Closer Examination

The more expensive Monolith M1570C and equivalent open-back version M1570 differ from this M1070C model as both have mini-XLR connectors on the ear cups, which also differ in pin-out from others, including Audeze and ZMF. Going with dual 3.5 mm connectors here comes in handy thus, as it makes swapping cables as needed easier. The stock cable is decent enough, but somewhat stiff, and picks up microphonics occasionally. It starts with a 3.5 mm TRS connector headed to the source, and Monoprice provides a threaded 6.35 mm adapter for more prosumer sources, with a knurled housing helping with grip. The cable is all black and single-ended thus, making an aftermarket balanced cable in different colors and materials another lucrative reason for those wanting a replacement option. No information about this cable is available online, but it appears to use a copper conductor and is the standard 2 m long. Past the splitter closer to the other side, the same braided sleeving turns into two thinner cables that head to the headphones and terminate in two 3.5 mm TRS connectors. The housings are subtler to distinguish them from the source connector, and there is a red ring on the right channel, in addition to respective L/R markings for the left and right channels.


Pardon the word, but the Monolith by Monoprice M1070C is an absolute chonker of a unit. It weighs 642 g without the cable, making it the second-heaviest set of headphones I've reviewed after another closed-back planar set, but it looks and feels even larger owing to the sheer size of everything. The pre-installed lambskin ear pads are some of the thickest out there, and then there is that headband which pushes the definition of a single band because of how substantial it is. Indeed, the headband reminded me of some Focal headphone headbands, but it is arguably built better as I never once thought these would break. It has foam padding for support and is wide enough to avoid hot spots on top of the head, but the weight of the headphones will eventually get to you nonetheless. The lining does convincingly come off as genuine leather, but is likely protein leather at the price point. Stitching on the sides adds to the overall clean looks. The M1070C is also extremely subtle when it comes to the color scheme, employing a predominantly black aesthetic matching the Monolith series branding as a whole. Speaking of which, there is just the simple white Monolith logo on the outside of the headband where it meets the ear cups, which I can certainly appreciate just as much as a consumer as a reviewer.


A "L" or "R" marking is found on the inside of the plastic connector, which helps orient the headphones over your ears. A steel band inside the headband is for sizing and provides structural integrity and clamp force. There are no visible tactile bumps for feedback, but you do feel the individual steps to where I imagine they are placed higher up inside the headband itself. This is how you adjust where the headband will sit on your head vertically, which is an absolute must to maintain comfort for listening sessions. Sizing options are plenty, so these may be used with head sizes small and large alike.


The steel band comes out of the plastic connector as seen above, and some horizontal motion adds horizontal swivel to the ear cups, which helps tremendously over other such headband implementations that come straight down, and there is plenty of vertical swivel in either direction, too. This set will not fold flat for transportability. There are plenty of headphones with more degrees of freedom around the ear cups at this price range and below. Perhaps Monoprice had to cut corners somewhere to meet the price point, especially as I have little to complain about functionally once it's out of the box and on a headphone stand.


Having recently gone through a series of flashy IEMs and headphones, something about the ear cup design appeals heavily to me. There's literally nothing on these smooth black plastic ear cups, which is a strong statement in itself. These are closed-back headphones with the ear cups isolating you from the environment by not allowing sound in or out, and the ear cups are sculpted with a wide curve to give the drivers space and create a wider soundstage if executed properly. The materials also affect the sound signature, including how well it blocks unwanted sound resonances, making these ear cups a crucial component of the driver design and tuning. Note how thick the ear pads are—sorry, I can't help keep pointing it out! But this side view is to actually show that the ear pads are not sculpted or angled inward significantly, although the stitching is pointing towards the ear-cup swivel point, which is how you should keep it if re-installing them.


Given the replacement ear pads in the box, removing the stock lambskin pads is a given. Indeed, it is as simple as pulling them out from the sides, but I did repeatedly have some excess material get stuck in the gaps of the ear cup housing these go into, and it was the same on the other side, too. While not a deal breaker, one of the many ways higher-end headphones distinguish themselves is in not showing such things. However, I do like the notch cut into the plastic of the ear cup since it makes sliding the ear pads in and rotating them quite easy. At this point, we can take a closer look at the lambskin pads and better appreciate the medium-to-high density foam inside that contours around your ears for enough clamping force in conjunction with the headband, which creates a good seal. Removing the ear pads also gives us a better look at the planar drivers, which I am not going to disassemble further to avoid mishaps with the strong magnets on either side of a very thin diaphragm. The image above still provides a decent look at the magnets and wave guides on one side of the diaphragm, so expect the same on the other side as well.


On the bottom of the ear cups, placed closer towards the front, is where we find small cutouts for the cable connectors from before. These have the cable plugs connect easily enough, which naturally direct the cables away from your body and comfortably sets them down at the splitter on your chest, or a desk when sitting down. The Monoprice Monolith M1070C has dual 3.5 mm TRS connectors on the ear cups to increase compatibility with aftermarket cables, which, as mentioned before, is handy if you don't like the stock cable. With the two cables meeting centrally at the splitter and moving to the source, weight balance is still centrally placed as it then heads to the source. The cable is a standard 2 m long before any adapters, which is too long for portable use and only about adequate for a desktop setup.


A look at the lambskin and velour pads next to each other shows how much thicker and conducive for a good seal the former is. Changing the pads is simple enough, and you can see how the headphones look with the velour pads installed, and I added a simple photograph of the M1070C on my preferred headphone stand, which has sadly been discontinued.