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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds offer active noise cancelling, wireless convenience, an app with customizable controls, and a longer battery life, making them a solid choice for commuting, travel, and use during exercise. Although less costly, they provide high overall sound quality and are comfortable for extended wear. In contrast, the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II excels in sound quality for critical listening and have a detachable cable with options for different driver types, but they come without noise-cancelling or wireless features and aren't as suited for exercise or travel. If audio fidelity, particularly for TV and gaming, is your priority and you're fine with a wired connection, the Monarch Mk II might be worth the additional cost. However, for versatile, everyday use and better value, Sony's WF1000XM4 would be the more practical 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 Sony WF1000XM4
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Gaming
5.6
6.7
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
6.7
5.1
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
10.0
7.9
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good.
TV and Video
6.0
8.8
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
9.0 Hours
N/A
The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$220
$999
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sony WF1000XM4 has a price of $220 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Music
9.0
9.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Thieaudio Monarch Mk II to be best in class for music, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent.
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Thieaudio Monarch Mk II to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the Sony WF1000XM4 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony WF1000XM4 | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$220 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2021 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.7/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 9 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6.5 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
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 Sony WF1000XM4 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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