Subtonic STORM VS Thieaudio Valhalla
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Subtonic STORM and Thieaudio Valhalla use 5BA+2EST+2SLAM and 19BA driver setups respectively. Subtonic STORM costs $5,200 while Thieaudio Valhalla costs $2,000. Subtonic STORM is $3,200 more expensive. Subtonic STORM holds a slight 0.3-point edge in reviewer scores (9.1 vs 8.9). Subtonic STORM has slightly better bass with a 0.4-point edge, Subtonic STORM has slightly better mids with a 0.3-point edge, Subtonic STORM has better treble with a 0.9-point edge, Subtonic STORM has significantly better dynamics with a 1.5-point edge, Subtonic STORM has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge, Subtonic STORM has significantly better details with a 1.2-point edge and Subtonic STORM has slightly better imaging with a 0.3-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Subtonic STORM | Thieaudio Valhalla |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 8.7 | 8.3 |
| Mids | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| Treble | 8.7 | 7.8 |
| Details | 9.7 | 8.5 |
| Soundstage | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Imaging | 9 | 8.8 |
| Dynamics | 9.5 | 8 |
| Tonality | 9 | 8.5 |
| Technicalities | 9.4 | 8.4 |
Subtonic STORM Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Thieaudio Valhalla Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Subtonic STORM Details
Driver Configuration: 5BA+2EST+2SLAM
Tuning Type: Neutral with bass boost
Brand: Subtonic Top Subtonic IEMs
Price (Msrp): $5,200
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Thieaudio Valhalla Details
Driver Configuration: 19BA
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $2,000
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Subtonic STORM User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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Thieaudio Valhalla User Review Score
Average User Scores
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Subtonic STORM Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.7Gaming Grade
AThieaudio Valhalla Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.9Gaming Grade
ASubtonic STORM 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- Outstanding resolution and control. Effortlessly retrieves micro-details, with holographic staging and fast transients. Handles complexity with poise.
Thieaudio Valhalla Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
S-- Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.
Average Technical Grade
A+- Very competent with articulate presentation. Well-defined layers and precise imaging. Soundstage is immersive and handles dynamics well.
Subtonic STORM Reviews
10
Reviewer Score
The best IEM I've ever heard. Best timbre. Super natural. TOTL tech. It's just good. That's all. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Most IEMs inevitably introduce flaws that shatter musical immersion—be it harsh treble, shouty vocals, or unbalanced bass. These imperfections act as chains, binding the listener and preventing that elusive state of pure, uninterrupted freedom within the music. While the OG EJ07 came close, even it faltered on certain tracks, its forward vocals becoming a jarring distraction when pushed hard. The Subtonic Storm, however, shatters this pattern entirely.
Contrary to its name, the Storm represents the eye of the hurricane—a sanctuary of pure, effortless sound. It liberates the music from tuning flaws, presenting it naturally and tranquilly. There are zero distractions or attachments holding the listener back, enabling deep introspection and complete immersion, as if conversing directly with the singer or instrument. This profound, intangible quality—achieving that free state—is why it's considered the best IEM, offering unmatched resolution, separation, and imaging, albeit at an astronomical $5,000 price point.
Value-wise, the Storm is undeniably terrible; the KZ ASF ($250) gets you 80% there, and the Monarch MKII ($1,000) delivers 95%. It's a luxury item, justified only by its unique, unmeasurable ability to dissolve worldly distractions and forge total oneness with the music. Crucially, it's not for everyone: Bass heads, background listeners, or those enjoying J-pop/K-pop/EDM will find far better value elsewhere under $300. Only those deeply seeking musical transcendence, with ample disposable income, should even consider it. For everyone else, stay away—you simply don’t need it.
9.3
Reviewer Score
Comment: TOTL tuning with TOTL technicalities to boot. Perfectly tuned, unparalled detail retrieval, staging, imaging, and proper holographic background as a cohesive package The price I guess
9.1
Reviewer Score
Easily at the top for resolution and dynamic contrast, accompanied by rigid transients and pinpoint layering. Precogvision Youtube Channel
9
Reviewer Score
The most extraodinary normal sounding IEM ever. Amazing all-around big and heavy shell Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
9
Reviewer Score
The most detailed IEM I’ve ever heard. Exceptional resolution, neutral sound signature. Hard to drive.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
8.8
Reviewer Score
World-class resolution and layering. Extreme, almost exaggerated dynamics. Staging is large but not class-leading.
8.3
Reviewer Score
Technical excellence (accuracy). Near perfect tuning. Bass...great Price. Wait.Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking
Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
9.5
Reviewer Score
The Subtonic Storm delivers a balanced sound signature characterized by a generous sub-bass boost, neutral midrange, and an elevated, articulate treble response. Its standout feature is the implementation of proprietary SLAM drivers—custom balanced armatures handling separate sub-bass and mid-bass frequencies—which produce exceptional slam and texture rivaling dynamic drivers. The treble exhibits deliberate, controlled peaks between 5-15kHz, contributing to vividness without harshness, though some listeners may note a slight roll-off past 16kHz.
Technically, the Storm sets a high bar with class-leading dynamics, micro-detail resolution, and driver coherence across its hybrid array. Staging offers strong width and depth but lacks a cohesive center image. Ergonomically, the titanium shells are bulky and heavy, causing fatigue during extended use, and the stock cable is often criticized for stiffness. Additionally, its low sensitivity demands powerful amplification, limiting portability.
Thieaudio Valhalla Reviews
9.6
Reviewer Score
Big fan, but lack fantastic air like some other sets. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
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.
9.5
Reviewer Score
TOTL all-rounder with "endgame" tech across the board, a better tuned U12T with better bass texture 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.
Super* Review
2025-08-19
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
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.
8.7
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking
Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
ThieAudio Valhalla comes in hot as a true flagship challenger: a titanium shell housing 19 drivers—14 “Sonion” and five “Knowles"—and a price planted in the ~$2K bracket. This tier isn’t like GPUs where benchmarks decide winners; earphones here are closer to watches—craft, taste, and execution. On that score, Valhalla feels legit: premium build, branded internals, and tuning aimed squarely at high-end competition that regularly asks two to three times more.
The low end lands with plenty of energy and control—808 drops for Ghetto Boys/Public Enemy/Wu-Tang/Kendrick/Tupac/Outkast hit clean, while four- and five-string bass guitar lines carry real texture and decay. Iconic kick work like “When the Levee Breaks” thumps with satisfying weight without smearing. Midrange is dialed: no bloated mid-bass warming up female vocals, no shouty upper mids pushing voices unnaturally forward—great for a vocal-centric library and classic cuts (think “Sultans of Swing”). Up top, harmonics extend with air and clarity without the zingy fatigue—decays aren’t chopped off, so cymbals and overtones feel complete rather than muted.
On ranking, this reads as a top-five contender with this library, easily competing with sets in the $4–6K lane on balance, quality, and tuning. The only real ding is the presentation box, which doesn’t scream “luxury” the way the sound and build do. Verdict: squarely between “would buy” and “going to hype it.” Given ThieAudio’s run of legit releases (Monarch line, Oracle MKIII, etc.), Valhalla fits the pattern—no weak link in the chain, just a serious flagship play at a price that undercuts many rivals.
8.3
Reviewer Score
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
8.1
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:
7.5*
* The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
S tier for COD, borders A- for other titlesFresh Reviews original ranking
Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel
Subtonic STORM User Reviews
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