Wired IEMs
Hisenior Mega5EST
80Outstanding
$650
Full review dataHisenior Mega5EST vs THIEAUDIO MONARCH MKII: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Hisenior Mega5EST comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 80. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Hisenior Mega5EST - Outstanding overall at around $649.
Wired IEMs
THIEAUDIO MONARCH MKII
74Great
$1,000
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Hisenior Mega5EST leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- Hisenior Mega5EST
- THIEAUDIO MONARCH MKII
HearWiki score
80
74
Sound
9.1
9.0
Value
8.3
6.4
Price (USD)
$650
$1,000
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The Hisenior Mega5EST is 2 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.
- Mega5EST20232 yr newer
- MONARCH MKII2021
Specifications
Mega5ESTMONARCH MKII
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $650
- $1,000
- HearWiki score
- 80
- 74
- Released
- 2023
- 2021
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 1DD + 2BA + 2EST tribrid
- tribrid
- Driver type
- tribrid
- tribrid
- Driver configuration
- 1DD + 2BA + 2EST
- -
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 5
- -
- Impedance
- 25 Ω
- 36 Ω
- Weight
- 6 g
- -
- Connector
- 2-pin 0.78 mm
- 2-pin 0.78 mm
What reviewers said
Hisenior Mega5EST
The Hisenior Mega5EST is a tribrid in-ear monitor that blends a dynamic driver, dual balanced armatures, and dual electrostatic drivers into a smooth, enjoyable tuning. It prioritizes a cohesive and musical listen over clinical precision, wrapped in a premium build with a generous accessory kit. The main letdown is cosmetic, with the shell color not quite matching the faceplates, though performance-wise it's a strong all-rounder for its price.
- Pro:Enjoyable, well-balanced tuning with broad appeal
- Pro:High-quality construction and included accessories
- Pro:Cohesive sound across drivers without harshness
- Con:Shell color doesn't match the faceplates aesthetically
- Con:Not aimed at listeners wanting extreme technical detail
- Con:Lacks noise cancellation features
THIEAUDIO MONARCH MKII
This in-ear monitor uses a tri-hybrid driver setup, blending a 10 mm dynamic driver with balanced-armature and electrostatic units for a detailed, layered sound. Aimed at critical listeners, it delivers a polished, high-resolution performance that suits both audiophile enjoyment and studio-style monitoring. Its wired, 2-pin connection keeps things straightforward for those who already own quality cables and sources.
- Pro:Layered, high-resolution tuning across the frequency range
- Pro:Tribrid driver design offers a cohesive blend of dynamics and detail
- Pro:Comfortable fit with standard 2-pin connector for easy cable swapping
- Con:Requires a quality source and amplifier to shine fully
- Con:No noise isolation features, so external sounds can interfere
- Con:Bulky shell may not suit smaller ears
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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