THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII

Summary
The Thie Audio Oracle mk3 is the latest addition to Thie Audio’s popular “Oracle” series. This is a tribrid iem with 2DD+2BA+2EST driver configuration priced at 589$. The Oracle mk3 has a mild U shape sound signature with clear and well extended upper mids and highs similar to the original Oracle and adds a more bolder bass response inspired by their “Hype” series. Technical sound is good when compared to similarly priced iems, it sees a slight improvement over the original “Oracle”. Other than sound, the build quality, design, fit and comfort is good. Packaging and accessories are decent.



Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I am checking out the Oracle mk3 from Thie Audio. This is a fairly recent release from Thie Audio and also a new addition to their popular line, Oracle. The Oracle mk3 is a tribrid iem with 2DD+2BA+2EST driver configuration, priced at 589$. So is it any good? Lets discuss…

About the brand:
First, let’s get to know the brand, Thie Audio is a very popular iem manufacturer in the ChiFi audio world. They are well known for providing high end tech and high quality sound at a more reasonable price. They started back in 2019 as a nameless group of DIY enthusiasts, now they are operated by expert audio engineers based out of China and South Korea. I have previously used many Thie Audio iems but never ended up reviewing any, so this is my first Thie Audio review. I am planning also to post a review for the Hype 4 and Hype 2. Anyways, lets get back to the Oracle mk3 starting with specs.

Disclaimer: this unit was purchased with my own money at its retail price. Please note that this review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion. I strive for transparency in all my reviews, whether the product is self-purchased, a free sample, loaned or received at a discount.



Specs
> Frequency Response: 20Hz - 44kHz
> Sensitivity: 99dB (±1dB) @1kHz
> Crossover: Four-Way
> Driver: Two Ultra-High Frequency Drivers, One High Frequency Driver, One Mid Frequency Driver, Two Low Frequency Drivers
> Cable Connectors: 2-pin 0.78mm
> Cable Termination: Modular Termination with 2.5mm,3.5mm,4.4mm Interchangeable plugs
= PRICE: 589$

Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, this comes in a classic Thie Audio box similar to their other sets, only difference is the outer sleeve. Nevertheless box design and quality is decent but I expect a bit more originality here. Inside the box, you will find the iems beautifully set in the foam and beside that is the carrying case. Inside the carrying case, you will find 2sets of tips, a cleaning cloth, modular terminations and a velcro cable tie. This comes with a set of silicone and a set of memory foam eartips, The included cable is quite nice. I will get into more detail about the accessories below. List of box contents:
-Oracle Mk3
-Cable
-Modular Terminations
-Eartips
-Cleaning Cloth
-Carrying Case


Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design of the Oracle mk3, it is pretty good. The Oracle mk3 shells are made of high quality resin with a metal nozzle. The faceplate design is gorgeous, as you would expect from Thie Audio. This faceplate design has a unique blend of blue, green and a bit of yellow creating a very distinctive and tasteful pattern. Other than faceplate the resin shell is black in color and the metal nozzle is silver. The shells are on the larger side and they have nice weight to them. Fingerprints and scratches were not an issue in my use case. The 2pin connector is recessed type. The shells are vented. The nozzle has standard length but is wider than average.

Fit and Comfort
Talking about fit and comfort of the Oracle mk3, it is fine. This fits nice and snug in my above average sized ears, and is decently comfortable for loner listening sessions. If you have smaller ears this might not be very comfortable if you have smaller ears. Stability is pretty good, breathability is average to below average. Isolation is quite good. All in all I find it decently comfortable for daily use.



Inner Structure and Tech
Let’s look at whats inside the Oracle mk3. Thie Audio has gone for a tribrid set up with two dynamic driver, two balanced armature driver and two electrostatic driver configuration, (2DD+2BA+2EST). The bass is handled by the two dynamic drivers are arranged in an isobaric configuration which Thie Audio is calling Impact 2. Among the 2 balanced armatures, one is for the mids and one is for the highs. The two electrostatic drivers are for the ultra highs. Thie Audio has also implemented 4 cross overs and 3 sound tubes in the Oracle mk3.

Accessories

Cable
Cables are a very important aspect pect of any iem no matter the price, thus I always try to cover it in detail. Thie Audio has been making some good cables for a while now and the Oracle’s is no stranger. Looks wise this a brownish finish with black connectors and Y split. I think this goes quite nicely with the iems’ color way. Build wise I am guessing this uses silver plated copper wires in a 4core braid. The braiding is nice and tight. The cable has a overall standard thickness.The connectors’ casing and the Y split are made of metal. The chin singe is properly functional. The cable terminations are modular and with 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations. The is minimal memory and almost no audible micro phonics. All in all this is a pretty good stock cable.



Please note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.

Now most importantly sound, Thie Audio has implemented a balanced to mild U shape sound signature inspired by the original Oracle. The Oracle mk3 introduces a bit more warmth in the overall tonality but still maintaining the clarity factor the original Oracle. All in all I find this to have clean and natural sound with good detail and technical performance. Lets get into a bit more detail.



Bass
Let's delve into the bass performance of the Oracle mk3. Thie Audio has gone for a more stronger bass presence compared to the original Oracle, inspired by the recent Hype series. Unlike the Hype series Oracle has more emphasis on the sub bass region. Midbass although not as forward, provides a strong and tasteful slam. Both the sub bass and mid bass together has a sub woofer like physicality without getting blotted or muddy. Speed is controlled, a bit slower than neutral. Body and layering is executed well. Decay and reverberation is fine. Bass note separation is decent.

Mids
Moving on to the midrange, the Oracle mk3 takes a clean and clear approach with some extra shimmer in the upper mids. Oracle mk3’s midrange is similar to the original Oracle but is a bit more toned down and slightly warmer. Transition from the mid bass to the lower mids is quite clean with minimal warmth. Male vocals and female vocals are clean and clear, female vocals have a extra crispness because of the forward upper mids. Instruments, similar to the vocals are also clean. There was no major sibilance or harshness issue, but if you are treble sensitive, the upper mids might be bothersome. Personally I quite like the natural and clean presentation, specially coming from the Hype 4.

Treble
Proceeding on to the treble section, Thie Audio has opted for an energetic bright-ish type tuning for the Oracle mk3, and I can say it's executed quite well. In short the Oracle mk3’s treble is refined, well-extended, and it flows nicely with the frequency range. Details are crisp without being too in your face. It is easy to spot intricate nuances. Higher treble is more extended compared to the mid treble region. While there is no significant harshness or sibilance issues, treble sensitive listeners will find it bothersome. The speed is standard, Personally, I find this tuning quite enjoyable with my library. The airy presentation enhances the sense of space in the soundstage.

Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Oracle mk3 is quite good, wider than average. All three plains are decent, this has pretty good width but the height could be better. Stage depth is good. Layering is fine.
Imaging is pretty good. It is quite easy to pin point instruments in the soundstage.
Sound separation and layering is good
Cohesiveness is good
Resolution is good
Dynamics are standard
Timbre is standard

Tested With
Source: cayin n3 ultra, cayin ru7, questyle m15, tempotec v3, ifi go blu, apple type c dongle
Eartips: stock, Final E Black, Final E Clear, Soinfit w1, Azla Crystals, JVC Spiral Dots, Divinus velvet
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music

So far I have checked out quite a few iems in this price range and I would like to compare the Oracle mk3 with some of them. Unfortunately I do not have any hybrid set at hand above 600$, so I will be only be comparing with sets similar and below its price. I will not only go over sound, but rather the entire thing.

Thie Audio Hype 2
The Thie Audio Hype 2 was a popular release a couple months back. The Hype 2 is a hybrid iem with 2DD+2BA driver configuration, priced at 300$. I did purchase the Hype 2 but never ended up reviewing it, I am planning to do so as I will also be posting the Hype 4 review soon. Although the Hype 2 and Oracle mk3 are priced quite different, I find them similar in many ways, which is why I decided to throw in a comparison. Comparing the packaging, they have the same packaging except the outer sleeve. Build and design is also same, except the faceplate. Fit and comfort is also same, maybe the oracle mk3 shell is very slightly bigger. Accessories are almost same, the Oracle mk3 cable is better. The differences mainly lay in the tech, driver configuration and sound. The Hype 2 has more stronger V shape sound with more emphasis on the bass region, where as Oracle mk3 has a mild U shape sound with mainly sub bass emphasis and clear mids and highs. Technical sound wise Oracle mk3 is significantly superior.



Dita Project M
The Dita Project M is a unique hybrid iem with a minimalistic hybrid set up of 1DD+1BA driver. The Project M is priced at 329$. I have previously checked out and review the Project M and it is still one of my favs under 400$, which is why I am comparing it even though this and the Oracle mk3 is quite different. Starting off the comparison, packaging is better on the Project M because of its more original design. Build and design is quite close, but I pick the Project M over the Oracle. Fit and comfort is a tie. Accessories are a bit better in the Project M. But as you may guess, Oracle mk3 steals the show when it comes to sound. The Project M has a balanced bright type sound whereas the Oracle is more warm U shape sound. Project M’s bass is quite lean, with more forward midd and brighter and sharper treble. On the other hand Oracle has better bass presence specially the sub bass, mids are more natural and treble is more well rounded and well finished. In terms of technical sound, Oracle mk3 is superior.



Elysian Pilgrim
The Elysian Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range. This is also Elysian’s first entry into the more budget segment. The Pilgrim consists of a 4 driver set up with 1DD+3BA drivers, priced at 400$. . Starting off the comparison, packaging wise Pilgrim is better. Build and design, although subjective, I prefer the Pilgrim. Fit and comfort is better on the Oracle mk3. Accessories are a tie. Sound wise, the Pilgrim has a balanced bright type sound with well controlled and tight bass, natural and clean mids and analytical treble. Overall the Pilgrim focuses more on the extension and quality of upper frequencies similar to Elysian’s other sets. Oracle mk3, on the other hand has a similar but more well rounded and warmer sound signature, with refined yet well extended upper frequencies, clean and natural mids and much better and bolder bass.



Thie Audio Hype 4
The Thie Audio Hype 4 is a very popular hybrid iem priced at 400$. This consists of 2DD+4BA driver configuration. This is also the sequel to the Hype 2. This has been in my collection for a while now and I plan to upload a review on it soon. Personally I find the Hype 4 similar to the Oracle mk3 in many ways, but still there are some distinction mainly in the sound section. Starting with packaging, its basically the same except the outer sleeve. Build and design is the same except the colorway and faceplate, fit and comfort is also the same. Accessories are the same, except that the Oracle mk3 comes with a modular cable. The differences mainly lay in the tech, driver configuration and sound. In terms of sound, the Hype 4 is more V shape with more emphasis in the lows with stronger and bolder bass and brighter treble conpared to the Oracle. Whereas the Oracle has more balanced U shape type sound with mainly sub bass boost, cleaner mids and more well rounded and well finished treble. Overall technical sound wise Oracle mk3 is slightly superior.



So to conclude the review, do I recommend this set and who is this for?
Yes, I do recommend this set. If you are looking for a high quality balanced to mild U shape sound with good technical performance, this is a solid option at the sub 500$ to 600$ price point. Personally I quite liked this set and enjoyed my time with it. I think both general consumers and more experienced audiophiles will enjoy this set.




I hope, I was able to provide some idea about this product and help you make a purchase decision.
Big props to Thie Audio for such a good all rounder set.
And huge thanks to you all for sticking around, see yall in the next one.

Disclaimer

This IEM is provided to me by TheAudioStore for a week. No one influenced or paid me to say anything good or bad about any product. All thoughts and opinions are mine and true to my findings.

Un-Affiliated Link
Buy Oracle MKII from TheAudioStore



To address the price tag
500-600 Pricetag is such an interesting price bracket where companies get creative while taking a good amount of risk, and not too much where it falls into a niche category. This means that IEMs at this price point are neither super technical when tonally pleasing nor super well-tuned when they are super technical. Until this IEM, ThieAudio Oracle MKIII.

Design-choice

ThieAudio IEMs always strike a good balance in build quality. Their cheaper IEMs are well-built as well. This one is no exception. I think they don’t rely upon the shell too much, thus they create such a consistent approach to the design. The nozzle is thicker but not too much to create any problem for my ears. Shells feel like they won’t break even if they are dropped to the floor from a sitting height. Fits very nicely. The cable feels appropriate for a $590 IEM. Comes with interchangeable termination. Splitters and connectors are made of metal and feel quite sturdy.

Introduction

Coming to the sound,
Oracle MKIII will give you a very typical ThieAudio tonality with a few changes here and there. Strong sub-bass presence, tasteful midbass, mids are not the highlight, treble is quite snappy and forward. This kind of tuning is well-suited for genres like Pop, Indie, and Rock. But it might not give you the best experience with something like Blues and Orchestra.




Although it might not hit my personal preference in a lot of cases, it manages to get a lot of long listening sessions out of me in the span of a week which means a lot to me since I can’t tolerate IEMs that deviate too much from my liking. I quite enjoyed its presentation in my library where I can just shuffle through a playlist that has a fairly good recording quality and spatial effects, like live recordings/binaural recordings/soundtracks.



The first thing you will notice after listening to this IEM is the treble. It is just there for you to give you the notice of its presence. The clarity up top is there, in the song “What the World Needs Now”, you can differentiate each hit fairly easily which is not an easy task, and surely not for an IEM that is priced at just $590. On the other hand, I know a few people who would get annoyed by the treble amplitude. Mostly because of their tolerance and not their fineness. In the album “The Way Up”, it is evident how airy it sounds. It has the quality of filling up space. Agile and fast in dynamics. Texturing is not something that is there nor I felt the absence of it. On top of that, the IEM being fairly detailed, it has a sense of resolution that is not present in most of the IEMs that are priced like this.




The next thing you would notice in this IEM is the Bass. Moreover the sub-bass than the midbass. Some elements of the subbass do impress me other than the amplitude. The sense of physicality it has can be rarely seen in IEMs priced in this range. Of course, it can’t beat something like Ruby in terms of definition and resolution but it cuts through most of the IEMs. The attack and decay are very natural. It doesn’t feel digital nor it feels very euphonic like vintage speakers. All of these can be felt with the song “Hollow 16bt Remix”. The slam and punch are very natural. Now coming to the midbass, things start to get more normal in elevation. The midbass is not as authoritative as the subbass. This benefit in two cases, first of all, the mid-range gets a more coherent feeling rather than being warm & the control of the bass gets a step ahead with this tuning choice. The audiophile in me appreciates this but the kid in me wanted a bit more slap in the eardrums like the subbass. All in all, it is a good practice to tune the sub-bass in this way to showcase the treble, and I would say it does its job. The song “Personal by Emotional Oranges” and “We All Have Dreams by Lois The Child” showcases the attributes very vividly.



Mids are not something that these IEMs truly excel in like the other two ranges. It’s just there without many flaws. It is neutral in tonality and might be hint recessed with certain ear tips. There is nothing much to write about the midrange. The dynamics felt a bit on the flatter side of things, and the texturing is very average for the price. Nothing would wow you and nothing will disappoint you at the same time. “Hey Jude by The Beatles” sounded very flat on this IEM. Lowermids are not forward but sit neutrally with the whole presentation. “Time Alone With You by Jacob Collier” shows all of its attributes very vividly. Upper-midrange on the other hand is quite good. The tonality is a balance between fun and neutral. Female vocals have that airiness I find in the presentation, while not being peaky or shouty even a bit. “Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Melissa Menago” is a good example of these qualities. All in all, the mids are just there.



The sub-bass got almost a 4.8 dB boost from the JM1-DF. Which feels substantial in the presentation. The attributes like rumble and authority are there without being shy even a bit. It has a very strong sense of presence in this region and compliments the treble quite a lot which I would discuss in a bit. I wouldn’t say that it might not be enough for a basshead but enough for anyone who enjoys bass.

The midbass though is way more reduced to 2dB. And you can feel that in the presentation since the sense of thud and slap is not as strong. Since the sub-bass is so good, I would’ve liked a bit more elevation there but I got the reason since it was necessary for mids to not feel masked by the sub-bass. This helps a lot in digitally produced music, not much in general bassy and natural music.

The lower mids are pushed back by a single dB, which you can feel in the music. This is where I don’t agree with ThieAudio. I think the scoop was not necessary and might be corrected for a more natural timbre of the mids. This is where I don’t see the reason for the mid-bass decline since it could’ve been with a more elevated mid-bass. The general slope of the 200hz-1kHz is in decline which I don’t like generally, mostly it’s the other way around.

The upper-mids are where this IEM gets interesting. Where you would imagine that this IEM might have a scooped 1kHz raise at delayed pinna compensation, but it is not. It elevated the frequency from 1kHz – 2kHz and then declined till. I think, in this way, it can manage the vocal performance to not get affected. It does create a forward presentation in this rance but due to the soundstage, it feels distant in some instruments, so the presentation comes as natural yet engaging and exciting.

There is a dip in 3kHz to 5khz which I like since it pushes instruments in the mix but not the vocals. But then comes the “What is this ?” section. 5-8kHz elevation. This might sound a bit problematic with treble sensitive ears but there is not enough problem for me where I couldn’t listen to it for a longer time. However, I have to mention that this IEM is not as relaxed as something like mega5EST, where I can pull off all-nighters. After the 10Khz dip, which again I don’t like but is required for depth perception, the later frequencies are well extended and fairly detailed.



This is where this IEM shows its true potential. Technically it is very difficult to beat this IEM at this price point. If you are chasing Technicalities, then this should be on top of your audition list.

Now, coming to the different aspects



The soundstage depth and width in this IEM is by no means felt like an average IEM at this price point. It feels huge in all directions. The overall sense that you would get from this IEM is spaciousness and atmospheric. I don’t care a lot about soundstage but I know people love good staging IEMs and this IEM will provide you with that. Also, there are two things in this IEM that help to perceive the soundstage a lot better. The first thing is its natural ability to resolve and the strong sense of gapless imaging. The soundstage doesn’t feel like a wall and curves around the head. Although it is not very 3D/Holographic since the sense of height is not very huge. But overall, this IEM won’t disappoint you if you love soundstage in your IEM. On the other side, this IEM might not suit someone who loves intimate music sessions since this IEM stretches the staging of the music.



Imaging to me is more important than the soundstage. It performs a bit better than its peers. Due to the soundstage being big, the imaging needs to be pinpointed in the scope. And it beautifully manages to do that. The frontal perception is equally good though it gives me an impression that there are more L & R layers in the music compared to Front. This IEM feels extremely atmospheric in Films and Video Games, the subtle cues are very vividly projected with accurate position. Although, like any other IEM at this price point it feels a bit lacking in the layering. And I do feel that IEM with an intimate stage can do layering really well, so it’s a tradeoff you have to make. But by combining Imaging and Soundstage, this IEM is a technical monster.



This IEM is inherently more resolving, and it doesn’t rely on frequency response much to bring up the details in the music by amplifying certain frequencies. There is a sense of transparency that you can feel to a great extent. The sense is centered towards the treble section but this is also where most things do occur that require an extra bit of resolution to come forward. All in all, I wouldn’t ask for a more resolving set for my personal listening sessions. Although note edges and micro-contrasts can be improved to some extent for a more overall complete experience. But it doesn’t take away anything. Things like Crunch and Bite, are there to make acoustic guitar sessions enjoyable.


Now if we compare it to a few IEMs


Hisenior Mega5EST – They are very different IEMs yet similar in some instances. The whole low-end is more authoritative in megafest but the Orcale is much more mature and tasteful. I enjoyed the megafest bass a bit more but the bass on Oracle is a lot cleaner and defined and not as pillowy as oracle. The lower-mids are straightaway better in mega5EST. Upper mids are more enjoyable on Oracle due to more extension. The rest of the frequency spectrum is completely different. Where Megafest is safer and more on the natural side of things, Oracle is lively and engaging. The soundstage is more filled in in the megafest but on the Oracle, the soundstage feels a bit stretched. Imaging is better in Oracle as well as the detail retrieval/micro and macro contrast.

If I had to choose any one of them, I couldn’t have done that since they are very different IEMs and I love them for different reasons.


AFUL Cantor ( A bit expensive ) - Cantor is a step above this IEM. The tuning of both of these IEMs seems to target the same demographic. The subbass is better in Oracle, midbass is way better in Cantor. The mids are better in Cantor too, as well as the upper mids and treble. But in the later frequencies, it’s not a huge difference at all. In the tech department, I was surprised to see Oracle perform on the level of Cantor but not quite there. Cantor being a very technical set even at its price point it was surprising to see the tech implemented in the Oracle can even touch the same height.


Conclusion

This set took me by surprise because of its technical abilities. Although I am not a fan of its synergy factor with a few of my sources this set is a monster when it comes to price to performance. The separation and resolution are extremely good for the price. If you want to taste Cantor at a cheaper price I think this IEM will give you a taste of it without having an issue with a few instruments, like the timbre of drums.


ORACLE MARKIII SYNERGIES WITH DX180 VERY WELL.

THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII - Musical and balanced

Disclaimer

I got Oracle MKIII for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.






What is the THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII

The THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII is a tribrid IEM, the set is priced at $589.

https://www.thieaudio.com/products/thieaudio-oracle-mkiii

The IEM is made in black resin with a colorful faceplate that reminds me of peacock feathers, the design is very ergonomic and has an average size. The cable socket is the recessed 2 pin style, my favorite type as it's super secure. Thieaudio also has tight sockets, and can feel like the cable snaps into place when you insert a cable. The nozzles have average depth and thickness, and should suit most people. The metal nozzle also has a mesh on the end to keep debris from entering.



The Oracle MKIII uses their IMPACT2 Subwoofer system to handle the bass, this is the same double dynamic driver known from their flagship Monarch MKIII. And delivers both great texture and thunderous impact, one of the better bass drivers in my opinion. Noticeable step up from the Oracle predecessors according to THIEAUDIO.
The rest of the tuning is carried by two BA for mids and low treble, while the upper treble is carried by two Sonion EST drivers.



This is the third generation of the Oracle model, the Oracle models have been praised for being the more natural sets with good vocal presentation from Thieaudio. First gen was quite legendary and praised by many, still some to this day. Then with Oracle MKII it didn't get the same traction, this due to a different tuning approach from first gen.



They have tuned Oracle MKIII after a professional studio tuning true to the original Oracle DNA sound, meaning the sub bass is strong while not interfering with the midrange. The treble has also been tuned to be closer to the original Oracle and not like MKII that was too bright, while still taking full use of the Sonion EST drivers.

It uses a 4 way crossover tuning system together with 3 sound tubes, this is part of the tuning but also to deliver excellent layering and imaging of the sound.

Measurement shows that it's actually like a mix of OG and MKII.





The packaging is on the larger side, and doesn't feel cheap or over the top. The branding on the package is accurate and not misleading in any way, opening it up the case and IEMs is neatly positioned as the first you see.



The accessories include a new modular cable from Thieaudio, the interconnect sits snug and isn't loose like some modular cables. The included tips are foam and silicon, I have only tried the silicon and they worked fine to get good sound and seal.
The case you get is extra large, this is a good thing as you have more room for a dongle or just two IEMs.



Technical Details

Frequency Response
20Hz - 44kHz
Sensitivity
99dB (±1dB) @1kHz
Crossover
Four-Way
Driver
Two Ultra-High Frequency Drivers, One High Frequency Driver, One Mid Frequency Driver, Two Low Frequency Drivers
Cable Connectors
2-pin 0.78mm
Cable Termination
Modular Termination with 2.5mm,3.5mm,4.4mm Interchangeable plugs
Impedance
13Ω±1Ω



About THIEAUDIO (taken from their about page)

From a nameless group of DIY enthusiasts to one of the best acclaimed IEM brands in the world, THIEAUDIO has made an incredible journey in the pursuit of high-fidelity audio. THIEAUDIO has become a staple brand in audiophile communities around the world, beloved for its best-in-class tunings, superb technical performances, and budget-friendly pricing. From the start, the THIEAUDIO team has put audio quality at the forefront of each project, aiming to be the Robin Hood of the audio world by bringing the best sounding audio solutions at the most affordable prices. Since its launch in 2019, THIEAUDIO’s legacy of in-ear monitors has forever changed the world of IEM’s, influencing how global manufacturers of earphones engineer their products. THIEAUDIO’s international team of few, but dedicated engineers from China and South Korea are committed to continuing this legacy by creating innovative, yet affordable, audio solutions that will leave you in awe.



Sound impressions

The sound of Oracle MKIII is very clean and balanced with extra warmth in the bass that's well seperated, well extended both in the lows and highs.

Going to use the ranges here in review:






Details and soundstage

Detail in IEMs is down mostly to quality of the driver and how it amplitudes the frequencies, also when the driver is faster it also increases the resolution you hear.

It is very detailed and resolving, has a clean tuning with good drivers making it easy to hear microdetails in the music. It's also not overly sensitive to pick up noise from your sources, but if you feed it bad recordings you will hear that.

Soundstage is above average in width and height, forward projection is going from my head and some steps forth so not the deepest. I would say the soundstage presents itself in more of a stage-like feel, almost like sitting in the first row and having it wide and high. Imaging capabilities are spot on, very easy to pinpoint where it all is positioned. Even tried some shooter games with Oracle MKIII, and it excels with this.

Bass

The bass of Oracle MKIII is delivered by their double DD IMPACT2, this delivers deep and strong sub bass. The pressure and nuances of the deepest bass notes is really good, and transitions nicely into an impactful mid bass. The share quantity of bass is addictive, more than what's considered neutral but once you have lived with this you dont wanna go back.

There is lots of texture and the decay sounds very natural, the bass has a balanced speed on the decay. There is no bass bleed into the bass, so the bass is separated and gives you a subwoofer-like feel.



Mids

The low midrange is super clean, the balanced armatures take over from the DD but have a clean transition through the crossover. The BA is not metallic or harsh in any way, more clean and slightly smooth.
Just enough warmth into the low midrange to make music engaging and fun, not sterile or hollow. The upper mids are tasteful, rides with a good balance of presence and clarity without getting sibilant. I am sensitive to upper midrange elevation, and find the amount perfect on Oracle MKIII so it delivers crystal clear vocals or instruments without getting shouty.

Oracle series often mentioned being about vocal delivery, this is true here and shows when compared to HYPE4. It is extra good with brighter vocals and instruments, something about the clarity and being more pronounced. This can also affect female artists, for the most of them it's perfect pairing but on a few more sibilant artists it can get too much.

Treble

The treble is carried by EST and BA on Oracle MKIII, this sets it apart from the rest of the HYPE series and gets it closer to Monarch MKIII. The EST gives it that ethereal and more shimmery treble presentation that I love from EST drivers, also helps that Oracle MKIII is tuned with a good amount of upper treble to make music airy and natural.

I find the share quantity of treble close to perfection, only on some music it doesn't sound as good if they have sharp treble elements in the recordings.



Synergies

Most of my time has been with Divinius Velvet tips and stock cable, the source has mostly been iBasso DX180. This sounds spectacular and is more than good enough to deliver everything the Oracle MKIII is capable of, if I change over to HIBY R8 II the sound gets smoother and more forgiving but doesn't sound as crisp.

For tips I tried both stock tips and many aftermarket tips, so far the preferred pairing is Divinus Velvet. Changing to the wide bore version doesn't really improve much except take down bass, same when using the Eletech Baroque.



Stock cable is a decent cable, I have cable rolled to a few other cables like EA Cadmus 8W. This seems to have the midrange smoother, only downside is ergonomics not being that good.

I also got the new Plussound Dual-Copper cable, this is more my thing. Looks great with Oracle MKIII and have better ergonomics than the Cadmus and also the stock cable, the sound is balanced and fuller sounding overall.



Another good option is to use a Graphene SPC as this seems to soften the treble some, good if you're more treble sensitive.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance. I will make a short description here of the differences, with more notes under the music section later.



The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Thieaudio Hype 4

The most well renowned IEM from their Hype series the Hype 4 is retailing at $399, it has the same double dynamic driver IMPACT2 as Oracle MKIII but paired with 4 balanced armatures. The shells have the exact same size and ergonomics, both have beautiful design. The accessories are the same unless I'm wrong as this is a loan unit from a friend, the stock cable on the Hype 4 is 3.5mm instead of modular.

In short HYPE 4 is more V shaped and Oracle MKIII is more like halfway W and V shape due to more engaging midrange.
The bass of both sound very similar, some music do sound fuller and thicker on Oracle and is maybe more due to the rest of the tuning.
Midrange is fuller and more present on Oracle MKIII, HYPE 4 can often be found lacking in presence and be slightly hollow.
Highs is sharper and less smooth on HYPE 4, Oracle MKIII differentiates itself having more ethereal treble that's smoother.

Soundstage also seems slightly affected by the changes, and has more extensions to both the width and height on Oracle.



DITA AUDIO Project M

The Project M is DITA AUDIO’s latest IEM and has a minimalistic setup of 1 dynamic driver and 1 balanced armature, it retails at $329. The included packaging and accessories is equally impressive as from Oracle MKIII, the design is in filled clear resin and is similarly ergonomic.

I would categorize the Project M as a neutral bright IEM, much less warm than the Oracle MKIII.
The project M is the most crisp sounding with the brightest tonality, slightly thicker midrange that can suit some darker vocalists.

The bass of Project M is faster and denser with less impactful quantity, specially the sub bass lack quantity versus Oracle.
Other than that the Project M has a slightly more coherent transition from bass into midrange as its one DD doing the work, and it has a glide style approach of the bass shelf.
Upper midrange of Project M has a dip and this softens some brighter instruments or vocals, it's still very good but can lack some clarity and presence compared to Oracle MKIII.
The treble of Project M is handled by the single BA, this is quite pronounced and sounds good for me but is less coherent than Oracle MKIII. It also makes it the brightest of the sets here, I find it the most airy but not as controlled and pleasing as that goes to Oracle. Similar to the Hype 4 this doesn't have the same nice shimmery air, and elevated BA treble is often more tiresome.

Soundstage is more circular and smaller than Oracle MKIII, while Oracle projects more in a stage the Project M is more around you in a circle.



Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/9f17404d-f00a-4c7f-aaaa-57cc6e2dc8df

When comparing IEM to other sets I have used the tracks listed here, I will provide some notes under each track.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/24054694?u
With All My Love - Melanie De Biasio

This is the first track I tried for vocals on Oracle MKIII, it does sound very engaging and full sounding and captures all I want in her voice. Hype 4 lacks a little of the magic and sounds thinner here, same for Project M that lacks the same presence in her voice. Hype 4 and Oracle position her a little in front while Project M centers her voice more in-between my ears. The the rest of the instruments goes wider on Oracle and Hype, while the Project M expands more circularly around but with a smaller stage.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/130833527?u
Arpeggi - Kelly Lee Owens

The bass quality of Oracle Mk3 is awesome here, having both great texture and impact. This track sounds boring and more hollow on sets with faster DD, Project M still does a fine job but not as well as Hype 4 and Oracle. Both due to quantity and the decay being faster, the impact of Oracle and Hype also sound more impactful. The only difference between Oracle and Hype is more fullness overall outside the bass, the synth elements are more pleasing in a way. But the difference is small.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/58379527?u
Escape Artist Zoë Keating

The double bass driver of Oracle and Hype 4 works well with textured cello playing, it sounds vibrant and full with deep resonating notes. Project M lacks both quantity of bass to sound full and is a little too fast for this. The bass while being more separated with the clean mids still sound coherent and realistic, im super impressed by Oracle here. Hype 4 is almost similar, just a little more hollow and lacks something in the midrange and highs to sound as engaging.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/195364909?u
Woven into Sorrow - Swallow The Sun

One of my favorite bands, one of the more relaxed tracks from them and sound often best on sets with thicker bass. Oracle MK3 has just enough fullness, could have liked a little more thickness into the midrange to make the instrument and vocal denser. But in return the Oracle delivers crystal clear sound, well separated and open. Project M in comparison sounds thinner and lacks the fulness of Oracle MK3, and it doesn't sound more open either. Hype 4 sounds very similar to Oracle, just lacks a little of the fulness and has sharper cymbals than Oracle. Can hear the EST making it more shimmery in the airy notes on Oracle, the BA of Project M and H4 is instead sharper and less pleasing.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/373748328?u
Forget it - Yorushika

I am not often listening to J-Pop as I'm more into K-Pop, during the review now I have been exploring some playlists and it has been more enjoyable than with most other sets before. Oracle MKIII does a good job at making it engaging and clean sounding, her voice sounds full and the instruments are well separated to not make it muddy or thick.
Project M lacks some clarity to sound fully engaging compared to Oracle MKIII, this is due to that upper mids being dipped. Hype 4 is more similar to Oracle, but lacks a little of the magic sounding more tiresome and less musical and full.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/77697156?u
Johannsson: Orphic Hymn - Jophan Johannsson

Contemporary classical album, the last track of the album is the most remarkable of them with a chorus singing. Oracle MKIII captures a deep stage extending with both good height and width. It sounds realistic and full on the choir, changing over to the Hype 4 it sounds thinner and less emotional. Little surprising as I wouldnt think the stage would be different, but it sounds less deep and more closed in. For Project M it is also magical here, captures the soul of the chorus but in a softer way than Oracle MKIII. What both Hype and PM lacks is the ethereal projection of their voices that the EST brings, it adds the extra touch making it more engaging.

Should also mention that when the choir goes very high and intense the PM is the softest and Oracle the most intense, very much sound like Oracle have the widest dynamic range and PM the smallest due to this. Also means Oracle can get more tiresome when vocals are pushed.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/7397033?u
So Many Tears - 2Pac

Not the biggest hip hop or rap listener, picking a song from one of my first CDs from my youth.
Hype 4 sounds slightly hollow here in the mids compared to both Project M and Oracle, the Oracle MK3 and Hype 4 both have a very full sounding and textured sub bass rumble. PM lacks the bass quantity and sounds less impressive compared to the other two. Oracle MK3 does push itself above the others more than I thought it would on this, only thing I could have liked more was a little thicker low midrange to sound even fuller.



Conclusion

I guess I can now call myself a THIEAUDIO fan, Oracle MKIII is now my top choice for tribrids under $1000. This has become one of my favorite IEMs, one that I will treasure going forward.

The Oracle MKIII delivers a resolving and clean sound with enough warmth to keep music fun and engaging. The IMPACT2 bass driver delivers a super textured and impactful subwoofer-like bass experience, this while having a clean and open midrange. The upper frequencies are tuned in a clear and resolving way, without getting sibilant or harsh. This is the perfect upgrade for people who own the Hype 4 and want a similar but more balanced and higher end sound.

It has a tonality that works well with most music, for example I love to listen to technical electronica that make full use of the IMPACT2 driver and the clear separated sound. Or change over to jazz where something like the double bass can show itself for full with all the textured notes, while brass or cymbals sound shimmery and airy up top. Sometimes I would have loved a little extra thickness, but this would have taken away the clear and separated sound.

The Oracle MKIII is delivered with great accessories, the modular cable and the large storage case is excellent. Everything you need to get a good experience, same can be said for the excellent ergonomics and build quality.

I look forward to hearing more from THIEAUDIO in the future. And if it was not clear throughout the review, I highly recommend the Oracle MKIII.