Thieaudio Valhalla VS AFUL Dawn-X

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.

Jaytiss original ranking

Large, sculpted shells with a bulbous rear (housing the bone conductor) make the Aful Dawn-X a substantial fit—comfortable for some, but risky for small ears. The stock cable feels quality but is 4.4 mm-only, and the case/accessories are tidy; importantly, the nozzle grips tips securely (unlike some past AFUL sets). Overall build is handsome and premium, with fit being the main variable.

Sonically, the tuning favors sub-bass over mid-bass, pairs rich mids with smooth, natural treble that avoids harsh spikes yet has mild 4–6 kHz energy, and presents a cohesive, almost speaker-like soundstage. It wakes up with a bit of volume/power, prioritizing clarity, micro-detail and air over outright slam; the bone conductor subtly supports the midrange more than the lows. At $1,300 it’s competitive for listeners chasing technical refinement and a natural tonality, while value seekers or mid-bass lovers may prefer cheaper AFUL options or sets with more punch.

Jaytiss original ranking

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.

Jays Audio original ranking

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.

Super* Review original ranking

AFUL’s house sound shows up here in its most polished form: Dawn-X is a tribrid (1DD + 8BA + 4EST + bone conduction) flagship at $1,300 that prioritizes consistent fit and execution over flash. Build is understated with stabilized-wood faceplates, above-average isolation, and a medium/medium-large shell that fits better—and more consistently—than the Cantor. The accessory loadout is solid (four silicone tip sets, large but well-made case), though the stock cable does not have swappable terminations (choose 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm).

Tonally, it’s a balanced, warmer-leaning take on AFUL’s signature: a dense, controlled bass that borders on decadent yet stays quick and clean, slightly relaxed mids, and a precise, mildly forward lower-treble that keeps definition high without tipping into harshness for most listeners. Stage favors front-to-back depth over width; transients are clean and a touch clinical, giving strong separation without sounding smeary. The result is a mature, confident presentation that reads refined rather than showy.

Against peers: versus Cantor, Dawn-X is warmer, smoother, and far more consistent thanks to fit; Cantor can sound brighter and a bit wider. Compared with FiiO FX17, Dawn-X has tighter bass and crisper treble, where FX17 feels looser and fuller. The 64 Audio U4s plays softer and wider; Dawn-X is more precise/clinical. DUNU Glacier hits harder and more V-shaped with smoother treble but less natural acoustic timbre; Dawn-X sounds truer on instruments. Versus ThieAudio Monarch MK4, MK4 is more neutral, vocal-forward with greater width, while Dawn-X offers denser low-end and a calmer demeanor—and a friendlier fit for many ears. Verdict: 3/5 stars—not the flashiest in its bracket, but arguably AFUL’s best execution yet of its signature sound.

Super* Review original ranking

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.

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Thieaudio Valhalla lands as a lavish, 19-BA-per-side flagship tuned warm-natural with a palpable sub-bass emphasis, quick attack/decay, and standout separation and layering. Vocals read both natural and technical—male and female alike—without bass bleed, while the treble carries enough air to keep micro-detail clean. Comfort and build impress, making it an easy all-day daily driver and a legitimate endgame pick for music that also crosses over to gaming.

In shooters, Valhalla excels at depth perception, verticality, and parsing simultaneous cues. For Call of Duty it’s an outright S-tier: footsteps, fly-ins, and distant strikes are easy to place with zero guesswork. In Apex Legends it sits around A to A-—gunfire is beautifully controlled, but super-light slides/taps can be a touch subdued. In Valorant it’s highly competitive with top open-backs, while in CS2 the tuning keeps gunfire less shouty and footstep reads strong, making it a great IEM choice overall. Net result on the “wallhack certification” scale: A to A- across multiple titles—an expensive IEM that earns its keep if both music enjoyment and competitive clarity are on the checklist.

Fresh Reviews original ranking