A community for discussion around all topics related to headphones and personal audio.
I've demoed probably over 50 IEMs as/more expensive than the monarch Mk2 but I still can't find one that is as well rounded as it is, not even "for the price". There might be some IEMs you will like more than this set but I think it's one of the best reference sets to ever grace the market. (mileage may vary on the treble/other hrtf related shenanigans)
Where did you get to do that at?
Hrtf?
really expensive audio is like really expensive clothing. the reason the price is higher is usually something besides the core functionality of the product in question.
and keeping along that path, fit and synergy are more important than the mindset that thing over there costs more so it has to be better... that's not true with jeans, and it's not true with IEMs or amps etc.
IMHO you should go into all audio purchases with the idea that what you're getting is going to sound different, not "better" - especially not if you're already firmly in the mid-fi game and spending hundreds on gear.
The nails 💀
You dont need to. Monarch 2 is the best for me, not even considering the price.
I'd demoed/bought many IEMs, some even 2-3 times the price of monarch, and I sold everything, and bought Monarch mk2 new.
I am happy and sad now, happy coz I found my love ones, but sad coz I have no appetite to upgrade anymore. :)
Nice! I just received the III today. No time to test it out yet.
You can get a bit more clarity and separation out of some expensive sets. Even the monarch mk3 which has two dynamic drivers for bass, is not that much more technical in the bass and treble is more of a tuning change. From much review watching and forum reading, many prefer the mk2 over the mk3 since the mk3 loses some of the midrange magic. I think my 64 audio nio is a more technical iem (more clarity and microdetail, better positional imaging, wider sound stage), but I still reach for the monarch mk2 more often for music listening since the nio sounds more "sterile" in back to back comparison. I think finding a way to demo the $2500 64audio nio is the next step up for a bass heavier sound signature.
Having demoed many expensive sets in big brands like kinera, noble, 64audio, sennheiser, etc. the monarch mk2 is easily the most enjoyable for me even if not always as proficient, until I get to demo a mk3 and 64 audio volur.
Your mk2 is endgame and can scale with/be slightly flavored with equipment too. Blind buys at the level of the monarch are not a good idea and you'll have to go to a show to demo all of the stuff to actually find something you personally consider better. Even then I considered the 64a Nios better at a show so I bought them, but now that I live with them I use them for general use/gaming more than music.
I usually only go for stuff that’s universally praised Shure SE535’s (the whole SE line really), Focal Clears etc but it’s hard with super highend IEM’s
The Shure SE846’s and Sennheiser IE800’s got pretty mixed reviews so I never went for them.
First off congratulations! I recently got my Monarch MK2 too. Do yourself a favor and just allow yourself to be happy about what you have before looking over your shoulder about something next because the higher you go up the price ladder the harder the law of diminishing returns will be to overcome and what you have in the Monarch MK2 is so well done and well balanced in sound that nothing really truly is objectively proven better all together over it. You will only get deviations from certain points here and there but I don’t believe there is tech out there that truly is double the sound ability of the Monarch mk2 at any price. But the same can be said about other top S tier IEMs. The Monarch MK2 won’t be double the sound of those other top S ranked IEMs either. So just be happy that you have a wonderful IEM that you can easily claim as your endgame.
Clean your nails.
Congrats! I went for the Prestige LTD myself. What are the speakers in the background?
KRK rockit 8’s ontop of the old Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers
Enjoy the IEM!
If you are satisfied just settle there. Maybe get a second fun iem to go with it. There will always be new and shiny things to want/buy. If the sound of the Monarch MK2s really work for you then it should be a great iem for you
You should try classical music on them if you like classical music. They work really well for that.
What about their tuning makes them good for classical?
I am going to preface this with the fact I find IEF neutral/harman target upper mode to be shouty for vocals especially. I might be particularly sensitive in the 2-4 Khz region compared to some people. Since a lot of iems target those targets it ends up a lot of the times them not being for me. Which is why I almost always prefer a recess comparitive to the targets there. Now onto why it works for classical for me.
While the bass lacks impact and isn't anything special. It is present enough and detailed in a way that sounds natural. Works for classical music but not as much for say more dynamic Rock music.
The Mids are present, detailed again and rather naturally timbred. The forward upper mids gives more "excitement"/"energy" to a lot of instruments. So along with sounding natural if you aren't too sensitive to it it can make the music more fun. On the not classical music side faster paced Rock, and metal prefers slightly recessed upper mids since that extra energy in the upper mids can make guitars too aggressive and be too much or shouty. Some people do prefer that extra energy and aggressiveness so ultimately it is taste. But I wouldn't use this IEM overall for the more energetic/aggressive genres. Vocals aren't the
What the upper mids does is give a relatively good/smooth transition to the treble. Monarch MK2s treble is good is pretty detailed. It's 5khz is fatiguing to mu ears but your mileage may very on what parts of treble you are sensitive to. It isn't as airy as say the Symphonium Helios treble or as detailed as the U12ts (slightly unfair comparision as U12t is $2k new but can be gotten for $1200 used).
Overall I would say it has a nice timbre to it that works well for classical, live orchestral, acoustic music. But its upper mids, weak bass impact, not amazing but not bad vocals puts it off from working for faster music or vocal focused tracks. But I am sensitive to forward upper mids (and treble in general) so you may not face the same issues.