You can get a bit more clarity and separation out of some expensive sets. Even the monarch mk3 which has two dynamic drivers for bass, is not that much more technical in the bass and treble is more of a tuning change. From much review watching and forum reading, many prefer the mk2 over the mk3 since the mk3 loses some of the midrange magic. I think my 64 audio nio is a more technical iem (more clarity and microdetail, better positional imaging, wider sound stage), but I still reach for the monarch mk2 more often for music listening since the nio sounds more “sterile” in back to back comparison. I think finding a way to demo the $2500 64audio nio is the next step up for a bass heavier sound signature.
Having demoed many expensive sets in big brands like kinera, noble, 64audio, sennheiser, etc. the monarch mk2 is easily the most enjoyable for me even if not always as proficient, until I get to demo a mk3 and 64 audio volur.
Your mk2 is endgame and can scale with/be slightly flavored with equipment too. Blind buys at the level of the monarch are not a good idea and you’ll have to go to a show to demo all of the stuff to actually find something you personally consider better. Even then I considered the 64a Nios better at a show so I bought them, but now that I live with them I use them for general use/gaming more than music.
I usually only go for stuff that’s universally praised Shure SE535’s (the whole SE line really), Focal Clears etc but it’s hard with super highend IEM’s
The Shure SE846’s and Sennheiser IE800’s got pretty mixed reviews so I never went for them.
You can get a bit more clarity and separation out of some expensive sets. Even the monarch mk3 which has two dynamic drivers for bass, is not that much more technical in the bass and treble is more of a tuning change. From much review watching and forum reading, many prefer the mk2 over the mk3 since the mk3 loses some of the midrange magic. I think my 64 audio nio is a more technical iem (more clarity and microdetail, better positional imaging, wider sound stage), but I still reach for the monarch mk2 more often for music listening since the nio sounds more “sterile” in back to back comparison. I think finding a way to demo the $2500 64audio nio is the next step up for a bass heavier sound signature.
Having demoed many expensive sets in big brands like kinera, noble, 64audio, sennheiser, etc. the monarch mk2 is easily the most enjoyable for me even if not always as proficient, until I get to demo a mk3 and 64 audio volur.
Your mk2 is endgame and can scale with/be slightly flavored with equipment too. Blind buys at the level of the monarch are not a good idea and you’ll have to go to a show to demo all of the stuff to actually find something you personally consider better. Even then I considered the 64a Nios better at a show so I bought them, but now that I live with them I use them for general use/gaming more than music.
I usually only go for stuff that’s universally praised Shure SE535’s (the whole SE line really), Focal Clears etc but it’s hard with super highend IEM’s
The Shure SE846’s and Sennheiser IE800’s got pretty mixed reviews so I never went for them.