A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and modern features like active noise cancellation, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds are a suitable choice and they come at a lower price compared to the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II. However, if audio fidelity is your top concern and you don't mind using a wired connection, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II provides superior sound quality with a more complex driver setup, which includes balanced armature, dynamic, and electrostatic drivers—beneficial for an audiophile-grade listening experience. Keep in mind that the Thieaudio earbuds lack wireless functionality and noise cancellation. 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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good.
Gaming
5.3
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for gaming, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
TV and Video
6.0
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.0
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$127
$999
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $127 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.1
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both poor for phone calls.
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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has very good build quality.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$127 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bowers and Wilkins | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.75 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 13 | 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 | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
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Dig into reviews and images
Engadget
Billy Steele | March 2023
"While the overall sound quality is great, these earbuds fall short in terms of battery life, customization and ANC performance. Bowers & Wilkins’ ability to consistently deliver pristine sound isn’t enough to make up for what the Pi7 S2 lacks, which is unfortunately quite a bit."
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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Bowers and Wilkins
Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.
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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Why trust us
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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