I should have posted this here:
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I just got the Monarch mkii and I am listening now. Initial impression is that I think this is tuned to my own personal preference curve. Everything just sounds true. The reduction in the sub bass and shifting the bass shelf to the right puts the overall tuning into a better balance. I am not getting that initial reaction of being blown away with something like I was with the EE EVO bass or the UM Indigo Imaging. But, everything just sounds correct. I think this may be my palette cleansing neutral. Been listening for a few hours and perhaps I am adjusting to them, but the longer I listen, the more I like them. I did switch to Indigo for a short time to see how they compare. You can definitely tell the difference in imaging and what I am hearing is interesting. The Monarch has more traditional imaging with outstanding tuning. So, when I listen to Classical music and Jazz, it sounds more correct than MEST. MEST is playing tricks with the imaging. Maybe that is the bone conduction driver at work. It almost sounds non-fixed which seems to give it more dimensionality and assisting with the 3D effect. I think the Monarch mkii has more reference tuning and makes Classical Music and Jazz sound outstanding because it is more true. Not colored or emphasized in one part of the FR curve than another. It has very good treble air for piano harmonics and the treble is not fatiguing like the EE Odin can be. I cannot say that the mkii leads technically in bass, mids or treble as EVO and Odin have better bass and VE8 has better mids, but it does everything well and in balance to my ear. If imaging is the secret sauce for the Indigo, then the tuning is the outstanding feature of the Monarch mkii for me. It may not be suitable for everyone, but I thought the Monarch OG was my preference curve and this is definitely better. I wonder what Thieaudio can do in $2000 product?
From a build perspective, Thieaudio hit a home run. Everything is an upgrade to the Monarch OG. The cable is a lot nicer. It has connectors that plug into the cable like DUNU and they feel very nice. The shells are a bit smaller which should work well for people with smaller ears. The nozzle may be the largest I have ever seen. It's huge and may be a problem for people with small ear canals. The unboxing experience is definitely more high end. Given the overall experience in sound, build and quality, this IEM should be priced well above the $999 that it currently sells at. If they can scale up, it will blow away everything at its price point like it does at under $1000 now.
What do like better. Indigo or Monarch mkii? Indigo for fun and Monarch mkii for reference and analytical listening. I would have to go with Indigo, but Monarch mkii is a keeper. Something else has to go. Probably IER-M9 since they mostly overlap and Monarch is way better.
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I just got the Monarch mkii and I am listening now. Initial impression is that I think this is tuned to my own personal preference curve. Everything just sounds true. The reduction in the sub bass and shifting the bass shelf to the right puts the overall tuning into a better balance. I am not getting that initial reaction of being blown away with something like I was with the EE EVO bass or the UM Indigo Imaging. But, everything just sounds correct. I think this may be my palette cleansing neutral. Been listening for a few hours and perhaps I am adjusting to them, but the longer I listen, the more I like them. I did switch to Indigo for a short time to see how they compare. You can definitely tell the difference in imaging and what I am hearing is interesting. The Monarch has more traditional imaging with outstanding tuning. So, when I listen to Classical music and Jazz, it sounds more correct than MEST. MEST is playing tricks with the imaging. Maybe that is the bone conduction driver at work. It almost sounds non-fixed which seems to give it more dimensionality and assisting with the 3D effect. I think the Monarch mkii has more reference tuning and makes Classical Music and Jazz sound outstanding because it is more true. Not colored or emphasized in one part of the FR curve than another. It has very good treble air for piano harmonics and the treble is not fatiguing like the EE Odin can be. I cannot say that the mkii leads technically in bass, mids or treble as EVO and Odin have better bass and VE8 has better mids, but it does everything well and in balance to my ear. If imaging is the secret sauce for the Indigo, then the tuning is the outstanding feature of the Monarch mkii for me. It may not be suitable for everyone, but I thought the Monarch OG was my preference curve and this is definitely better. I wonder what Thieaudio can do in $2000 product?
From a build perspective, Thieaudio hit a home run. Everything is an upgrade to the Monarch OG. The cable is a lot nicer. It has connectors that plug into the cable like DUNU and they feel very nice. The shells are a bit smaller which should work well for people with smaller ears. The nozzle may be the largest I have ever seen. It's huge and may be a problem for people with small ear canals. The unboxing experience is definitely more high end. Given the overall experience in sound, build and quality, this IEM should be priced well above the $999 that it currently sells at. If they can scale up, it will blow away everything at its price point like it does at under $1000 now.
What do like better. Indigo or Monarch mkii? Indigo for fun and Monarch mkii for reference and analytical listening. I would have to go with Indigo, but Monarch mkii is a keeper. Something else has to go. Probably IER-M9 since they mostly overlap and Monarch is way better.
