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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming and voice communication quality, the EPOS PC38X with its superior microphone and excellent gaming score would be a better choice than the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II. However, if portability and noise isolation are significant for you, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II, being earbuds, naturally excel in these areas over the open-back EPOS PC38X. Considering price, the EPOS is significantly less expensive and might offer a better value for money, particularly if you're also interested in using them for a varied set of audio content such as music, calls, and podcasts, where it shows strong performance. 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 EPOS PC38X
- Best in class for phone calls
- Best in class for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II has no clear advantages over the EPOS PC38X.
Key differences
Gaming
10.0
6.7
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
10.0
5.1
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the EPOS PC38X is poor.
Cost
$125
$999
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The EPOS PC38X has a price of $125 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 EPOS PC38X has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
9.5
9.5
The EPOS PC38X and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both best in class for music.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.9
The EPOS PC38X and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
9.0
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers EPOS PC38X to be excellent for TV and video, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good.
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How the EPOS PC38X and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| EPOS PC38X | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$125 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | EPOS | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 10/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 10/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 249.4 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | N/A | |
Shopping
EPOS PC38X
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Dig into reviews and images
Everyday Listening
Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."
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 EPOS PC38X or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About EPOS
EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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