Monoprice Monolith AMT Headphones

[Born2Cuddle]

$275 shipped

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-deals-discussion-thread-read-the-first-post.692119/post-17698565

 

[trellus]

$275 shipped

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-deals-discussion-thread-read-the-first-post.692119/post-17698565

Saw that, what an insane price -- I ordered them yesterday just to give them a chance.

 

[OldDude04]

Saw that, what an insane price -- I ordered them yesterday just to give them a chance.

I did the same, couldn't pass up trying them at that price.

 

[theangelboy]

$275 shipped

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-deals-discussion-thread-read-the-first-post.692119/post-17698565

That's a great deal indeed! Was going to give them a try, but it seems to be dead now, though. #44581 is "no longer available"

 

[OldDude04]

My AMT's came in earlier today, some super fast shipping from Monoprice. I don't know how they were marked as open box because the cable inside was still in a sealed bag, and the Monolith box didn't look to have ever been opened before. I've spent about an hour and a half with them so far and unfortunately I'm pretty sure I'm going to be sending them back. I am going to leave them playing for a couple days and then give them a listen again before I make my final decision. Initial impressions are that without EQ they are pretty unlistenable to me, they are bass light and the treble is congested. However with some EQ they open up a good bit. They have a wide sound stage but not too tall, and they can take a good bit of EQ at both ends of the FR. The ear pads are huge and the AMT is super comfortable for its weight, but take that with a grain of salt as I'm used to some weighty planars. There is also a silly design flaw. Where the cable ends plug into the bottom of the cups, the cup itself is flat but the jack is angled and slightly recessed. So when you push the cable ends into place, the buttons to release the cable ends are almost halfway into the jack opening and hard to get at to pull the cable out (See pics). I think I'm just a planar guy at heart and these didn't earn a spot on my keepers list. Who knows, maybe 48 hours of burn in will change my mind?

 

[trellus]

Oh yes, these are FUN headphones. That's all I can say for now. They sound like warm, delicious, layered sonic ear treats.

For this price, I have nothing to complain about -- okay, that's a lie, the fit is rather loose for my apparently too smashed in, smallish head, but they are more comfortable than my Heddphones.

But naw, they can't compete with the Heddphones. . They remind me of an AMT version of a FOM first-hyped then-panned planar, the GoldPlanar GL 2000.

I can hear some of the wonkiness in the FR, but I'm not a squiggle guy so I won't try to explain it, lol.




Oh yeah, this song sounds fun:

 

[Born2Cuddle]

My AMT's came in earlier today, some super fast shipping from Monoprice. I don't know how they were marked as open box because the cable inside was still in a sealed bag, and the Monolith box didn't look to have ever been opened before. I've spent about an hour and a half with them so far and unfortunately I'm pretty sure I'm going to be sending them back. I am going to leave them playing for a couple days and then give them a listen again before I make my final decision. Initial impressions are that without EQ they are pretty unlistenable to me, they are bass light and the treble is congested. However with some EQ they open up a good bit. They have a wide sound stage but not too tall, and they can take a good bit of EQ at both ends of the FR. The ear pads are huge and the AMT is super comfortable for its weight, but take that with a grain of salt as I'm used to some weighty planars. There is also a silly design flaw. Where the cable ends plug into the bottom of the cups, the cup itself is flat but the jack is angled and slightly recessed. So when you push the cable ends into place, the buttons to release the cable ends are almost halfway into the jack opening and hard to get at to pull the cable out (See pics). I think I'm just a planar guy at heart and these didn't earn a spot on my keepers list. Who knows, maybe 48 hours of burn in will change my mind?

i will buy them off you for $122.73 in Kohl's Cash and a $50 Hulu gift card that I have had for 2 years and might still be good.

 

[OldDude04]

i will buy them off you for $122.73 in Kohl's Cash and a $50 Hulu gift card that I have had for 2 years and might still be good.

Lol, I'll pass on that generous offer.

 

[OldDude04]

Oh yes, these are FUN headphones. That's all I can say for now. They sound like warm, delicious, layered sonic ear treats.

For this price, I have nothing to complain about -- okay, that's a lie, the fit is rather loose for my apparently too smashed in, smallish head, but they are more comfortable than my Heddphones.

But naw, they can't compete with the Heddphones. . They remind me of an AMT version of a FOM first-hyped then-panned planar, the GoldPlanar GL 2000.

I can hear some of the wonkiness in the FR, but I'm not a squiggle guy so I won't try to explain it, lol.




Oh yeah, this song sounds fun:

Hmm, that leads me to suspect there may be a bit of unit variation in the AMT. Because I have the much maligned GL2000 (love them btw) and my AMT sounds nothing like them. I wish they did actually, lol. I'm glad you're enjoying your set, really was a great price.

 

[silent-circuit]

More seriously, on the off chance someone picked up a pair and find they don't care for them, please DM me.

 

[Born2Cuddle]

More seriously, on the off chance someone picked up a pair and find they don't care for them, please DM me.

My serious offer still stands.

 

[OldDude04]

Oh yeah, this song sounds fun:

That song is a vibe, thanks for that!

 

[trellus]

Hmm, that leads me to suspect there may be a bit of unit variation in the AMT. Because I have the much maligned GL2000 (love them btw) and my AMT sounds nothing like them. I wish they did actually, lol. I'm glad you're enjoying your set, really was a great price.

Well, tbh, that is just a "feeling", lol -- they gave me the sense of atmosphere and lushness, but to be clear, I don't have them with me here at home so it's not based on a real comparison by any means. I may have to tow these Monolith AMT's to work with me tomorrow where the GL2000 live.

Also, the FR wonkiness is VERY stark when I A/B with the Heddphone. The Monolith's suddenly become dark and congested ... but then my brain adjusts, and when I put the Heddphone back on, it in turn seems thin and squeezed .... I mean, I guess it is squeezed kinda? Then, the brain adjusts again....

So, basically, the rule with these, I don't want generally A/B, lol... just put on and enjoy like they're a guilty pleasure....

 

[povidlo]

Pretty impressive on first listen. My first experience with this driver technology. It almost sounds like ba driver in iem: clean, fast, effortless, right decay. Good timbre though. Most impressed with vocal reproduction so far: spacious, limitless notes yet accurate and not creamy. Crossfeed on my ak class a amp significantly improves the imaging on AMT.

 

[dmagnan]

Pretty impressive on first listen. My first experience with this driver technology. It almost sounds like ba driver in iem: clean, fast, effortless, right decay. Good timbre though. Most impressed with vocal reproduction so far: spacious, limitless notes yet accurate and not creamy. Crossfeed on my ak class a amp significantly improves the imaging on AMT.

Exactly my initial reaction, except for recognizing a slightly annoying dropout in the upper midrange around 2700 Hz, and need for a little boost below 70 Hz. Wait till you try some gentle broad boost EQ (low Q of approx. 0.80). Then they really come into their own. Haven't tried crossfeed because it's not available on my Sparkos Aries amp.