Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 VS 7th Acoustics Supernova

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Build & fit: Premium presentation with a handsome “lava” faceplate and a cloth-sheathed cable featuring swappable terminations—useful, but the connector is bulky enough to be unwieldy. The shell itself is very large and can be tricky for many ears, affecting seal and even bass response. Comfort and security are not strong suits. Tip rolling helps; AZLA AirFit Light tips improved seal and tamed occasional treble bite.

Sound: A neutral, mid-forward tuning with a tasteful sub-bass lift, clean lower treble, and excellent extension. Midrange detail pops with fine micro-contrast, while treble remains smooth—evoking that easy, HD600-like effortlessness. Stage is wide with standout imaging and layering. The trade-off is a lean lower-mid/mid-bass region (that “Harman dip”), which can make non-bass-heavy music feel a bit dry and clinical, reducing perceived depth and visceral impact.

Comparisons & verdict: Versus Moondrop’s stable, Blessing 2 still offers a fuller, more linear low end and remains the more all-round pick; S8 brings superb treble and mid detail with similarly lean bass; Campfire Aura dazzles with holographic imaging and surprisingly satisfying BA bass, though its tonality is quirkier. Monarch MKII earns a solid 4/5 for tonal balance, resolution, and imaging—but the size/fit caveat is serious, and the lean bass means it won’t dethrone Blessing 2 for those craving warmth or body. Demo first; if it fits and that crisp neutrality appeals, it’s a fantastic listen.

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Hand-built in Indonesia with customizable abalone faceplates, Supernova feels like a boutique step up in value: a handsome, slightly medium-large shell, stable fit, strong isolation, and a tasteful, beefy copper cable. The only nit: a smooth nozzle with no tip notch means soft tips can slip. Overall execution—build, comfort, and the personal order-to-chat experience—delivers a “next level” vibe uncommon around $750.

Tonally, this is a clean, body-intact neutral with a touch of sub-bass lift and a tasteful push in the lower treble. Midrange is the star—full, natural, and richly timbred without the hollow lower-mid dip of leaner targets. Treble is well-extended, linear, and textured, giving transients snap without tipping into sibilance. Technicals impress: tight bass attack, clear separation, precise imaging, and strong micro-contrast that keeps dense mixes like The Cure’s “Disintegration” organized and alive. Caveats are mild: listeners sensitive to lower-treble energy should note its presence, and the low end—while punchy—still reads as BA bass with less sub-bass “flutter” than a dynamic driver.

Against peers, Supernova blends the fuller midrange charm of Moondrop Blessing 2 with the technical grace of Moondrop S8, yet sounds more natural than either. Symphonium Meteor offers bigger bass and a lush stage but trails in separation and mid texture; S8 feels smoother with even stronger 3D imaging but less body. Taken together, Supernova’s tuning, texture, and boutique fit/finish make a compelling all-rounder—and an easy five-star recommendation, especially for those who value lifelike mids and crisp, controlled sparkle over maximal slam.

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Supernova’s calling card is its treble: extended, butter-smooth, and startlingly even. No peaks, no weird dips, no BA glare—just airy shimmer with spot-on decay that stays stable at any volume. It rivals the best under $1K and even brushes the Symphonium Helios (OG) for finesse, yet remains less bright and more relaxed. Despite being all-BA, there’s no BA timbre. Dynamics feel controlled rather than fiery—big chorus swings (think “Run Away With Me”) are rendered cohesively without harshness, trading adrenaline for refinement.

The low end is clean, tight, and well-separated—not a sub-bass sledgehammer. Sets with DDs like Hype 2, EJ07M, or Monarch dig deeper and rumble harder, but Supernova’s bass gives body without smearing. Vocals sit mid-forward but not shouty, a hair warm from mid-bass/1.5k lift; extension around ~3k could use a touch more presence for extra “head voice,” yet the overall presentation remains natural and unfatiguing and scales beautifully with volume. Versus Moondrop S8, Supernova trades a bit of the S8’s clinical separation for fuller mid-bass weight and more textured, even treble; the S8 keeps a leaner, clearer stage and more vocal gain.

Comparisons sharpen its profile: against EJ07 (OG/KL), EJ07 offers darker tonality and stronger sub-bass immersion, while Supernova is airier and smoother up top. ThieAudio Monarch series: Mk1 has snappier vocal clarity, Mk3 hits harder with bass texture/slam, but Supernova wins on treble quality and macro-smoothness. Neon Pro can feel more engaging at mid volumes with firmer low-end and crisper imaging, whereas Supernova shines when cranked, remaining composed and immersive. Net take: an “endgame”-leaning, balanced all-rounder for those wanting refinement over fireworks—genre-agnostic, not a treble-head blaster or bass cannon, and short on “special sauce” theatrics, yet consistently excellent where it counts. Availability is the real enemy; production scarcity makes it hard to snag.

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Build & accessories: Compact shell with a slightly old-school shape and flat 2-pin connectors, secure fit, and a nozzle some may find a bit much. The package includes Thieaudio’s large, sturdy case, multiple tips, a cleaning brush, and a fabric-sheathed stock cable with a solid chin slider and a durable Y-split. The cable’s modular plug system (2.5/3.5/4.4) locks in confidently and feels well made.

Sound: a neutral foundation with a dash of fun—clean upper mids, tasteful sparkle, and tight, articulate bass. Unit variance shows on graphs (his sample reads a bit bassier with slightly more treble vs other measurements), but the core tuning stays intact: rich mids, smooth presence, and airy extension that present music as natural, wide, and open. Versus Monarch MKIII, this MKII feels less bright and less fatiguing, with fuller mids. Compared to Annihilator 2023, MKII is flatter and more even (Annihilator hits harder and has a 10k zing some hear as “fake”). Against Lime Ears Tera, MKII is a touch warmer and easier; versus the pricier Europa, it tracks similarly on paper but wins on comfort and value; and it offers more body than budget darlings like Hexa, which can come off lean.

Verdict: a high-tier all-rounder prized for midrange timbre, air/detail, note weight, and imaging. It reads neutral-natural with just enough excitement to stay engaging over long sessions. Personal taste and fit still matter—always demo if possible—but within this preference space, Monarch MKII remains a special, well-balanced choice that continues to earn its spot among top IEMs.

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Custom-built shells and faceplates make Supernova feel special from the start, and the ergonomics seal the deal: a light, durable shell, super comfortable fit and a supple, well-textured stock cable. The tonality stays open, clean and free of sibilance, with imaging that snaps into place both horizontally and vertically. Detail retrieval in busy scenes is immaculate, making it superb for long gaming sessions—not to farm K/D ratios, but to elevate the overall experience as in-game micro-details sparkle. Tip rolling works well (SpinFit, Divinus, Latex H70), though the included tips are decent; the clamshell case is nice, if a bit annoying to twist shut.

Versus peers, Supernova shows almost perfect tuning with exceedingly strong technicals and a touch of juicy, lush timbre. Against Night Oblivion Butastur, the overall tone and bass texture on Supernova are a hair better, while Butastur gets you 95–98% of the way for less and shines for classical and pop. Compared with Monarch Mk III, the FR curves are scarily close (within a couple dB), yet Supernova’s treble refinement and stage feel a tad more convincing, even if Monarch brings different technical strengths. Net takeaway: a holographic, genre-agnostic performer that’s easy to recommend; the only real caveat is the long wait time to get one, and the bass could use a touch more authority.

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Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 stays a top-tier pick by balancing excellent tonality with solid, price-appropriate technicalities. The tuning sits close to the current meta, with a slight dip in the lower mids and a noticeable 6 kHz emphasis that adds sparkle and energy. It’s the “spice” to the Mega5-EST’s plain water—still coherent and controlled, but with extra fizz that makes music feel lively. While resolution doesn’t chase the extremes of Elysian Annihilator or Softears RS10, within the $999 bracket the performance remains compelling, making it an easy recommendation among kilobuck IEMs.

Build and accessories are straightforward: a full-resin shell with metal nozzle, a cloth-sheathed cable featuring interchangeable 3.5 / 2.5 / 4.4 terminations, and a proper case with silicone and foam tips. The fiery orange faceplate is the sole colorway. The catch is fit—the shell is large, and for smaller ears that can be a deal-breaker; no sound quality matters if it won’t seal comfortably. For those wanting a near-perfect meta hit with less treble spice, Hisenior Mega5-EST is noted as the safer tonal bullseye.

Choose Monarch Mk2 if a slightly V-leaning, meta-aligned tuning with engaging upper-presence appeals, and if the ear geometry can handle the chunky shell. Skip it if chasing max detail retrieval above all else, craving a more pronounced V-shape (consider Monarch Mk3 instead), or if fit is uncertain. The overall verdict: impeccable tuning paired with good—if not summit—technical chops keeps Monarch Mk2 at the top of the ranking conversation without needing boutique pricing.

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7th Acoustic Supernova brings a 6BA setup at around $850, dressed in pretty shells but a bit bulgy for the fit. Packaging quirks and micro-print gripes aside, the included Versus Audio cable (permanent 4.4) looks flashy and feels premium. Tip rolling from Dunu SS to Render shifts the presentation, but the core signature stays smooth to a fault—vocals sit a touch further back, treble hints at a lift then fades with different tips, and only the occasional techno track shows bass that carries well. It’s the kind of tuning that’s impeccably polite yet tip-dependent and rarely grabs attention.

Across sources—from a warmer Alpha Pro chain to other amps—the Supernova keeps a straight face: competent, clean, and ultimately boring for the price. Against known yardsticks (neutral “glass-of-water” sets, bass-heavy options, or value champs like Kiwi’s Astrals), the Supernova doesn’t carve a clear identity; it’s smooth without the thrill. Final takeaway: lovely looks, nice cable, but the sound feels meh at this tier—barely meeting the bar where musical moments should pop. On the value meter, the cable helps, the tuning doesn’t; there’s been better—and for less.