Monolith by Monoprice M1060 Over Ear Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
Product # 16050
$259.99
$299.99
On Sale 13.33% OFF
Qty: 1
$259.99
$299.99
Qty: 2-9
$259.99
$299.99
Qty: 10-19
$259.99
$299.99
Qty: 20-49
$259.99
$299.99
Qty: 50+
$259.99
$299.99
To see and take advantage of our member pricing sign up for a business account or contact our sales team.
To see and take advantage of our member pricing sign up for a business account or contact our sales team.
Questions and Answers
Do not include HTML, links, references to other stores, pricing or contact info.
My question is about:

If your question is about more than one item, click + to add them.

Browse 65 questions
Browse 65 questions
and 105 answers
Who is building this for Monoprice, shouldn't be hard to figure out, as there are what, like 3 or so manufacturers of planar headphones in the world? Fostex, Hifiman, Audeze, and I am already running out of names.
A shopper
on Feb 23, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I don't know who's building them. Probably a Chinese factory, but who cares? I've heard that the driver is a clone of the Audeze LCD-3 (V. 1?) and it sounds like it. Five year warrantee? No worries.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I don't know who's building them. Probably a Chinese factory, but who cares? I've heard that the driver is a clone of the Audeze LCD-3 (V. 1?) and it sounds like it. Five year warrantee? No worries.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
These are essentially older audeze version.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Jerold J on Jul 9, 2017
- Purchased on Jun 2, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
It looks like these will come with a removable cable. What type of connectors will it use?
New User U
on Jan 7, 2017
BEST ANSWER: UPDATE: The Monolith M1060 has been updated now to utilise a 2.5mm jack instead of the mmcx connection it was using before - this is suppose to fix multiple issues people were having with the mmcx connection.
- Reply(2)
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Apr 25, 2017
I just got mine today and it's with 2.5mm instead of mmcx and a longer braided cable
That's correct, i just received my pair today and i can confirm the 2.5mm and the braided 6ft cable
BEST ANSWER: UPDATE: The Monolith M1060 has been updated now to utilise a 2.5mm jack instead of the mmcx connection it was using before - this is suppose to fix multiple issues people were having with the mmcx connection.
- Reply(2)
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Apr 25, 2017
I just got mine today and it's with 2.5mm instead of mmcx and a longer braided cable
That's correct, i just received my pair today and i can confirm the 2.5mm and the braided 6ft cable
The guy in the first review answers this question: "This headphone uses mmcx connection, which is what is used by shure/westone and other earphone makers. "
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Zoran J on Feb 21, 2017
2.5mm cables. Your mileage will vary. My left 2.5 cable was DOA right out of the box.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Eugene T on Aug 22, 2018
Vote for the best answer above!
Will the Monolith be compatible with aftermarket earpads (like those for the Audeze LCD-2, for example) ?
A shopper
on Feb 17, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Yes they are compatible with Audeze and ZMF Eikon pads. Go with a suede pad. Though the stock pads are comfortable you'll get better sound (imo) with a suede pad.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- kellie w on Dec 15, 2017
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Yes they are compatible with Audeze and ZMF Eikon pads. Go with a suede pad. Though the stock pads are comfortable you'll get better sound (imo) with a suede pad.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- kellie w on Dec 15, 2017
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2017
You likely won't need A.M. pads. They are extremely comfortable. Most comfortable cans I've yet to wear.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Feb 26, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
will this come with a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter?
A shopper
on Feb 2, 2017
BEST ANSWER: It does come with an adapter now (as of second batch)!
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Virpobe P on Apr 28, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 24, 2017
BEST ANSWER: It does come with an adapter now (as of second batch)!
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Virpobe P on Apr 28, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 24, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
What are all the changes and improvements in the second batch?
A shopper
on Apr 25, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Without disassembling them you can't see what they did, but the head strap attachment was strengthened. The wood has been fully treated inside and out to stop cracking. The outer grille is finished better. The connectors have been changed to 2.5mm jacks for greater durability. The cord itself has been lengthened for more freedom of movement. Basically, every issue has been addressed and seemingly resolved without raising the price a penny.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Without disassembling them you can't see what they did, but the head strap attachment was strengthened. The wood has been fully treated inside and out to stop cracking. The outer grille is finished better. The connectors have been changed to 2.5mm jacks for greater durability. The cord itself has been lengthened for more freedom of movement. Basically, every issue has been addressed and seemingly resolved without raising the price a penny.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
The grills aren't as sharp. They're rounded out much more smoothly. The MMCX connectors are now a 3.5mm stereo angled connector to dual 2.5mm mono connectors. The wood is nicely finished and doesn't crack. Or it hasn't yet, but I live in Texas and it's pretty humid here.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Jorge G on May 15, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 21, 2017
Better wires...my buddy has the first batch and likes the changes made including the wood finish and the plastic finish.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Oscar O on Jun 7, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 24, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Vote for the best answer above!
How was this reviewed when they haven't shipped yet?
New User U
on Feb 22, 2017
Just wondering if the m1060 being sold now are the revised and new versions with the new cables?
suit8888
on Apr 24, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Revision 1 sold out completely so, by default, every pair being sold is now Rev. 2. Cables are all new. And, since the connectors are now the 2.5mm type you can easily buy any cable you like. You can even go balanced, if you feel the need.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Revision 1 sold out completely so, by default, every pair being sold is now Rev. 2. Cables are all new. And, since the connectors are now the 2.5mm type you can easily buy any cable you like. You can even go balanced, if you feel the need.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
I'd like to know how this headphone was reviewed when it hasn't even shipped yet?
A shopper
on Feb 22, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I ordered mine from MP Ebay on Friday and rec'd them 24 hours later. I'm in love with them.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Feb 26, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I ordered mine from MP Ebay on Friday and rec'd them 24 hours later. I'm in love with them.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Feb 26, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
How long is the cable included with this headphone? Will there be options to purchase both a long and short cords?
Stephen W
on Feb 14, 2017
BEST ANSWER: UPDATE: The newly revised Monolith M1060 has had the cable replaced by a 2.5mm to 3.5mm 6ft cable, much requested by the community.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Apr 25, 2017
BEST ANSWER: UPDATE: The newly revised Monolith M1060 has had the cable replaced by a 2.5mm to 3.5mm 6ft cable, much requested by the community.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Apr 25, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Does anyone know when they will update the M1060 and fix the problems?
A shopper
on Apr 25, 2017
BEST ANSWER: It's done. Every pair available is now Revision 2.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: It's done. Every pair available is now Revision 2.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Will these headphones require an external amp, or will they perform adequately connected directly to a computer? As opposed to the M560?
J E M
on Feb 1, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Optimal Power Requirement200mW - 4W
Check your device's output
Check your device's output
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- Allan M on Feb 24, 2017
My Fiio X5 (1st gen) drives them adequately. Not optimally, but certainly well enough in a pinch.
- Reply
- New User U on Feb 26, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Optimal Power Requirement200mW - 4W
Check your device's output
Check your device's output
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- Allan M on Feb 24, 2017
My Fiio X5 (1st gen) drives them adequately. Not optimally, but certainly well enough in a pinch.
- Reply
- New User U on Feb 26, 2017
These headphones are pretty easy to drive. I can drive them with my iPad mini to pretty loud levels. However, a headphone amp is probably better to get the best possible performance. These are much easier to drive than the T50RPs which I also have.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Tito A on Feb 27, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Now that Audeze has discontinued the Vegan velour pads. Will Monoprice respond with velour pad sales for the Monoprice m1060 and m1060c?
New User U
on Feb 15, 2018

Monolith by Monoprice M1060 Over Ear Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

Monolith by Monoprice M1060C Over Ear Closed Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
BEST ANSWER: No plans at this time, but thank you for the recommendation!
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Feb 15, 2018
No problem! The only thing keeping me from getting these are the leather pads. They don't breath as much as velour does. Maybe a hybrid of velour contact surface with leather walls?
- Reply
- New User U on Feb 15, 2018
BEST ANSWER: No plans at this time, but thank you for the recommendation!
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Feb 15, 2018
No problem! The only thing keeping me from getting these are the leather pads. They don't breath as much as velour does. Maybe a hybrid of velour contact surface with leather walls?
- Reply
- New User U on Feb 15, 2018
Vote for the best answer above!
I just ordered these and had couple of questions:
I was wondering since these headphones use the mmcx connectors is there anything different about the wiring of the ends to make a custome cable for these headphones? I are they wired just in a standard way or something special ?
What is the length of the cable ? Are the ear pads snap on like the 560"s?
Thanks
I was wondering since these headphones use the mmcx connectors is there anything different about the wiring of the ends to make a custome cable for these headphones? I are they wired just in a standard way or something special ?
What is the length of the cable ? Are the ear pads snap on like the 560"s?
Thanks
Rick H
on Feb 24, 2017
BEST ANSWER: The cable is 4' long. I believe the connectors are standard mmcx. Ear pads are glued on.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Tito A on Feb 27, 2017
BEST ANSWER: The cable is 4' long. I believe the connectors are standard mmcx. Ear pads are glued on.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Tito A on Feb 27, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
This may seem like a ridiculous question, but just received mine, and I cannot find ANY indication of which jack is L or R. The cable (the newer dual 2.5mm cable) is labeled "L" and "R" but the headphones themselves show no sign of which side is Left or Right....no manual was included with mine. Who to tell which is L and R?
A shopper
on Apr 26, 2017
BEST ANSWER: The ear pads are tapered front to back. The thicker end of the pad goes towards the back.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- Joseph T on Apr 28, 2017
If that is the case, then why is the ear pad seam in the FRONT?
- Reply
- New User U on Jul 30, 2018
BEST ANSWER: The ear pads are tapered front to back. The thicker end of the pad goes towards the back.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- Joseph T on Apr 28, 2017
If that is the case, then why is the ear pad seam in the FRONT?
- Reply
- New User U on Jul 30, 2018
It does look like both are red that's odd, just try one way and watch a sound check on say youtube and if left channel is on the right just swap them.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Malcolm D on Apr 28, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Can the headband be purchased separately?
New User U
on Jan 10, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Hello, thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not carry the headband by itself, If the item is failing on you, we would be happy to setup a replacement. Please contact us at tech@monoprice.com with your order # and one of our knowledgeable Technical Support staff would be more than happy to assist. Thank you!
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Jeff M Staff on Jan 27, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Hello, thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not carry the headband by itself, If the item is failing on you, we would be happy to setup a replacement. Please contact us at tech@monoprice.com with your order # and one of our knowledgeable Technical Support staff would be more than happy to assist. Thank you!
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Jeff M Staff on Jan 27, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Does The HiFiMan Hybrid OFC Cable Work With This? If Not Can Anyone Recommend A 4ft Replacement Cable For The Rev 2
New User U
on May 7, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I don't have that particular cable, but it looks like it should work fine. It has all the right ends, anyway. The stock cable fell apart on me after 3 weeks, so it's definitely worth a try.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Steven M on Jun 1, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I don't have that particular cable, but it looks like it should work fine. It has all the right ends, anyway. The stock cable fell apart on me after 3 weeks, so it's definitely worth a try.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Steven M on Jun 1, 2018
Vote for the best answer above!
What is the sound signature like on these headphones? (Amount and quality of bass, mids and treble) Thanks in advance
A shopper
on Feb 27, 2017
BEST ANSWER: They are fairly neutral, but has some of the best planar bass i've experienced! plenty impact, hits low on bass boosted tracks, and short of a bit of 5khz treble spike its quite easy to listen to overall. The mid's is the second strong point where its intimate while still being airy with good imaging. Unlike the Audeze house signature being extra veiled/recessed.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- David C on Mar 10, 2017
- Purchased on Feb 23, 2017
BEST ANSWER: They are fairly neutral, but has some of the best planar bass i've experienced! plenty impact, hits low on bass boosted tracks, and short of a bit of 5khz treble spike its quite easy to listen to overall. The mid's is the second strong point where its intimate while still being airy with good imaging. Unlike the Audeze house signature being extra veiled/recessed.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- David C on Mar 10, 2017
- Purchased on Feb 23, 2017
These headphones make you understand why the iFi iDSD Black Edition has the XBass and 3D+ switches. Most headphones are not as neutral as these are. I also consider these to be very accurate. Flipping those switches on certain music types is an incredibly joy with these headphones. Sorry for the slight digression. No, iFi did not pay me for this answer and David C's answer is better than mine. =)
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Frank H on Apr 10, 2018
- Purchased on Apr 24, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
What are the inner dimensions of the ear pad openings?
A shopper
on May 30, 2017
I know most recommend a headphone amp for these. How would an audioquest dragonfly perform? I have one lying around and was curious before I pulled the trigger on something new.
A shopper
on Apr 26, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I cannot say for the Dragonfly Black; but I have more than enough power to drive these with my Dragonfly V1.2. In fact, I feel my Dragonfly is a perfect match with these. It has more than enough headroom, clarity, and power to drive these. Using windows volume control set at ~50%, that Dragonfly outputs more than ample power for me.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Stephen W on May 13, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I cannot say for the Dragonfly Black; but I have more than enough power to drive these with my Dragonfly V1.2. In fact, I feel my Dragonfly is a perfect match with these. It has more than enough headroom, clarity, and power to drive these. Using windows volume control set at ~50%, that Dragonfly outputs more than ample power for me.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Stephen W on May 13, 2017
The dragonfly will drive these ok, but they'd benefit from a higher powered amp. There's only so much power that can be driven from USB alone.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Joseph T on Apr 28, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Are we still at the second batch, or are the one available now the third batch?
A shopper
on Sep 3, 2018
I have three questions , 1.) the included 6 ft. cord is'nt gonna cut it for me , I need at least 10 ft. can anybody provide a link to buy decent cables ? I will mostly be using these with a vintage Marantz 2238 receiver which I've been told has a pretty good built in headphone amp although i'm sure it's not as good as some of the amps out there these days , any info in this reguard would be much appreciated . Also , it appears as though Audeze has put the kibosh on the vegan pads , so if anybody has any good suggestions for an alternative I'd love to hear em .
Chris P
on Aug 9, 2017
Does revision 2 of M1060 still have the ringing problem at 5kHz as mentioned by a few reviewers?
New User U
on Apr 27, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I have been listenening to them for a few hundred hours now and I can only recall one time I noticed ringing and that was after an explosion in a game, it lasted longer than normal but it may have just been the game.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Tyler H on May 22, 2018
- Purchased on May 4, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I have been listenening to them for a few hundred hours now and I can only recall one time I noticed ringing and that was after an explosion in a game, it lasted longer than normal but it may have just been the game.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Tyler H on May 22, 2018
- Purchased on May 4, 2018
I don't have a ringing issue with mine.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- David W on May 3, 2018
- Purchased on Apr 6, 2018
Vote for the best answer above!
Does Revision 2 of the M1060 still have the ringing sound at 5kHz?
A shopper
on Apr 26, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I have heard a lot about the ringing problem, but I have not experienced this at all. These are incredible headphones and many of us who have purchased them would be quite upset if we heard "ringing". Look up "Z review" on this headphone. He doesn't hear it either. DMS TV did an initial review where he praised them to a superlative degree. Then later he apparently heard the ringing and started modding them till they broke. My question is; Where is your credibility? Where was this ringing when you gave the glowing review? I think that Audeze LCD2 purchasers and some reviewers just don't want to give the M1060's the credit they deserve. I have music that I have listened to for over 30 years. I know my music very well. I would notice any additional "ringing". It would be a definite deal breaker for me if I did. These are great headphones for great price! I highly recommend them.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Richard N on Apr 27, 2018
- Purchased on May 1, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I have heard a lot about the ringing problem, but I have not experienced this at all. These are incredible headphones and many of us who have purchased them would be quite upset if we heard "ringing". Look up "Z review" on this headphone. He doesn't hear it either. DMS TV did an initial review where he praised them to a superlative degree. Then later he apparently heard the ringing and started modding them till they broke. My question is; Where is your credibility? Where was this ringing when you gave the glowing review? I think that Audeze LCD2 purchasers and some reviewers just don't want to give the M1060's the credit they deserve. I have music that I have listened to for over 30 years. I know my music very well. I would notice any additional "ringing". It would be a definite deal breaker for me if I did. These are great headphones for great price! I highly recommend them.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Richard N on Apr 27, 2018
- Purchased on May 1, 2017
It depends on the type of music you listen to. In acoustic music (classical, or live recordings), you shouldn't hear anything unpleasant, ever. If you listen to a gene that's always studio produced (pop, hip hop, rap) and highly processed you might, but I don't think it's the headphones fault., rather I think it's because engineers boost these frequencies as people who listen to this type of music don't usually listen on higher quality gear. Anyway, unless you try them you'll never know if they work for you. Thankfully Monoprice have a very liberal return policy. Good luck.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on Apr 27, 2018
- Purchased on Apr 27, 2017
That depends, I did not notice the ringing that some experienced so YMMV. These can sound good out of the box but they sound great after mod. I also own Hifiman HE4XX and Fostex T-X0, they are nowhere close to the M1060, which is my daily driver. Go head-fi and you can learn more.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Apr 27, 2018
- Purchased on May 3, 2017
I don't have objective measurements, but I hear a mid-treble resonance that is particularly excited by vinyl surface noise. "Tic" sounds end up sounding like "tac," so impulse decay isn't as quick and clean as it should be.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Steven E on Apr 27, 2018
- Purchased on Apr 27, 2017
I've never noticed any ringing sound at 5khz.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Stephen B on Apr 27, 2018
- Purchased on May 14, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Will you provide in the future and just throwing it out there, an upgrade kit for memory foam earpads?
A shopper
on Jan 19, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I have no idea. I wear mine several; hours day, and it's almost one year now since I received these headphone. There is not a lot of pressure clamping them to your head. For me they are "barely there" and it will be a long time before the ear pads will need replacing.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Frank G on Jan 20, 2018
- Purchased on Feb 23, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I have no idea. I wear mine several; hours day, and it's almost one year now since I received these headphone. There is not a lot of pressure clamping them to your head. For me they are "barely there" and it will be a long time before the ear pads will need replacing.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Frank G on Jan 20, 2018
- Purchased on Feb 23, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
How can you tell left from right ear cup on v2?
Clement C
on Nov 9, 2017
BEST ANSWER: When the phones are on your head the thick side of ear cups points towards the rear and narrow side points to the front to fit the shape of the skull.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- audiophiliac69 on Nov 10, 2017
- Purchased on Feb 23, 2017
BEST ANSWER: When the phones are on your head the thick side of ear cups points towards the rear and narrow side points to the front to fit the shape of the skull.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- audiophiliac69 on Nov 10, 2017
- Purchased on Feb 23, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
I called customer service and was informed the that revision 2 M1060 was not released as of May 2nd.. However there are a couple of reviews on the web. How can I get the revision 2 at this time?
A shopper
on May 2, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I ordered on Apr. 25th and received the revised version of the M1060's with the 2.5mm connectors and texture finished grills.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Joseph T on May 4, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I ordered on Apr. 25th and received the revised version of the M1060's with the 2.5mm connectors and texture finished grills.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Joseph T on May 4, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Will you be able to cover these like you do with the M560? I mean make them 'closed' back. I like that versatility from the 560s
A shopper
on Feb 25, 2017
BEST ANSWER: No. They're open only. Improvise a cover if you want, but you'll completely ruin the sound. If you need closed, buy the 560s..
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: No. They're open only. Improvise a cover if you want, but you'll completely ruin the sound. If you need closed, buy the 560s..
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Philip S on May 29, 2017
- Purchased on Apr 28, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
Do I need a headphone amp?
A shopper
on Oct 9, 2018
BEST ANSWER: An amp would be best, yes. This pair of headphones requires more power than any source (like your phone or computer) can provide, meaning while an amp isn't necessary, you can't get the full sound without one. If your are avoiding spending the money on an amp/dac, you could always get one of the other Monolith series headphones that require less power, though in my opinion, its worth it to save up and splurge on these with an amp
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Liam F on Oct 9, 2018
- Purchased on Oct 27, 2017
BEST ANSWER: An amp would be best, yes. This pair of headphones requires more power than any source (like your phone or computer) can provide, meaning while an amp isn't necessary, you can't get the full sound without one. If your are avoiding spending the money on an amp/dac, you could always get one of the other Monolith series headphones that require less power, though in my opinion, its worth it to save up and splurge on these with an amp
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Liam F on Oct 9, 2018
- Purchased on Oct 27, 2017
I would suggest yes but first use the headphones with the sound system you plan on using it. If they headphones are not sound enough then find an appropriate amp. I purchased one from Monoprice but had to return it because it was not loud enough. Good Luck and Happy Listening.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- MARK S on Oct 12, 2018
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2017
An iphone drives these cans just fine. But it will always benefit from a good dac and amp. I paired these with audio-gd r2r 11 amazing experience
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- çagatay o on Oct 10, 2018
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2017
Amp is not necessary. My iPhone powers it more than adequately.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Ngoc T on Oct 9, 2018
- Purchased on Oct 14, 2017
I do not need a headphone amp. My iPhone 7 works very well.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- bruce r on Oct 10, 2018
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2017
I'd recommend one. They scale well with better amps.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Jacob W on Oct 10, 2018
- Purchased on Nov 12, 2017
No, not necessary, but always good to have one.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- James L on Oct 9, 2018
- Purchased on Nov 16, 2017
Vote for the best answer above!
What comes in the box with these headphones?
A shopper
on May 15, 2018
BEST ANSWER: In the box are: the headphones (obviously), a nice luxurious travel case, and (I'm not sure about this) a gold plated converter from the small headphone jack (for a smartphone for instance) to the bigger headphone jack (for your Hi-Fi for instance).
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- PWM TEN B on May 16, 2018
- Purchased on Jul 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: In the box are: the headphones (obviously), a nice luxurious travel case, and (I'm not sure about this) a gold plated converter from the small headphone jack (for a smartphone for instance) to the bigger headphone jack (for your Hi-Fi for instance).
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- PWM TEN B on May 16, 2018
- Purchased on Jul 28, 2017
A large black carrying case for the headphones, a black braided cable with a right angle adapter, a 1/4 inch adapter, and the headphones as pictured.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Theodore Van W on May 15, 2018
- Purchased on Jul 14, 2017
1 headphone case
1 headphone
1 3.5mm to quarter inch adapter
1 2.5mm to 3.5mm headphone wire (not proprietary)
1 headphone
1 3.5mm to quarter inch adapter
1 2.5mm to 3.5mm headphone wire (not proprietary)
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Jian M on May 15, 2018
- Purchased on Aug 28, 2017
The headphones, the 2.5mm cable to 3.5, an 1/4 adapter, and a big circle carrying case(semi hard).
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on May 15, 2018
- Purchased on Aug 21, 2017
Headphone carrying case, headphone cable, 1/4 inch adapter, headphones.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on May 15, 2018
Vote for the best answer above!
Reviews
4.5 / 5.0
202 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
126
56
10
6
4
A Great Planar For the Price
When it comes to this headphone I would have to say they are very comparable to the original Audeze LCD-2. And I would have to say they are quite a treat for my ears. I have been through many headphones and many planar style headphones from the lower end to the higher end. I would have to say when it comes to the sound they are a very very good all around headphone. Very good bass extension for an open-back headphone. Definitely not a super bass headphone due to it being open-back. But if you like very clean, punchy, and articulate bass these are very good for that type of listening. The highs themselves are slight recessed I modded mine a little bit and took the foam out of the back side of the ear cups and it heightened the highs a little. The mids are clear but not too forward, and the soundstage of these is just enough to make you feel like your in the room. I would have to say the build is a little questionable and wish they were built more like the M560's, but I can't complain too much for the price. You can tell they put the money in the planar tech and not so much the build itself. So I would be very careful with these cans due to the build quality. I would give the build quality of the frame and materials given at the price about a 6/10. I would recommend these to anyone that want that nice planar sound. Just be careful with them and you will love them! Happy buying!


- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
February 16, 2019
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Great headphones
Great headphones. No complaints.
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Fantastic headphones for the money.
Very happy with these for the holiday pricing I got them at. I bought these and the HifiMan HE-560v3 that were also on sale for a little bit more. After breaking in the Hifiman set they sounded great, I thought. I bought these and they took no break in period to sound great off the bat. They are much more sensitive and you can get by without a headphone amp. The Hifiman's def needed the amp. Better bass, punchier, and not as harsh as the Hifiman. They have a great soundstage. If you're a bass head, these planar headphones are probably not for you. These articulate bass very cleanly but are not "bass heavy." I guess I'm a bass head and sometimes crave a bit more out of them, granted I have not tried any EQ'ing yet. Great buy for the money. Very solid build quality. Comes with a huge carrying case if you decide to travel with these, but they aren't really meant to be mobile.
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Excellent planer headphones at a reasonable price!
These are my third set of headphones at a similar price and although all three were really good, these are my favorites. I took off one star because the connector on the cable kept falling out (didn't snap in) until I risked repairing it myself- using a very small screw driver to widen the connector spot inside the opening. That worked, but risky if it broke something and the warranty was invalidated. I love the smooth but detailed sound through the entire range. Fits well and could listen for long periods without fatigue. Thanks!
- Was this review helpful? Yes (1) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (1) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Impressive planar headphones
These cans are really impressive! I owned HE4XX and these cans are on another level! Overall a great purchase and I’m Glad I pulled the trigger
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Nice headphones. I recommend them
Very nice headphones. Love the tight and detailed sound of Planar Magnetic drivers. Also love the look of these headphones. The mix of wood and metal makes them stand out compared to other headphones around the price range. I personally find the ear pads to be very comfortable, however the headband could use some work. There's definitely a noticable weight right at the top of the headband when you first put them on but in my experience I don't notice it as much once they've been on my head for a few minutes. The cable that came with it was of decent quality, but I needed something a little longer so I bought one on Amazon.
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Nice
Very nice fit and good quality sound
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Monolith m1060
Really like the sound of these cans. Not much of a sound guru myself, but they’re great from what I can tell
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
Comfortable and they sound great
I found the headphones to be quite comfortable and they sound great.I also particularly like the design where the cord is separate and it plugs into a standard receptacle on the bottom of the headphones. In the case of these headphones, a 3.5 mm stereo plug splits into two 2.5 mm mono plugs--one for each side. The cable is well constructed (and a 3.5 mm to 1/4" converter is included), but I'm not sure a replacement would be easy to find if necessary.You can definitely hear more room noise with these headphones than you would with headphones with a closed back. That's either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on whether you want to be interrupted by outside noises or not. The open-back design does not negate the point of wearing headphones if you're trying not to disturb others in the room. But others in the room will know what song you're listening to.Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the headphones.
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
- Was this review helpful? Yes (0) No (0)
- Flag as Inappropriate
This was the strangest set of headphones I've ever owned (I ended up returning them after just over a week of using them). The wood rings wanted to crack just by looking at them the wrong way. The headband and hinges creaked any time you moved them, and quite literally felt as though they would just crumble or fall apart in your hands. The cable was of extremely poor quality, and the right angle adapter was a bit perplexing as well. The 2.5mm connections to the headphones themselves were extremely tight and required a terrifying amount of pressure to snap them into place or remove them. The headband adjustment system stripped paint whenever you adjusted the fit of the headphones. This actually felt more like an early stage prototype rather than a complete product. There is just no way that a competent manufacturer would allow QA issues like this onto the market, unless it was rushed out the door or the designers just didn't care enough. Something was definitely amiss here, at any rate.
All those issues aside (and then some), the sound quality is what stood out to me the most here. These things sound great -- or, at least my pair did for the most part. But at around day 3, I started noticing my ears would begin to fatigue after around 30 minutes and I was getting headaches. After A/B'ing through some other headphones I own, I realized that these headphones were producing harsh resonances or reflections whenever a really exciting part of a track would play. Female vocals, loud guitar parts, ringing snare drums -- anything with a lot of energy out front in a mix created a lot of resonant harshness to the sound. A good number of owners have claimed there are issues with a 5K resonance, harsh tones, shouty mids, etc. as well, so at least I wasn't alone in that regard. The fact that some headphones sound fine while others are terrible also speaks volumes about the QA over at Monoprice.
Then there are the insane amount of mods that users are coming up with in forums to essentially fix nearly every aspect of these headphones. From fuzzor/fazor mods around the drivers, to replacing the foam with folded paper towel, to 3D-printed grills and aftermarket pads to get rid of the harsh resonances inside the earcups.
I'm sorry, but Monoprice should not have to rely on its customers to try and fix these for them. It's unacceptable to charge people $400 for an incomplete product. The amount of money some people have put into these on top of their already hefty price tag trying to fix them is pretty incredible.
Unless you're looking for a project or an experience of learning how to repair and modify headphones, I'd avoid these like the plague. I struggled to find the value in this sort of investment of time and money, and ultimately ended up returning these. It truly is a damn shame that Monoprice couldn't have been bothered to invest more time engineering these properly, because they were certainly onto something great here, but fell far short of the finish line.
All those issues aside (and then some), the sound quality is what stood out to me the most here. These things sound great -- or, at least my pair did for the most part. But at around day 3, I started noticing my ears would begin to fatigue after around 30 minutes and I was getting headaches. After A/B'ing through some other headphones I own, I realized that these headphones were producing harsh resonances or reflections whenever a really exciting part of a track would play. Female vocals, loud guitar parts, ringing snare drums -- anything with a lot of energy out front in a mix created a lot of resonant harshness to the sound. A good number of owners have claimed there are issues with a 5K resonance, harsh tones, shouty mids, etc. as well, so at least I wasn't alone in that regard. The fact that some headphones sound fine while others are terrible also speaks volumes about the QA over at Monoprice.
Then there are the insane amount of mods that users are coming up with in forums to essentially fix nearly every aspect of these headphones. From fuzzor/fazor mods around the drivers, to replacing the foam with folded paper towel, to 3D-printed grills and aftermarket pads to get rid of the harsh resonances inside the earcups.
I'm sorry, but Monoprice should not have to rely on its customers to try and fix these for them. It's unacceptable to charge people $400 for an incomplete product. The amount of money some people have put into these on top of their already hefty price tag trying to fix them is pretty incredible.
Unless you're looking for a project or an experience of learning how to repair and modify headphones, I'd avoid these like the plague. I struggled to find the value in this sort of investment of time and money, and ultimately ended up returning these. It truly is a damn shame that Monoprice couldn't have been bothered to invest more time engineering these properly, because they were certainly onto something great here, but fell far short of the finish line.
- Was this review helpful? Yes (4) No (7)
- Flag as Inappropriate
December 10, 2018
- Was this review helpful? Yes (4) No (7)
- Flag as Inappropriate