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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a tight budget and need headphones for casual listening, the Sony MDR-ZX110 could be suitable; however, they have limited features and only fair sound quality. On the other hand, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II offers best-in-class sound, excellent build quality, and detachable cables, making them a high-end choice for music enthusiasts. The Monarch Mk II is significantly more expensive, but if sound quality is a priority and you don't need wireless capabilities or active noise cancelling, they might be the better pick. Neither are ideal for calls and meetings or use during exercise, and both are wired, limiting mobility compared to wireless options. 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 Sony MDR-ZX110
- The Sony MDR-ZX110 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
7.6
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.
Gaming
5.9
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.0
5.1
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.3
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
6.9
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
5.3
6.0
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Cost
$10
$999
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Sony MDR-ZX110 has a price of $10 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 Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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How the Sony MDR-ZX110 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony MDR-ZX110 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$10 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2015 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.9/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 3.9/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 119.9 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Sony MDR-ZX110
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Dig into reviews and images
Audio.org
Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
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 Sony MDR-ZX110 or the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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