Review on 🎧 Monolith M1060 Over Ear Planar Magnetic Headphones - Black/Wood: 106mm Driver, Open Back Design, Studio Comfort Ear Pads by Omar Bloomer

I bought these based on the seemingly endless praise they receive on headphone forums and critic reviews. Apparently, Monoprice has been constantly improving them based on customer feedback (build quality in particular was cited as an issue when it first launched - they're working to improve it, and my example is flawless). I think that in itself deserves a special mention. A company that really listens to its customers deserves support. The headphones themselves are often compared to $700+ headphones. Since I don't think it's worth spending that much on a pair of headphones, I can't say if that's reasonable or not. However, I will say this: when SO $700 headphones sound, some people are too eager to be ripped off. These aren't exceptional sounding headphones, even at their price point. These devices are FAIR priced (around $275). This is a good (not amazing) sound for the money. However, I can no longer pay. To my count, nothing most reviewers have praised is truly exemplary. Clarity is average to "good", soundstage is good but not the best for the money; and people like to say that planar headphones are great for bass. I've heard of two planar models, including this one, and have yet to find out if that's the case. Bass is light. Not much in terms of effect. The definition is good, but again not exceptional. I have yet to see the advantage over traditional dynamic drivers. IA/B/C has used them with two of my most used/popular headphones in my collection: the Grado RS2e ($500 MSRP) and the Koss Pro4s ($149 MSRP). The Koss headphones impress with rich but high-quality bass and an otherwise flat response. Grados in the typical Grado style impress with their shimmering and incredibly detailed high frequencies. The Monoprice headphones lack either: they lack the beautiful, endless, immersive low-end of the Koss, but they also lack the gorgeous, shimmering highs and frankly intimate midrange of the Grados. So I just don't have a good reason to want to hear it. You're not particularly attractive. Another thing I noticed is that they sound almost exactly like hearing through a tube, especially compared to Grados. There's a sort of resonant quality I can't pinpoint that's lacking in most other open-back headphones I've heard. It's not unbearable (and your ears adapt quickly). but it was always noticeable after listening to the other two headphones I used for comparison. Do not get me wrong. These are good sounding headphones. But manage your expectations. They're reasonably priced, but that's not all many reviewers promise. On other aspects of the headphones, here are a few points: - They are only sensitive to mobile device power. They barely reach a volume that is sufficient for some people on normal smartphones. These are great headphones. They are not the least bit discreet. You will confirm this right away when you see the box they arrive in! They are a bit heavy. Not to the point where I ever get tired; but if you lie down, you might find that they want to slip out of your ears. The wearing comfort is great. The pads easily hug large ears and the deep cutouts ensure your ears don't touch the temples. The temporary pressure is just right and the headband distributes the weight upwards well. These headphones fit large heads like mine comfortably. Airflow is good enough for leather/faux leather and allows for longer listening times (although admittedly I don't wear them for more than an hour at a time). The build quality is first class. Excellent. They have a solid feel, the materials are appealing and convincing. While the cables aren't as thick as you'd probably want to see in high-end headphones, they still feel premium and don't pose an issue in terms of durability for me. Good connectors on both ends. Note. Most of my experience has been shaped by the devices I use most: smartphone (Moto Z), laptop (Alienware 15R3), and Surface Pro 4. I've heard from more powerful sources including the SMSL AD18 and a Yamaha home theater midrange receiver with better, but still not groundbreaking, results; However, since I very rarely use headphones in this way, I did not base my opinion on these situations. My personal requirement for headphones is that they work well with a wide variety of sources. Also, under no circumstances (headphone related) do I use EQ settings or post processing. Another popular claim is that planar headphones are particularly responsive to EQ; Again, I'm skeptical about this (that they're better than dynamic drivers) - but it's irrelevant to my preference anyway, so I didn't research that claim. Burn in or not is a tangible phenomenon, I heard it straight out of the box and even after playing it at medium volume for over 48 hours. I enjoyed them more after the burn, but I acknowledge the possibility of a placebo. I mention this to quell the idea that mine just wasn't "broken in". I gave them a chance. In the end, here's what I thought: If I'm going to spend over $200 on headphones for home/portable (non-studio) use, it's probably better if they offer something special, be it bass (Koss), Treble (Grado), noise reduction (Bose), etc. These planar headphones just don't sound special enough to add to my long term rotation. These are definitely not BAD headphones. For the money you can find a more exciting sound. Quality: 90 Sound: 80 Comfort: 90 Cost: 85 (Of course, these are all subjective questions. Just my impressions, based on my experiences and preferences. Always remember to make up your own.)