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 Philips Fidelio X2HR, being significantly less expensive, offers an open-back design which is excellent for an immersive music listening experience at home, but they don’t isolate noise well and aren't suitable for noisy environments. On the other hand, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II, while more costly, provides superior sound detail with a combination of balanced armature, dynamic, and electrostatic drivers, making it better for critical listening. Moreover, the Monarch Mk II's closed design and earbud form factor offer better portability and noise isolation, making them versatile for use in a variety of settings. However, if you’re on a budget and primarily use headphones at home, the X2HR may be the better choice. 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 Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Good for gaming
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
Key differences
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Cost
$140
$999
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has a price of $140 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Music
9.3
9.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Thieaudio Monarch Mk II to be best in class for music, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent.
Gaming
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips Fidelio X2HR to be good for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.0
5.1
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
8.8
8.8
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both very good for TV and video.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II both have excellent build quality.
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How the Philips Fidelio X2HR and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips Fidelio X2HR | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$140 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2014 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 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 | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 390 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Dig into reviews and images
Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
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 Philips Fidelio X2HR or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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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