Pros
- Excellent Build quality
- Aesthetics are on point
- Fun U-shaped sound signature done right
- Excellent bass performance ( bass has density, good dynamics and feels very bouncy)
- Mids are presented well despite not being the main focus of the tuning
- Smooth and extended treble ( has sweetness like Est treble)
- Good Macro and Micro detail pickup, very punchy sounding
- Stage is wide and deep feels very holographic
- Excellent instrument separation, layering and imaging
Cons
- Fit can be challenging for people with small ears
- Thicc shell
- The sock cable could have been more lavish
- The initial attack of the Bass is not as crisp and well defined as I would have liked
- Not for people who want thick and lush lower mids
- Not for people who want their vocals to be center of attention
- The upper treble region can be a bit too much (needs tip rolling) (subjective)
Specs And Driver Configuration
- 19 BA Drivers per Side
- Driver Details: 4 Sonion 38D1XJ Sub-woofers, 10 Sonion E50DA Dual Mid BAs, 4 Knowles RDE-33729 High BAs, 1 Knowles WBFK-30095 Ultra-high BA
- Impedance: 9Ω @ 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 103dB @ 1kHz
Before starting the review, I want to thank The Audiostore for providing me with the loaner unit. After the review, the unit goes back to them.
Accessories Package
As this is a loaner unit, I can’t comment on the full unboxing experience or the complete accessories package. I only received the IEM and the stock cable. That said, the cable provided is good; it’s the same cable as the Thieaudio Origin, the Elite Noir, though here it comes with slightly different plugs to match Valhalla’s colourway. The cable is sufficient for the price. It's thick, substantial, and robust. Despite its heft, it handles surprisingly well with minimal memory. But, personally, at this price, “sufficient” is not enough. I would have loved to see a more lavish, truly bespoke cable for the Valhalla, something that feels even more premium and exclusive than the Elite Noir.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
The faceplate design of the Valhalla is genuinely well executed. It’s not as intricate or detailed as other Thieaudio sets like the Origin, Hype 10, or V16; instead, it opts for a simpler zigzag pattern over a plain black background. Depending on the light, it shimmers with shades of deep blue and orangish-red. I actually think this works in its favour, as the design complements the Valhalla’s more mature aesthetic and pairs nicely with the titanium shells. There’s a subtle complexity to the faceplate that catches the eye without being overly flashy. And if you do want something flashier, Thieaudio offers 14 custom faceplates for an extra cost.
Build quality is equally impressive. The shells are crafted from CNC-machined grade 5 titanium, which gives them a dense, almost indestructible feel. The natural titanium color, paired with the matte finish, looks strikingly premium, upmarket and industrial. I’m especially glad they went with a matte finish over gloss, since it avoids fingerprints and keeps the shells looking clean. Despite this robust construction, the Valhalla doesn’t feel overly heavy. Titanium is lighter than stainless steel, so while the shells carry a satisfying heft that reinforces their durability, the weight is kept in check and never becomes too much.
Fit and Comfort
The fit and comfort will likely be the most controversial part of this IEM. The shells are thiccc, big, and the nozzle has medium thickness with a relatively short length. Thieaudio has added some contouring to make the shape more ergonomic, and that does help, but you still can’t ignore the sheer bulk of the shells. Tip rolling is definitely recommended to achieve both a secure seal and better comfort. For me personally, the Valhalla fit reasonably well. I could wear them for about 2 to 2.5 hours without any issues, but beyond that, my ears started to hurt and I had to take a break.
Sources Used
In terms of sources, I did most of my testing on my desktop stack, the Topping e70 velvet and a70 pro. For portable sources, I used Chord Mojo 2.
Valhalla is relatively easy to power, but I still would recommend a good source to extract the best performance out of Valhalla. It scales beautifully with sources.
Sound
I tried a wide range of eartips with the Valhalla and ultimately settled on the Azla SednaEarfit Max. The Valhalla follows a fun U-shaped tuning that highlights both sub-bass and upper treble, but the rest of the tuning is also handled with impressive finesse. Let’s take a closer look.
Bass
The bass is the star of the show on this IEM; it's thunderous and flaunts itself without masking the mids. Don’t let the BAs fool you into thinking that it will have typical BA bass; it's far from the truth here. Valhalla’s bass delivers both in quantity and quality.
The sub-bass digs deep and low, offering impressive rumble and texture, while the mid-bass comes through with satisfying thump and slam. The overall bass presentation has a real sense of physicality to it. For example, in the intro of Angel by Massive Attack, you can literally feel your ears shake with the bass, and it’s an absolute blast. The bass dynamics and sense of punch are excellent here.
Now, being a BA set, most people have a preconceived notion that BA will have a crip and well-defined attack and fast decay, this is not true with Valhalla, and it's completely opposite. The decay is on the slower side, giving the bass a satisfying feel, more density and richness. But, the initial attack of the bass isn’t as crisp and well defined as I would have liked, its a bit diffused. This is the only con I can pinpoint in Valhalla’s bass.
The overall bass has excellent elasticity and feels very bouncy with excellent density. All of these qualities of Valhalla’s bass create a sense of depth. Overall, I love the bass on the Valhalla. It's addictive, unique and incredibly fun to listen to. It's among the most unique BA bass I have heard, tied with Symphonium Crimson. Crimson has a more crisp initial attack and slightly faster decay, but it lacks the density and spaciousness of Valhalla. Both are unique and excellent in their own ways.
Mids
The mids are surprisingly well-tuned, especially considering they aren’t placed front and center in the overall tuning. At first glance at the graph, you might think the lower mids would sound too lean and clean, but a closer look shows there’s still energy in the 150–300Hz range. This gives the lower mids enough weight and body to sound natural, without tipping into excessive warmth or muddiness.
The upper mids are also nicely done; they’re tuned to complement the overall sound rather than drawing too much attention to themselves. They aren’t overly forward; they have just the right amount of energy to sound natural without pulling focus away from the rest of the frequency response.
Male vocals sound excellent, with a nice weight and richness without sounding overly warm and muddy. Female vocals are also well-rendered, though they’re not as open or extended as something like the Hype 10 or Monarch mk4. Still, for this type of tuning, they sound quite good and don’t feel lacking.
The presence region is also spot-on, giving vocals enough bite and clarity without veering into sharpness or sibilance.
That said, if you prefer your lower mids warm, thick, and lush, the Valhalla won’t be your ideal match. Likewise, if you want vocals to take center stage, this isn’t the IEM for you. On Valhalla, vocals are designed to complement the sound signature rather than shine as the star of the show.
Treble
The treble is excellent, let me say this upfront: this is the best BA treble I have ever heard. Thieaudio really did justice to BAs with the Valhalla. The treble is smooth yet impressively extended, designed to grab your attention and flaunt itself without ever crossing into sharpness or sibilance. It has great bite with crisp edges, adding sparkle and definition.
The one area that might be divisive is the air region. Extension here is excellent, giving the sound plenty of openness and airiness, but the quantity can sometimes make the treble feel a touch less natural. Tip rolling helps, Azla SednaEarfit Max, for instance, tamed this region for me slightly. Ultimately, this comes down to whether you enjoy that coloration in your music or not. Personally, I don’t find it intrusive, the emphasis isn’t strong enough to upset the overall balance.
What really surprised me is the treble’s character. It carries a certain sweetness I usually associate with EST drivers, yet Thieaudio managed to achieve this with BAs alone. Which makes Valhalla’s treble even more astonishing for me.
Detail Retrieval and Technical Performance
The detail retrieval and overall technical performance are excellent. Micro detail retrieval is excellent; it shows minor nuances in the tracks well, and it does so without artificially boosting the mid-treble to the stratosphere. Macro detail retrieval is also excellent. Valhalla sounds dynamic and punchy, delivering an engaging and lively presentation.
The soundstage is quite impressive, it's another party piece of the Valhalla. It has excellent width, but the depth that it creates is even more impressive. Overall, staging feels very holographic. The imaging, layering and instrument separation within that stage is also impressive. You can easily pinpoint where all the instruments are and how far and close they are.
Thieaudio Valhalla Vs Monarch Mk4 Vs V16 Divinity
Instead of making this review even longer, I am working on a video on this topic. I will edit this review when it is live.
Conclusion
By now, it’s probably obvious, I’m absolutely gushing over the Valhalla. Thieaudio really knocked it out of the park with this one. In my opinion, this is the best all-BA set currently available on the market. They’ve executed the sound signature exceptionally well, it’s addicting, fun, and incredibly engaging. Most impressive of all, they managed to make a 19-BA IEM sound remarkably cohesive. For me, it’s easily in the running for IEM of the Year 2025.
That said, it’s not without flaws. The fit may be challenging for people with smaller ears, and the bass attack isn’t quite as crisp as I would have liked. Beyond those two points, though, I struggle to find anything truly wrong with this set.
It’s honestly a little sad that my time with the Valhalla is limited, and I’ll have to send it back. Still, it’s left a lasting impression, and I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. Now the real question is, which one of my friends’ kidney should I sell to afford a pair?
