EarSonics Stark VS ThieAudio Prestige LTD

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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EarSonics Stark and ThieAudio Prestige LTD use 1DD+4BA and 1DD+4BA+4EST driver setups respectively. EarSonics Stark costs $1,540 while ThieAudio Prestige LTD costs $1,300. EarSonics Stark is $240 more expensive. ThieAudio Prestige LTD holds a decisive 5.1-point edge in reviewer scores (3.2 vs 8.3).

Insights

Metric EarSonics Stark ThieAudio Prestige LTD
Bass 3.2 7.5
Mids 3.2 7.8
Treble 3.2 7.8
Details 3.2 7.3
Soundstage 3.2 8
Imaging 3.2 7.5
Dynamics 3.2 6.3
Tonality 3 7.8
Technicalities 4 7.8

EarSonics Stark Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

3.2

Very Poor


ThieAudio Prestige LTD Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Shuwa-T Smirk Audio Nymz
Bad Guy Good Audio Jaytiss
Jays Audio
Z-Reviews

Average Reviewer Score:

8.3

Very Positive


EarSonics Stark User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

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ThieAudio Prestige LTD User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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EarSonics Stark Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

2.2

Gaming Grade

E+

ThieAudio Prestige LTD Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.8

Gaming Grade

B+

EarSonics Stark Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

D
  • Significantly flawed tuning. Noticeable frequency imbalances and unnatural timbre distract from music. Lacks versatility across recordings.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Gaming E+
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

ThieAudio Prestige LTD Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Bass A
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids A
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics B
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Details A-
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

EarSonics Stark Reviews

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 3.3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
C- Tech
Silly amounts of bass without the midrange and treble to balance it out properly.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
C- Tech
Typical Earsonics house sound of "screwed up midrange", now with DD bass.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

ThieAudio Prestige LTD Reviews

Reviewed by: Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 10 * score normalized
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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Jays Audio 9 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
S Tech
Clean and natural signature with treble emphasis. LOTS of details with airy treble without going overboard (better treble extension vs MK2/MK3). Bass is not as impactful versus MK3 but has better separation. Overall a technical monster, but can be a bit dry due to less mid-bass. Vocals are further vs MK3 and MK2 (not as forward), giving it that open sense of space. MK2 still the best for vocals, but LTD is an endgame all-rounder.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Bad Guy Good Audio

Bad Guy Good Audio 8.1 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A+

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
The unit I reviewed had wonky bass, expect this to change if I review a unit with proper bass.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 7.9 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech
A much better implementation than the Prestige OG

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: S- Mids: A+ Treble: A Soundstage: A+ Details: A Imaging: A+

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.6 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: A Details: A Imaging: A

Reviewed by: Nymz

Nymz 7.3 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
The best Thieaudio I've heard to date. Very close tonality to the Mk3, but with better technical performance, especially in the dynamics and stage departments.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A+ Details: A- Imaging: A-

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