Monolith M1060 Planar Headphones Are on Black Friday Sale

[cageymaru]

Monolith M1060 Planar Headphones are $249.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=16050

Monolith M560 Planar Headphones are $149.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=120&cp_id=12001&cs_id=1082707&p_id=16051&seq=1&format=2

Link to the rest of the sale.
https://www.monoprice.com/pages/blackfriday_db

 

[IdiotInCharge]

I've looked at these, but ultimately jumped on Massdrop's HIFIMAN HE4xx for quite a bit less.

Still wondering how they're going to compare...

 

[Zicro]

I've looked at these, but ultimately jumped on Massdrop's HIFIMAN HE4xx for quite a bit less.

Still wondering how they're going to compare...

I did the same, the HE4xx definitely looks more comfortable/better built.

 

[tungt88]

I've looked at these, but ultimately jumped on Massdrop's HIFIMAN HE4xx for quite a bit less.

Still wondering how they're going to compare...

I've heard some wildly mixed reviews on the Monoprice planar headphones (and I'm perfectly happy with my current Beyerdynamic Amiron Home headphone), so I'm not really sure how good they are.

Tyll Hertsens over at innerfidelity did a quickie headphone measurement test of the M1060s here, just for reference: https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/MonopriceMonolithM1060.pdf

 

[thesmokingman]

I've looked at these, but ultimately jumped on Massdrop's HIFIMAN HE4xx for quite a bit less.

Still wondering how they're going to compare...

I did the same, the HE4xx definitely looks more comfortable/better built.

The 1060 is a lot better than the 400. The 400 have no bass! The 1060 has a good amount of it and mods easily. It's practically a LCD 2 clone for a fraction of the price.

 

[illram]

4xx is the 400i. (400i and 400s are pretty different.) 400i has bass, it's just not boomy. It's controlled and quick. The bass that's supposed to be there is there. Nothing more, nothing less. Very much a preference thing between these two cans.

I have always been curious about the 1060s though.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

4xx is the 400i. (400i and 400s are pretty different.) 400i has bass, it's just not boomy. It's controlled and quick. The bass that's supposed to be there is there. Nothing more, nothing less. Very much a preference thing between these two cans.

I have always been curious about the 1060s though.

I did my research at the time, but don't really remember all of the details

[I'm not looking for boom- just more than the HD600 put out while getting soundstage and not losing clarity]

 

[thesmokingman]

4xx is the 400i. (400i and 400s are pretty different.) 400i has bass, it's just not boomy. It's controlled and quick. The bass that's supposed to be there is there. Nothing more, nothing less. Very much a preference thing between these two cans.

I have always been curious about the 1060s though.

I have 400i's and they suck at bass. You can't listen to certain genres of music because the bass is so weak. The bass that's supposed to be there... reads more like a rationalization. I've retired my 400i as its lack of bass changes some of the music I listen to in a negative way. Goes back to Z7's for now.

 

[illram]

I did my research at the time, but don't really remember all of the details

[I'm not looking for boom- just more than the HD600 put out while getting soundstage and not losing clarity]

You're research is going to pay off, assuming the 4xx is what MD says it is. 400i is a fantastic headphone.

 

[illram]

I have 400i's and they suck at bass. You can't listen to certain genres of music because the bass is so weak. The bass that's supposed to be there... reads more like a rationalization. I've retired my 400i as its lack of bass changes some of the music I listen to in a negative way. Goes back to Z7's for now.

They're not for everyone. If you want bass slam then yeah the 400i is not for you.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

Yeah I can spend $30 (out-of-ass-number) and get headphones that 'slam'.

If I were to point to a product that probably does what I think I want, it'd be the Beyerdynamic T5p 2nd Gen. I have their DT880's, the semi-open version, and while I like their overall character, they're just not as detailed as the HD600's.

 

[thesmokingman]

They're not for everyone. If you want bass slam then yeah the 400i is not for you.

I generally agree but I'm not talking slam. I'm talking any amount of decent bass output. I have AB'd these vs a plethora of cans, I have had a bunch from MDR Z7, MA900, 990 Pros, X2, AT990, LCDs. When swapping between even the MA900 which is already a bass light can, it's like different music going to the 400i. And I'm not even gonna get into a seriously clean yet bassy can like the Z7 which runs circles around the 400i.

Yeah I can spend $30 (out-of-ass-number) and get headphones that 'slam'.

If I were to point to a product that probably does what I think I want, it'd be the Beyerdynamic T5p 2nd Gen. I have their DT880's, the semi-open version, and while I like their overall character, they're just not as detailed as the HD600's.

Here we go with the defense of my chosen product. If the music calls for deep bass or bass impact, the bottom line is that these cans cannot do that. That is a fact. You'd have to spend a lot more money for planars that have real bass impact. Shit, that's what you can get with the 1060s, cheap planars that resemble LCD2's.

 

[illram]

What amp did you use?

 

[Neapolitan6th]

I will say the 560s are the most beautiful and most premium feeling headphones I've ever witnessed. I just wish they sounded like they looked. Maybe I was just not used to how planars are supposed to sound. Can't say I cared for it. The sound was less present (sounded farther off..maybe less focused)

I hear better of the 1060s though. I'm sure either wouldn't disappoint someone whos moving up from a gaming headset or something like that.

 

[geniekid]

I've heard some wildly mixed reviews on the Monoprice planar headphones (and I'm perfectly happy with my current Beyerdynamic Amiron Home headphone), so I'm not really sure how good they are.

Tyll Hertsens over at innerfidelity did a quickie headphone measurement test of the M1060s here, just for reference: https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/MonopriceMonolithM1060.pdf

FWIW, Tyll does a very superficial comparison between the M1060 and the 4XX here. Tyll notes: "Listening in comparison, I found the M1060 more forward and strident, though with better bass. The HE4XX pretty easily sounded more refined; it's the better headphone to my ears."

Around this price range it's important to figure out what's important to you (the general you) when looking to buy headphones, because compromises are going to be made.

 

[thesmokingman]

FWIW, Tyll does a very superficial comparison between the M1060 and the 4XX here. Tyll notes: "Listening in comparison, I found the M1060 more forward and strident, though with better bass. The HE4XX pretty easily sounded more refined; it's the better headphone to my ears."

Around this price range it's important to figure out what's important to you (the general you) when looking to buy headphones, because compromises are going to be made.

Yea, Tyll also considered the MDR-Z1R to be bad lol. Also a lack of low end will accentuate the upper end and that plays tricks on the brain.

 

[tungt88]

Yea, Tyll also considered the MDR-Z1R to be bad lol. Also a lack of low end will accentuate the upper end and that plays tricks on the brain.

I don't think that's a strong enough reason to put down Tyll.

He and Jude from head-fi.org had a big quasi-debate about MDR-Z1R, as I recall. They both had some good points (and some interesting measurements), but Tyll, being a real gentleman, was very careful not to put down what a lot of folks really felt about the MDR-Z1R (and Jude's commentary), though.

Jude in the past has had some cleverly slanted commentary about Beats headphones in the past (it's clear that he, personally, isn't their biggest fan, but his "commentary", as opposed to his opinions, means that his funding must continue). And Beats aren't the only ones who have benefited from his "commentary" in the past

It's why I like sites like HardOCP, who aren't "beholden" to hardware companies' interests.

If anything, Tyll has mentioned a lot of interesting headphones over the last few months; interesting enough so that I hope more folks will be using this "latest and greatest" in their own sound setups here (alas, I'm tapped out with my Alienware monitor for the time being).

As for my own personal preferences? I have a Sony MDR-1A, and that (although its a nice, and very comfortable headphone) has far too much bloated bass for my tastes (although to others it might sound elegant compared to some really badly bloated bass headphones). When I got the HiFiMan HE-400i, I compared extensively, and found it to have much more intimate and precise bass -- I heard elements in the bass that weren't apparent in the MDR-1A.

But then I got the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home, and that just put all the other headphones I have (including others I haven't mentioned here) firmly in the rear seat. It's a Beyerdynamic without the fatiguing, piercing treble.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

But then I got the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home, and that just put all the other headphones I have (including others I haven't mentioned here) firmly in the rear seat. It's a Beyerdynamic without the fatiguing, piercing treble.

I picked up a pair of DT880 all black cans to see how I liked Beyer's schtick- wanted something with more punch than my HD600's without losing too much soundstage to being fully closed (why I didn't get the DT770 or DT990).

I can't tell whether the Amiron Home are open, closed, or semi-open like the DT880's, but I will say that while I like the overall sound of the DT880's, and the build quality is excellent, I don't really like the fit compared to the HD600 (or especially the oh so comfortable HD555's...), and while the DT880's had a bit more punch, they lost at least that much in clarity compared to the Senns.

This is why I'm looking closely at the T5p's, for that semi-open compromise, but I remain skeptical about comfort compared say to the Sennheiser HD800. And high-end planars that purport to deliver clarity, soundstage, and bass all at the same time tend to be very heavy- even these HE4XX I'm using now are a bit heavy and hot.

 

[tungt88]

I picked up a pair of DT880 all black cans to see how I liked Beyer's schtick- wanted something with more punch than my HD600's without losing too much soundstage to being fully closed (why I didn't get the DT770 or DT990).

I can't tell whether the Amiron Home are open, closed, or semi-open like the DT880's, but I will say that while I like the overall sound of the DT880's, and the build quality is excellent, I don't really like the fit compared to the HD600 (or especially the oh so comfortable HD555's...), and while the DT880's had a bit more punch, they lost at least that much in clarity compared to the Senns.

This is why I'm looking closely at the T5p's, for that semi-open compromise, but I remain skeptical about comfort compared say to the Sennheiser HD800. And high-end planars that purport to deliver clarity, soundstage, and bass all at the same time tend to be very heavy- even these HE4XX I'm using now are a bit heavy and hot.

If you think the HD600/HD555 are comfortable (and they are), the Amiron Home blows them all away -- it's not even a contest. They demolished my Sony MDR-1A and my Philips SHP9500 in comfort easily -- and those two are some of the most comfortable headphones I have ever had the pleasure of wearing (and I am far from alone in this regard).
The Beyerdynamic DT880 and many of their other headphones are known to be a bit too "snug" for large heads (I had a Beyerdynamic Custom Studio, and I had to stretch that out via the book trick over a 48 hour period to make them comfy enough for my big head).
I do find my Sennheiser HD 630 to be pretty comfortable, though; but, again, nowhere near as comfortable as the Amiron Home.

The Amiron Home definitely has that "open to semi-open" feel to it. It has that crystal-clear treble that Beyerdynamic is known for (aka their signature house sound), but it's not nearly as fatiguing as my Custom Studio could sometimes be (over a 3 hours+ straight listening period). This headphone just has that smooth, comfortable listening experience, with very little compromise in terms of clarity or bass impact.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

Well, I put them on the list. We'll see- they're certainly cheaper than a new T5p, but I've seen used T5p sets go for not much more than the Amiron Home retail.

 

[spaceman]

Stax are still the king of the road for me. My regret is that I sold my old lambda normal bias with a modified energizer. Srd-7? It had been rewired by spritzer on head fi. Not perfect but they had great balance, clarity and speed. Best gaming headphones I ever had