Monolith by Monoprice Tube Headphone Amplifier with ESS Sabre DAC
Product # 29511
$299.99
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Browse 31 questions
Browse 31 questions
and 33 answers
Is it safe to leave it working for 12-16 hours?
A shopper
on Feb 19, 2020
BEST ANSWER: Yes, that's ok. Just ensure there is adequate ventilation.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Feb 21, 2020
BEST ANSWER: Yes, that's ok. Just ensure there is adequate ventilation.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Feb 21, 2020
I run my for at least 8 hours a day. I have left it on overnight by accident and it has been working fine. I do run a small next to the vent hole to help with cooling.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- mike m on Feb 19, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 17, 2019
As long as you have adequate ventilation around the amp you should be able to use the amp as long as you like.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- D P on Feb 19, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 20, 2019
yes I left it on for a bount 16 to 20 hours burn in time when I first got it
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- Inaccurate
- COLEMAN H on Feb 20, 2020
- Purchased on Sep 16, 2019
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what is the output impedance?
Larry S
on Mar 5, 2019
BEST ANSWER: You will be able to select the output impedance bu utilizing the knob on the front.
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- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Mar 6, 2019
BEST ANSWER: You will be able to select the output impedance bu utilizing the knob on the front.
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- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Mar 6, 2019
There is a selector switch with a wide range impediences. You’ll have to look up the details for the values. Great amp!
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- SAM C on Mar 6, 2019
- Purchased on Dec 20, 2018
Output impedance is selectable with the following ohm settings: 15-32, 33-64, 65-150, 151-300, 600.
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- Inaccurate
- David T on Mar 6, 2019
- Purchased on Sep 11, 2018
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can I use this as a preamp for powered speakers? also can I split the ouput with a splitter to 3 different powered speakers?
A shopper
on Aug 6, 2019
BEST ANSWER: yes, you could do that if using powered speakers.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Aug 7, 2019
BEST ANSWER: yes, you could do that if using powered speakers.
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- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Aug 7, 2019
It should work as a preamp for your powered speakers, it has one pair of line out connectors. Your speakers should an RCA input connection. I don't see why it wouldn't work with any kind of splitter either.
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- Inaccurate
- James D on Aug 6, 2019
- Purchased on Jan 29, 2019
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What's the output impedance(not the advertised range of headphone impedance that the amp "supports") of the headphone amp ?
A shopper
on Jan 9, 2018

Monolith by Monoprice Tube Headphone Amplifier with ESS Sabre DAC

Monolith by Monoprice Desktop Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC with THX AAA Technology (Dual AKM 4493 DACs & Dual AAA-788 Modules)

Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amplifier
BEST ANSWER: Desktop HPA is 32Ω. Monolith tube HPA is selectable; 32Ω, 64Ω, 150Ω, 300Ω, & 600Ω
- Reply
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- Dave L Staff on May 15, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Desktop HPA is 32Ω. Monolith tube HPA is selectable; 32Ω, 64Ω, 150Ω, 300Ω, & 600Ω
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- Inaccurate
- Dave L Staff on May 15, 2018
Output impedance of AAA-788 is very low! It's less than 0.05 Ohms at 1 kHz.
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- Inaccurate
- Andrew M on Sep 21, 2018
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When using one of of the Line In connections skipping the internal DAC process, is the tube stage bypassed ?
A shopper
on Feb 21, 2018
BEST ANSWER: it is a full tube amplifier, the tube stage is never bypassed. The 9018 dac has no preamplifier like the 9020. The DAC has nothing to do with the preamp/amplifier stage of the amp, it just feeds the preamp like any other input.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- thomas s on Apr 10, 2020
BEST ANSWER: it is a full tube amplifier, the tube stage is never bypassed. The 9018 dac has no preamplifier like the 9020. The DAC has nothing to do with the preamp/amplifier stage of the amp, it just feeds the preamp like any other input.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- thomas s on Apr 10, 2020
No, the tube stage is active on all inputs.
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- D P on Feb 19, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 20, 2019
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How had is it to change the tubes? It looks like many screws to remove to access the tubes.
Allan M
on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: There is a top panel that can be unscrewed to access the tube.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: There is a top panel that can be unscrewed to access the tube.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Sep 12, 2018
There is a panel on the top of the amp which is secured by 4 philips head screws. Remove these 4 screws and remove the panel and you have easy access to the tubes.
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- D P on Feb 19, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 20, 2019
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Are the tubes in the signal path. I.E. does it's preout sound warm or is it only tube output via headphones?
chris b
on Nov 3, 2018
BEST ANSWER: the tube stage is present in the entire signal path, the pre
amp and power amp sections of this amp are both analog tube circuits, There is no digital preamplifier onboard.
amp and power amp sections of this amp are both analog tube circuits, There is no digital preamplifier onboard.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- thomas s on Apr 10, 2020
BEST ANSWER: the tube stage is present in the entire signal path, the pre
amp and power amp sections of this amp are both analog tube circuits, There is no digital preamplifier onboard.
amp and power amp sections of this amp are both analog tube circuits, There is no digital preamplifier onboard.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- thomas s on Apr 10, 2020
I am still in the listening mode
I have not taken off her dress and checked her wiring
to my ears the answer to your question is "Warm"
don't know about the fuzzy....
as long as my ears are pleased
i'll let her keep her secrets
cheers
I have not taken off her dress and checked her wiring
to my ears the answer to your question is "Warm"
don't know about the fuzzy....
as long as my ears are pleased
i'll let her keep her secrets
cheers
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- william l on Nov 4, 2018
- Purchased on Sep 4, 2018
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Safe to leave on 24 hours at a time?
VICTOR M
on Apr 15, 2020
BEST ANSWER: I would not leave it on continuously as it generates a lot of heat. It should also be set up in a way that provides plenty of ventilation.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Monte M on Apr 15, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 26, 2019
BEST ANSWER: I would not leave it on continuously as it generates a lot of heat. It should also be set up in a way that provides plenty of ventilation.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Monte M on Apr 15, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 26, 2019
i would think leaving it on would shorten the lifespan of the tubes.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- charles c g on Apr 15, 2020
- Purchased on Nov 21, 2019
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Is it compatible with USB 3.0?
Thanks
Thanks
New User U
on Jan 25, 2018
BEST ANSWER: This shouldn't be an issue, USB 3.0 is backwards compatible. USB 2.0 is 480 megabits per second. A Bluray video, with sound, is only 36 megabits per second.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- William M on Sep 11, 2018
BEST ANSWER: This shouldn't be an issue, USB 3.0 is backwards compatible. USB 2.0 is 480 megabits per second. A Bluray video, with sound, is only 36 megabits per second.
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- William M on Sep 11, 2018
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Will there be a 240v model? Or a dual voltage switched model?
Tareq A
on Mar 1, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question.
Currently there are not plans to make a different version of this item but it would be best to sign up for our newsletter in the bottom left corner of our website if you wanted to be notified about new products.
Currently there are not plans to make a different version of this item but it would be best to sign up for our newsletter in the bottom left corner of our website if you wanted to be notified about new products.
- Reply(1)
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- Tyler C Staff on Jul 3, 2019
Yes, i use USB 3.1 Type C to mi computer and it reconised directly.
- Reply
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question.
Currently there are not plans to make a different version of this item but it would be best to sign up for our newsletter in the bottom left corner of our website if you wanted to be notified about new products.
Currently there are not plans to make a different version of this item but it would be best to sign up for our newsletter in the bottom left corner of our website if you wanted to be notified about new products.
- Reply(1)
- Inaccurate
- Tyler C Staff on Jul 3, 2019
Yes, i use USB 3.1 Type C to mi computer and it reconised directly.
- Reply
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
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Does the volume knob also adjust the rear RCA output level (as a true pre-amp)?
A shopper
on May 26, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I Answer mi own question...witch some one say me No...and answer is YESSSS it does (After bying it and install it)
control knob control speaker & headphone at same time.
control knob control speaker & headphone at same time.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
- Purchased on Aug 10, 2019
BEST ANSWER: I Answer mi own question...witch some one say me No...and answer is YESSSS it does (After bying it and install it)
control knob control speaker & headphone at same time.
control knob control speaker & headphone at same time.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
- Purchased on Aug 10, 2019
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Is there a fan on the amp? Ventilation looks limited, and them tubes can get hot.
Allan M
on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: There isn't a fan. The unit does get warm, and we suggest keeping it in an a well ventilated area. I would not put this amp in any kind of enclosure.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: There isn't a fan. The unit does get warm, and we suggest keeping it in an a well ventilated area. I would not put this amp in any kind of enclosure.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Sep 12, 2018
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Monoprice, can you post a picture from the top? Also, a picture from the top with the top panel off?
Allan M
on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Pictures are posted in the product gallery.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Pictures are posted in the product gallery.
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- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Sep 12, 2018
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Would you please list output power at each output impedance?
New User U
on Sep 12, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Power ratings are shown in the specs section of the product page.
- Reply(2)
- Inaccurate
- Dave L Staff on Sep 17, 2018
So, your answer is "NO"? You won't give me any info that isn't in the "Specs"? Thanks, Monoprice, I'll remember that.
- Reply (1)
- New User U on Sep 17, 2018
0.95 watts/channel @600 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohmsEnter a reply to New User U.
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohmsEnter a reply to New User U.
Enter a Output Power (RMS)0.95 watts/channel @600 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohms to Dave L.
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohms to Dave L.
- Reply
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Power ratings are shown in the specs section of the product page.
- Reply(2)
- Inaccurate
- Dave L Staff on Sep 17, 2018
So, your answer is "NO"? You won't give me any info that isn't in the "Specs"? Thanks, Monoprice, I'll remember that.
- Reply (1)
- New User U on Sep 17, 2018
0.95 watts/channel @600 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohmsEnter a reply to New User U.
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohmsEnter a reply to New User U.
Enter a Output Power (RMS)0.95 watts/channel @600 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohms to Dave L.
1.1 watts/channel @300 ohms
1.1 watts/channel @150 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @64 ohms
1.0 watts/channel @32 ohms to Dave L.
- Reply
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
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Vote for the best answer above!
is a 240V version will be available?
A shopper
on Feb 28, 2019
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Can I use this as a preamp for powered speakers? Also can i split the output among 3 powered speakers with a splitter?
New User U
on Aug 6, 2019
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Does Volume control Only Headphone or Also RCA preout...(to connect on Amplified speaker) ?
New User U
on Aug 10, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Yess the knob control Both RCA Pre-Out for Amplified speaker and Headphone at same time.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
- Purchased on Aug 10, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Yess the knob control Both RCA Pre-Out for Amplified speaker and Headphone at same time.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U on Aug 22, 2019
- Purchased on Aug 10, 2019
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Which Sabre DAC chip(s) does it use?
A shopper
on Oct 18, 2019
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Are there any plans for a full tube headphone a amp without the built in dac?
A shopper
on Nov 28, 2019
BEST ANSWER: We have that, it's called the Liquid Platinum.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Nov 28, 2019
BEST ANSWER: We have that, it's called the Liquid Platinum.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- New User U Staff on Nov 28, 2019
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Will this USB DAC work with Mac or only PC?
Peter M
on Nov 29, 2019
BEST ANSWER: It works great on my iMac.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Michael P on Jan 15, 2021
- Purchased on Sep 16, 2018
BEST ANSWER: It works great on my iMac.
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Michael P on Jan 15, 2021
- Purchased on Sep 16, 2018
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What audio formats will this handle? I only see DSD mentioned.
A shopper
on Sep 11, 2018
Can you run 5998s on it. Is the power supply strong enough?
A shopper
on Apr 7, 2019
Is this an asynchronous DAC?
A shopper
on May 22, 2019
How would I connect my iPhone running tidal to this and maintain master level sound quality?
Matthew H
on Sep 15, 2019
What does the color of the DSD led correspond to ...
When: green, blue and purple?
When: green, blue and purple?
New User U
on Jan 6, 2020
Drivers? USB not recognizing
A shopper
on Jan 21, 2020
I have to re-start it every time changing Input-Source, otherwise it goes silent.
Does it sound normal?
Does it sound normal?
A shopper
on Feb 20, 2020
Any plans for a stand alone OTL tube amp from monoprice?
A shopper
on May 15, 2020
How does one run a cd transport spdif out (rca or bnc) into the digital in? I assume some sort of converter/adapter? Is there a Monoprice unit that would work the task?
A shopper
on Aug 8, 2020
Reviews
4.5 / 5.0
14 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
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1 Star
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Rated 4 out of 5
Built like a tank, heavy, almost great!
I have a lot of headphone equipment but couldn't resist this at the sale price with free shipping. It came in in perfect condition, great job Monoprice on packaging. The stock tubes sounded fine and the amp made no extraneous noise I could detect.
I purchased new driver tubes and a new power tube and sound even improved!
I then ordered a 1966 RCA 6AS7G NOS tube and heard a hum. Not sure if it's just a burn-in issue with the tube, it sounds excellent but I can't use it in this amp.
Also some other form of input would have been nice as it only has USB and RCA. There is a 3.5mm input also but I don't use that. No coaxial or spdif.
I like it though and it does sound good with plenty of power.
I purchased new driver tubes and a new power tube and sound even improved!
I then ordered a 1966 RCA 6AS7G NOS tube and heard a hum. Not sure if it's just a burn-in issue with the tube, it sounds excellent but I can't use it in this amp.
Also some other form of input would have been nice as it only has USB and RCA. There is a 3.5mm input also but I don't use that. No coaxial or spdif.
I like it though and it does sound good with plenty of power.
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Rated 5 out of 5
A Great tube headphone amp
It is powerful enough for my inefficient 600 Ohm headphone. Replacing the Chinese made 6N5P and 6N3 tubes with a balanced US made NOS RCA 6AS7GT and a matched pair of 5670 improved the sound quality a lot. The DAC works very well . Very happy with the purchase and highly recommended.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Big and heavy, but sounds great
I don’t have any experience with Tube amps before this. I generally use solid state amps. I am really enjoying the sound I get from this thing. It does get quite warm, but the more I listen, the more I enjoy it. I was worried when i first turned it on I heard a hum, but once the music starts, it goes pretty dark. I hear the sweet nuances in the music. This is a bit warmer than my solid states. I was worried about how it would sound with my Planars, but so far it has been great. Mainly been listening with my M1060s. What a great pairing, both from mono price. No I was not paid, just a fan. I have tried with my HiFiMan He5se, but I keep coming back to the M1060, they are so clear and clean. Its big and takes up space, but the fact that the tubes are covered keeps me from getting burned.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Competes or exceeds amps that cost many many times more.
OK, so I've had this amp for several months now. I've waited to post a review for quite a while.
First off, the bad.
The quality control issues with this amp are real.
I bought mine on Amazon, and when it arrived there was something heavy clunking around inside the unit and it wouldn't power on. The usb input for the DAC on the back was slanted at a 45 degree angle.
Not wanting to deal with an exchange from Amazon, I figured I'd open it up and take a look inside.
There is a larger, approximately 2lb transformer mounted directly to the frame over the DAC. When this unit was assembled, I'm assuming that they never tightened the 4 screws that hold the transformer. During sipping, the nuts works lose, and the tranformer dropped on the DAC. The DAC is mounted on thin, stamped steel brackets so the transformer bent the brackets down, hence the angle for the USB input. The transformer had come unplugged when it fell.
I remounted the transformer, and straightened the DAC brackets, and hoped for the best and powered it up.
After that the amp worked perfectly.
Now the good.
This amp is sounds amazing. No hum or noise at all unless you are using a source with a cheap power supply, or you have some ground loop issues in your house.
It is also the only full tube amplifier that I''m aware of that will drive a full 1W per channel even into low impedance headphones. This amp is seriously built, it has a giant torroidal impedance matching transformer in the bottom. The transformer alone has to weigh at least 5 lbs, this is where most of the weight for this amp comes from. The power stage is all very heavy duty, and all the wiring to the tube sockets is heavy, solder joints all looked good, etc. This amp will drive any tubes you throw at to their full potential. It has also paired well with every set of headphones that I''ve thrown at it without blinking. Anything from 30 ohms to 600. It sounds good with the Chinese tubes out of the box, but I agree with the previous poster that the GE's make a marked difference, and are the best preamp tubes that you can get for this amp without paying more than the amp for tubes.
However, I find that the power tube has more of an impact ont eh spund than anything. I've tried an RCA Octal 6AS7G, a GE O getter, and a GE 5 star 6080 in it so far. My favorite by far is the RCA, it is just a magic combination with the GE pre's. It really tighten up the bass and lowers the bass extension by quite a bit, and also gives it a higher, warmer treble extension. No noise or hum at all, my second favorite tube is the GE 6080 5 star. I didn't care for the O Getter at all, it was much more compressed overall. I actually like the Chinese power tube that it came with better than the O getter. The Chinese tube actually has a nice, wide transparrant top end, it is just a little clipped in the bass region.
The DAC in this is fantastic, I actually like it better than the DAC in my LG G8. It is in the same family of Sabre DAC, s but it is superior to the DACs in the LG phones, and they are the best in the business. The DAC work perfectly with my phone with an OTG driver, or with my computer with the Savi driver. zIt is a pretty neutral DAC and is a great pairing for this amp.
So, at the end of a long winded review, I would have to say that other than the ridiculous process of having to repair a brand new purchase, this is as close to an end game amplifier that you are going to get without a much more substantial investment then even the full list price of this. And if you want tubes, and the ability to properly drive low impedance phones, it is pretty much the only game in town without going to a hybrid like the Liquid Platinum.
First off, the bad.
The quality control issues with this amp are real.
I bought mine on Amazon, and when it arrived there was something heavy clunking around inside the unit and it wouldn't power on. The usb input for the DAC on the back was slanted at a 45 degree angle.
Not wanting to deal with an exchange from Amazon, I figured I'd open it up and take a look inside.
There is a larger, approximately 2lb transformer mounted directly to the frame over the DAC. When this unit was assembled, I'm assuming that they never tightened the 4 screws that hold the transformer. During sipping, the nuts works lose, and the tranformer dropped on the DAC. The DAC is mounted on thin, stamped steel brackets so the transformer bent the brackets down, hence the angle for the USB input. The transformer had come unplugged when it fell.
I remounted the transformer, and straightened the DAC brackets, and hoped for the best and powered it up.
After that the amp worked perfectly.
Now the good.
This amp is sounds amazing. No hum or noise at all unless you are using a source with a cheap power supply, or you have some ground loop issues in your house.
It is also the only full tube amplifier that I''m aware of that will drive a full 1W per channel even into low impedance headphones. This amp is seriously built, it has a giant torroidal impedance matching transformer in the bottom. The transformer alone has to weigh at least 5 lbs, this is where most of the weight for this amp comes from. The power stage is all very heavy duty, and all the wiring to the tube sockets is heavy, solder joints all looked good, etc. This amp will drive any tubes you throw at to their full potential. It has also paired well with every set of headphones that I''ve thrown at it without blinking. Anything from 30 ohms to 600. It sounds good with the Chinese tubes out of the box, but I agree with the previous poster that the GE's make a marked difference, and are the best preamp tubes that you can get for this amp without paying more than the amp for tubes.
However, I find that the power tube has more of an impact ont eh spund than anything. I've tried an RCA Octal 6AS7G, a GE O getter, and a GE 5 star 6080 in it so far. My favorite by far is the RCA, it is just a magic combination with the GE pre's. It really tighten up the bass and lowers the bass extension by quite a bit, and also gives it a higher, warmer treble extension. No noise or hum at all, my second favorite tube is the GE 6080 5 star. I didn't care for the O Getter at all, it was much more compressed overall. I actually like the Chinese power tube that it came with better than the O getter. The Chinese tube actually has a nice, wide transparrant top end, it is just a little clipped in the bass region.
The DAC in this is fantastic, I actually like it better than the DAC in my LG G8. It is in the same family of Sabre DAC, s but it is superior to the DACs in the LG phones, and they are the best in the business. The DAC work perfectly with my phone with an OTG driver, or with my computer with the Savi driver. zIt is a pretty neutral DAC and is a great pairing for this amp.
So, at the end of a long winded review, I would have to say that other than the ridiculous process of having to repair a brand new purchase, this is as close to an end game amplifier that you are going to get without a much more substantial investment then even the full list price of this. And if you want tubes, and the ability to properly drive low impedance phones, it is pretty much the only game in town without going to a hybrid like the Liquid Platinum.
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April 10, 2020
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Rated 4 out of 5
Good, but need small ajustment,and you have the best.
Best sound with JRiver Media Center 25,
use driver Asio fro Saviaudio:
https://support.hifimediy.com/support/solutions/articles/8000007400-savitech-asio-driver-installation-guide
mine is plug on USB3.1 type c
use shielded cable for AC input
cable monoprice: Cab-PW-105C-06SH
Ha and just to bad there is no Lighted panel to see the Knob in front.
use driver Asio fro Saviaudio:
https://support.hifimediy.com/support/solutions/articles/8000007400-savitech-asio-driver-installation-guide
mine is plug on USB3.1 type c
use shielded cable for AC input
cable monoprice: Cab-PW-105C-06SH
Ha and just to bad there is no Lighted panel to see the Knob in front.
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Rated 4 out of 5
Good headphone amp as is but can get better easily.
Pros:
Full tube amplification
Three switchable inputs(DAC, RCA, and 3.5mm line in)
Switchable output impedance to match different headphones
Good DAC.
Cons:
Mediocre stock tubes
Large size
Tube access hindered by bolt on panel(not a real big deal)
I've had this thing for a bit over a month now and it has brought me a ton of musical joy. It sounded ok out of the box but do yourself a huge favor and swap out the preamp tubes(the smaller ones)with GE 5670Ws. I bought a matched set for $22 so it isn't expensive but it makes a huge difference. The GE tubes get rid of a little graininess the stock tubes exhibit and really clear up the whole presentation significantly. You can swap out the Output tube for some gain as well but it's not as dramatic.
This amp is not overly "tubey". It's a fairly neutral sounding amp that really lets you hear the differences between headphones. The included DAC is fairly neutral as well, maybe to a fault. Sounds a little flat in comparison to some other DACs played through the RCA inputs. The DAC worked well with my iPhone as well(using the Apple USB adapter).
This amp is a pretty good deal at the regular price of $399 but keep an eye on it because there are price drops on it occasionally. At the price I paid for it was a screaming deal. I'm very happy with the purchase.
Full tube amplification
Three switchable inputs(DAC, RCA, and 3.5mm line in)
Switchable output impedance to match different headphones
Good DAC.
Cons:
Mediocre stock tubes
Large size
Tube access hindered by bolt on panel(not a real big deal)
I've had this thing for a bit over a month now and it has brought me a ton of musical joy. It sounded ok out of the box but do yourself a huge favor and swap out the preamp tubes(the smaller ones)with GE 5670Ws. I bought a matched set for $22 so it isn't expensive but it makes a huge difference. The GE tubes get rid of a little graininess the stock tubes exhibit and really clear up the whole presentation significantly. You can swap out the Output tube for some gain as well but it's not as dramatic.
This amp is not overly "tubey". It's a fairly neutral sounding amp that really lets you hear the differences between headphones. The included DAC is fairly neutral as well, maybe to a fault. Sounds a little flat in comparison to some other DACs played through the RCA inputs. The DAC worked well with my iPhone as well(using the Apple USB adapter).
This amp is a pretty good deal at the regular price of $399 but keep an eye on it because there are price drops on it occasionally. At the price I paid for it was a screaming deal. I'm very happy with the purchase.
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Rated 5 out of 5
big improvement for planar headphones
Really improved the sound of my oppo pm2 headphones.great deal.I had a little trouble finding the driver for windows 7.
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Rated 5 out of 5
Amazing - very happy with it
Great sound. This thing rivals more expensive units, and you may prefer this one anyway as it may come down to preferences in sound &/or synergy with your other gear.The tubes that come with it have a nice 'saturation' point towards the higher settings on the volume dial, which softly compresses the sound beyond a certain level. The preamp function is great, it apparently uses a high quality line input. I connected the 'line in' to a solid state phono preamp output. In this configuration, it acts as sort of a tube buffer giving the sound a touch of warmth, perhaps due to some even harmonic 'injected' into the tract. The DAC function is very solid.I found the 2.8Mhz DSD mode to provide subjectively 'the better' sound (to my ears) as long as your app can upconvert PCM to DSD on the fly.The USB cable included is great, but please do yourself a favor and add a few inexpensive ferrite rings to it (one is already pre-installed on the cable) it will bring down the noise by a precious few db.
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Rated 4 out of 5
Good preamp, excellent DAC
The DAC works as described, the preamp out sounds good in either mode. Headphones sound open and full. Unfortunately there is only one stereo output, it should have another output for subwoofer. There is no way to turn headphone signal on or off, there is also no preamp stereo output selector, the headphones and speakers play at the same time so you have to turn your main amp down or off to listen to just the headphones. I replaced the tubes with NOS U.S.A. made mil-spec tubes for about 30.00 $
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Rated 5 out of 5
Wonderful!
This sounds amazing! I've paired it with the magneplanar headphones and it's like listening to my music for the first time again!I'd like to connect my iPhone to it as a source but I can't seem to get the Monolith to recognize it. Any ideas?
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