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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need basic earbuds for everyday use like making phone calls or listening to background music, Apple Earpods are a good choice. On the other hand, if you're an audiophile looking for top-notch sound quality and an exceptional listening experience for music and don't mind spending more, Thieaudio Monarch Mk II earbuds offer superior audio performance and detail. However, they're more expensive and may not offer the same level of convenience for casual use as the Earpods, which are designed to work seamlessly with Apple devices. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Earpods
Very good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
Best in class for music
Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.8/10
9.5/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Apple Earpods is good.
Gaming
8.3/10
6.7/10
The Apple Earpods is very good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.0/10
5.1/10
The Apple Earpods is very good for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.4/10
7.9/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Apple Earpods are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.4/10
8.8/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Earpods is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
6.0/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the Apple Earpods is poor.
Cost
$20
$999
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Apple Earpods has a price of $20 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
Build Quality
7.6/10
9.0/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II has excellent build quality, while the Apple Earpods has good build quality.
"Apple’s wired buds sound just fine for the price, and their handy inline controls and clear microphone give them an edge on wireless earbuds that are much more expensive. Plus, you never have to worry about running out of battery — or worse, a stray earbud going missing."
"No other earphone I have listened to in the past 12 months has given me as much joy as the Thieaduio Monarch MKII. One of those IEMs will make you question where we can go from here. The sound is jaw-dropping, leaving you wanting more and more. It makes you want to run through your entire music library and reevaluate. It makes you not feel bad about paying full price for them, especially in a hobby where buyers' remorse is genuine. For me, it's top tier, rivaled by a few but not surpassed."
Get a great deal on the Apple Earpods or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Thieaudio
Thieaudio is the in-house brand of Linsoul Audio, a Chinese earbud and headphone retailer specializing in what the community lovingly calls Chi-fi, that is high fidelity brands out of China. Thieaudio was established in 2019 as the creative engineering branch of Linsoul. As of today, they market three different lines of earbuds, Voyager, Legacy and the extremely well-received Monarch.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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