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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
If budget is a key concern and you need headphones that can handle activities like air travel and general use, the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC might suit you best; they offer active noise cancelling, are comfortable, and have a good battery life. However, if sound quality is paramount and you primarily want earbuds for high-fidelity music listening, consider investing in the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II despite the higher price. Note that the Monarch Mk II falls short for calls and doesn't support wireless connectivity, which might limit their convenience for some users. If you frequently make calls or prefer the convenience of wireless earbuds, the JLab Jbuds would be preferable. 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 JLab Jbuds Lux ANC
- Excellent 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
6.0
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC is only fair.
Gaming
5.4
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for gaming, while the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.0
The JLab Jbuds Lux ANC is good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
70.0 Hours
N/A
The JLab Jbuds Lux ANC has 70 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$80
$999
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The JLab Jbuds Lux ANC has a price of $80 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 JLab Jbuds Lux ANC has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.1
The JLab Jbuds Lux ANC and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both poor for phone calls.
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How the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JLab Jbuds Lux ANC | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$80 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JLab | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2024 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.1/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 70 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 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 | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 235 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
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 JLab Jbuds Lux ANC or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
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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