fall short compared to the Monarch MKIII in terms of melodiousness, technicality, and linearity of reproduction. The sound of the Monarch MKIII is more even and refined, with melodies coming across as more coherent and delicate.
Both models excel in soundstage and detail, but the presence of 10 well-tuned drivers in the Monarch MKIII versus the 5 in the MS5 makes the comparison a bit uneven. Overall, I found the sound of the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII more to my liking.
Design, kit and comfort – THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII
The THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII comes in a spacious box. On the front panel, there’s an image of the headphones with a large white “THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII” label and a note stating “Winner of the Life Style VGP 2024 Gold Award.” The back of the box features information about the manufacturer.
- Material quality – 8.5 out of 10
- Design – 9 out of 10
- Comfort – 9.5 out of 10
Conclusion: THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII
Sound Quality: The THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII delivers exceptional detail, balance, and melodiousness across the entire frequency range. The bass frequencies are deep and rich, giving music power and dynamism. The mids are transparent and natural, capturing the nuances of vocals and instruments. The highs are bright and clear, adding airiness and clarity to the overall sound. Overall, the headphones exhibit outstanding accuracy and quality in sound reproduction, making listening to music genuinely engaging.
Package: The package left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, the headphones are equipped with ten drivers and crossovers, creating stunning sound, and the cable is of high quality. On the other hand, the resin housing scratches easily and attracts fingerprints, losing its original appearance over time. I also found the ear tips lacking for achieving perfect sound and fit, so I used third-party tips with a wider opening. Additionally, the bulky case was disappointing: the excessive free space means the headphones can rub against each other during transport.
For Whom and Sources: These headphones are ideal for audiophiles and discerning music lovers who value sound purity and accuracy and aren’t constrained by budget. They perform best with high-quality, non-budget audio players and amplifiers that can unlock the full potential of the multi-driver design.
Personal Opinion: The THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII impresses with its technical capabilities and sound characteristics, providing a unique listening experience. However, I believe the price does not justify the design flaws and the modest package—it’s overpriced.
