Monoprice Monolith M1070C Headphones Review

Monoprice says they are “newly designed, 106mm planar drivers. Utilizing a dual linear symmetry magnet array, the M1070C planar driver has been engineered and tuned to deliver a fantastic soundstage, extended airy highs, and tight, deep bass in a closed back enclosure.” At $400 they face some stiff competition! Let’s find out how they perform!

Massive. These are massive headphones. I’ve seen some big headphones, but these take the cake. I thought the box they came in was big, but when I opened the box, the carrying case for these was like an airline carry-on bag. It’s nearly a foot on its longest side and five inches thick. I’m not saying this is a downside, but it definitely limits portability. Opening the carrying case to reveal the headphones, the accessories are a nice touch starting with a second pair of ear covers. You get both faux leather and velour pads filled with memory foam. An audio cable with a quarter-inch adapter is also included to get you up and running quickly, and of course there is a printed user manual.

This is what it is all about, how do they sound? At the $400 level, headphone options abound everywhere, and the stakes are high. They definitely require some break in time, I listened to them right out of the box and the highs were fantastic, but the mids were a bit muddled. 10 hours of break-in time cleaned up the midrange significantly. I think around 50-100 hours should be all they need. At first, I also noticed the bass was a bit weak relative to the size of these headphones. Trying a few different headphone amps, it’s clear they love more power and to truly enjoy them, give them more power.

They present a very accurate and detailed soundstage, if you are looking to replace a stereo two-channel system for one reason or another and switch to the world of headphones they are a great start. While listening to these, I often forgot I was listening to a pair of headphones and not a $4000-plus two-channel setup. That said, they demand to be paired with a quality DAC and amplifier to shine their brightest. To me, they sounded very neutral. Not cold or warm, I most enjoyed listening to soft and calm music with these. The padding is so thick around the ears it makes you wonder if they have active noise canceling. The listening experience with these was like a cool spring day.

Like I said before, these are massive. I weighed them myself with no cables attached and the stock ear covers in place, they came in at 1.43lbs. Go weigh your current headphones and let me know in the comments how they compare. I noticed while writing this review as I listened to the headphones, I could start to feel the weight just sitting at my desk. They do an excellent job of keeping your ears and the top of your head very comfortable, the earpads on these are huge and easily cover your entire ear without rubbing or crushing a part of your ear. I tried out both sets of earpads and didn’t notice any mentionable difference in comfort or acoustics. The top strap is 2 inches wide and is easy to wear, but this all adds up a pretty heavy pair of headphones. Laying down is a great way to listen to this in 100% comfort. Heavy yes, but the comfort is unmatched.

Did Monoprice do enough to justify the $400 price tag on these?

I think so, the M1070Cs are definitely an at-home relaxing and chill pair of headphones. When paired with the right system they sound spectacular. The massive size and weight may put off some listeners, but the comfort and quality gained is impressive. At $400, options for headphones are everywhere, but I think the M1070Cs hold their own and then some. They are worth a listen!