Finally, got the demo unit for both the monarch and clair yesterday. I also did some A/B comparisons with other brands for my final thought.
NOTE: I bought my unit with my own money, full price. This impression and my final thought are based on my hearing as a consumer and not sponsored by any company.
Also, excuse me for my english, its not my main language. I will try my best to write my thought.
At last, the clair demo unit arrived yesterday and Linsoul manager Lilian arranged meeting in local Starbucks to do my demo.
First, I tried the clair. First impression, very huge shell!!! its large and thick, even thicker than the qdc anole vx and s8/b2. I got almost no problem with the comfort and fit, however it might be an issue for smaller size ears. The left unit fits perfectly, but the right unit, I have to move it around a bit to find a perfect fit. Maybe this is production issue?
Sound wise, it reminds me of the HD 650. neutral, thick and smooth and got bit of a bass kick. The vocals is a bit forward I think? just like the 650, but with more bass punch and details. Its not as musical as the full size 650, but close enough. Imaging and precision both are good enough, better than the 650 or ie8 for sure. However, it doesn't have the large soundstage as the ie8, but close enough.
This is the selling point of the clair, very smooth and thick musical tonality, very pleasant to hear.
Then, I tried the monarch. same huge shell, but this one fits perfectly on my first try for both unit. i still think maybe its a slight production issue for the clair right unit.
When I first listened to it. I was surprised by how clean and detailed the monarch is. This is a brand new experience for me, to hear such sound signature. Its neutral, clear and precise with deep bass. Tonality is not as thick and musical as clair for sure, but I think its not thin either. It got enough body and still pleasant to hear, although not as smooth as the clair.
Even though not as smooth, I am amazed with the technicality of the monarch. Bass doesn't punch as much as the clair, but it hits deep. crinacle and discourse review said that it got this rumbling effect from its deep sub bass. I though maybe this is just some technical term that we average consumer really dont care. However, when I hear daftpunk and some disney music (please dont judge me
), I definitely can feel the rumble. This is like, a brand new experience for me, nothing like other headphone or iem I ever owned.
In the end, although the clair sounds very sweet and smooth, but my ears just wanted to hear the monarch more. I hands automatically reached to the monarch and my brain also told me that the monarch is the best set for me.
So, I purchased the monarch full price.
Notes for both monarch and clair. The stock cables are very good, thick yet not stiff. Its kinda like some fancy cable that audio store sell for hundreds of dollars. I dont know about the sound with the more fancy cable, the stock cable already sounds good for me.
The carrying pouch however, is too small. Not deep enough for the cables and the iems, since both unit's shell is very huge, Need larger case/ pouch.
Also, the clair is harder to drive than the monarch. Using fiio btr5 for the monarch, I use 23 volume to reach my sweet spot, but need 25 for the clair
In my opinion, There is no S or A rank. Both of them is equally good. It depends on what do you want to hear? Do you want more musical with more body but smooth tone and bit of bass kick, go with the clair. If you want clean, more details and deep bass, go with the monarch.
Even without EQ or the 20ohm adapter, the monarch still sounds good for me.
Final note, I think the monarch tone is not as thin as the clair, like most reviewers said. It still got body and texture, but not as much as the clair. Same like the clair. Its also got details and precision, just not as much as the monarch.
