Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 VS Sony IER-M9

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Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 and Sony IER-M9 use 1DD+6BA+2EST and 5BA driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 costs $1,000 while Sony IER-M9 costs $1,000. Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 holds a clear 0.6-point edge in reviewer scores (8 vs 7.4). Sony IER-M9 carries a user score of 7.5. Sony IER-M9 has better bass with a 0.7-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has slightly better mids with a 0.4-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has significantly better dynamics with a 1.5-point edge, Sony IER-M9 has slightly better details with a 0.4-point edge and Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 has slightly better imaging with a 0.4-point edge.

Metric	Thieaudio Monarch Mk2	Sony IER-M9
Bass	6.8	7.5
Mids	8.4	8
Treble	7.5	7.5
Details	7.6	8
Soundstage	8	7.4
Imaging	7.4	7
Dynamics	6.5	5
Tonality	8	7.1
Technicalities	7.8	7.4

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Score:

Strongly Favorable

Show all Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 reviews

Sony IER-M9 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable

Show all Sony IER-M9 reviews

Driver Configuration: 1DD+6BA+2EST

Tuning Type: bass-boosted neutral

Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs

Price (Msrp): $1,000

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$999

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$999

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Driver Configuration: 5BA

Tuning Type: Warm neutral

Brand: Sony Top Sony IEMs

Price (Msrp): $1,000

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Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 User Review Score

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Sony IER-M9 User Review Score

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

7.5

Strongly Favorable

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Gaming Score

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

Gaming Score

6.9

Gaming Grade

B+

Sony IER-M9 Gaming Score

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

Gaming Score

6.3

Gaming Grade

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Scorings

Average Tunign Grade

A+

Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.

Average Technical Grade

Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.

Bass B+

Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.

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 B+

Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.

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 B+

Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Sony IER-M9 Scorings

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.

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 C+

Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.

Details A+

Exceptional resolution that uncovers the deepest layers. Retrieves even the most minute details while maintaining natural timbre.

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 Mk2 Reviews

Reviewed by: Super* Review

9* * score normalized

check links for more info:

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

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Price: $999

Buy Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 on Linsoul

Reviewed by: Jays Audio

8.5 Reviewer Score

S Tuning

S- Tech

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 original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

8.5 Reviewer Score

A Tuning

A+ Tech

Too much unit variation to recommend to others highly.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel

Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Dynamics: B Soundstage: A+

Reviewed by: Crin

8.5 Reviewer Score

S+ Tuning

A+ Tech

check links for more info:

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

8 Reviewer Score

S Tuning

A+ Tech

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

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

7.9 Reviewer Score

A Tuning

A+ Tech

Organic midrange Wooly bass response and less prominent treble may not work best for certain genres

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

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

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

7.6 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

A Tech

Good treble with tons of air. Forward, ethereal mids. Good detail retrieval with tons of microdetails. Lackluster mid-bass.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

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

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

7.5 Reviewer Score

A Tuning

A+ Tech

Cohesive, smooth, balanced, technical slight treble wispiness

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel

Bass: A+ Mids: S Treble: A+

Reviewed by: Nymz

7.1 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

B+ Tech

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.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

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

Reviewed by: Precogvision

7 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

A- Tech

A solid improvement in imaging with slightly more palatable tonality than its predecessor.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel

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

Sony IER-M9 Reviews

Reviewed by: Audionotions

8 Reviewer Score

Nice note weight, very balanced, shockingly good at imaging held back by finicky fit and vacuum seal - fit issues can be resolved by changing tips though (for me the stock silicone LL tips eliminated fit issues for me but YMMV). At used prices today, it's a steal. Previously Owned

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

Reviewed by: Precogvision

7.4 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

B+ Tech

Boring, but you won't find anything more well-rounded for the price. Exceptional timbre for a BA IEM.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel

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

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

7 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

A+ Tech

Just great accross the board, nothing to fault Not very special

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel

Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A+

Reviewed by: Crin

7 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

A Tech

Neutral tonality, highly coherent and decent detail pickup. The all-rounder of the IER lineup.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 User Reviews

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Sony IER-M9 User Reviews

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Makavelian 2025-06-28 02:30:34

7.5

Worth it at used prices for neutral warm all rounder.

Pros

Great all rounder tuning, imaging, comfort.

Cons

Bit lacking in engagement, bass typical of BA drivers.

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Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 VS Sony IER-M9

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

Insights

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Sony IER-M9 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Details

Sony IER-M9 Details

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Sony IER-M9 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

Sony IER-M9 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Sony IER-M9 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 Reviews

Reviewed by: Super* Review

Buy Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 on Linsoul

Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Reviewed by: Crin

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Reviewed by: Nymz

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Buy Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 on Aliexpress

Sony IER-M9 Reviews

Reviewed by: Audionotions

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Reviewed by: Crin

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 User Reviews

Pros

Cons

Sony IER-M9 User Reviews

Pros

Cons

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