Monoprice Monolith: A new planar?

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

  1. Out Of Your Head

    Out Of Your Head Friend

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    I agree. For whatever reason, my rig doesn't show the HD800 4K dip that should be there.
    What's even scarier is that if we assume on my rig that the 4K area is a lot higher than it should be, the 3.5K dip that shows on the M560's on my rig must me crazy huge on a more accurate rig.

    I can't wait to see someone with a real measurement rig measure the M560's.
     
  2. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Yes, but your HD600 and PMx2 measurements are a lot closer to Marv's and my measurements. I think the in ear measurement method is effected more by cup size,shape and driver orientation, which can alter the frequency response, a la your HD800 measurement.

    It's just a different take on the same thing.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2016
  3. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    I'm not entirely sure about the SDR mod*, but I don't see how +10db EQ at 4kHz is going to make the stock HD800 sound more neutral. If you try to EQ it to look flat on a coupler, it sounds very fucked up. If you try to EQ it to look flat on in-ear measurements, it sounds pretty good. Basically I think the dip is centered more around 2kHz. Tyll's measurements also look more like that, but interpretation is harder because of the weird compensation curve. The stock HD800 has almost as much 4kHz as the HD650 compared to 500Hz (but less 2-3kHz).
    On the other hand I also don't think the 5-6kHz peak is in line with any midrange level. I would say it sticks out at least 5db from the rest.

    *The SDR mod actually boosts the whole upper mid region, probably more than it affects the peak. Same thing with the HD800S, although the HD800S resonator has an incredibly high Q and basically gives you a null at 6kHz, while leaving the 5kHz peak sticking out.
    That doesn't have to be the case, although with planars we usually see quite a bit less 3-4kHz on couplers. With the HE1000 and Code-X the difference between coupler and in-ear was even bigger than with the HD800 in my case.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2016
  4. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

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    No, the SDR mod doesnt boost the upper mid region, it dampens the bass and mids by restricting airflow out the back of the driver. Same end result, but very different reason and one that IMO is important to be aware of. And where did you get +10dB from??? I wouldn't suggest EQing 4kHz up at all, especially not on the HD800. If anything a dip of some kind is desirable around the 2-4kHz area due to how our ears react with a dynamic driver acoustically.

    Yknow, this is fun to talk about, but entirely off topic until I get the M560 in house and measure it. Lets take it somewhere else if you feel so inclined.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2016
  5. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    With my coupler measuremente the SDR mod hardly did anything to the upper mids, but on my in-ear measurements the upper mids get boosted quite a bit, which I feel is also what I heard. I think it's just a way of extending the driver baffle in a way that boosts the upper mids. Does the hole with the metal mesh act as a bass port? Shouldn't that only be the case if it was a lot thinner than the mesh in the earcups? It seems to seal pretty well in the earcups. I'm also pretty sure the rolloff would be much steeper with an actual port. I don't think I measured any difference in the bass, but it's been a while since I removed it.

    I think measurements should sound flat if they look flat, so I assumed that you meant that 4kHz sounded 10db recessed (most coupler measurements show a 10db recession). I think the target varies with the headphone you're measuring, but I don't think it's a dynamic driver thing and more a distance thing. The "targets" for my coupler are somewhere down here:
    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...t-ny-area-measurements-by-serious.2518/page-2
    I think it depends mainly on the driver directivity. Some headphones seem to bypass the pinna almost completely.

    Yeah, this is off-topic. We had a few in-ear measurements pop up lately, so I feel a thread is warranted about discussing the merits of in-ear, flat plate and dummy head measurememts. I think they have different strengths and weaknesses, but FR isn't a flat plate coupler strength IMO.
     
  6. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    FWIW I too did not get a massive upper-mid dip on my stock HD800 measurements with an in-ear mic. Reposting from the Utopia measurements thread.

    [​IMG]

    I think it's safe to safe that we should NEVER get too comfortable with any measurement rig. i.e. don't get too comfortable assuming a headphone's performance based on measurements to the point you start to hear things that you might not actually be hearing.

    For the record, though, I can't recall if I subjectively heard an upper-mid dip on the HD800s or not. They just sounded like they were neutral up until treble, at which point they were super bright and etched. Made them sound lean. And per my own advice, I'm not even suggesting my HD800 results are all that accurate for what we'd hear.
     
  7. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

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    Preliminary plots for M560:

    [​IMG]
    Cups on

    [​IMG]
    Cups off

    slightly lean with the cups off but tolerable

    early impressions:

    Jesus f**k these are huge
    on ear my ass
    more resolving than t50rp and both Ethers combined
    decent imaging
    bright as f**k with cups on but only slightly sharp with cups off
    bass has decent punch and slam, again better than t50rp or ether
    midrange slightly hollow sounding
    extremely nice construction
    super comfortable
    does NOT seal well at all, needs more clamp or deeper pads
    not particularly compressed sounding

    pleasantly surprised, gonna mod these
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2016
  8. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Thanks for the update. was this one broken in when you took the measurements? If not, can you take a second set of measurement once broken in?

    Also, I'm not sure why your thought they were on-ears. Mono price says "Comfortable Fit: The soft, plushy leather earpads fit comfortably around almost any set of ears"
     
  9. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

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    before release they were advertised as on-ear
     
  10. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    Depends on the size of your ears. ;)
     
  11. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Really curious how these are going to fair. (PLEASE BE GOOD)
     
  13. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Said eff it and ordered M1060. Should be here Saturday.
     
  14. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Every time new model comes out, wish it dethrones HD650 (which i enjoy dearly)... Hope this is the one...
     
  15. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Got lots of pads to roll too. HE-6 aint worried though.
     
  16. Valolilol

    Valolilol Acquaintance

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    I don't expect much from these headphones, but I see great modding potential. Adding a couple of foam material could do the trick, Wait and see.
     
  17. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    All the vintage and T50rp guys have been hungry for something new. This will probably satisfy that itch for at least a couple months.
     
  18. tgaguirre

    tgaguirre New

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  19. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    @tgaguirre , what's your sense of the build quality?
     
  20. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Just got mine. Build quality is very rough. It seems like everything was machined and slapped together without finishing and attention to fine details. I'm not knocking their durability as they are light but seem well enough constructed.

    Little things like rough edges on the metal, wood is inconsistently sanded, no markings for L/R.

    Actual comfort is quite good, although I'm very content with HE-6 for 6+ hours on my head so your mileage may vary. Pads are VERY comfortable, comfort strap is a little to taught, and could do without the bumps.

    Sound impressions in a bit. Measurements incoming...
     

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