Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | FiiO - FH19 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 12 Ω | 22 Ω |
Between the FH19 and Monarch MKIII, the FH19 comes out ahead in impedance, while the Monarch MKIII wins on several specs. Overall, the FH19 scores 72.9 and the Monarch MKIII scores 72.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are evenly matched on the broad strokes; the decision sits on which individual spec advantages weigh more for your use.
Pick the FH19 if you care most about impedance. The biggest gaps in its favor are impedance. The single most decisive one: Impedance — 10.00 Ω less. 12 vs 22.
The Monarch MKIII similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable driver count, sensitivity, detachable cable, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: FiiO - FH19 or ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII?
The two products are effectively tied on the current Mars Score.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare impedance against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose FiiO - FH19 if…
FiiO - FH19 has the measurable edge on impedance ohm.
Choose ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII if…
ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why FiiO - FH19 wins
- ▲Impedance — 10.00 Ω less. 12 vs 22.
Why ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | FiiO - FH19 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 10 | 10 |
| Driver types | 1DD + 8BA + 1BC Hybrid | 1DD + 6BA + 2EST + 1 Bone Conduction Tribrid |
| Impedanceⓘ | 12 Ωlead | 22 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 112 dB | 112 dB |
Build
| Spec | FiiO - FH19 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | MMCX | 2-pinlead |