Monoprice Monolith M1570From real comments

Verdict distilled from 8 mentions across 4 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment43%
PROS 43%
CONS 57%

Rank based on 8 mentions across 4 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You already own a high-gain amp/DAC stack to drive them properly
  • You're willing to EQ-tune a neutral, flat sound signature to taste
  • You want to pair them with a tube or vintage hi-fi pre-amp for extra color

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You don't have a high-gain amp and want punchy bass immediately
  • You expect strong bass without EQ or amp tweaking
  • You want a warm, colored sound straight out of the box

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

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Neutral, accurate soundExceptional comfortGreat detail and resolutionPerceived as 'boring' by some listenersElevated mid-bass/sub-bass not fully neutralSound highly dependent on seal and source
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You are here
31
Monoprice Monolith M1570
Rewarding Bass With Proper AmpingNeutral, Reference-Style TonalityWeak Bass Without EQ or AmpingVery Amp-Dependent / Hard to Drive
Monoprice Monolith M1570
Rewarding Bass With Proper Amping
Neutral, Reference-Style Tonality
Weak Bass Without EQ or Amping
Very Amp-Dependent / Hard to Drive

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The M1570's bass is highly dependent on how much power you feed it. One user reports the bass was initially underwhelming until they flicked their Magni Heretic amp's gain to high, at which point the low end went from meh to surprisingly good. They compare the headphones' power demands to their 600 ohm DT990s, noting these are among the few pairs that absolutely require high gain to sound right. With a Loki EQ added to their Schiit stack, they describe getting bass up to 'car-trunk rattling' levels, though they note you genuinely have to work for it.

A long-time owner gets excellent bass, but only with EQ and a dedicated amp. A user who has owned the open M1570 for a year says they have more than enough bass in their setup, using a Fiio M17 alongside a vintage Marantz hi-fi amplifier and an EQ to boost bass and adjust mids and highs to taste. They call the resulting sound 'absolutely incredible cinema' and describe the bass as 'absolutely stunning' once tuned. They note the Fiio M17 alone leaves bass lacking, underscoring how much the amp and EQ chain matters to the final sound.

Out of the box, the M1570 is described as neutral and flat by design. Another commenter characterizes the headphones as neutral and flat with minimal bass, stating this is intentional because they are designed to be used with a pre-amp, such as a nice tube setup. This view aligns with the other comments: without added amplification or EQ shaping, the M1570 doesn't lean bassy or colored, instead presenting a flatter baseline response that listeners are expected to shape further with external gear.

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