Between the AONIC 3 and Monarch MKIII, the AONIC 3 comes out ahead in sensitivity, while the Monarch MKIII wins on driver count and impedance. Overall, the AONIC 3 scores 56.6 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 16.3 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 AONIC 3 if you care most about sensitivity. The biggest gaps in its favor are sensitivity.
Pick the Monarch MKIII if you care most about driver count and impedance. Its strongest claims are driver count, impedance.
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 Shure - AONIC 3 wins
- ▲Sensitivity — 0.89% more. 113 dB vs 112 dB.
Why ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII wins
- ▲Driver count — 9.00 more. 10 vs 1.
- ▲Impedance — 8.00 Ω less. 22 vs 30.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Shure - AONIC 3 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 1 | 10lead |
| Driver types | Single Balanced Armature | 1DD + 6BA + 2EST + 1 Bone Conduction Tribrid |
| Impedanceⓘ | 30 Ω | 22 Ωlead |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 113 dBlead | 112 dB |
Build
| Spec | Shure - AONIC 3 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | MMCX | 2-pinlead |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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