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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize immersive listening and a wider soundstage for music, go for the HifiMan Edition XS; however, they're open-back and won't isolate sound well, making them less suitable for noisy environments. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II, despite being more expensive, offers excellent sound quality in a different form factor—earbuds are closed-back, better for noise isolation, making them a versatile choice for various settings. Neither have built-in microphones for calls, and neither are optimal for exercise due to their form factors and lack of sweat resistance, but the Monarch is much lighter and, being earbuds, are more portable for travel. 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 HifiMan Edition XS
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
Key differences
Music
8.8
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the HifiMan Edition XS is very good.
Gaming
7.4
6.7
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
TV and Video
9.5
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Cost
$269
$999
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 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 HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.0
5.1
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and HifiMan Edition XS are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
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 HifiMan Edition XS or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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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