Sony IER-M9 VS Thieaudio Monarch MK3

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Sony IER-M9 and Thieaudio Monarch MK3 use 5BA and 2DD+6BA+2EST driver setups respectively. Sony IER-M9 costs $1,000 while Thieaudio Monarch MK3 costs $1,000. Thieaudio Monarch MK3 holds a clear 0.8-point edge in reviewer scores (7.4 vs 8.1). User ratings place Sony IER-M9 at 7.5 and Thieaudio Monarch MK3 at 6.8. Sony IER-M9 has slightly better mids with a 0.3-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has slightly better treble with a 0.3-point edge, Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has significantly better dynamics with a 2.3-point edge, Sony IER-M9 has slightly better details with a 0.3-point edge and Thieaudio Monarch MK3 has slightly better imaging with a 0.4-point edge.

Metric	Sony IER-M9	Thieaudio Monarch MK3
Bass	7.5	7.5
Mids	8	7.7
Treble	7.5	7.8
Details	8	7.8
Soundstage	7.4	8
Imaging	7	7.4
Dynamics	5	7.3
Tonality	7.1	7.8
Technicalities	7.4	7.8

Sony IER-M9 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable

Show all Sony IER-M9 reviews

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Score:

8.1

Very Positive

Show all Thieaudio Monarch MK3 reviews

Driver Configuration: 5BA

Tuning Type: Warm neutral

Brand: Sony Top Sony IEMs

Price (Msrp): $1,000

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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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$999

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Sony IER-M9 User Review Score

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

7.5

Strongly Favorable

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 User Review Score

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

6.8

Cautiously Favorable

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 MK3 Gaming Score

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

Gaming Score

7.5

Gaming Grade

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 MK3 Scorings

Average Tunign Grade

Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

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

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 MK3 Reviews

Reviewed by: Z-Reviews

10 * score normalized

check links for more info:

Z-Reviews original ranking

Z-Reviews Youtube Channel

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Price: $999

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Reviewed by: 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

Reviewed by: 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Borders A for some titles

Fresh Reviews original ranking

Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel

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.

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 User Reviews

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Makavelian 2025-06-16 05:54:55

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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Sony IER-M9 VS Thieaudio Monarch MK3

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

Insights

Sony IER-M9 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Sony IER-M9 Details

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Details

Sony IER-M9 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Sony IER-M9 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

Sony IER-M9 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Sony IER-M9 Reviews

Reviewed by: Audionotions

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Reviewed by: Crin

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 Reviews

Reviewed by: Z-Reviews

Buy Thieaudio Monarch MK3 on Linsoul

Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Reviewed by: Nymz

Reviewed by: Fresh Reviews

Buy Thieaudio Monarch MK3 on Aliexpress

Sony IER-M9 User Reviews

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Cons

Thieaudio Monarch MK3 User Reviews

Pros

Cons

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