[heavyharmonies]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a thread on these yet. They were originally targeted for a December 1 launch date, but they opened up for sale today, supposedly in stock and shipping tomorrow. Priced at $999.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43235

I ordered a pair to compare to the Gold Planar GL1200.

 

[IBJamon]

As an owner of 7 pairs of speakers with AMTs in them, I'm watching this with interest

 

[heavyharmonies]

Got a shipping notification last night. FedEx delivery scheduled for Monday.

 

[bhazard]

Very interested.

 

[Reputator]

Oh hello there...

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

I’m pretty concerned that these may just be a rebrand of the Goldplanar GL850. They have the same design, form factor, headband, driver size, sensitivity, impedance, and distortion numbers…

I hope I’m wrong and Monoprice improved upon the design. I ordered them too, but if they’re the same, I will certainly return them.

 

[IBJamon]

If they are similar but cheaper, not at all a bad thing

 

[heavyharmonies]

I’m pretty concerned that these may just be a rebrand of the Goldplanar GL850. They have the same design, form factor, headband, driver size, sensitivity, impedance, and distortion numbers…

I hope I’m wrong and Monoprice improved upon the design. I ordered them too, but if they’re the same, I will certainly return them.

I've not done much research on the GL850, but even if it is a straight rebadge, it's at a price point roughly $400-500 lower than the GL850, and $200-300 lower than the GL1200 (and much easier to drive), so depending on use case scenario it may be worth investigating.

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

I've not done much research on the GL850, but even if it is a straight rebadge, it's at a price point roughly $400-500 lower than the GL850, and $200-300 lower than the GL1200 (and much easier to drive), so depending on use case scenario it may be worth investigating.

If the 850 was a loved headphone, I would agree. But it has not received glowing reviews. Even Zeos panned it, and he likes everything.

 

[Reputator]

If the 850 was a loved headphone, I would agree. But it has not received glowing reviews. Even Zeos panned it, and he likes everything.

I'm not seeing a lot of reviews of it in general. I'd say it's hard to pin down a consensus. Though you could definitely say it hasn't sold very many, if the lack of people talking about it is any indication.

 

[andersos]

With the newer pads they released a couple of months after they first delivered GL850 it's now a fantastic sounding headphone.

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

With the newer pads they released a couple of months after they first delivered GL850 it's now a fantastic sounding headphone.

Have you heard it with the newer pads?

 

[andersos]

Have you heard it with the newer pads?

Yes, I got the GL850 for early bird price a year ago and after a couple of months I got the new pads. It sounds superb with the new "balanced pads". They are perforated on the inside. I think the newer pads are now included.

 

[heavyharmonies]

Yes, I got the GL850 for early bird price a year ago and after a couple of months I got the new pads. It sounds superb with the new "balanced pads". They are perforated on the inside. I think the newer pads are now included.

What was the "early bird" pricing for the GL850 at that time?

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

Yes, I got the GL850 for early bird price a year ago and after a couple of months I got the new pads. It sounds superb with the new "balanced pads". They are perforated on the inside. I think the newer pads are now included.

Thanks for that. So are you buying the Monoprice AMT as well? Because if you are, it would be cool to know if they’re just a rebrand or a different beast altogether.