Variation VS Oracle MKIII
Both $500+ IEMs…. Both have amazing presentations… Both have amazing cables with interchangeable jacks. Both fit well. Both have noteable and respected company brands. Both have their supporters and haters. And both have a reasons to be nicknamed Ikaris.
But there can only be one. One IEM will remain and travel with me to New York. Another will be boxed awaiting to be shipped back to get a refund. Unfortunately they aren’t enough difference to justify keeping both. I also hate having too many options. It causes more stress on me that peace. Always going back and forth trying to determine who is better in this or that has played itself thin for me. I wish to spend my life enjoying music more than I do testing the instruments to determine what is the best or what is worse.
If we go by just plan looks, there is no competition here. The Thieaudio Oracle MKIII is by far the best fit for this nickname because of the lines, the blue and the gold color way, all match Ikaris from the Eternals. With the Variations, it was more about it’s cable being gold than anything on the IEM itself that links back to the Ikaris if I’m honest. So that a easy win.
Even the box itself screams superior product and yet again reminds you of Ikaris’s colors and his power. And speaking of power, the Oracle Mk3 is just a superior sounding IEM for my taste. It has the perfect balance of power, details, and separation with just the right amount of details, zero distortion, and resolution that create realism to its presentation in its sound that I haven’t experienced since the Monarch Mk2. And this IEM takes ques from that one and others like the original oracle Mk2 and creates a new sound that is unique to it and yet very familiar to the DNA of Thieaudio which seems to be the signature of what my ear drives toward. Not saying at all that the Variations, which are legendary, aren’t great at all. They truly are special too but there isn’t a comparison that is fair here. The Thieaudio Oracle MKIII is easily the best $500 IEM and best under $1000 IEM as well. The Thieaudio brand is just what I have fallen in love with every time I get one. Every time I listen to them it relaxes me to the point that I fall asleep or into a trance of stillness because of the tuning and timbre. It’s warm, inviting, and yet so realistic in its detail.(as long as you are using the 4.4 balance)
The QC is also much better on the Thieaudio brand than the Moondrop as there has been tons of stories of faceplates coming off and the wiring turning green. But with Thieaudio, nothing! The units from the Hype, Oracle, to Monarch lineup has been nothing shy of greatness and dependability. And best of all, while both the Variations and Oracle both fit amazing. The Thieaudio Oracle MKIII just takes it to a level where they stay put and secure while giving a great amount of natural noise canceling while nailing the right amount of venting, easily making it by far the perfect IEM for fit and sound. I know most of this could be said of Variations but again, the Oracle are always one or two more levels above the attempts made by the Variations.
At the end of the day, the IEM that Wins the Ikaris name is also the one that I pick as my endgame IEM because of its greatness. It’s the only IEM that doesn’t have a weakness in it’s existence for me. No fit issues, looks amazing, has no sound issues or areas that it doesn’t do well, sounds better than any other IEM at or below this price range, even price ranges above, and doesn’t cost $1000 while doing this.
It has everything, vocals, the best bass, proper mid bass, wide soundstage, imaging, timbre, mid focused, and high details in treble extensions. All this while disappearing in my ears for the perfect fit and comes with interchangeable jacks with the perfect cable that has a working chin sench(you’d be surprised by the ones that don’t have this). Asmr, metal, rap. classical, vocals music, electronic, and even audio books are masterful on these IEMs. So it’s a wrap for me. This is it. Endgame and done! I’m not willing to pay more for better because better only means 5% and I’m very blown away with what I have now and zero interest in trying to make more bass, more treble, bigger soundstage, more mids, or anything else. The Law of diminishing rules all at this price range and higher. So I’m done. I wish everyone else out there success in their hunt and pray that others find their endgame and move on with their life and enjoy music. Doing anything other than this and chasing the 5% is a waste of time.
Tech-N-Things 