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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a concern and you favor wireless convenience, the Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 is the more economical choice. However, if ultimate sound quality is your priority and you don't mind a wired connection, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II offers best in class audio. The Aurvana Ace 2 supports AptX codecs and is sweatproof, making it suitable for exercise, while the Monarch Mk II, being cable-driven without sport certifications, is not ideal for workouts. The Aurvana Ace 2 also provides active noise cancelling and a longer battery life, which are beneficial for air travel and long listening sessions. On the other hand, Monarch Mk II's balanced armature, dynamic, and electrostatic drivers may offer a more intricate audio experience for critical listening. 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 Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2
- Very good for gaming
- Good for exercise
- 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
8.4
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 is very good.
Gaming
8.6
6.7
The Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 is very good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 is poor.
TV and Video
7.7
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 is good.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.0
The Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 is good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 has 5 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$150
$999
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 has a price of $150 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.9
5.1
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II both have excellent build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$150 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2023 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.9/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 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 | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 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
Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | December 2023
"The Creative Aurvana Ace 2 earphones deliver robust, crisp audio thanks to their combination of xMEMS and dynamic drivers. We're fans of their extensive, high-quality codec options and highly customizable EQ."
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 Creative Labs Aurvana Ace 2 or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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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