Thieaudio Monarch MK3 VS Ice Labs Prismatica Gold

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

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Thieaudio Monarch MK3 and Ice Labs Prismatica Gold use 2DD+6BA+2EST and 5BA driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Monarch MK3 costs $1,000 while Ice Labs Prismatica Gold costs $1,100. Ice Labs Prismatica Gold is $100 more expensive. Thieaudio Monarch MK3 holds a clear 0.8-point edge in reviewer scores (8.1 vs 7.3). Thieaudio Monarch MK3 carries a user score of 6.8. Ice Labs Prismatica Gold has slightly better bass with a 0.3-point edge, Ice Labs Prismatica Gold has slightly better mids with a 0.3-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has better treble with a 0.8-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has better details with a 0.8-point edge and Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has slightly better imaging with a 0.4-point edge.

Insights

Metric Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Ice Labs Prismatica Gold
Bass 7.5 7.8
Mids 7.7 8
Treble 7.8 7
Details 7.8 7
Soundstage 8 7
Imaging 7.4 7
Dynamics 7.3 7.5
Tonality 7.8 7.6
Technicalities 7.8 7.1

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

Ice Labs Prismatica Gold Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Smirk Audio Shuwa-T

Average Reviewer Score:

7.3

Generally Favorable

Show all Ice Labs Prismatica Gold reviews

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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Ice Labs Prismatica Gold Details

Driver Configuration: 5BA

Tuning Type: bass-boosted neutral

Price (Msrp): $1,100

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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

Ice Labs Prismatica Gold User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

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

Ice Labs Prismatica Gold Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

6.3

Gaming Grade

B

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

Ice Labs Prismatica Gold 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-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass A
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids A+
Superb midrange that's rich and resolving. Exceptional transparency and micro-details with perfect vocal/instrument balance.
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-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
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
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

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
YouTube video thumbnail

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Ice Labs Prismatica Gold Reviews

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.3 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: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 7.3 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A- Tech
Warm with lovely mids that focuses on musicality over sheer technical performance Somewhat middling technical performance that struggles with faster genres

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

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

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.

Ice Labs Prismatica Gold User Reviews

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0.0

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