Monarch Mk4vs.Mk12 Turris
Sound & Specs Comparison
Information
Both IEMs are widely regarded in the audiophile community. See how they differ in terms of sub-bass response, upper mids, clarity, and overall tonality. Spider charts and rating breakdowns included.
Objective Comparison
Facts, details, stuff.
| General Info | Monarch Mk4 | Mk12 Turris |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Thieaudio | Hidizs |
| Country | China | – |
| IEM Description | The Monarch MKIV is the latest evolution in Thieaudio’s Signature Series, now featuring a tuning switch that lets users toggle between two distinct sound profiles: STANDARD mode offers a studio-neutral tuning with clean mids and refined treble. RUMBLE mode adds +3dB sub-bass for a warmer, more powerful low-end response. It sports a lightweight T6 aluminum shell, an advanced 4-way crossover system with 9 passive components, and the upgraded IMPACT2 isobaric dual-subwoofer setup for tight, impactful bass. Treble is handled with precision thanks to improved EST driver integration for smoother and more extended highs. The MKIV also introduces the new Chocolate modular cable system, offering both 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm unbalanced terminations with silver-plated OFC wires. A versatile flagship IEM combining technical excellence with customizable tuning. | The MK12 Turris brings a striking design together with a smooth and full-bodied sound. It’s an all-rounder that aims to please a broad range of musical tastes while offering style and substance in equal measure. |
| Price Level | 1.000 – 2.000 | 100 – 500 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | Tribrid | Single Dyn. Driver |
| Driver Types | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature + Electrostatic | Dynamic Driver |
| Shell Material | Aluminium with 2 faceplates options | – |
| Cable | – | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | 10Hz – 44kHz | 10-45kHz |
| Impedance (Ω) | 10/9 | 32 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 100 | 111 |
| Crossover | 4-way crossover with 4 sound tubes+2 ultra-high frequency drivers+4 high frequency drivers+2 mid frequency drivers+2 low frequency drivers | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 2 | 1 |
| Visit Count | 429 | 13 |
| External Reviews | 1 | 1 |
Meta Ratings
Especially for complex musical passages, Monarch Mk4 handles layering and imaging evidently more confidently and precisely. For comfort fit, It performs faintly better (8 vs 7.3). Cable-wise, It is materially better built, featuring sturdier connectors and less tangling — traits where Mk12 Turris falls slightly short. Accessory-wise, It includes markedly more practical and high-quality items, enhancing both protection and usability.
| Monarch Mk4 | Mk12 Turris | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 8.8 | 7.8 |
| Comfort Fit | 8.0 | 7.3 |
| Build Quality | 7.8 | 7.5 |
| Stock Cable | 7.3 | 4.8 |
| Accessories | 6.8 | 5.0 |
Sound Characteristics
Mk12 Turris delivers n deeper and more extended sub-bass, reaching lower frequencies with greater authority than Monarch Mk4 (8.5 vs 7.5). It translates bass vibrations into a a more visceral experience, while Monarch Mk4 lacks this tactile feedback (8.5 vs 8). Male vocals and lower instruments sound a richer and better defined on It, unlike Monarch Mk4 which can seem hollow (9 vs 8.5). It reproduces female vocals and strings with s more air and forwardness, while Monarch Mk4 remains recessed (8 vs 7.5). It provides a more refined lower treble, resolving fine detail and air with greater finesse than Monarch Mk4 (9 vs 7.5). The highest frequencies on It feel m more natural and less rolled-off compared to Monarch Mk4 (9 vs 7.5). It creates a a wider soundstage, giving instruments more space and a better sense of placement than Monarch Mk4 (8 vs 7). The retrieval of faint audio cues on It is a more convincing, while Monarch Mk4 tends to gloss over them (8.5 vs 8). In complex arrangements, It separates layers a more distinctly, preventing overlap that Monarch Mk4 occasionally suffers (8.5 vs 7.5). It avoids frequency masking a more successfully, preserving clarity across the spectrum better than Monarch Mk4 (8.5 vs 8). Percussion and quick attacks feel a more physical and punchy on Monarch Mk4, adding excitement over Mk12 Turris (8.5 vs 7.5). Listeners may experience a fewer sharp edges in 'S' and 'T' sounds with Mk12 Turris, whereas Monarch Mk4 can get fatiguing (9.5 vs 8.5). Monarch Mk4 presents instrument timbre with b more natural coloration, giving a realistic tone that Mk12 Turris lacks (9 vs 8.5). Mk12 Turris achieves a better tonal neutrality, avoiding colorations present in Monarch Mk4 (8.5 vs 8).
| Monarch Mk4 | Mk12 Turris | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Bass | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Bass Feel | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Lower Mids | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Upper Mids | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Lower Treble | 7.5 | 9.0 |
| Upper Treble | 7.5 | 9.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 7.0 | 8.0 |
| Detail | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Layering | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Masking | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Note Weight | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Slam | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Sibilance | 8.5 | 9.5 |
| Timbre Color | 9.0 | 8.5 |
| Tonality | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Texture | 8.0 | 8.0 |
Tonal Signature
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