Between the IE 600 and Monarch MKIII, the IE 600 comes out ahead in sensitivity and impedance, while the Monarch MKIII wins on driver count. Overall, the IE 600 scores 61.5 and the Monarch MKIII scores 72.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Monarch MKIII is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 11.4 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the IE 600 if you care most about sensitivity and impedance. The biggest gaps in its favor are sensitivity, impedance.
Pick the Monarch MKIII if you care most about driver count. Its strongest claims are driver count.
Both ship with comparable detachable cable, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Monarch MKIII is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Sennheiser - IE 600 wins
- ▲Sensitivity — 5.36% more. 118 dB vs 112 dB.
- ▲Impedance — 4.00 Ω less. 18 vs 22.
Why ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII wins
- ▲Driver count — 9.00 more. 10 vs 1.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 600 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 1 | 10lead |
| Driver types | Dynamic (TrueResponse) | 1DD + 6BA + 2EST + 1 Bone Conduction Tribrid |
| Impedanceⓘ | 18 Ωlead | 22 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 118 dBlead | 112 dB |
Build
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 600 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | MMCX | 2-pinlead |
Spec-level deep dives
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