Wired IEMs
Noble Audio Kaiser Encore
Not yet scored
$2,100
Full review dataNoble Audio Kaiser Encore vs THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Noble Audio Kaiser Encore vs THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Wired IEMs
THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV
84Outstanding
$1,150
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- Noble Audio Kaiser Encore
- THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV
HearWiki score
-
84
Sound
-
9.4
Value
-
7.6
Price (USD)
$2,100
$1,150
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 THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV is 6 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. For 6 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Kaiser Encore2019
- Monarch MKIV20256 yr newer
Specifications
Kaiser EncoreMonarch MKIV
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $2,100
- $1,150
- HearWiki score
- Not scored
- 84
- Released
- 2019
- 2025
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Sold new
- Driver
- 10× balanced armature
- 2DD + 6BA + 2EST tribrid
- Driver type
- balanced-armature
- tribrid
- Driver configuration
- -
- 2DD + 6BA + 2EST
- Driver size
- -
- 8 mm
- Drivers per side
- 10
- 10
- Impedance
- 35 Ω
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- No
- -
- Connector
- 2-pin 0.78 mm
- -
What reviewers said
Noble Audio Kaiser Encore
The Kaiser Encore is a premium flagship in-ear monitor that packs ten balanced armature drivers per side, delivering a detailed and refined sound with a specially tuned midrange for enhanced clarity and balance. Its detachable 2-pin cable and acrylic shell make it a versatile, wired choice for audiophiles seeking high-end performance.
- Pro:Ten balanced armature drivers per side for detailed sound
- Pro:Retooled midrange improves clarity and tonal balance
- Pro:Detachable 2-pin cable for easy replacement or upgrade
- Con:High price point limits accessibility
- Con:No active noise cancellation, requiring isolation from tips
- Con:Wired-only design may not suit wireless users
THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIV
The Monarch MKIV is a flagship in-ear monitor built around a ten-driver tribrid configuration, blending dual 8mm dynamic drivers, six balanced armatures, and two electrostatic tweeters. It offers a studio-neutral sound signature with an additional switchable bass-boost mode for listeners who prefer a more impactful low end.
- Pro:Reference-grade neutral tuning with excellent clarity
- Pro:Versatile bass boost mode adds flexibility
- Pro:Detailed and extended treble from electrostatic tweeters
- Con:High price point limits accessibility
- Con:Requires a capable source to perform at its best
- Con:Large 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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