Monarch Mk4vs.Variations
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 | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Thieaudio | Moondrop |
| Country | China | 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. | Moondrop Variations is a hybrid in-ear monitor combining electrostatic, balanced armature, and dynamic drivers for a precise and immersive listening experience. Known for its balanced, reference-style tuning with tight bass, clean mids, and extended treble, it’s a favorite among audiophiles who crave clarity and technical performance. Ideal for detail lovers and those seeking a high-fidelity sound signature. |
| Price Level | 1.000 – 2.000 | 500 – 1.000 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | Tribrid | Tribrid |
| Driver Types | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature + Electrostatic | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature + Electrostatic |
| Shell Material | Aluminium with 2 faceplates options | Copper |
| Cable | – | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | 10Hz – 44kHz | 9-40,000 Hz |
| Impedance (Ω) | 10/9 | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 100 | – |
| 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 | 69 |
| External Reviews | 1 | 3 |
Meta Ratings
From delicate instrumental textures to vocal nuances, Monarch Mk4 conveys sound with significantly enhanced finesse and resolution. For comfort fit, It performs noticeably better (8 vs 7). It shows clearly superior build quality than Variations (7.8 vs 6.5), indicating better materials, construction precision, and overall durability. Cable-wise, It is significantly better built, featuring sturdier connectors and less tangling — traits where Variations falls slightly short. Compared to Variations, the overall accessory offering from It is softly more aligned with the expectations of discerning audiophiles.
| Monarch Mk4 | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 8.8 | 6.5 |
| Comfort Fit | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Build Quality | 7.8 | 6.5 |
| Stock Cable | 7.3 | 5.5 |
| Accessories | 6.8 | 6.0 |
Sound Characteristics
Monarch Mk4 delivers n tighter sub-bass response, controlling low-end rumble with more precision than Variations (7.5 vs 6.5). It enhances basslines with m more energy and grip, giving them a livelier feel compared to Variations (8 vs 6.5). Listeners may find the low-end impact on Variations a more engaging during high-dynamic passages (8.5 vs 8). Monarch Mk4 achieves e better warmth and coherence in the lower mids, bringing more realism to guitars and cellos (8.5 vs 7.5). Upper mids are a more resolving and expressive on Variations, revealing emotion and articulation better than Monarch Mk4 (8 vs 7.5). It captures ambient cues and reverbs a more precisely through its upper treble, enhancing spatial perception over Monarch Mk4 (8 vs 7.5). It paints a a broader sonic landscape, offering better instrument positioning across the stage (7.5 vs 7). In complex arrangements, Monarch Mk4 separates layers a more distinctly, preventing overlap that Variations occasionally suffers (7.5 vs 7). Instruments remain intelligible on It even during busy sections, showing e better handling of masking than Variations (8 vs 7). It adds b more body and density to musical notes, enriching the overall texture compared to Variations (8.5 vs 8). Variations handles sibilant sounds a more gently, with fewer peaks and less sharpness than Monarch Mk4 (9 vs 8.5). Monarch Mk4 presents instrument timbre with a more natural coloration, giving a realistic tone that Variations lacks (9 vs 7.5). It achieves e better tonal neutrality, avoiding colorations present in Variations (8 vs 7). The grain and surface of instruments are rendered a more vividly by It, while Variations feels flatter (8 vs 7.5).
| Monarch Mk4 | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Bass | 8.0 | 6.5 |
| Bass Feel | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Lower Mids | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Mids | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Lower Treble | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Treble | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 7.0 | 7.5 |
| Detail | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Layering | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Masking | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Note Weight | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Slam | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Sibilance | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Timbre Color | 9.0 | 7.5 |
| Tonality | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Texture | 8.0 | 7.5 |
Tonal Signature
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