Faudio Dark Sky VS Thieaudio Monarch MK3

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

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Faudio Dark Sky and Thieaudio Monarch MK3 use 1DD and 2DD+6BA+2EST driver setups respectively. Faudio Dark Sky costs $1,150 while Thieaudio Monarch MK3 costs $1,000. Faudio Dark Sky is $150 more expensive. Thieaudio Monarch MK3 holds a decisive 2.2-point edge in reviewer scores (5.9 vs 8.1). Thieaudio Monarch MK3 carries a user score of 6.8. Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better bass with a 1.5-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better mids with a 2.7-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better treble with a 3.3-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better soundstage with a 2-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better details with a 1.8-point edge and Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better imaging with a 1.4-point edge.

Insights

Metric Faudio Dark Sky Thieaudio Monarch MK3
Bass 6 7.5
Mids 5 7.7
Treble 4.5 7.8
Details 6 7.8
Soundstage 6 8
Imaging 6 7.4
Dynamics 5.9 7.3
Tonality 6.1 7.8
Technicalities 6.2 7.8

Faudio Dark Sky Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision Shuwa-T
Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

5.9

Mixed

Show all Faudio Dark Sky reviews

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Smirk Audio Tim Tuned Precogvision Nymz Fresh Reviews
Jays Audio Jaytiss Shuwa-T Gizaudio Axel
Z-Reviews

Average Reviewer Score:

8.1

Very Positive

Show all Thieaudio Monarch MK3 reviews

Faudio Dark Sky Details

Driver Configuration: 1DD

Tuning Type: V-Shaped

Brand: FAudio Top FAudio IEMs

Price (Msrp): $1,150

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Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Details

Driver Configuration: 2DD+6BA+2EST

Tuning Type: U-Shaped

Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs

Price (Msrp): $1,000

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$999
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Faudio Dark Sky User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Thieaudio Monarch MK3 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

6.8

Cautiously Favorable

Faudio Dark Sky Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

5.1

Gaming Grade

C+

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7.5

Gaming Grade

A

Faudio Dark Sky Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass B
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids C+
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble C
Average treble performance - present but lacking refinement. Some graininess or splashiness affects clarity.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Details B
Good resolution with clear articulation of nuances. Reveals recording nuances and maintains clarity in complex passages.
Imaging B
Good imaging with precise instrument placement. Clear localization within the soundstage including front/back positioning.
Gaming C+
Fundamental left/right positioning with limited depth perception. Works for non-competitive gaming but lacks precision. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 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 A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
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 A
Clear spatial presentation handles directional cues effectively. Distinguishes key gameplay sounds while maintaining decent immersion. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Faudio Dark Sky Reviews

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 6.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 5.6 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B Tech
5kHz runs slightly hot and technicalities aren't enough to push it above the single-DD competition.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 5.6 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
B Tech
Comment: Expensive but not justified. Bass-oriented, good treble extension It's not great bass, treble is splashy yet not well defined

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: B Mids: C+ Treble: C Soundstage: B Details: B Imaging: B

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Reviews

Reviewed by: Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 10 * score normalized
check links for more info:

Z-Reviews original ranking

Z-Reviews Youtube Channel
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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Jays Audio 8.5 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
S- Tech
Better low-end texture and overall more engaging than MK2, but lacks the mid-range/vocal magic, so depending on your preference either is great. Still TOTL tech like MK2. Great all-rounder.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 8.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A- Tech
Fatiging at times for me, too fun at times.

Jaytiss original ranking

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

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 8.2 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Better bass response compared to the mk2 Trades off the lush midrange in place of a cleaner sounding, almost boring midrange

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

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

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
I prefer the Monarch MK II for its tonality, vocals, and timbre, but I get why some prefer the MK III. More bass, treble, and detail than the Monarch MK II. The vocal magic of the Monarch MK II is gone.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.9 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Elevated, well-textured mid-bass. Pleasant mids. Elevated upper-treble may be pesky to some.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

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

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

2025-08-14
Tim Tuned 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
S Tech
MK2 but more fun and more V-shape Not as natural in timbre

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A+

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 7.3 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Still perplexingly poor bass performance, but improves upon the Monarch MKII's treble extension noticeably.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Dynamics: B Details: A+ Imaging: A-

Reviewed by: Nymz

Nymz 7.1 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
An improvement in the bass and treble department over the Mk2, but without the same special sauce in the mid-range and with some imaging problems still.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

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

Reviewed by: Fresh Reviews

Fresh Reviews 7* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Borders A for some titles

Fresh Reviews original ranking

Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel
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Faudio Dark Sky User Reviews

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Thieaudio Monarch MK3 User Reviews

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Makavelian
6.8

If this is what 'fun' sounds like, I ain't about it.

Pros
Detail retrieval
Cons
Recessed mids and odd timbre.

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