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Review: Thieaudio Prestige Ltd Iems – Tightrope Balance
A prestigious masterclass in neutrality and refinement.
Via this level of your individual audio adventure, you’ve most probably heard of Thieaudio’s ‘tribrid line’ of IEMs. This line makes use of numerous dynamic, balanced armature, and electrostatic drivers for bass, midrange, and treble frequencies, respectively.
I used to be instantly gobsmacked once I first encountered the Monarch MKI in past due 2020. Exceptional sub-bass intensity, astounding readability, and an oh-so-compelling sound signature made those my favourite pair of IEMs up to now. Since then, they’ve been my number-one selection for high-end track at the move.
With the preliminary good fortune of the tribrid line, Thieaudio didn’t leisure on their laurels, and the unique Monarch and Clairvoyance were joined by way of the Monarch MKII and III, Oracle MKI and II, Excalibur, Status MKI, and now the TOTL LTD.
The Status LTD really feel like a cultured ‘audiophile’ revision of Thieaudio’s tribrid line. And I believe that is precisely what Thieaudio used to be going for. Buying and selling one of the crucial punch and sizzle of the Monarch for a smoother and extra managed presentation this is without difficulty non-fatiguing, the LTD are an unqualified good fortune. This isn’t to mention they are going to completely are compatible all tastes, and a number of our transportable audiophile brethren prioritize a extra tough low-end over simple listening. There’s a spot for all our particular person personal tastes, and it turns available in the market’s area for a couple of high-end choices in Thieaudio’s tribrid lineup.
- Clean, balanced sound
- Terrific element with out fatigue
- Comfy, ergonomic form
- Modular cable
- Huge dimension received’t are compatible all ears
- Dear
- Bass-heads might need extra dynamics
- No faceplate possible choices, not like different fashions
All of the tribrids within the lineup are bodily equivalent, with sparkly faceplates mated to glossy black resin our bodies in unique ergonomic shapes. Whilst all comprise dynamic, BA, and electrostatic drivers, the choice of drivers levels from 5-10 in step with IEM.
The unique Monarch is so nice, and for the reason that the Status LTD is situated upper within the lineup, I used to be extraordinarily excited to take a look at out this pair of revised tribrid IEMs. Can the LTD actually eclipse Thieaudio’s former masterpiece, my treasured Monarchs?
In This Article
Unboxing and First Influence
Corporate Evaluate
Thieaudio is an artistic enterprise of Chi-Fi mega-retailer Linsoul Audio. Based in 2019, the “…objective of Thieaudio used to be to function an artistic platform for amassing the most productive groups of engineers … For every venture, we hand-select probably the most leading edge and renown [sic] engineers in his or her box to supervise the design, engineering, and production of the goods.”
Technical Specs
- Shape: IEM
- Drivers: 4 Sonion electrostatic drivers + 2 Knowles mid-treble balanced armatures + 2 Sonion low-mid balanced armatures + 10mm dynamic subwoofer in step with aspect
- Crossover: 5-way Crossover
- Impedance (Ohm): 11Ω
- Sensitivity (dB): 95dB @1kHz
- Detachable Cable: Y, 1.2m
- Supply Jack: Modular 3.5mm TRS, 2.5 and four.4mm TRRS
- Cup/Shell Jack: 2-Pin, 0.78mm
Packaging
The LTD are housed in a normal, if huge, book-style cardboard field in a paper sleeve showing specifications and images. Inside the field, the considerable zip-up case and IEMs are nestled in velvet-covered again foam.
You’ll uncover the ear pointers and 3 modular cable plugs throughout the hard-shelled case.
Within the field
- Status LTD IEMs
- Modular cable with 2.5, 3.5, and four.4mm plugs
- 3 pairs of froth ear pointers (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of silicone ear pointers (S, M, L)
- Zippered demanding case
- Mud fabric
Cable
The 1.2m modular cable is created from 6N OCC with silver and graphene-silver plating. Particularly, it’s terminated in a 4-pin “Sensible Transfer” connector that permits for swapping between the incorporated 2.5, 3.5, and four.4mm jacks. At the different finish are rather conventional 2-pin, 0.78mm plugs.
The cable is in a twisted Litz construction fairly than a decent braid and holds its shape properly. It’s product of a pleasant-to-touch rubber subject matter that is helping stave off microphonics. It’s a considerable and meaty feeling cable that imparts a sense of intrinsic price.
Design
As I’ve come to be expecting from Thieaudio IEMs, the opaque black our bodies are created from medical-grade resin and anatomically fashioned. If truth be told, the LTD are in response to the all-BA, TOTL V16 Divinity IEMs.
Unsurprisingly, the 9-driver IEMs are rather huge, however the flawless end and intelligently designed form lead them to simple to regulate to, and I will be able to put on them for hours with out discomfort.
The face plates have a glittery area motif harking back to deep-space footage. Thieaudio claims the faceplates are all “for my part adorned and lined, presenting a actually bespoke revel in.” Whilst flashier choices are to be had for the Monarch MKIII, the LTD faceplates are restricted to a extra subdued black and pinkish-copper colorway with tiny multicolored flickers.
There’s a unmarried port at the again floor of the frame, and the nozzles are created from chrome steel with a lip to carry onto the ear pointers securely.
I admire the good, no-nonsense design.
Internals
The declare to status with the Thieaudio tribrid lineup is the mix of electrostatic, BA, and dynamic drivers. This time, we get 4 Sonion electrostatic drivers, 2 Knowles mid-treble balanced armatures, 2 Sonion low-mid balanced armatures, and a 10mm dynamic motive force in step with every aspect of the Status LTD.
Some of these drivers are tied to a 5-way crossover, tasked with balancing and merging a lot of these other sound signatures right into a coherent complete.
And that results in the massive query with multi-driver IEMs. Can 18 drivers jammed into your ears in point of fact sound uniform and articulate?
Thieaudio Status LTD Sound
Somewhat than grabbing you by way of the ears and important your complete consideration, the Thieaudio Status LTD expectantly succeed in out and gently stroke your cheek whilst supplying you with a sultry wink. In contrast to tribrids I’ve attempted prior to now, the LTD are remarkably even-keeled and refined of their presentation.
Each little nuance of the track is sublimely managed, tight, and blank. There isn’t ‘an excessive amount of’ of the rest – not anything untoward jumps out of the presentation. Fortunately, the bump round 3-4 kHz is definitely restrained (a puppy peeve of many tunings for me). What you get is a simple neutrality and herbal sound signature.
I’d hesitate to name the LTD ‘amusing,’ as that is obviously now not what they have been tuned for. Somewhat, they’re correct and supremely in a position to giving element – freed from harshness. They’re simple to hear and nonfatiguing.
In a phrase, clean.
Bass
In comparison to the unique Monarch, or by way of all reviews, the more moderen variations, the focal point of the LTD sound signature is way more balanced – fairly than boosted. The Monarch booms and sizzles; aspect by way of aspect, it may well first of all really feel just like the LTD are a long way lighter within the low frequencies.
Additional listening makes it obvious that once the track calls for subterranean bass, the LTD are greater than as much as the duty. It’s simply now not dialed as much as grasp your consideration always.
The bass remains nimble and doesn’t get slowed down, with decrease frequency notes distinct and obviously differentiated.
The LTD bass is a half-step again, and this is helping to take care of their impartial and herbal voice. It’s a lighter contact that can pay dividends in readability and definition. This is helping the LTD deftly negotiate extraordinarily busy and sophisticated track.
Whilst they might not be the primary number of only EDM aficionados, rock, classical, or steel listeners will certainly now not be upset. There’s enough weight to floor tools and be sure that issues sound herbal and correct.
Midrange
The LTD are midrange masters. The iron-fisted keep an eye on of the low-end continues up into midrange frequencies, and the entirety sounds extremely detailed and but subtly offered. Tune is obtainable gently and feels extra like you’re listening to one thing environmental fairly than having sound projected immediately down your ear canal.
The transition from dynamic motive force to numerous BA drivers is phenomenally seamless. It’s this coherence that in point of fact defines the LTD, as they sound in order that clean.
Voices sound unforced and offered with an actual persona. Feminine vocals shine with a simple presentation that may cause that hair-raising feeling.
Treble
I have a tendency to equate IEMs with EST drivers with a near-supernatural increased stage of airiness and sparkle. That is the sensation the unique Monarch provide; a raised-beyond-normal sensation of top of the range brilliance.
The LTD are masterfully restrained within the high-end, keeping up their neutrality. Positive, there’s gobs of element in case you hear for it, nevertheless it’s now not cranked as much as 11, and it’s conceivable simply to background hear and groove out with the LTD – one thing that I don’t in finding conceivable with the Monarch. They call for an excessive amount of of my consideration for that.
The loss of an awesome low-end signifies that the LTD can also be similarly light-handed within the tuning of the high-end and nonetheless take care of a basic stability. There’s no v-shaped shopper profile with a jarring treble in an try to offset a boosted bass.
The location that the LTD’s signature items strikes a chord in my memory moderately of the talk with the Audeze LCD-5 (extra so than the LTD’s precise sound). The preliminary opinions of the 5 have been rather blended, with a number of people anticipating conventional Audeze tuning expressing dissatisfaction with the volume of the bass available.
In a similar fashion, I will be able to see the ones coming from the Monarch line to really feel one thing is lacking with the Status LTD. The ‘wow’ issue of boosted dynamics that instantly grabs you upon first hear, most likely. I admit, I questioned in the event that they have been a slightly too ‘flat’ once I first popped them in.
Thankfully, the Mojo 2 permits for instant swaps with two headphone outputs, and with additional listening, I discovered the Monarch started to sound way more fatiguing over the long run.
In case you are a ‘listen-for-hours’ kind of IEM consumer, the subtle and resolved nature of the LTD could also be a really perfect fit.
The place to Purchase
Conclusion
The Status LTD really feel like a cultured ‘audiophile’ revision of Thieaudio’s tribrid line. And I believe that is precisely what Thieaudio used to be going for.
Buying and selling one of the crucial punch and sizzle of the Monarch for a smoother and extra managed presentation this is without difficulty non-fatiguing, the LTD are an unqualified good fortune.
This isn’t to mention they are going to completely are compatible all tastes, and a number of our transportable audiophile brethren prioritize a extra tough low-end over simple listening. There’s a spot for all our particular person personal tastes, and it turns available in the market’s area for a couple of high-end choices in Thieaudio’s tribrid lineup.
When I were given over my “those must be similar to the Monarch however higher” preliminary expectancies, I allowed myself to hear and admire how the LTD sound distinctive and, in a couple of techniques, higher than their siblings. Within the rarefied air of the kilo-buck plus IEM marketplace, the LTD do sufficient to justify their TOTL standing.
Possibly if I’m within the temper for an all-encompassing visceral slam, I’ll nonetheless succeed in for my cherished Monarchs, however I’m beginning to worry the well mannered and well-mannered Status LTD might eclipse them as my first selection.
Allow 48h for review and removal.