Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the ThieAudio Oracle is the better pick: it ranks #153 of 749 in-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 4.4/5), against #370 (rated 3.9/5) for the ThieAudio Oracle MKIII. If you want one new, the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII ranks #1 at $999.
The ThieAudio Oracle is the better-sounding option. The median of 16 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.62 dB spread. The tradeoff: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The case for the ThieAudio Oracle MKIII: The median of 13 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 73 with a 1.87 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Buy the ThieAudio Oracle only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII instead.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| ThieAudio Oracle | ThieAudio Oracle MKIII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #153 of 749 in In-Ear Headphones | #370 of 749 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Tribrid | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic | 2 x dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB/mW | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 80kHz | 20Hz - 44kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 73 (median of 13 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.62 dB standard deviation | 1.87 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.72 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Back | - | Closed |
| Impedance | - | 13 ohms |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
ThieAudio Oracle Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the ThieAudio Oracle MKII, ranked higher, rated 4.5/5, released Sep 2022 (also discontinued). See every ThieAudio Oracle generation.
Pros: The median of 16 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.62 dB spread. Upper treble lifts about 3.7 dB for extra air and sparkle. It uses 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Presence sits about 3.9 dB low with a 5.4 dB dip near 4.9 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. Sub-bass is 2.6 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Full ThieAudio Oracle review and specifications →
| Connection | Wired |
|---|---|
| Deviation From Target | 1.62 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 80kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,504 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.31 |
| Peak | 172 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.89 |
| Peak | 3,884 Hz | -4.0 dB | 4.42 |
| Peak | 7,750 Hz | +2.4 dB | 2.56 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,092 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.12 |
| Peak | 1,383 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.96 |
| Peak | 910 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.67 |
| Peak | 449 Hz | -0.2 dB | 1.33 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
ThieAudio Oracle MKIII Discontinued eBay
Pros: The median of 13 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 73 with a 1.87 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Upper treble lifts about 5.1 dB for extra air and sparkle. It uses 2 x dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic with an easy 13 ohm load.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Presence sits about 4.2 dB low with a 5.6 dB dip near 3.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Full ThieAudio Oracle MKIII review and specifications →
| Released | 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.87 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 2 x dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 44kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 13 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 13 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.72 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons