Monoprice Monolith: A new planar?

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by MrTie, Sep 13, 2016.

  1. Valolilol

    Valolilol Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I think I have another pair of Audeze Pads, which are just regular ones. Do you think they could improve something compared to the pads provided by Monoprice ?

    Note : I do value your feedback, it is very nice from you.
     
  2. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Regular as in leather or cloth? If it's leather it will be worse because they put your ear further away from the drivers which makes the mids more recessed.
     
  3. Valolilol

    Valolilol Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I got to check once I am back home, I will let you know. I listen to my LCD3 only with leather pads, are those actually worst than leather free ones ?
     
  4. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    It depends on what you prefer. Leather will be reflective and create peaks and valleys making the frequency response jagged but offer more excitement and slightly better bass. The leather free ones smooth out the frequency response and provide a more neutral sound compared to the stock pads.
     
  5. Valolilol

    Valolilol Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Interesting, thank you, I guess it is a "general" behavior for pads assuming one was careful regarding the sealing, placement and so on.
     
  6. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,300
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SoCal
    Skippy, can you post a picture of what it looks like with Audeze pads?

    Also, Monoprice can't make up their minds about the warranty on these. It was 5 years prior to release. Then they dropped it to 1 year (probably because of the connectors) and then the headfi army launched an assault and now its back up to 5 years. I imagine the pad swap is a warranty void though because they are glued on.
     
  7. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    The pad swap can't be a warranty void. Say you accidentally tore a pad and needed a replacement. The pads come off fine and reattach just fine as long as you're careful about pulling them off and not pulling the protective driver cloth with them.

    Crappy pic but the pads fit much like they do on my HE-6. There are zero issues and if you put them on with a fresh adhesive ring provided with the pads, they will be just as hard to pull off as stock.
    [​IMG]
     
  8. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,028
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philly - Yo
    That is interesting about the warranty. I saw it go from 5 years to 1 year and now back up to 5 years. The people have spoken!* ;)

    *(there have been many pages on HF dedicated to just this issue. Kind of a fun read to be honest)
     
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. They posted a reply over on Head-Fi stating that it was an error on the website and that they always were going to honor the 5 year warranty.

    Yeah, it's funny to watch people get so worked up over there.
     
  10. Valolilol

    Valolilol Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Answer to question : I actually do not have any other Audeze replacement pads. I am going to order a leather free pads, either for the Audeze or for the Monoprice, it will be good anyway.
    You guys in USA are lucky, I will most likely add a +100€-120€ just for pads+shipping which brings these headphones closer to a 450€-500€ headphones than your 380$. Hopefully Monoprice will bring their newborn to Europe one of these days.

    @cskippy thanks for the picture, I was once again fooled by the shape/color, I thought you were showing an Audeze LCD3.
     
  11. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    One more tweak, added a paper towel to cover the back of the driver placed under the grill. It's about a half inch smaller than the foam that covers the driver. I'm still tweaking the size but I'm liking the results. I probably need to modify the front driver grill cover to get the best effects that I'm looking for. That's down the line.

    Results of current config:

    M1060M aka super sub bass HD650
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,162
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Singapore
    If you productize it you could call it the MrSkippy SaneCat.
     
  13. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    133
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    United States
    Any thoughts on how the M1060 would fit someone who has an extra large head?
     
  14. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Like mine? Just fine. When I used the Audeze pads on my HE-6 I would have to put the gimbals near the top for a comfortable fit. I currently have the M1060 set on the second highest setting but there is also room inside the pads for more height.
     
  15. vampula

    vampula New

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Moscow, Russia
    Try some felt on the back.
     
  16. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,412
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Great impressions & mods @cskippy .. how do you find resolution, micro/macro dynamics, blackground on the M1060? Also, how is upper freq. extension (past 10K)?
     
  17. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Felt works, but you need something slightly more reflective/damping for a more improved sound. The weakness of this headphone is the front driver gill being the same as the back side. It needs to be opened up a little. Maybe one day when I'm drunk with a drill....:eek:

    These are seriously resolving. They have all the qualifiers of a ToTL can but without the price tag/fit and finish. The frequency response IMO needs some work but if stock or modded with Audeze pads ( a must to get the most out of them) suit you then you have one hell of a headphone. Upper frequency response doesn't seem to extend as much as measurements show but it's still there.
     
  18. vampula

    vampula New

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Moscow, Russia
    Just play with materials and closeness. They are much more open on the front then, i don't know... Fostex t50rp's, there might be some magic with the front air space(pads->ear) and back air flow controll. If you will be really going to OPEN them, its going to be "drilling" and magnet's changing to slimmer ones. Still super-curious about memrane and its traces... Also thickness of it is really a question.
     
  19. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
    I bought a pair, should be here Monday. Deathmatch vs HE-500 to commence. I already have vegans laying around.
     
  20. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Nice! Give them a listen stock, but don't make a final judgement until you've tried the vegan pads.
     

Share This Page