Monoprice Monolith: A new planar?

Looks like Monoprice is rolling out a couple planars at Cedia. A $199 closed can and $299 open can. Might be terrible, might be good bang for buck.

Monolith M1060:



Monolith M560:



http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=120&cp_id=12009&cs_id=1082302&p_id=16050&seq=1&format=2

http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=120&cp_id=12009&cs_id=1082302&p_id=16051&seq=1&format=2

 

Apparently Monoprice getting into the planar game:

M-1060 - Open back planar magnetic, $299



Yes, that does look like another certain headphone manufactuer...

M-560 - Closed back planar magnetic, $199




Let's hope these are decently performing...in that case we can get a different mod platform from T50RPs...

http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=120&cp_id=12009&cs_id=1082302&p_id=16050&seq=1&format=2
http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=120&cp_id=12009&cs_id=1082302&p_id=16051&seq=1&format=2

 

I'll bet $50 that they're more stable and consistent than Audeze's original LCD line.

I'll probably give the open ones a shot when they're available. If they suck, at least the headband / yoke assembly looks useful.

 

Probably better build quality than Hifiman as well....

 

Not if Monoprice's lightning cables are any indicator... but hopefully!

 

Interesting.

 

Sure as hell looks like that's the case. The price makes me interested, at that very least.

 

So there are two threads on this (a minute apart): http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/monoprice-monolith-a-new-planar.2791/

Hoping for a $299 HE-560 rather than HE-400x. Don't care for either but HFM needs to be punished for the HE-K and Shangri-La.

 

even the logo looks like Hifiman.

 

They look like the illegitimate offspring of a HFM and Audeze one night stand... though in the case of the 1060 one would understand HFM wondering if optimus prime was in on the Audeze action. The HF thread for these will be interesting, me thinks the sponsors won't be happy.

 

This was my immediate thought as well. The old ortho and T50rp crowds need fresh meat.

 

Monoprice has always been the company I think of for quality at the lowest price. These are very exciting.

 

Waitaminnit... a new affordable planar... with Monoprice known for doing big bulk discounts... Who wants to take bets on how long it takes before a certain commercialized modder starts offering his own versions with stickers on top, eventually leading to pleated diaphragms with multi-$k upcharge?

 

Anyone actually follow the links and read that the $199 model can be configured as open or closed?... "Designed for comfort and longevity, you can tailor the sound to your taste with the ability to transform the headphones between an open or closed back configuration."

I guess that wood (plastic) cover pops off. Good for modders I suppose but you have to think the tuning would be poor/compromised. I can't see how the headphone could sound decent in a closed configuration and not sound poor while open (or vice versa).

 

Now, this is something worth to watch.

 

Good catch. Anyone know if there is precedence for - "open or closed, whichever you like" such as this?

I have never heard of (nor imagined) such a thing.

 

Yes. there are several headphones that can take off the housing to become open-air from closed. Or things like Beyer Custom can open/close the ports so it can become open, semi-open and closed depending on the setup. It's hardly anything new.