FIR Audio RN6 VS Thieaudio Valhalla

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

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FIR Audio RN6 and Thieaudio Valhalla use 1EST+1DD BA and 19BA driver setups respectively. FIR Audio RN6 costs $3,300 while Thieaudio Valhalla costs $2,000. FIR Audio RN6 is $1,300 more expensive. Thieaudio Valhalla holds a decisive 2.7-point edge in reviewer scores (6.2 vs 8.9). Thieaudio Valhalla has significantly better bass with a 1.5-point edge, Thieaudio Valhalla has significantly better mids with a 2.5-point edge, Thieaudio Valhalla has significantly better treble with a 2-point edge, Thieaudio Valhalla has significantly better details with a 2.5-point edge and Thieaudio Valhalla has significantly better imaging with a 2.8-point edge.

Insights

Metric FIR Audio RN6 Thieaudio Valhalla
Bass 7 8.5
Mids 6 8.5
Treble 6 8
Details 6 8.5
Soundstage 9 9
Imaging 6 8.8
Dynamics 8.5 8.5
Gaming capabilities 4.6 8.2

FIR Audio RN6 Aggregated Review Score

FIR Audio RN6 Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz

Average Reviewer Score:

6.2

Mixed to Positive


Thieaudio Valhalla Aggregated Review Score

Thieaudio Valhalla Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Smirk Audio Shuwa-T
Super* Review Jays Audio Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

8.9

Outstanding


FIR Audio RN6 User Review Score

FIR Audio RN6 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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FIR Audio RN6 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

4.6

Gaming Grade

C

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

8.2

Gaming Grade

A+

FIR Audio RN6 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 A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids B
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble B
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
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
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Thieaudio Valhalla Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

S-
  • Highly polished technical execution. Excellent frequency synergy creates an immersive experience. Enhances musical content.

Average Technical Grade

S-
  • Excellent clarity and detail. Precise imaging and expansive soundstage. Manages complex passages with minimal smearing and good transient speed.
Bass S-
Excellent bass response - powerful yet controlled. Deep extension with authoritative slam while maintaining clarity.
Mids S-
Superb midrange that's rich and resolving. Exceptional transparency and micro-details with perfect vocal/instrument balance.
Treble A+
Superb treble: effortless extension with crystal clarity. Perfect balance of sparkle and smoothness with exceptional detail.
Dynamics S-
Superb dynamic range - powerful yet nuanced. Exceptional transient response with lifelike impact and subtle volume gradations.
Soundstage S
Reference-class soundstage: perfectly spherical presentation with infinite space. Utterly realistic instrument placement and venue reproduction.
Details S-
Exceptional resolution that uncovers the deepest layers. Retrieves even the most minute details while maintaining natural timbre.
Imaging S-
Exceptional imaging with holographic precision. Creates a palpable sense of physical placement with perfect positional stability.
Gaming A+
Reliable positional tracking with good environmental awareness. Maintains clarity during busy scenes while conveying atmospheric depth. Premium pricing warrants consideration of gaming-first alternatives for lower cost

FIR Audio RN6 Reviews

FIR Audio RN6 reviewed by:

Nymz 6.2 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B Tech
Good bass texture with nothing else remarkable... until I saw its price.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

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

Thieaudio Valhalla Reviews

Thieaudio Valhalla reviewed by:

2025-08-19
Super* Review 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
- Super* Review

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.

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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 titles

Fresh Reviews original ranking

Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel
- Fresh Reviews

Thieaudio Valhalla reviewed by:

Smirk Audio 8.1 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

- Smirk Audio
Bass: S- Mids: A Treble: A Dynamics: A+ Details: S- Imaging: S-

Thieaudio Valhalla reviewed by:

Jays Audio 9.5 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
S Tech
TOTL all-rounder with "endgame" tech across the board, a better tuned U12T with better bass texture

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio

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
S Tuning
S Tech
Big fan, but lack fantastic air like some other sets.

Jaytiss original ranking

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

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:

Shuwa-T 8.3 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S- Tech
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

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

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