OP
- Thread Starter
- #141
Agree.
-
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Preview: Monolith by Monoprice Desktop THX Headphone Amp & DAC
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
OP
- Thread Starter
- #143
I don't have one to test. Someone had offered me one but I have lost track who it was. 
It's a shame that it wasn't reviewed at first just as it was and the conclusions are not real conclusions of the product itself, just complaints, it's not professional. If I were you I would remove this thread to just have professional threads on my behalf.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #145
It wasn't reviewed. The title clearly says "preview." The data in there was forwarded to monoprice so hopefully it influenced them to fix some things.
If the company cared, they would have contacted me, give me new firmware/device to test. Since they don't, this is what we have to work with.
So no, I am not removing anything.
If the company cared, they would have contacted me, give me new firmware/device to test. Since they don't, this is what we have to work with.
So no, I am not removing anything.
Hi Amir,
I already ordered it and now it is in my home with me . Updated to 1.03 FW version without issue following the instructions and as of now very happy with it, but I think this review will woth the effort for all people in this forum.
For DAC It has twin AK4493 so no ESS "Hump" and less distortion, is fully balanced, and for AMP has Twin 788 AAA THX amplifier (so esentially very similar to THX 789 amp), so in specs it should be in the top list making wider the alternatives for everybody. I am also have the small NX4 DSD to compare with and in my huble opinion, and in low gain, clarity (IMD distortion probably) is clearly better in this unit, but it is supposed to be as this is the mayor league.
I'm based on Spain, so sending to you could be a little bit expensive (and long). I read from the thread that Hifiman propose you to send it to you his unit (I do not know either where is he located).
My proposal is for the ones with this AMP+DAC based on USA to contact with Amir to do a proper review now that it seems 1.03 FW is stable version (at least for me with USB input, XMOS ASIO driver and Balanced Sennheiser HD 660s).
Regards and thanks four your great work!
I already ordered it and now it is in my home with me
. Updated to 1.03 FW version without issue following the instructions and as of now very happy with it, but I think this review will woth the effort for all people in this forum.For DAC It has twin AK4493 so no ESS "Hump" and less distortion, is fully balanced, and for AMP has Twin 788 AAA THX amplifier (so esentially very similar to THX 789 amp), so in specs it should be in the top list making wider the alternatives for everybody. I am also have the small NX4 DSD to compare with and in my huble opinion, and in low gain, clarity (IMD distortion probably) is clearly better in this unit, but it is supposed to be as this is the mayor league.
I'm based on Spain, so sending to you could be a little bit expensive (and long). I read from the thread that Hifiman propose you to send it to you his unit (I do not know either where is he located).
My proposal is for the ones with this AMP+DAC based on USA to contact with Amir to do a proper review now that it seems 1.03 FW is stable version (at least for me with USB input, XMOS ASIO driver and Balanced Sennheiser HD 660s).
Regards and thanks four your great work!
By the way I already tested PCM 44.1 and 96/24 and DSD 64 without issues with XMOS driver to allow ASIO from Foobar2000, and Android with USB Player native output format (same quality, zero baground noise even with insane levels -other from the recording-)
One question I have is people is saying with last version of windows 10 (1809) no driver is requied, but I found that is true for PCM, but for Native DSD output I did not find a way DS nor WASAPI to work properly in NATIVE output format. Can someone help with this topic? Is this possible and how?
I offer also if someone wants me to do any test (without measurements, I do not have the required material) I will do it without any issue, glad to contribute to this great forum. The first one based on data and not in speculation.
Regards,
Manuel.
even with insane levels -other from the recording-)One question I have is people is saying with last version of windows 10 (1809) no driver is requied, but I found that is true for PCM, but for Native DSD output I did not find a way DS nor WASAPI to work properly in NATIVE output format. Can someone help with this topic? Is this possible and how?
I offer also if someone wants me to do any test (without measurements, I do not have the required material) I will do it without any issue, glad to contribute to this great forum. The first one based on data and not in speculation.
Regards,
Manuel.
Last edited:
Son-of-Lux
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I could potentially send mine but I'd have nothing else to use. I'm also not in a financial position to be able to afford the shipping right now.
Then it seems you are not the right guy, but many thanks for your message.
Ideally should be someone in USA with an alternative product to be able to send it without stop playing music!
Regards,
Manuel.
fgfgfg
Member
Could you do a photo of insides ?
Yes, here there are:
My PCB is V3 (whatever this would mean).
So far, very satisfied with sound quality.
Manuel
My PCB is V3 (whatever this would mean).
So far, very satisfied with sound quality.
Manuel
Attachments
That chip seems to be just one implementation of the THX AAA. As far as I know the THX AAA 788 is not a chip but more like a topology done with specific components.
fgfgfg
Member
Here're two separate amps for L and R with own DAC for each channel.
Could you do a high quality photo of this part to read the marking and traces?
Btw I know that first op is OPA1602A
Attachments
Here're two separate amps for L and R with own DAC for each channel.
Could you do a high quality photo of this part to read the marking and traces?
Btw I know that first op is OPA1602A
I have to reduce the quality to be able to upload in the forum. Original is 5,3MB... in you give me a email i can send it to you.
Yes there are a lot of OPA1602A op amplifiers as with the AO8397 (it seems this a high quality op amplifier also).
One question, I realized, testing with a low impedance headset (16 OHM) that there is gound loop, if I touch with my fingers the metal case it vanished. This does not happens with the Senn 660s so not afecting -medium impedance- headsets.
Does anyone has the same issue, The current transformer does not have a ground wire (american one with a transformer), but we have them here in Europe. Any idea/way to solve it?
Regards,
Manuel
fgfgfg
Member
You can upload this to any Image Hosting service like https://ibb.co
I loled fucking hard when I see ad8397. Finally, I now know that thx aaa technology is whole marketing bullshit. It might not be bad and in fact it's quite ok engineering but holy fuck.
Same shit with thx789. Let me say something, jds atom, not even great in my standard, destroys 788 here. 788 and 789 sounds like just tiny difference but omg, the difference in of current capability and power dissipation ability is night and day. I was already sketchy when I saw opa564. Now everything is clear. Of course I would have known this because there is no way that someone never did semiconductor engineering/design suddenly shits on everybody on the market(ad and ti or other discrete output designs). And if they did it, there is no way to sell this cheap(also thx 789)
However, this has nothing to do with the performance or engineering. It also proves my point, amplifiers are really easy to design, especially for headphones, and more especially when you're not using discrete design. Any good electrical engineer can design up to this level of performance for headphone amplifier. Also properly engineered ic based amplifier can be great and be better than most of the non-properly engineered shit.
Sure the 888 and the power amp are great but those are like thousands of dollars. Also 888 is not even that superior still. Again it's just properly engineered product. Nothing to hype about.
Same shit with thx789. Let me say something, jds atom, not even great in my standard, destroys 788 here. 788 and 789 sounds like just tiny difference but omg, the difference in of current capability and power dissipation ability is night and day. I was already sketchy when I saw opa564. Now everything is clear. Of course I would have known this because there is no way that someone never did semiconductor engineering/design suddenly shits on everybody on the market(ad and ti or other discrete output designs). And if they did it, there is no way to sell this cheap(also thx 789)
However, this has nothing to do with the performance or engineering. It also proves my point, amplifiers are really easy to design, especially for headphones, and more especially when you're not using discrete design. Any good electrical engineer can design up to this level of performance for headphone amplifier. Also properly engineered ic based amplifier can be great and be better than most of the non-properly engineered shit.
Sure the 888 and the power amp are great but those are like thousands of dollars. Also 888 is not even that superior still. Again it's just properly engineered product. Nothing to hype about.
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