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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II depends on your preference in sound and use case. The LCD 2 Classic, being headphones with an open-back design, offers a wider soundstage, which is great for an immersive music experience at home, but they are not suitable for noisy environments due to poor noise isolation and are not portable. On the other hand, the Monarch Mk II earbuds, with their closed-back design, provide excellent overall sound quality and better noise isolation, making them more versatile for use in different settings and easier to carry around. Neither model has wireless capabilities or active noise cancelling, but if you prefer a broader soundstage and you listen mostly at home, the LCD 2 Classic may be more suitable, while if you need higher portability and sound isolation, the Monarch Mk II would be the better choice. 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 Audeze LCD 2 Classic
- Good for gaming
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
Key differences
Gaming
7.3
6.7
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.
Cost
$799
$999
$400
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has a price of $799 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
Build Quality
10.0
9.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II has excellent build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
9.2
9.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Thieaudio Monarch Mk II to be best in class for music, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent.
Phone Calls
4.8
5.1
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.7
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
8.6
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both very good for TV and video.
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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze LCD 2 Classic | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2017 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 635 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audeze LCD 2 Classic
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Dig into reviews and images
The Greatest Song
Greatest Song Team | August 2023
"These headphones outdo rival planar magnetic headphones, especially in terms of dynamics. Compared to the Hifiman Ananda or the Hifiman Edition XS there is noticeably more slam in the sound, particularly in the bass. The LCD-2C gives you a fantastic sense of quiet dynamics with crystalline precision. This is evident also in our clinical tests, where it’s just easier to understand spoken text at very low volumes."
Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
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Dig into reviews and images
Audiophile On
Audiophile On | August 2021
"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 Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Audeze
Audeze is an, award-winning, American premium headphone manufacturer based in California. Founded in 2008, their products are developed around aerospace materials technology first used by NASA and are widely used by enthusiasts and professionals alike, not only in the fields of music and sound engineering but also in e-sports and the health industry.
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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