Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 VS Moondrop Illustrious
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 and Moondrop Illustrious use 1DD+6BA+2EST and 1DD driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 costs $1,000 while Moondrop Illustrious costs $899. Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 is $101 more expensive. Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 holds a decisive 1.7-point edge in reviewer scores (8 vs 6.3). Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better bass with a 1.8-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better mids with a 2.9-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better treble with a 1.5-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better dynamics with a 2-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better details with a 2.6-point edge and Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better imaging with a 2.4-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 | Moondrop Illustrious |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 6.8 | 5 |
| Mids | 8.4 | 5.5 |
| Treble | 7.5 | 6 |
| Details | 7.6 | 5 |
| Soundstage | 8 | 7 |
| Imaging | 7.4 | 5 |
| Dynamics | 6.5 | 4.5 |
| Tonality | 8 | 6.1 |
| Technicalities | 7.8 | 6.8 |
Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Moondrop Illustrious Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+6BA+2EST
Tuning Type: bass-boosted neutral
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,000
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Moondrop Illustrious Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD
Tuning Type: Moondrop
Brand: Moondrop Top Moondrop IEMs
Price (Msrp): $899
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Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 User Review Score
Average User Scores
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Moondrop Illustrious User Review Score
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Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.9Gaming Grade
B+Moondrop Illustrious Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
5.6Gaming Grade
B-Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.
Average Technical Grade
A- Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Moondrop Illustrious 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.
Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Reviews
9*
* score normalized
8.5
Reviewer Score
Neutral tuning with one of the clearest mid-ranges. Natural and clean vocals. Great resolution, separation, and detail. Can be a little dry with its analytical presentation. Bass is well-seperated from other instruments, but nothing special especially at $1K. Would've liked more depth, and treble is also a bit unstable and dips, resulting in a lack of air/depth. Mid-bass is just enough for my library, but would've liked more for genres like hiphop and rock. Cable is heavy, and fit may be too big for many (need to shove in deep). Jays Audio Youtube Channel
8.5
Reviewer Score
Too much unit variation to recommend to others highly. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
8.5
Reviewer Score
8
Reviewer Score
Outstanding tuning. Smooth, balanced tuning with natural vocals, beautiful timbre, and excellent tonality. Detail and could use more bass. Treble depends on ear tips.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
7.9
Reviewer Score
Organic midrange Wooly bass response and less prominent treble may not work best for certain genres
7.6
Reviewer Score
Good treble with tons of air. Forward, ethereal mids. Good detail retrieval with tons of microdetails. Lackluster mid-bass.
7.5
Reviewer Score
Cohesive, smooth, balanced, technical slight treble wispiness Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
7.1
Reviewer Score
11/10 mid-range. Mid-bass could use more texture and stage depth could be better. Yap, that's all. Oh and the fit - I'm blessed, but you may not be.
7
Reviewer Score
A solid improvement in imaging with slightly more palatable tonality than its predecessor. Precogvision Youtube Channel
Moondrop Illustrious Reviews
7.5
Reviewer Score
Basically the Softears Twilight with less sub-bass extension, alot more neutral and monitor like, and very pricy since Twilight goes on sale for $700 with a more musical playback. This is just neutral. 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.
7.5
Reviewer Score
Nice single DD, not a benchmark, but very nice. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Gizaudio Axel
2025-07-31
6
Reviewer Score
Open-back IEM with a mellow sound. Good for long listening but not for those seeking strong bass or high resolution. Warm, full-bodied mids with natural timbre and safe treble. Light bass with low sub-bass, lacking treble air and sparkle, and underwhelming detail.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
6*
* score normalized
Sounds like an open-back IEM. It delivers on open design. Something to consider if you are looking for that.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
4.3
Reviewer Score
Sounds like it has metallic timbre. Percussino compression around 5kHz due to lack of treble extension and generally bad tuning. Precogvision Youtube Channel
Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 User Reviews
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