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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Grado GT220 earbuds are wireless, support AAC for better sound quality on Apple devices, and are sweatproof, making them a good choice for exercise and everyday use. They are also more affordable. In contrast, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II earbuds, while more expensive, offer superior overall and music sound quality with a unique driver setup that includes balanced armature, dynamic, and electrostatic drivers. They are wired, which could suggest lower latency for activities like TV watching and gaming, but they lack a microphone for calls. If wireless convenience and budget are priorities, choose the Grado GT220. If sound quality is paramount and you don't mind wires or a higher price, the Monarch Mk II is the better option. 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 Grado GT220
- 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
6.3
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Grado GT220 is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for gaming, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Phone Calls
6.9
5.1
The Grado GT220 is only fair for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
7.9
The Grado GT220 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good.
TV and Video
5.5
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Battery
5.5 Hours
N/A
The Grado GT220 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$259
$999
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Grado GT220 has a price of $259 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.8
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Thieaudio Monarch Mk II to have excellent build quality, while the Grado GT220 has very good build quality.
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How the Grado GT220 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Grado GT220 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$259 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Grado | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Grado GT220
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Alex Schiffer | October 2020
"With its superb and functional interface and its highly satisfying imaging, Grado has shown a new talent for delivering a solid true wireless system, and with future improvements, has the potential to really be one of the best."
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 Grado GT220 or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Grado
Grado Labs is a small, family-owned, business based in Brooklyn New York that specializes in high-end, boutique, dynamic headphones and turntable cartridges. They boast a particular house sound, that is to say their products have a particular sound signature unique to Grado, that some audiophiles seem to really like and are unable to find anywhere else. Their high-end headphones are all hand made, completely in house, from a variety of exotic woods and materials going so far as to making one of their most popular products out of hemp.
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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