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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a balance of quality and value, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ earbuds offer good sound and active noise cancellation at a lower cost. If, however, you prioritize audio fidelity and are willing to invest more, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II might suit you better with its high-end audio performance, which caters to audiophiles seeking superior sound detail. Keep in mind that the Thieaudio earbuds may not have the same level of convenience features such as noise cancellation when compared to the Beoplay EQ. Consider your budget and how much you value audio quality over other features. 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 Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.8
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is only fair.
Gaming
8.4
6.7
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is very good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
7.2
5.1
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is good for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
7.9
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good.
TV and Video
7.8
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is good.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$176
$999
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ has a price of $176 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Thieaudio Monarch Mk II to have excellent build quality, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ has very good build quality.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$176 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 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 | 7/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Tim Gideon | March 2022
"Bang & Olufsen’s audio products prioritize style and function just as much as sound quality. The company’s latest Beoplay EQ noise-cancelling true wireless earphones combine strong, accurate-leaning audio with solid noise cancellation in an exceedingly classy design."
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 Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
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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