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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If an immersive music listening experience is a priority, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II offers superior overall sound quality and soundstage, making them ideal for high-fidelity audio. However, the Audeze Maxwell, being less expensive, still delivers high-quality sound and has the added advantage of built-in controls, making them more versatile for everyday use, including calls and meetings. The Maxwell headphones also have significantly longer battery life and wireless capabilities, enhancing convenience for on-the-go listening. They're also better suited for gaming and watching TV due to lower latency. Meanwhile, the Monarch Mk II, despite its higher audio fidelity, doesn't feature active noise cancelling or wireless options and has more limited use for calls, exercise, and travel compared to the Maxwell. 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 Maxwell
- Very good for phone calls
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
Key differences
Music
8.4
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Audeze Maxwell is very good.
Gaming
9.0
6.7
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.1
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
7.9
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good.
Battery
78.0 Hours
N/A
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$999
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
8.9
8.8
The Audeze Maxwell and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both very good for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
6.0
6.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both only fair for noise reduction.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II both have excellent build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 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) | 498.9 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | N/A | |
Shopping
Audeze Maxwell
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | August 2023
"Despite a few caveats, the Audeze Maxwell is one of the best-performing gaming headsets on the market and should top the ranks for a few buyers — provided the budget (and neck strength) is there. Gaming headsets have their work cut out for them, and their audience is historically unkind to performance flaws. If you’re an older gamer with some cash to blow, you should be pleased with the Audeze Maxwell."
Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
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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 Maxwell 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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