ThieAudio - Monarch MKII Wired IEM

The most popular and appreciated Thieaudio Signature series IEM is ready to make a comeback, more than one and a half years after its initial release! With driver overhauls and better tuning, the Monarch has been fully redesigned. The Monarch was a turning point for Thieaudio and the global audio community, signifying not only one of the first IEMs to correctly integrate EST driver technology, but also firmly establishing Thieaudio's place in the Hi-Fi audio industry. Our R&D team has been working with the audiophile community to perfect what was already one of the most praised monitors in its class and introduce the Monarch Mark II, the ultimate form of the Monarch.

The Monarch MKII's purpose was to improve its technical performance and introduce a more balanced tuning while remaining true to the monitor's original spirit. We took advantage of this opportunity to upgrade all of the internal drivers, replacing them with the most recent versions and reorganizing their configurations for even better performance. One of the controversial sound aspects of the original Monarch was its super defined and emphasized sub-bass. While some enjoyed the clean separation between the sub-bass and the low-mid frequencies, others voiced concern of the sheer quantity of sub-bass. Every aspect of the tuning process has been scrutinized, being meticulously tested by ear and measurement equipment, and we are proud to present the perfect vision that is the Monarch MKII. 

The 10mm dynamic driver has been upgraded to a brand-new composite diaphragm driver. The new driver provides for extraordinary responsiveness due to a significant increase in membrane tension and magnet strength. This dynamic driver transforms into a subwoofer when built to reproduce only the sub-bass frequencies, resulting in even tighter and more impactful kick drum and bass line punches. In addition, the dynamic driver was combined with two dedicated subwoofer balanced armature drivers, resulting in perfect consistency between the lows and the remainder of the frequency range.

The latest electrostatic drivers are incorporated into the Monarch MKII, and rearrangement of driver location has minimized unwanted tubing resonance and extended its high frequency rollover compared to the original Monarch. This means that the treble range is more even and detailed, and our innovative incorporation of the EST drivers into the setup allows for a greater sense of sparkly, airy, and high-resolution atmosphere in your music. The Monarch MKII continues the Thieaudio legacy of being one of the few in-ear monitors in the world to properly utilize the EST technology.

We've also improved its old EST cable with our current release. Our EST cable is one of our best-selling items, thanks to its comfortable feel and high-resolution acoustic qualities. We used a soft braided paracord material to increase the cable's tactile texture. The ultra-pure silver plated 26AWG OCC copper litz wires in the Monarch MKII's stock cable are still present, but the increase of strands gives it a somewhat meatier feel and a fuller sound. The unique "Smart Switch," a novel modular plug design that allows you to switch between 4.4mm balanced, 2.5mm balanced, and 3.5mm unbalanced terminations simply by swapping out the plug ends, is the most notable feature of this new stock cable. This eliminates the need for cumbersome adaptors, resulting in a more comprehensive setup. The original cable's 2-pin connectors have also been modified to enable a more secure fit with your device.