Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Gold Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC by Alex Cavalli
Product # 38967
UPC # 889028131206
$999.99
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Browse 13 questions
Browse 13 questions
and 14 answers
Can the DAC decode MQA files?
A shopper
on Nov 14, 2022
BEST ANSWER: No. There isn't any mention of MQA on the product pages here, and there's no mention of this device on the MQA site: https colon forward slash forward slash www dot mqa dot co dot .uk forward slash playback-devices
But as the second reply states, very good amp, and the DAC is strictly a convenience feature. I can see using it as a 1-box desktop system fed by a computer. But to get the full benefit of the amp, you're going to need an external DAC.
But as the second reply states, very good amp, and the DAC is strictly a convenience feature. I can see using it as a 1-box desktop system fed by a computer. But to get the full benefit of the amp, you're going to need an external DAC.
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- Inaccurate
- William W on Nov 15, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 14, 2022
BEST ANSWER: No. There isn't any mention of MQA on the product pages here, and there's no mention of this device on the MQA site: https colon forward slash forward slash www dot mqa dot co dot .uk forward slash playback-devices
But as the second reply states, very good amp, and the DAC is strictly a convenience feature. I can see using it as a 1-box desktop system fed by a computer. But to get the full benefit of the amp, you're going to need an external DAC.
But as the second reply states, very good amp, and the DAC is strictly a convenience feature. I can see using it as a 1-box desktop system fed by a computer. But to get the full benefit of the amp, you're going to need an external DAC.
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- Inaccurate
- William W on Nov 15, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 14, 2022
That's a good question. I couldn't find anything on MQA. Description says "just about all files" including DSD. I'll tell you though, I love this amp. It can be temperamental, though. If it ever doesn't boot up, just unplug for a few seconds and it will be fine. Call the company, they can tell you.
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- Michael L on Nov 15, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 24, 2022
To the best of my knowledge and then looking at the specs, I see no mention of MQA. If you stream Tidal, I understand, but at $700, its quality with a balanced headphone (XLR) will stun you.
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- Arthur A on Nov 15, 2022
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2021
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Am I the only one having trouble finding an 3 Pin XLR Balanced male to male cable to hook this up to the Alex Cavalli headphone amp? Any recommendations?
Andrew M
on Dec 12, 2022
Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Gold Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC by Alex Cavalli
Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Platinum Balanced Limited Edition DAC by Alex Cavalli (AKM4499)
BEST ANSWER: After reviewing the pictures I can understand your confusion. I have the liquid platinum DAC & amp, and you just need the standard xlr interconnects (male to female).
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- New User U on Dec 13, 2022
- Purchased on Mar 9, 2022
BEST ANSWER: After reviewing the pictures I can understand your confusion. I have the liquid platinum DAC & amp, and you just need the standard xlr interconnects (male to female).
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- New User U on Dec 13, 2022
- Purchased on Mar 9, 2022
You can find several different 3 pin xlr cables at Monoprice to suit your budget. Have a look at their Monolith xlr cable, It is a very well made cable. If this is a little too much $, they have others that may suit your budget.
You can find this style of cable almost anywhere cables are sold, from Amazon to Periapt, etc., etc.
You can find this style of cable almost anywhere cables are sold, from Amazon to Periapt, etc., etc.
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- Inaccurate
- New User U on Dec 12, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 14, 2022
The Monolith XLR Cable is a Male to Female. The Liquid Platinum DAC and the Liquid Gold Headphone Amp both provide female connectors on the unit. So, how does one go about this, unless I also need to purchase Male to Female adapters. And I would love the Monolith cable, I am looking for a high quality cable to use to connect these two. (And the Platinum Amp appears to provide a similar (if locking) female connector, so the question is the same there.)
You should be able to easily find a XLR male to male cable on amazon. However, my unit came with XLR male terminations -- as expected in any DAC with balanced outputs -- so I can use any standard XLR cable to hook them up.
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- New User U on Dec 12, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 26, 2022
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I want to ask about operating range temperature ? thx
A shopper
on Apr 30, 2022
BEST ANSWER: The Liquid Gold X doesn't run hot. Unless it's being played in a locked car in the middle of the Sahara, I wouldn't worry. Treat it like any other electronic device. Let it be near free-flowing air, not in a box.
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- Arthur A on Apr 30, 2022
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2021
BEST ANSWER: The Liquid Gold X doesn't run hot. Unless it's being played in a locked car in the middle of the Sahara, I wouldn't worry. Treat it like any other electronic device. Let it be near free-flowing air, not in a box.
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- Arthur A on Apr 30, 2022
- Purchased on Nov 24, 2021
Measuring the top surface after 1h of usage, it never goes over 105F on my unit
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- New User U on Sep 9, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 26, 2022
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Are the pair of balanced and unbalanced connectors on the back inputs or outputs?
If they are outputs, this unit could be used as a preamp to drive a pair of studio monitors and a powered subwoofer. If they are outputs, are these analog outputs automatically attenuated when one of the front balanced or unbalanced headphone jacks are utilized?
If they are inputs, is there a way to switch between the 5 different input options (digital USB, digital coax, digital toslink, analog balanced, and analog unbalanced) such that 3 different digital devices and 2 analog devices can be connected?
If they are outputs, this unit could be used as a preamp to drive a pair of studio monitors and a powered subwoofer. If they are outputs, are these analog outputs automatically attenuated when one of the front balanced or unbalanced headphone jacks are utilized?
If they are inputs, is there a way to switch between the 5 different input options (digital USB, digital coax, digital toslink, analog balanced, and analog unbalanced) such that 3 different digital devices and 2 analog devices can be connected?
New User U
on Nov 26, 2019
BEST ANSWER: The description / specifications were not listed when I asked this question. It is now obvious that the XLR and RCA jacks are INPUTS the device does allow for 5 different input devices to be connected and switched.
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- New User U on Sep 14, 2020
BEST ANSWER: The description / specifications were not listed when I asked this question. It is now obvious that the XLR and RCA jacks are INPUTS the device does allow for 5 different input devices to be connected and switched.
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- New User U on Sep 14, 2020
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When is this going to be released and can we get the power specs up?
New User U
on Feb 7, 2020
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question.
The current ETA for this amplifier would be March 30th.
The current ETA for this amplifier would be March 30th.
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- Tyler C Staff on Feb 7, 2020
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question.
The current ETA for this amplifier would be March 30th.
The current ETA for this amplifier would be March 30th.
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- Tyler C Staff on Feb 7, 2020
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Is the embedded DAC same as the Liquid Platinum balanced DAC?
A shopper
on Mar 12, 2020
BEST ANSWER: No, the Liquid Gold uses an AKM4493 running in balanced mode, and the Platinum DAC uses an AKM4499.
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- New User U Staff on Mar 12, 2020
BEST ANSWER: No, the Liquid Gold uses an AKM4493 running in balanced mode, and the Platinum DAC uses an AKM4499.
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- New User U Staff on Mar 12, 2020
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Is it a class-ab amp?
A shopper
on Nov 22, 2020
BEST ANSWER: For $1000.00 I think this classifies as a Class A amp especially if this is a better Amp than Singxer SA-1 and that's a Class A amp when not on High Gain
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- New User U on Nov 25, 2021
- Purchased on Nov 22, 2021
BEST ANSWER: For $1000.00 I think this classifies as a Class A amp especially if this is a better Amp than Singxer SA-1 and that's a Class A amp when not on High Gain
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- New User U on Nov 25, 2021
- Purchased on Nov 22, 2021
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I am getting this from Windows 10. Are there drivers for it?
The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28) There are no compatible drivers for this device.
The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28) There are no compatible drivers for this device.
Mark S
on Jul 7, 2021
BEST ANSWER: This unit is a plug and play, It has no drivers.
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- Aaron P on Jul 7, 2021
- Purchased on Apr 7, 2021
BEST ANSWER: This unit is a plug and play, It has no drivers.
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- Aaron P on Jul 7, 2021
- Purchased on Apr 7, 2021
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My unit is connected to my iPad Pro via USB. If I leave everything connected after I stop listening to music, even for a short while, the unit loses USB connectivity. When I want to listen again, I open the iPad but there is no more connection. I need to shut off the amp and turn it on again to re-establish the connection. Is this normal behavior?
Michael L
on Sep 1, 2022
BEST ANSWER: No disruptions with the Samsung Galaxy A13 (LTE). Did the following: a) Left a couple of songs playing for 15 minutes; b) Hit pause; c) 20 minutes later, the phone was unlocked with biometrics; d) pressed play and the song resumed normally.
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- New User U on Sep 16, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 26, 2022
BEST ANSWER: No disruptions with the Samsung Galaxy A13 (LTE). Did the following: a) Left a couple of songs playing for 15 minutes; b) Hit pause; c) 20 minutes later, the phone was unlocked with biometrics; d) pressed play and the song resumed normally.
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- Inaccurate
- New User U on Sep 16, 2022
- Purchased on Aug 26, 2022
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I live on the UK and am interested in the Liquid Gold. Will it run without sound quality sacrifices from a Step Down Converter or would I have to change the mains power supply from the unit?
Also do you know of any UK dealers as I can’t find any that sell this unit here.
Your help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Also do you know of any UK dealers as I can’t find any that sell this unit here.
Your help would be appreciated.
Thanks
A shopper
on Feb 21, 2021
Windows 10 is asking me to update the driver. Where can I find the correct driver for this device?
A shopper
on Jul 7, 2021
I bought a Liquid Gold Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC from amazon and was very happy with it until I tried my Audeze LCD-2C (only 70 OHMS). I can't get to the optimum volume for the bass to sound at its best, because the device automatically shuts off long before I reach the desired volume. It happens to me with and without the gain activated. Can you give me a solution? Is there a way to disable the volume protection or fix you with a firmware update? You can't enjoy a headset if it turns off when you turn up the volume, it's a big bug and it really pisses you off. I have the same problem with the Liquid Platinum Balanced Headphone Amplifier, although this one accepts a little more volume. If you don't give me a solution, I will have to return it, and I wouldn't want to.
I wait an answer.
Thank you.
I wait an answer.
Thank you.
New User U
on Dec 5, 2021
Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Gold Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC by Alex Cavalli
Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Platinum Balanced Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli
Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Platinum Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli (Open Box)
I have this unit connected via USB to my iPad Pro and regularly listen this way. If I stop listening for a short time and the iPad shuts down, the unit loses the USB connection. When I reopen the iPad to listen again, the connection does not reestablish. I must turn the unit OFF and then back ON to re-establish the connection. Is this a normal occurrence?
A shopper
on Sep 1, 2022
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Rated 3 out of 5
Soundstage inverted playing DSD files
the soundstage is inverted when its dac is processing DSD files, which is annoying. this happens with some other dacs, mostly fixable through firmware updates, so I am expecting one. apart from that, brilliant. 5 stars if fixed.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Love it
Very versatile unit and gobs of power for my cans.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Liquid Gold X amp
Best amp I've heard for under five hundred bucks. Didn't pair well with Meze Elite, but great with my other cans, HEKse, Auteur, Atrium, Ether 2, and especially, Heddphone One.
Highly recommended at discount, not so much at full price.
Highly recommended at discount, not so much at full price.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Replaces a Schiit DAC
I replaced a Schiit Jotthiem DAC with the Gold. What a nice improvement. No buzz, better sound, detail and image. Love the upgrade. I use $1800 Grado GS3000e headphones.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Liquid Gold
There's some good class a kind of funk going on without losing great linear response. Only complaint is that gain relay is putzing the headphones, might damage more sensitive cans for how aggressive it pops but I haven't found a source quiet enough that I ever need to crank it up
Added Dec 22, 2020
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