Empire Ears Legend X SE VS ThieAudio Valhalla
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Empire Ears Legend X SE and ThieAudio Valhalla use 2DD+5BA and 19BA driver setups respectively. Empire Ears Legend X SE costs $2,400 while ThieAudio Valhalla costs $2,000. Empire Ears Legend X SE is $400 more expensive. ThieAudio Valhalla holds a decisive 1.8-point edge in reviewer scores (7.1 vs 8.9). ThieAudio Valhalla has slightly better bass with a 0.3-point edge, ThieAudio Valhalla has significantly better mids with a 1.1-point edge, ThieAudio Valhalla has better treble with a 0.8-point edge, ThieAudio Valhalla has significantly better dynamics with a 2-point edge, ThieAudio Valhalla has better details with a 0.5-point edge and ThieAudio Valhalla has better imaging with a 0.8-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Empire Ears Legend X SE | ThieAudio Valhalla |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 8 | 8.3 |
| Mids | 7 | 8.1 |
| Treble | 7 | 7.8 |
| Details | 8 | 8.5 |
| Soundstage | 7.1 | 8.5 |
| Imaging | 8 | 8.8 |
| Dynamics | 6 | 8 |
| Tonality | 7.2 | 8.5 |
| Technicalities | 7.2 | 8.4 |
Empire Ears Legend X SE Aggregated Review Score
Empire Ears Legend X SE Average Reviewer Scores
ThieAudio Valhalla Aggregated Review Score
ThieAudio Valhalla Average Reviewer Scores
Empire Ears Legend X SE Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+5BA
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Price (Msrp): $2,400
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ThieAudio Valhalla Details
Driver Configuration: 19BA
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Price (Msrp): $2,000
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Empire Ears Legend X SE User Review Score
Empire Ears Legend X SE Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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ThieAudio Valhalla User Review Score
ThieAudio Valhalla Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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Empire Ears Legend X SE Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
5.7Gaming Grade
B-ThieAudio Valhalla Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.9Gaming Grade
AEmpire Ears Legend X SE Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.
Average Technical Grade
A-- Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
ThieAudio Valhalla Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
S-- Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.
Average Technical Grade
A+- Very competent with articulate presentation. Well-defined layers and precise imaging. Soundstage is immersive and handles dynamics well.
Empire Ears Legend X SE Reviews
Empire Ears Legend X SE reviewed by: Precogvision
7.2
Reviewer Score
Lacks control in the bass, but it's so fun. Excellent imaging performance that belies its tuning. Precogvision Youtube Channel
Empire Ears Legend X SE reviewed by: Crin
7
Reviewer Score
A more upper-mid-forward variation of the original Legend X, which could come off as slightly more mid-recessed. Crin Youtube Channel
ThieAudio Valhalla Reviews
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by: Super* Review
2025-08-19
9*
* score normalized
I'm really tempted to go out and buy one of this things for myself - if it fit me even better, I probably would.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
Thieaudio’s Valhalla is a $2,000, all–balanced armature flagship packing 19 balanced armatures in new-for-the-brand metal shells. The look leans understated—gunmetal/pewter with a hint of rosiness—and the build feels solid, though the stock cable is thick and the swappable plugs rely on friction with no positive lock, which can pull loose. Fit is still large, but notably better than recent Monarch generations: once seated it’s stable and secure enough for long sessions, even if it won’t disappear in-ear.
Tonally, Valhalla targets a clean neutral with a meaty, sub-bass–focused boost, slightly warmer through the mids and less peaky up top than Monarch Mk IV. Despite being all-BA, the bass feels more dynamic and satisfying than the Monarch’s, and the big story is technical performance: imaging, separation, stage definition, and overall resolution are genuinely standout—“flagship-grade” in a way many kilobuck sets aren’t. Downsides are the sheer size and that cumbersome cable, but as a listen it’s special and compelling. Verdict: four stars out of five, and an easy pick over Monarch Mk IV on sonics if the fit works.
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by:
Fresh Reviews
7.5*
* The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
S tier for COD, borders A- for other titlesFresh Reviews original ranking
Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by: Smirk Audio
8.1
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by: Jays Audio
9.5
Reviewer Score
TOTL all-rounder with "endgame" tech across the board, a better tuned U12T with better bass texture Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Thieaudio Valhalla lands as an “endgame” all-rounder with standout resolution, micro-detail, and imaging. Layering and separation are locked in, with vocals that aren’t scooped—mids stay present and natural. Sub-bass hits rumblier than the U12t and the treble avoids that sudden, sharp peak, making the overall presentation smoother yet still airy. Versus the Cadenza 12, Valhalla is less treble-heavy, a touch bassier, and not as bright-leaning; the Cadenza 12 may edge it on micro-detail by only a few percentage points, so it’s a straight tuning preference: go Cadenza 12 for leaner/brighter sparkle, go Valhalla for the better-balanced bassy all-rounder.
On value, this isn’t twice the performance of a Monarch Mk II/Mk III—think ~10% better with clear diminishing returns. For the “chase the very best” crowd, it’s absolutely worth a listen; for most, Monarchs/LTD/Crimson are already more than enough for a so-called endgame. Final call: Top Tier for tuning and sound refinement—not a value pick, but a legit endgame-grade set.
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by: Jaytiss
9.6
Reviewer Score
Big fan, but lack fantastic air like some other sets. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Thieaudio Valhalla lands as a 19-BA flagship around $2,000 that doubles down on build and ergonomics. The titanium shell is chunky but beautifully machined, skin-friendly, and the nozzle grips tips securely; faceplates are swappable for a premium if the stock look isn’t it. Accessories are basic—tips, foams, brush, the usual case—and the stock cable is comfy with a working chin slider, but the modular 3.5/4.4 plugs don’t lock and can pop off too easily. The slightly recessed 2-pin is fine, yet the ear-side barrel leaves a small gap that doesn’t sit flush; a simple aftermarket cable fixes the vibe. Taken as an object, this is world-class industrial design with a couple cable quirks.
On the ear, Valhalla hits a clean, incisive neutrality with just enough flavor. Sub-bass is surprisingly firm for BA, mid-bass stays tidy, and the mids are pristine—no glaze, no haze. There’s a tasteful dip through ~3–6 kHz that keeps the upper-mids from shouting, while a touch of 8 kHz sparkle adds air; treble extends smoothly without turning edgy. It’s a highly technical, high-resolution listen that can read “almost boring” if a colored signature is the goal—but for detail, separation, and coherence, it delivers. Unit variation appears minor (another sample showed a bit more 4–6 k energy), yet the core tuning stays intact.
Versus housemates: Origin swings bassier and “fun”; Valhalla feels cleaner, clearer, more resolute. Hype 2/4 don’t match the air and microdetail; Hype 10 gets closer up top but raises value questions. Oracle MK3 has more 4–5 k zing and lighter sub-bass; Fatfreq Grand Maestro hits similarly rich lows but brings fit hassles and module faff. Against the Elysian Annihilator, pick Annihilator for extra sub-bass and spectacle; pick Valhalla for comfort, longevity, and easy cable-swapping. Not perfect—the stock cable system is flimsy and the “air” isn’t the most crystalline—but this is a top-tier contender with a refined, broadly pleasing tuning and a shell that feels built to outlast the hype.
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by: Bad Guy Good Audio
8.7
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking
Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
ThieAudio Valhalla comes in hot as a true flagship challenger: a titanium shell housing 19 drivers—14 “Sonion” and five “Knowles"—and a price planted in the ~$2K bracket. This tier isn’t like GPUs where benchmarks decide winners; earphones here are closer to watches—craft, taste, and execution. On that score, Valhalla feels legit: premium build, branded internals, and tuning aimed squarely at high-end competition that regularly asks two to three times more.
The low end lands with plenty of energy and control—808 drops for Ghetto Boys/Public Enemy/Wu-Tang/Kendrick/Tupac/Outkast hit clean, while four- and five-string bass guitar lines carry real texture and decay. Iconic kick work like “When the Levee Breaks” thumps with satisfying weight without smearing. Midrange is dialed: no bloated mid-bass warming up female vocals, no shouty upper mids pushing voices unnaturally forward—great for a vocal-centric library and classic cuts (think “Sultans of Swing”). Up top, harmonics extend with air and clarity without the zingy fatigue—decays aren’t chopped off, so cymbals and overtones feel complete rather than muted.
On ranking, this reads as a top-five contender with this library, easily competing with sets in the $4–6K lane on balance, quality, and tuning. The only real ding is the presentation box, which doesn’t scream “luxury” the way the sound and build do. Verdict: squarely between “would buy” and “going to hype it.” Given ThieAudio’s run of legit releases (Monarch line, Oracle MKIII, etc.), Valhalla fits the pattern—no weak link in the chain, just a serious flagship play at a price that undercuts many rivals.
ThieAudio Valhalla reviewed by: Shuwa-T
8.3
Reviewer Score
Deep bass despite all BA set, techs carry this set more than the overall tone Treble is mushy for something with so many BAs, not for high frequency enjoyers
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