In this article, Marcus reviews the Oriolus Monachaa, which is a high-end universal IEM with a unique quadruple dynamic driver configuration. It is priced at $1999.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Oriolus for their support
To read more about Oriolus products previously tested on Headfonics click here.
Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read here.
The Oriolus Monachaa is a cleverly tuned quad-dynamic driver IEM. It does not seek to smash the audible door down but rather pick it open quietly with some deft precision.
It hits beautifully on the lows when it needs to with some quality sub-bass presence, but can sound surprisingly articulate and clear in the mids and highs.
We have had a few multi-dynamic driver monitors on the site in the last few years with the topical high-end triple driver Campfire Audio Trifecta our most recent review.
Well, it looks like Oriolus has just upped the ante with a multi-dynamic driver high-end monitor called the Monachaa.
Priced at $1999 it’s still very much high-end but surprisingly cheaper than one might expect these days and when compared to the Trifecta and the likes of their flagship Traillii.
What makes me say up the ante? Well, in a strong Nigel Tufnel accent, this one goes to four. The Monachaa is a quad dynamic driver universal IEM and the first I have reviewed with such a unique internal configuration.
There are other 4-driver models such as the Penon QUATTRO 4 with a lower price point but I have yet to cross paths with it and perhaps should.
The Monachaa sounds like a lively dynamic driver IEM with superb quality at the low end of the presentation. However, as you will find out in my full review below, with the right setup the Monachaa differentiates itself by just how tight and coherent the rest of the performance can sound.
Features
The Oriolus Monachaa is a universal IEM with a proprietary quad-dynamic driver configuration. However, as you might expect, it has a mixture of different dynamic drivers and not just four of the same.
They differ in both size and the type of materials used for each of the four diaphragms. This includes two 10mm drivers, with one using a carbon base with a nanotech coating and the second one using an inert material.
The third dynamic driver is a smaller 5mm design with a titanium coating and the final one is a more unusual square diaphragm.
The precise configuration is a single 10mm for the lows, the next 10mm is combined with the 5mm for the mids and highs, and the square acts as a tweeter for the ultra-highs. I am presuming the Monachaa uses a 4-way crossover with 4 tubes of varying lengths for phasing, (4 bores).
The Monachaa is rated at 24Ω impedance with a measured sensitivity of 111dB/mW @1kHz. That means it should be easy enough to drive out of most portable DAPs, dongles, and portable amplifiers.
Design
So far, previous stacked dynamic driver IEM designs have been anything but traditional in their looks. The Trifecta and the older Unique Melody 3DD-Ti were definitely memorable.
The qdc Dmagic 3D is perhaps closest to what you would consider a traditional monitor shape and it’s this form factor that the Monachaa runs closest to. If anything, it’s a little narrower and deeper than the qdc version which is remarkable considering you are working with 4 dynamic drivers in there not 3.
There is a bit of weight to the Monachaa, more in the Trifecta range of heavier when compared to the qdc but not so much that it would concern me. The hand-crafted Photopolymer resin materials are much lighter than any aluminum alternative such as FIR Audio’s e12.
There is a small amount of contouring to the shell but it is not that aggressive with a relatively thick funnel down to the 4-bore nozzle tip. I presume it is like that due to the internal acoustic space requirements and tubing for all the drivers.
The aesthetics are pleasant if somewhat safe in its finishing. To put it this way, the Monachaa is very much an Oriolus IEM with that single translucent base color, (navy blue) and a dash of gold flakes with the equally gold name brand on the face plates.
It’s professional and clean but if you ask me what design from Oriolus I prefer it would be the lower-tier Isabellae’s more dashing mix of amber and wood plates.
Comfort & Isolation
You should have no issues with the comfort levels in the ears from the Monachaa. The wide diameter of the nozzle combined with the lightweight shell design holds everything securely in the ear without any movement or extensive fiddling to get a sweet spot.
Now, I have fairly wide ear canals so I tend to prefer a wide nozzle for universal IEMs with tips. Narrow nozzles usually end up with the largest silicone or foam to keep them steady and ensure there is a good seal for passive isolation performance.
The Monachaa’s thick spout works especially well with that closer fit putting more outward pressure on the silicone tips to improve the seal in the canal and thus the bass response. The foam tips are good also but I tend to find them to produce more friction and feel less comfortable.
The passive isolation performance is excellent considering this is a vented dynamic driver IEM. The position of the vent on the side of the shell will not get blocked either. There is enough protrusion from the ear to avoid it being accidentally covered.
Ear Tips
You get three types of stock tips, two in silicone and 1 set of foams. The silicone options are a mix of wide-bore single flange and wide-bore double flange with fairly soft stems.
Save for the double flange which comes in one pair of medium size only, both the single flange silicone and foam variants come in small, medium, and large. Given the width of the Monachaa spout, I ended up with medium on both options as good fits.
Of the three, the foams are only narrowly better than the single flange wide bore silicone tips and less comfortable. I felt the double flange tips to push the Monachaa spout too far out and as a result, the seal was not as good.
Stock Cable
Oriolus has a long-standing partnership with PW Audio from Hong Kong so it is no surprise to see one of their latest creations popping up as a stock cable for the Monachaa.
The official title is “Ensembl”, (no e), it measures 1.2m in length with a default 4.4mm balanced termination and 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.
I believe it is a copper wire though there is no indication of its precise wire count, gauge, or geometry. PW Audio tends to do unusual geometries in their cable so I would hesitate to say 4 or 8-wire based on appearances.
The design language is very much PW Audio though more to the PVC side than the nylon side of the house with its matt black braided finish and matching matt black pinched barrels that make it nice and easy to grab hold of without your fingers sliding off.
There is a bit of additional PVC coating on the top near the connectors and of the soft type that is more springy than memory retentive to help keep the monitors in place.
It has a small kink for cornering by design that the odd time I felt dig into the top of my ear forcing me to gently lift the cable for a second or two during use. That’s my only complaint on an otherwise low-noise, pliant, and easy-to-manage stock cable.
Packaging & Accessories
The Monachaa packaging is either awesome or boring depending on how much you value function over appearance.
The boring part is the small brown cardboard outer presentation box which is very underwhelming. You will never likely see it again once you dispose of it. It’s what’s inside that counts with a very high quality, useful Van Nuys pouch.
If you ever had any of Van Nuys storage solutions you will know just how robust and useful they are for cables, DAPs, and IEMs. With its ingenious flap and velcro system these packs come in many sizes and configurations depending on your needs and they are not cheap either.
This one isn’t too big with just enough room for the cable and a few IEMs. Its rigid frame provides a tough shell on the outside with a small compartmental system that neatly organizes the IEM/cables separately from the accessories on the inside.
For further protection, an attractive red padded mesh wrap is stitched to create a double loop to allow each driver’s shell to sit neatly inside each loop without bouncing up against each other during transportation.
Aside from the aforementioned ear tips selection you also get a red lapel clip and a cleaning brush tool to complete the lineup.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
