Monolith M1570 Over Ear Open Back Balanced Planar Headphones

[jotaku]

I’ve been listening to the 1570 and comparing them to my Arya’s and recently purchased Heddphones on the IFi signature. The 1570s had the biggest improvement on the signature but still doesn’t sound better than the Arya’s overall, or the Heddphone. The Xbass and 3d really helps the 1570 scale up and compete with the Arya’s and Heddphone. I didn’t know the 1570s had such a big soundstage.

Considering you can regularly get the M1570 around $400 (Which is what I picked them up for). The fact that they can almost, but not quite compete with the Arya and the Heddphone is pretty amazing.

 

[simurg]

cabling issues seems to be really bad with this one. Weight is also concerning but reviews say sound is much better (I am a noob in hi-fi). I am now sure if I should get this one or 1070 with $100 less?

 

[jotaku]

cabling issues seems to be really bad with this one. Weight is also concerning but reviews say sound is much better (I am a noob in hi-fi). I am now sure if I should get this one or 1070 with $100 less?

I'd definitely recommend the 1570 for $100 more. It seriously contends with the LCD-X from memory. I used to own the LCD-X, but it has been over a year. Can't say for certain which one is better without A/B testing.

Switching the pin out for the headphone cups should be trivial for anyone comfortable soldering.

The weight is the only challenge in my mind. I'm going to try switching the headband with the HiFiman HE560 V2 headband that is sold on Adorama and see if that helps.

 

[simurg]

Well I ordered both of them so I get to choose. I don't quite understand what the deal with monoprice is. It seems like they can't even get basic ergonomics right but all their hi fi products gets rave reviews for their sound quality at incredibly low price . Are they copying the electronic design or parts (after all everyone is pretty much using 3rd party Chinese subcontractors) from other manufacturers so they can get costs very low by using others IP? Or are they brilliant electronic engineers but don't know how to build good products?

 

[talan7]

The 1570 compares favorably to the LCD2 and LCD-X. But the 1570 scales tremendously with balanced cables on a good amp with hardware bass boost like the IFi signature. While the bass is good on the 1570, it lacks just a little subass extension. The midbass is first class. The xbass adds subass to the 1570. The treble too, is rolled off, 3D takes care of that and opens up the soundstage a lot. The mids on the 1570, I think, are the best mids of all my headphones. The 1570 isn’t as good add as the Arya, and the Heddphone, but it’s more pleasing/fun than the Arya. The Heddphone is still being analyzed, but it looks like it’s going to take top spot. It has the details and resolution of the Arya, and the musicality of the 1570.

 

[Hamlap]

To the guys who might have heard both:

The M1570 or the Hifiman Ananda. I know, the latter is double the price. But still. Which one do you prefer?

 

[jotaku]

To the guys who might have heard both:

The M1570 or the Hifiman Ananda. I know, the latter is double the price. But still. Which one do you prefer?

I heard the Ananda at RMAF 2019 (not ideal listening conditions) and I'd take the M1570 over the Ananda.

 

[Hamlap]

I heard the Ananda at RMAF 2019 (not ideal listening conditions) and I'd take the M1570 over the Ananda.

That's really nice, since they are half the price of an Ananda. Why would you prefer the M1570?

Also: even if the Ananda and the M1570 where the same price?
Note: An open-box Ananda, is about $540. Which brings it really close to the Monolith.

 

[jotaku]

That's really nice, since they are half the price of an Ananda. Why would you prefer the M1570?

Also: even if the Ananda and the M1570 where the same price?
Note: An open-box Ananda, is about $540. Which brings it really close to the Monolith.

I didn't have a ton of time with the Ananda, and obviously RMAF isn't an ideal listening environment, but nothing about the Ananda really caught my attention. It was just kind of bland.

 

[Hamlap]

I didn't have a ton of time with the Ananda, and obviously RMAF isn't an ideal listening environment, but nothing about the Ananda really caught my attention. It was just kind of bland.

Alright. I'd love to hear them both, haha!

 

[simurg]

Well I got my 1570 and 1070 today. I am used to the weight of HD650 and weight of these headphones are killing me. How long do you use the headphones non stop?

My dac is nuforce 80 and my Amp is monoprice 887. I didn't have enough time to test but I don't hear big difference over HD650 and those cups are much more comfortable. What am I missing? Perhaps don't have the ears for hifi.

I think I will keep 1570 primarily I got it for $300 and that seems like a great price for it. I plan to use them when I am in a comfortable position so weight will not make my existing neck pain worse. I will most likely return 1070 though my decision is purely on what I read here.

I think my iems give me the best listening pleasure . The clarity on them are amazing but they are also not comfortable to keep on long hours. I listen to music while I am working so I keep them several hours.

 

[simurg]

After through listening over the weekend and back to back comparison, I hear that with 1070 sounds more muffled than 1570, 1070 needs more power but when I give more power details are getting lost. 1570 is staying and 1070 is going back. Can someone explain why I need to use balanced output? I am getting more than enough power with single ended, only using gain 1.

 

[talan7]

After through listening over the weekend and back to back comparison, I hear that with 1070 sounds more muffled than 1570, 1070 needs more power but when I give more power details are getting lost. 1570 is staying and 1070 is going back. Can someone explain why I need to use balanced output? I am getting more than enough power with single ended, only using gain 1.

It’s not just the power of going balanced, it’s also usually the cable that may add more soundstage, and/or more extension top and/or bottom. So adding a balanced cable, and powering balanced may lead to better sound. For the 1570, get the IFi signature. With xBass and 3D, the 1570 sounds extremely good.

 

[Litmustesticle]

Hey fam, SO just thought I'd post this given the hours and hours and hours of reading that went into making the decision to buy the m1570 (for $400 from Monoprice) - thanks forum peeps.
So, my first unit arrived with a bolt or headband-cup fastener snapped off which led me to take them apart and find the rattling.. I didn't realize what the part was at the time then one of the fasteners popped off, which prompted me to be like efff this, RMA time.

Chapter 2:
Monoprice loses my RMA and the entire process takes around a month.

I get the cans back - they really have a chemically kind of smell that takes a while to disappear and they work GREAT.

The imaging on these is insane - like the spatial placement of sound is absolute magic. Yes, they're heavy AF but I'm slowly starting to get used to it. They're more comfortable/ less heavy with the velour pads supplied

FYI - running from an smsl m500 -------(balanced)----> THX 789 -> m1500. I still haven't gone full loser audiophile and picked up the custom balanced cables but I'm running out of things to spend frivolously on during quarantine so it's inevitable. For reference, I'm coming from a hifiman 400i and a Beyerdynamic dt880 600ohm (the latter of which is insane when powered well like in this stack).

Another cautionary point: the 1/4 - 3.5mm jack converter sucksssssssssssssssssssssssssss (or it's a build quality issue just affecting mine - classic monoprice). i.e. mine doesn't fit snuggly at all so you're S.O.L. walking without experiencing cut outs every step.

Bonus tip: if you're in Canada like me buy via NewEgg when the price is $552 because (I think?) they don't charge tax like amazon (because it's still shipped from their warehouse in Cali).

 

[jotaku]

Hey fam, SO just thought I'd post this given the hours and hours and hours of reading that went into making the decision to buy the m1570 (for $400 from Monoprice) - thanks forum peeps.
So, my first unit arrived with a bolt or headband-cup fastener snapped off which led me to take them apart and find the rattling.. I didn't realize what the part was at the time then one of the fasteners popped off, which prompted me to be like efff this, RMA time.

Chapter 2:
Monoprice loses my RMA and the entire process takes around a month.

I get the cans back - they really have a chemically kind of smell that takes a while to disappear and they work GREAT.

The imaging on these is insane - like the spatial placement of sound is absolute magic. Yes, they're heavy AF but I'm slowly starting to get used to it. They're more comfortable/ less heavy with the velour pads supplied

FYI - running from an smsl m500 -------(balanced)----> THX 789 -> m1500. I still haven't gone full loser audiophile and picked up the custom balanced cables but I'm running out of things to spend frivolously on during quarantine so it's inevitable. For reference, I'm coming from a hifiman 400i and a Beyerdynamic dt880 600ohm (the latter of which is insane when powered well like in this stack).

Another cautionary point: the 1/4 - 3.5mm jack converter sucksssssssssssssssssssssssssss (or it's a build quality issue just affecting mine - classic monoprice). i.e. mine doesn't fit snuggly at all so you're S.O.L. walking without experiencing cut outs every step.

Bonus tip: if you're in Canada like me buy via NewEgg when the price is $552 because (I think?) they don't charge tax like amazon (because it's still shipped from their warehouse in Cali).

Replace the 3.5mm adapter with something like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H7H1BMK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Way better and safer than that sorry excuse for an adapter. It seriously is asking to break off inside whatever equipment you have it plugged into.