A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Koss Porta Pro offers good sound quality, comfort, and portability at a budget price, with an open design that provides a more expansive soundstage but lacks noise isolation, making them less ideal for noisy environments or during travel. They are suitable for general music listening and have a retro design that's foldable for easy carrying but lacks modern features like a microphone or wireless connectivity. In contrast, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II, while significantly more expensive, delivers excellent sound quality and noise isolation with a more secure fit due to included ear hooks, making them a better choice for critical listening and use in noisy settings. They also have a closed, stemless design with high-quality build materials but may be less compact for carrying around. Both options are wired, with the Koss being on-ear headphones and the Thieaudio being in-ear earbuds, which could be a deciding factor based on your personal comfort preference. 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 Koss Porta Pro
- The Koss Porta Pro has no clear advantages over the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II.
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
8.2
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Koss Porta Pro is very good.
Phone Calls
4.3
5.1
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for phone calls, though the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.8
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro is only fair.
TV and Video
7.6
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Koss Porta Pro is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro is poor.
Cost
$49
$999
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Koss Porta Pro has a price of $49 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
Build Quality
6.0
9.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II has excellent build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
6.4
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Koss Porta Pro are both only fair for gaming.
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How the Koss Porta Pro and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Koss Porta Pro | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$49 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Koss | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 1984 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6/10 | 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) | 63.5 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Koss Porta Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
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 Koss Porta Pro or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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