The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless earbuds are a budget option that are great for calls and meetings, have a decent battery life, and are sweatproof, making them suitable for exercise. They offer wireless convenience, an integrated mic, and are rated well for portability. In contrast, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II delivers superior overall sound quality, with a larger soundstage and higher comfort level. However, they are not wireless, and their high-end price reflects their specialized audio drivers. Moreover, the JBLs have app control customization options, which the Thieaudios lack, but the latter's sound quality may be worth the additional investment for audiophiles. 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 JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless
Good for phone calls
Good for gaming
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
Best in class for music
Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.6/10
9.5/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
7.3/10
6.7/10
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
7.8/10
5.1/10
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is good for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3/10
7.9/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is somewhat better.
TV and Video
6.9/10
8.8/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is only fair.
Noise Reduction
6.5/10
6.0/10
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both only fair for noise reduction, though the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is somewhat better.
Battery
8.3 Hours
N/A
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless has 8.3 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$50
$999
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless has a price of $50 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
Build Quality
8.5/10
9.0/10
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II has excellent build quality, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless has very good build quality.
"The Vibe Beam earbuds may not be a sleek as other earbuds in the price range, such as the equally priced Vibe Buds, but they sound great, have a long battery life, and come with an equalizer. And if you just need a solid pair if earbuds to get you through your commute, these will do the trick. I have no complaints here."
"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 JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
127,400
Recommendations made
19,110
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Luis Torres
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.