Thieaudio Valhalla VS Thieaudio Origin

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Thieaudio Origin brings a wild driver stack—1 DD + 4 BA + 2 EST + 1 bone conductor—inside a massive yet surprisingly comfortable shell. Build feels premium: striking faceplate, visible bone-conductor puck, proper nozzle lip, and a thicker cable than usual from the brand. The hockey-puck case is a nice touch, and for about $100 more there’s custom artwork available, making the unboxing and ownership experience feel a bit more special.

Sonically, this one swings for impact. Bass hits clean, strong, and fun, with upper mids that come across pristine. The trade-off: a hotter mid/treble band (around the 4–10 kHz region, with a notable 6 kHz glare) that can push cymbals and strings into an unnatural territory. Resolution and imaging don’t always keep pace for the price; stage is big and enveloping, but fine detail and separation can blur, making it a specialist that thrills on bass-centric tracks yet feels less convincing on metal or complex orchestral pieces.

Against its siblings, Origin sits like a more fun, bass-forward take compared with HYPE 4/10, but with a treble execution that’s less refined. Versus Oracle MK3, the latter’s ESTs sound crisper and cleaner; versus Monarch MKIII, that model’s tasteful 5–8 kHz dip lends better resolution. If pure detail is the target, sets like HiSenior Mega5 Bass or the Subtonic Annihilator may prove more satisfying. As a whole, Origin is a unique, bass-thrilled experience with excellent fit, huge space, and customization perks—great for those chasing visceral low-end and a cinematic stage, less ideal for listeners prioritizing treble finesse and microdetail at this tier.

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Thieaudio Origin takes the “Meta” idea and dials it toward a fuller, bass-forward presentation without losing control. The bone conduction driver is not a gimmick—low notes carry palpable vibration and reverb while staying tight with clean layering and no mid bleed. Vocals sit naturally—neither shouty nor buried—though this isn’t a vocal-focused set (reach for RS5 if that’s the priority). Versus Oracle Mk II, the Origin trades some cleanliness for deeper tactility and weight, making bass textures feel more alive.

The top end is airy and extended on smooth Sonion ESTs, cutting through the warmth to balance the tuning. Most tracks are fine, but snare- and cymbal-heavy songs at higher volumes can push the treble into fatiguing territory (e.g., around 3:30 in Hikaru Utada’s “Time”). It’s generally controlled at moderate levels; just note that treble energy scales and can turn sharp when cranked.

In A/Bs, the Origin’s bass texture outclasses sets like Mega 5 EST, offering more detail, impact, and less boom. Against TITAN, Origin’s reverb and low-end “shake” edge it out while avoiding the Titan’s 5 kHz peak—though Titan still feels more exciting with livelier vocals. Versus all-rounders Monarch Mk II and Hype 10, those remain cleaner with better mids/layering but can’t match Origin’s sheer bass depth. The wildcard is BAJIE: stock, Origin wins; with EQ, BAJIE’s bigger 14.2 mm driver slams harder, while Origin stays the more balanced, tactile choice. Net: for a premium, fun, bass-centric daily driver under a grand, Origin sets a new reference—unless maximum slam with EQ is the goal.

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

At $850, Thieaudio Origin positions itself as an unapologetic bass icon with a complex driver stack (1DD/4BA/2EST plus bone conduction). Build and accessories are a mixed bag: the large, chunky shells will be too big for many ears, and the semi-transparent, pattern-heavy faceplates feel a bit generic. The thick stock cable suits the heft but the swappable plug mechanism is long, doesn’t lock, and often detaches at the adapter rather than the jack—an unnecessary annoyance. Fit is the major caveat; for smaller ears, contact is mostly at the tip, which compromises comfort and seal consistency.

Sonically, Origin is unmistakably bass-forward—well beyond Harman—with a warm, thick low end that initially reads as overbearing and soft on definition. With time, that bass takes on a distinctive, “ooey-gooey” atmospheric quality that sits under the mix rather than congesting it, enabling a surprisingly grand, spacious presentation. Above the lows, the tuning is “new-meta” adjacent: neutral-ish mids, balanced upper-treble, and a touch of mid-treble bite that sharpens transients and adds contrast. The trade-off is occasional edginess/sibilance on certain vocals, but guitars and percussion benefit from extra snap. Live recordings in particular gain scale and drama.

Against the Mega 5 EST Bass+ (cheaper, similarly boosted), Origin offers better separation and more engaging transients, while the Mega feels sludgier and less distinct—though also less edgy. Overall, Origin is a unique bass experience that prioritizes mood and scale over textbook bass tightness. The combination of fit challenges, polarizing low-end quality, and treble bite tempers enthusiasm, settling at a three-star (out of five) verdict—compelling for bass lovers seeking something different, but not a universal recommendation.

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Thieaudio Origin steps into the high end with a hybrid array—1DD + 4BA + 2EST + bone conduction—that pushes a richly textured, holographic presentation. The soundstage is wide and deep, imaging snaps into place, and the resolution clears the bar set by mid-tier sets. Most striking is the low-end: sub-bass digs deep with palpable rumble and impact yet avoids flooding the mix, leaving mids clean, detailed, and lifelike, and the treble airy with convincing cymbal sheen. At $850, the overall technical polish and bass quality feel appropriately premium—better than some kilobuck options.

For competitive gaming, the tuning translates across titles with ease. In Valorant, staging, separation, and distance cues deliver an A experience; occasional low-end bloom can introduce slight over/under flicks on sudden off-screen shots, but not often enough to dent performance. In Apex Legends, verticality and imaging impress (A-): during chaotic third/fourth-party fights, some lighter movement cues (slides, climbs) could cut through a bit more. In Warzone, depth and impact enhance immersion without masking key information, keeping imaging and separation strong. Tip rolling helps: foam trims bass and brightens; silicone restores slam.

Build and ergonomics match the sonic ambition: a galactic faceplate, sturdy 2-pin cable with swappable terminations, and a chassis that’s larger than average yet comfortable for long sessions (minor fatigue around the 6-hour mark). The nozzle is wide but short with a solid lip for secure tips. Overall, this is a fun yet precise set that excels in music and earns a high mark on a “wall-hack certified” style tier list for shooters—driven by standout bass, convincing staging, and top-tier separation.

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Thieaudio Origin goes full mad-science: 1DD + 4BA + 2EST + bone conductor (eight drivers per side), big shells, hefty stock cable, and a tuning built around a ~12 dB sub-bass shelf. Fit can be a touch chunky, but foam tips (think Render) lock in seal and turn the low end from “more bass somewhere” into deep, anchored slam; silicone leaves it a bit loose. Accessories are barebones—swap plugs, tips, case—and that’s it. No fancy gifts, just a box of sound.

Sonically it’s a deconstructed presentation: instead of one smooth ribbon like a single DD, the Origin spreads the band across space—drivers carving out their lanes so instruments pop up here… then there… then over there. It’s not “mushy blend,” it’s forcible separation that can feel museum-exhibit surreal: treble details flit around (hello ESTs) while bass feels omnipresent and room-filling. It doesn’t really scale with amps; neutral DAC/amps to pricier rigs all keep roughly the same character. What can change the tonality is cable impedance—at 9 Ω and high sensitivity, cheap/high-resistance wires can skew things, so stick with a stout low-impedance lead.

Gripes? The cable is thick, custom faceplates up the bill, and the package isn’t exactly a Santa sack. But for $850, the payoff is a unique, spacious, “pulled-apart” soundstage that turns playlists into set pieces. Not for purists chasing one-driver cohesion; absolutely for listeners who crave clarity, staging theatrics, and tactile bass. Final word: a solid 9/10 on sound and swagger—price keeps it off the throne, excitement keeps it in the cart.