New Monolith cables from Monoprice

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by AllanMarcus, Apr 4, 2017.

  1. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    Looks like Monoprice is also getting into the "high-end" cable business

    https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=18534

    Still quite reasonably priced at $15 (3'), $20 (6'), $25 (9') and $30 (12') by crazy audiophile standards. These prices are for a single cable (generally, you want two).
    • Patented Cable Technology
      • Two different solid OFC conductor gauges for best Bass and Midrange optimization
      • Flat OFC conductor for superior Midrange reproduction
      • OFC Spiral ribbon conductors provide maximum treble definition without harshness
    • Double Shielded for lowest noise without compromising sound quality
      • OFC copper braided shield
      • AL foil shield
    • Silver content solder joints
    • Precision machined die cast connectors for maximum durability
    • 24K Gold Plated RCA Connectors for best electrical contact
    • Low dielectric constant Polyethylene dielectric on each conductor
    Hittin' all the audiophile buzzwords up there! Ooo, "Silver content solder joints"! Bet that makes all the difference!

    [​IMG]

    Sort of interesting. I generally use mono price "premium" cables, but now there are double premium!

    Price comparison for 6' cable:
    Monoprice premium: $3.70 (effectively for two cables, so for comparison, $1.85 person connection)
    Monolith: $20 (each. $32 per pair) - volume discount start at qty: 2
    Blue Jeans (w/techflex): $47-$53 (per pair)
    Moon-Audio BD V1: $350-$600 (per pair)

    Note: Might be cheaper on Amazon!
    6' was $18.48 with free shipping last time I checked.
    https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Monolith-6ft-RCA-Cable/dp/B06XS64FPX
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
  2. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Those look identical to the Ethereal cables that were available on Accessories4less for the longest time. Same description. Still have the digital coax cables available. ETHEREAL-EXS-A4 is the old model number, but they aren't available to buy anywhere. Possibly just ordered them from the same OEM?
     
  3. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    8,802
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tejas
    I wonder if the connectors are the same level of connection stiffness as the monoprice premium, which tend to require a bit too much pressure to plug in.
     
  4. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    Info on the Ethereal cable:

    31izYef5U5L.jpg
     
  5. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    8,802
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tejas
    Different tips. I'd prefer the ethereal tips I think.
     
  6. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,882
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Is that the price for L& R or just one (channel) cable? Says single cable, but not sure. I'll order em and report back.
     
  7. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    The prices above are for a single cable. I will update.
     
  8. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,300
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SoCal
    I'm going to give these a try.
     
  9. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado
    I can't seem to find the "flat OFC conductor for superior midrange reproduction" Oh maybe the round looking thing at conductor 2 or 3 is it.

    And no electrical specs at all, hmm.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,882
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Bought a pair of these. I'm not a big cable proponent and they usually don't make that much of a difference to me. But I needed to run a 3rd amp out of the Gungnir Multibit. Testing the single ended monoprice monolith vs. balanced cables was actually shocked, they sounded the same . My First thought, this has to be crap. Swapped out monoprice fancy cable for their regular cheapy cable.. yup, I could make out the difference. Also tried Genaudio chifi cable and though these seemed to be made very well, they sounded the same as the generic monoprice cable. Tried a few other cables with same result. Would I recommend these? Sure, they're a good moderately priced alternative to what's out there.
     
  11. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    When you say "regular cheap cable" Are you talking about their extremely basic cable:

    [​IMG]

    Or their slightly more expensive "premium" cable?

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2017
  12. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Well they got silver solder, but how about actual silver stands instead of copper. Would love for monoprice to try their hand in pure silver cables & give a honest price to them.
     
  13. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,882
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Premium cable
     
  14. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    15% off mono price today. Works on the Monolith cables too

    promo code: MOTHERS15
     
  15. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    While I appreciate the comments from @neogeosnk , has anyone else tried these cables?

    What the hell. I need some 3' cables. They are $12.99/ea when purchasing 2. There is a $5 off $25 promo, and free shipping. $20.98 for two! Order placed.

    Obviously I will not be able to blind test these, but I'll give it a shot. I generally cannot hear subtle differences in things like amp, DAC, and certainly not cables, so it will be interesting if I can hear a difference.

    What's interesting to me is that if these (or any) cables can alter (or transmit better) the FR of the signal, that should be measurable.

    I also ready an article (sorry, no link) that discussed the virtues of the RCA phono plug. It turns out the jack/plug combination is self cleaning, so when you unplug, the better scraps and cleans itself. This guy recommended unplugging gear an plugging in a few times every so often to clean the stuff that can accumulate on the plugs, thus reducing the connection. Using doexit, I've heard, also helps. At any rate, the article postulates that if your RCA cables have been plugged for more than 6 months, then you pull them and replace them with new cables, you might be hearing a clean physical connection between the club and jack, and not any benefit from the cable.

    So to truly test, clean everything first, then test between cables.
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
  16. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,882
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    What's your verdict?
     
  17. Dino

    Dino Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3,332
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Rub some dirt on the new cables before the blind test.
     
  18. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

    Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    259
    Trophy Points:
    63
    I'll bite, one of my Cable Builders also alluded to something similar what he's found is the application of deoxit gold contact cleaner & rejuvenator to make a difference, he apparently applies a little of it after he's finished building what ever connector he's wiring up. An what makes the difference for him in sound is the quality of the physical connection between the Cable and the Jack it's plugged into. Obviously this is along the lines of "snake oil" an I've no idea if it's based in reality or not as he feels that the materials don't make a difference but having a cleaner connection does, but I also wonder if you can measure a difference between a physically "clean" and dirty connection

    An what's better? Using friction to clean the Physical Connection between the club and jacket or a liquid
     
  19. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    Still waiting for the cables to arrive.

    update: scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I will test this weekend.

    Probably both.
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2017
  20. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    Well, my cables came. They are very nice, physically. Very well built and flexible. I think the plugs hold better than the premiums. The premiums plugs can pull out too easily, and if I am playing with wire, the premium's pull out too easily when I don't want them too. I might just use some pliers and crimp them a little.

    Can I hear a difference between the Monolith's and the Premiums? no. Does this mean others can't hear a difference? Nope. It just mean I could not.

    Will I buy more either premium or Monolith? Nope. I will just make them using Mogami w2965 and Rean NYS373 plugs and little heat shrink. The cost will be somewhere between the two monoprice cables. and will be "Mogami Gold" quality.
     

Share This Page