MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK vs THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK
THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Nov 14, 2025 07:04 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v2.1

Updated Mar 06, 2026 07:48 PM

Amazon.com
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Earbuds For Gaming
  3. USB-C

Our Verdict

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK

THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII

The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK and the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII are premium IEMs targeted at users looking for the very best sound reproduction. Both pairs have fairly similar sound profiles, offering plenty of thump and rumble in the low end, though the THIEAUDIO offer a more present low-treble range, which can help make vocals sound a little clearer in dense mixes. But both pairs present instruments and vocals accurately. But the THIEAUDIO are significantly more expensive than the MOONDROP and lack the MOONDROP's DSP cable, which allows you to apply EQ presets to your audio.

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Variants

  • x Crinacle DUSK (Black)
  • Monarch MKIII (Black)

Check Price

Black
x Crinacle DUSK
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Monarch MKIII
Amazon.com
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
B&H
Black
Monarch MKIII
B&H
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
BestBuy.com
Black
Monarch MKIII
BestBuy.com
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
MOONDROP
Black
Monarch MKIII
THIEAUDIO
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
Walmart.com
Black
Monarch MKIII
Walmart.com
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Main Differences for
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Full Comparison

Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Sound Profile  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Sound Profile Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Sound Profile Sample

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Normalization Frequency 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Bass Amount 
 

Locked
Locked

Treble Amount 
 

Locked
Locked

Sound Signature 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Consistency L Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Consistency L Sample

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Consistency R  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Consistency R Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Consistency R Sample

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Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR R  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Raw FR R Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass Profile: Target Compliance  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Bass Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Bass Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble Profile: Target Compliance  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Treble Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Treble Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph 
 

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Mismatch 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Mismatch  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Frequency Response Mismatch Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Frequency Response Mismatch Sample

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Phase Response Mismatch  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock°
Lock°
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Group Delay 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Group Delay Sample

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Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock ms
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Cumulative Spectral Decay 
 

CSD  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK CSD Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII CSD Sample

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PRTF 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII PRTF Sample

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PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Distance 
 

N/A
N/A
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Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Harmonics Levels  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Harmonics Levels Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Harmonics Levels Sample

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THD Ratio  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK THD Ratio Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII THD Ratio Sample

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WHD @ 94 dB SPL 
 

Lock%
Lock%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Electrical Aspects 
 

Impedance  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Impedance Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Impedance Sample

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Sensitivity @1kHz-1V 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Bluetooth Max SPL 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked
Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked
Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked
Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked
Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Locked

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked
Locked

Power 
 

Locked
Locked

Connection 
 

Locked
Locked

Codec 
 

Locked
Locked

Test Instrument  

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC 
 

Locked
Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Design Picture 2 Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Comfort Picture Sample

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
Lock lbs
Show Text 

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Controls Picture Sample

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked
Locked

Noise Cancelling Control  

Locked
Locked

Talk-Through 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Portability Picture Sample

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Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Build Quality Picture Sample

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Show Text 

Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Stability Picture Sample

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Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Angled Picture Sample

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Side Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Side Picture Sample

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Front Picture Sample

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Rear Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Rear Picture Sample

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Top  

Top Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Top Picture Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Top Picture Sample

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK In The Box Picture Sample

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII In The Box Picture Sample

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Show Text 
Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph Sample

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Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Airplane Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Office Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Street Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling 
 

Female Voice 1 
 

Male Voice 1 
 

Female Voice 2 
 

Male Voice 2 
 

ANC Wind Handling 
 

ANC Wind Handling Graph  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK ANC Wind Handling Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII ANC Wind Handling Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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ANC Wind Noise 
 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked
Locked

Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic  

Locked
Locked

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

Lock Hz
N/A

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB
N/A

HFE 
 

Lock Hz
N/A

Weighted THD 
 

Lock
N/A

Gain 
 

Lock dB
N/A
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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SpNR 
 

Lock dB
N/A

Noise Gate 
 

Locked
Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

0.0
N/A

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

0.0
N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Continuous Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Additional Charges 
 

N/A
N/A

Total Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Charge Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Locked

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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App Name  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

Locked
Locked

Windows  

Locked
Locked

Equalizer 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic Control  

Locked
Locked

Room Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked
Locked

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired Connection 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Connector 
 

Locked
Locked

Latency - Analog 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Latency - USB 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

Recorded Latency Connection  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bluetooth Connection 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
N/A

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
N/A

Quick Pair (Android) 
 

Locked
N/A

Quick Pair (iOS) 
 

Locked
N/A

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - SBC 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality) 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - LDAC 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

Recorded Latency Codec  

N/A
N/A

AAC Support 
 

Locked
N/A

Wireless Connection (Dongle) 
 

N/A
N/A

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - Dongle 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Input 
 

Locked
Locked

Line In 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Out 
 

Locked
Locked

Optical Input 
 

Locked
Locked

RCA Input 
 

Locked
Locked

Dock Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Power Supply 
 

Locked
Locked

Check Price

Black
x Crinacle DUSK
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Monarch MKIII
Amazon.com
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
B&H
Black
Monarch MKIII
B&H
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
BestBuy.com
Black
Monarch MKIII
BestBuy.com
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
MOONDROP
Black
Monarch MKIII
THIEAUDIO
Black
x Crinacle DUSK
Walmart.com
Black
Monarch MKIII
Walmart.com

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK

THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII

Comments

  1. Comparison

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK vs THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII: Main Discussion

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