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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience for calls and mobility, the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7, with its very good microphone, low latency mode, and good use during exercise score, would serve you well, particularly as they're also sweatproof and have active noise cancelling. However, if your focus is on absolute sound quality for music listening and you don't mind cords or lack of built-in controls, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II offers best in class audio and a unique driver type. Note that it lacks wireless functionality, has a poor microphone, and comes without active noise cancelling. 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 Audio Technica ATH-TWX7
- Excellent for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for exercise
- 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
7.3
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is good.
Gaming
8.7
6.7
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
9.1
5.1
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is excellent for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.1
7.9
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good.
TV and Video
8.2
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 are both very good for TV and video, though the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.0
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$999
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has a price of $199 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 9.1/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.6/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.7 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Audio Technica ATH-TWX7
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Dig into reviews and images
Engadget
Billy Steele | January 2024
"There’s plenty to like about the ATH-TWX7. A robust set of features brings a lot of convenience to your day. But a few of those tools could still use some fine-tuning and the lack of automatic pausing in 2024 is a head scratcher. Still, the audio is mostly good, and transparency mode is better than most. Add in the solid call quality and the in-app voice test and the ATH-TWX7 are a worthy consideration, especially at this price. Too bad it falls short of being a more complete package some of the competition offers for a slightly larger investment."
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 Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
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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