A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Given your consideration between the Sennheiser HD600 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II, it's important to note that while the Sennheiser HD600 may be more affordable, it is an over-ear, open-back headphone which typically provides a more natural sound stage, good for home listening in a quiet environment. However, it leaks sound and may not provide isolation from ambient noise. On the other hand, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is an in-ear monitor (IEM) which will give you better noise isolation and portability, but might not match the comfort level and expansive sound stage of open-back headphones. If you’re looking for a portable option and are in noisier environments, the Monarch Mk II might be the better choice, despite its higher price. 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 Sennheiser HD600
- 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 Sennheiser HD600 is poor.
Cost
$350
$999
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sennheiser HD600 has a price of $350 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
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 Sennheiser HD600 is excellent.
Gaming
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD600 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 Sennheiser HD600 are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.9
The Sennheiser HD600 and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
8.9
8.8
The Sennheiser HD600 and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both very good for TV and video.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Sennheiser HD600 and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II both have excellent build quality.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Sennheiser HD600 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser HD600 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$350 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 1997 | 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 | 7/10 | 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) | 258.5 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Sennheiser HD600
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Jean Mouchet | September 2021
"The HD600 are state-of-the-art headphones with high sound quality and remarkable value, among most of the offerings in today’s time."
Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
See more
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 Sennheiser HD600 or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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
More comparisons for you
Compare Sennheiser HD600 vs. Sennheiser Momentum Sport
VS
Compare Sennheiser HD600 vs. Moondrop Blessing 3
VS
Compare Sennheiser HD600 vs. Moondrop Blessing 2
VS
Compare Thieaudio Monarch Mk II vs. Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H95
VS
Compare Thieaudio Monarch Mk II vs. Audeze LCD 2 Classic
VS
Compare Thieaudio Monarch Mk II vs. Focal Elex
VS
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
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.
Featured in
