A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For a more affordable option, the Skullcandy Dime is suitable for casual music listening, calls, and has wireless convenience with a lightweight design. However, for high-end audio quality and a richer listening experience for music, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II stands out but requires a wired connection and lacks an inbuilt microphone for calls. The Monarch Mk II may also be more comfortable and durable but is less portable and lacks wireless features which the Dime offers. Choose the Dime for budget-friendliness and wireless ease, or the Monarch Mk II if audio fidelity and build are your priority. 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 Skullcandy Dime
- 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
5.7
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Gaming
4.8
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for gaming, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Phone Calls
6.2
5.1
The Skullcandy Dime is only fair for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Skullcandy Dime are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.3
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
6.0
The Skullcandy Dime and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both only fair for noise reduction, though the Skullcandy Dime is somewhat better.
Battery
3.5 Hours
N/A
The Skullcandy Dime has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$16
$999
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Skullcandy Dime has a price of $16 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 Skullcandy Dime has very good build quality.
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How the Skullcandy Dime and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Skullcandy Dime | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$16 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Skullcandy | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 4.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 3.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | 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 | Small | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.5 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Skullcandy Dime
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | April 2021
"For $25, the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds deliver a powerful, balanced, rich, and bright sound signature. There’s really not much else to talk about, but the audio is better than you would expect for the price."
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 Skullcandy Dime or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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