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Monoprice Monolith 7-Channel Amplifier Review

by March 30, 2017
Monoprice Monolith 7 x 200 amplifier

Monoprice Monolith 7 x 200 amplifier

  • Product Name: Monolith 7-Channel Amplifier
  • Manufacturer: Monoprice
  • Performance Rating: StarStarStarStarhalf-star
  • Value Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
  • Review Date: March 30, 2017 00:00
  • MSRP: $ 1,499

Monoprice Monolith-7

  • Number of Channels: 7
  • EIA 1kHz Output Power at 8 Ohms:* 250 watts
  • EIA 1kHz Output Power at 4 Ohms:* 375 watts
  • FTC Full Bandwidth Output Power at 8 Ohms:** 200 watts
  • FTC Full Bandwidth Output Power at 4 Ohms:**     300 watts
  • Input Sensitivity for Full Rated Power: 1.6 volts
  • Frequency Response at Rated Output: 20Hz to 20kHz ±0.1dB
  • Phase Response: +5 to -15 degrees from 20Hz to 20kHz at 1 watt
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio "A-Weighted": Greater than 120dB below rated FTC Full Bandwidth Power
  • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): Less than 0.03% at full rated FTC power
  • Less than 0.005% at full EIA power at 1kHz
  • Intermodulation Distortion (IMD): Less than 0.03% at full rated FTC power
  • Less than 0.005% at full EIA power at 1kHz
  • Toroidal Transformers: 2 (1,230VA and 1,025VA)
  • Total Capacitance:156,800µF (22,400µF per channel)
  • Load Impedance: Safe with all types of loads
  • Rated for 4 to 16 ohms
  • Power Bandwidth: FTC +0, -3dB from 5Hz ~ 100kHz
  • Damping Factor: Greater than 400 from 10Hz ~ 100kHz
  • Crosstalk: Greater than 100dB from 20Hz ~ 20kHz
  • Gain: Voltage gain of 28dB
  • Slew Rate: > 50V / µS
  • Input Impedance: 28 kilohms (nominal)
  • Remote Trigger Voltage: 3.3 ~ 24.0 VDC at 5mA or greater
  • DC Output Offset: Less than ±5mV
  • Input Power: 120 VAC (nominal)
  • Chassis Dimensions: 17.0" x 7.0" x 16.5" (432 x 178 x 419 mm)
  • Net Weight: 93.2 lbs. (42.3kg)

All power ratings listed above and provided by Monoprice are measured with all channels driven.

* EIA 1kHz Power refers to maximum average power in watts at 1kHz with 0.005% THD and noise.

** FTC Full Bandwidth Power refers to maximum average power in watts from 20Hz to 20kHz with 0.03% THD and noise.

Pros

  • Astounding, real-world power that exceeds published specs
  • Incredible if not ridiculous value and price/performance ratio
  • Dual toroidal transformers ensure rated power with all channels driven
  • Truly tank-like build quality
  • Rigid binding posts and rear connectors
  • Trigger power on/off capability for integration with home automation

Cons

  • Really, really, really heavy
  • Confusing front power light
  • Front power light cannot be dimmed or defeated
  • + and - speaker terminals too closely spaced together
  • No balanced (XLR) inputs

 

Monolith-7 Introduction

We’ve all heard it before. “They don’t make amplifiers like they used to.” When someone utters those hallowed words, Krell’s name is inevitably invoked like a hallowed deity. The conversation then normally closes with a formulaic, “Big, heavy, and able to drive just about any speaker on the planet. Yeah, don’t make them like they used to.”

Well, if you’re nostalgic for those “good old days” of massive amps pumping out gobs of clean power then the time has come for deja vu all over again. I’m not talking about an amp costing upwards of $10K or $20K from a legendary audio company.  I’m talking about an upstart—a punk, for lack of a better word—that made its name selling HDMI cables (of all things) at a bargain basement price. That’s Monoprice.

Yes, Monoprice. Over the past year, Monoprice has made an immediate and aggressive move into the world of audiophile-grade equipment. In other words, audio that you’d use as part of a reference system.

Monoprice Monolith Amplifier YouTube Review

Designed & Engineered in the USA

I don’t know about you but I never would have thought about buying reference gear from Monoprice. It was exactly that notion that prompted this strategic focus.

Monoprice’s foray into high-end audio started as an idea towards the beginning of 2015. It was the brainchild of Hobie Sechrest, Monoprice’s Sr. Product Manager who convinced Monoprice’s then President Bernard Luthi, to bless the endeavor.

Monoprice Monolith-7 Front

Front view of the Monolith 7. When the Monolith 7 reaches full power, the front power button glows blue. 

There is no way to turn off the blue LED while the amp is activated.

It could have been easy for Monoprice to source its amplifiers from an overseas outfit, slap on their logo, and call it a day. However, Monoprice smartly realized that they needed some street cred for their amps if the were going to be taken seriously. To do so, they made (in my opinion) a brilliant move: they worked with US-based ATI.

ATI may not be a household name, but chances are you’ve either seen or heard an amplifier built by ATI.  Some of the most well-known companies (ie. Lexicon, Outlaw Audio, etc) in audio have either used ATI-designed amplifiers or had ATI build amplifiers to their specs.  Now you can add Monoprice to that list. According to Monoprice, ALL Monolith amplifiers are built in the same Montebello California based facility that ATI builds their other amplifiers too.

With ATI behind the scenes, it should come as no surprise that the Monolith is an absolute beast of an amplifier in size, weight, and power specs. In fact that’s what I nicknamed it shortly into my review period, “the beast.”

All Monolith amplifiers are Class AB topologies and share the same overall chassis, with the difference being the number of amplifier channels under the hood.  In my seven-channel review model there are two massive toroidal transformers capable of delivering 200 wpc with all channels driven into 8 ohms and 300 wpc with all channels driven into 4 ohms at full bandwidth.

What’s remarkable to me about all Monolith amplifiers (not just my seven-channel review unit) is the readiness and openness with which Monoprice provides specs.  With some companies you’re searching for certain measurements and they don’t provide them or you’ll find that they fudge some numbers by only driving the amp with two channels and measuring it at 1kHz. That’s not a completely accurate way to rate amp’s performance—regardless of what the so-called industry standard measurements are.

Monoprice Monolith 7 front LED light

The Monolith 7 front power button has a blue LED that illuminates once the amp is fully powered up. 

The light does not light up for the first 25 or so seconds while the amp is powering up, which can lead users to conclude incorrectly that the amp has malfunctioned.

Monoprice’s specs, on the other hand, are how we like to see them: with all channels driven and across the entire frequency band. Want to know the EIA 1kHz output power at 8 Ohms? 250 watts. How about 4 Ohms? 375 watts. Want to know the THD, intermodulation distortion, damping factor, crosstalk, capacitance, slew rate, phase response, signal-to-noise ratio, or the input sensitivity for full rated power? Monoprice gives you all that and more on their spec sheet. In other words, Monoprice hasn’t tried to hide a single number or measurement. Whether or not a manufacturer’s measurements can be corroborated is another discussion.

I was not privy to the results of our Audioholics measurements during my review period. Nevertheless, if my first-hand experience is any indication, I expect the Monolith to sail through all our tests in textbook style with flying colors and come right in line with their published specs. You can see Gene DellaSala’s notes and bench measurements, which he’ll be including later on in this review, for more info.

Build Quality Galore

If you have any doubts about the Monolith, cast them aside. Build quality is impeccable. The heat sinks on this amp are massive and integrated on the amplifier modules themselves inside the chassis.  There is no fan for cooling.

Even though the individual channels are on discrete amplifier modules, the Monolith models aren’t upgradable.  You cannot, for example, start with a two-channel model, and then ship it to Monoprice and add a few amplifier modules to upgrade to a five- or seven-channel version.

Top view of the Monoprice Monolith 7 Power Amplifier

Top view of the Monolith-7.  You can readily see each of the seven amplifier modules with their massive heat sinks.

To prevent tripping your breakers, the Monolith has a soft-start feature that gradually powers the amplifier up over a period of about 20-30 seconds. It’s a wonderful feature. My only complaint about this feature is that the Monolith’s front blue LED doesn’t light up immediately. When I first unpacked the amplifier and turned it on, I thought there was something wrong with it.  I don’t like the way this is implemented and I would suggest that Monoprice change the behavior of the LED from the factory so that it blinks when powering up and then turns solid when it reaches full operating power.

If Monoprice can’t make an adjustment to the LED, they would do well to include a tag on the amp or make a note in the user manual that the LED won’t light up until the amp has reached full power.  You can, however, play any source during that power up period without issue.

Editorial Note about Power LED

We didn't experience the delay in LED illumination for the Monolith-2 that we bench tested so this issue may only be limited to the 5 and 7 channel versions.

The Monolith has no current limiting circuitry so that if your speakers’ impedance drops, current won’t be limited like most AV receivers often do.  That’s not to imply that the amp will blow your speakers or get damaged if there’s a problem. There are monitoring circuits specially designed for this purpose. They are optically coupled and sit outside the circuit path. They’ll detect electrical shorts from your speaker wire or electrical outlet and disengage the amplifier’s output. The amp will then check the problem circuit every 10 seconds and restore power when things are clear.  Monoprice makes it a point to say that there’s no fuse or relay in the output, which can lower the damping factor and change the sound.

The five-way binding posts and RCA jacks aren’t fancy but they are incredibly rugged.  The RCA jacks are mounted directly to the chassis instead of a separate circuit board.  You can tell the difference immediately.  Plugging an RCA interconnect feels solid and stable. If you have stiff speaker cables, they also won’t start to bend the binding posts.

Monoprice Monolith 7x200 rear view

The Monolith 7 features unbalanced inputs and sturdy, high quality five way binding posts and a ground lug.  Channels are not bridgeable.

The only thing missing from this amp are unbalanced connections.


Oh, and legendary amps have heft, right? Well get ready for some serious exercise because the Monolith weighs in at a massive 93.2 pounds.  Yes, 93 pounds of solid, amplification muscle. To put that into perspective, the Monolith weighs more than my SVS Ultra Tower speakers. It weighs more than SVS’ SB13-Ultra subwoofer (by a hair).  So, if you have any intent of placing a Monolith amp in a rack or on an amp stand, double check to make sure they can hold this much weight.

Clarifying Compliance

The rear panel of the Monolith caused us some confusion that had to clarify directly with Monoprice. There are no compliance notices silk screened directly on the Monolith. The user manual (you can view a downloadable copy here) however, indicates that the Monolith 7 has FCC compliance. Moreover, the rear of the amp does not say it was built in the USA. It simply says designed and engineered in the USA. We confirmed with Monoprice that the amplifiers are made in Montebello, California. We can certainly understand cost savings and the like when building and branding a standard chassis.  However, in our opinion, we'd like to see Monoprice make both its FCC compliance and "Made in USA" silk screened onto the units themselves.

Set Up

The Monolith came impeccably packed. Due to its weight and especially its density, it’s very, very difficult to maneuver. Therefore, make sure you have help when you unpack it.

I tested the Monolith across a few different equipment configurations and it was an outstanding performer in each. I plugged the Monolith into a dedicated 20-amp circuit that is reserved solely for my home theater setup.

If you have dimmers in your house or the issue known as DC offset then the Monolith’s massive transformers may start to hum. They did in my case when the lights on my microwave were on and set to low.  To be clear, this isn’t a design problem with the Monolith. To fix the humming, I plugged the Monolith into Emotiva’s CM2 AC line restoration and common mode filter system. This two-outlet receptacle is specially designed to eliminate DC offset issues without limiting current or dynamics.

Detail view of the Monoprice Monolith's thick metal chassis.

Detail view of the Monoprice Monoltih-7's thick, vented, metal, chassis. You can see each amplifier through the generous vent holes.

When the amp first arrived at the tail end of 2016, I paired it with the superb-sounding Anthem AVM 60 preamp processor, our pre-pro of the year, where it powered the main channels of an 11.1.4 setup anchored by SVS Ultra speakers.

In the second setup, I paired the Monolith and Anthem with the RSL CG3 5.1 system that I reviewed

In the third pairing, I connected the Monolith to my Denon X7200WA AV receiver to drive the seven primary channels of my 11.1.4 Atmos and DTS:X setup.  I left the height channels to the Denon’s internal Class A/B Amplifier.  The speakers for this setup consisted of SVS Ultra Towers and Ultra Center. Ultra Bookshelves rounded out the surround and rear channels and Beale Street in-ceiling speakers served as height channels. An SVS SB13-Ultra subwoofer anchored the bass.

I used the Denon’s unified 11.1.4 layout with front and rear height assignments so that I could play Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D titles interchangeably.

I’ve implicitly noted the Monolith’s performance as part of the Anthem AVM 60 and RSL CG3 reviews. Therefore, my comments below pertain to the Monolith, Denon, and SVS Ultra setup.

Monoprice Monolith 7 Amplifier Sound Quality Tests

The Monolith crushed any test I threw at it.  I loved the energy and emotion that the Monolith was capable of putting on display.  Dynamics, control, and stable imaging were easy-to-identify hallmarks of the amp’s capabilities.

Two-Channel and Multi-Channel Musical Prowess

Sometimes, we purists may think that multichannel amps aren’t deft enough to command a Maestro’s baton for two-channel music.  The Monolith isn’t one of those. This amp will stand amidst any instrumental or orchestral accompaniment and impose its full control on every note.

Could it rock? I spun up the hi-res ALAC of Peter Gabriel’s 1987 Live in Athens from B&W's Society of Sound and I couldn’t stop moving to the music. “Mercy Street,” “Solsbury Hill,” and “In Your Eyes” resounded. Peter Gabriel’s vocals were timbrally natural, detailed, and controlled.  The soundstage was deep and wide and musical layers abounded with good micro-dynamic elements present. Firing up Pearl Jam’s 2004 Remix of “Black,” the Monolith/SVS one-to-punch did a superb job of seducing you into the song’s melody. But a song doesn’t need to be an anthem to showcase the Monolith’s prowess.

Rear view of the Monoprice Monolith 7

Rear view of the Monoprice Monolith 7. 

I used all unbalanced connections with BlueJeans unbalanced cables to connect the Monolith 7 to my Denon X7200WA receiver.

Led Zeppelin’s “That’s the Way” from Led Zeppelin III cast an intoxicating spell. Robert Plant’s vocals stood firmly yet ethereally dead center and Jimmy Page’s beautifully haunting riffs danced throughout.  The pinnacle showcase for me, however, was Zeppelin’s “Driving Through Kashmir (Kashmir Rough Orchestra Mix)” from the Physical Graffiti Deluxe edition.  The breadth and scope of the orchestral score was on full, glorious display.  At the 4:00 mark I just had to turn up the volume louder, louder so that when you reach Plant’s vocal crescendo at the 4:19 minute mark it was like being immersed in a wave of musical emotion.  Not a hint of strain.

The Monolith was a superb performer with jazz and R&B, while female vocalists shined in the Monolith’s sanctuary of power.  The Monolith could re-create the energy of an entire concert hall or mellow down to conjure up an intimate musical venue. Take Holly Cole’s cover of “I Can See Clearly Now” as an example. Cole’s smooth vocals sailed out across a textured sea of natural, taut bass lines. A good power amplifier isn’t only suited for bombastic passages. It’s also essential for maintaining precise control over fine details. The Monolith allowed the SVS Ultras to render the accompanying piano with deep body while recessed deep in the soundstage.

Denon AVR-X7200WA Unified immersive audio layout

I selected Denon's "unified" immersive audio layout to be able to play Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D content natively. I selected Monolith 7 to power the seven primary floor-standing channels via the Denon's  pre-outs.

Patricia Barber’s “A Taste of Honey” from Cafe Blue followed suite. Driven by the Monolith, the SVS Ultra towers exhibited beautifully controlled bass lines.  Turning to Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” from her album Come Away with Me, her intimate, breathy vocals were in full swing. And when I spun her duet, “Here We Go Again” with Ray Charles I continually noted the ability for the Monolith and SVS combo to produce a layered soundstage with precise imaging and good depth.

I chose to power the front and rear height channels using the Denon's internal Class AB amplifier

Using the Denon X7200WA's flexible speaker assignment option, I assigned the Denon's internal amplification to power my front and rear height channels.

If you like amplifiers that sooth you with colored warmth, then the Monolith isn’t for you.  It’s a performer that strove for tonal neutrality with just about any track I tried without ever straying into the realm of cold, analytical, and un-involving.  Can the Monolith deliver in two-channel? You bet.  Multichannel? Just wait and see.

An Amplifier for Reference Surround

Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on Blu-rayNow it was time to let the Monolith loose. Volume up and all channels engaged, it was time to delight in Peter Jackson’s screen adaptation of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. I fired up the Extended Edition on Blu-ray.  The Monolith served as a blacksmith’s hammer and anvil forging the DTS-HD soundtrack into the enveloping world of middle earth.  The pounding thunder produced by the Nazgûl’s horse’s hoofs; the rustle of ten thousand Elven arrows flying through the air; the march of Saruman’s Uruk-hai army; and even Mt. Doom itself couldn’t pound the Monolith into submission.

Disc 1, Chapter 20 of Fellowship of the Ring, for example, opens with one of the many beautiful movements of Howard Shore’s near-perfect musical score.  The barbaric cries of Uruk-hai rising to life are juxtaposed by the nuanced, subtle sounds of cracking tree branches, slurping mud and dripping slime.  Bombasic sounds didn’t smear fine details nor did the amplifier’s ability to bring out audio nuances neuter its raw energy. The Monolith maintained each extreme in balance and total control. 

On Disc 2, Chapter 35 and 36, where the fellowship encounters the goblins of Moria, the chaos of the attacks encroaching from all sides is intense and the Monolith didn’t miss a beat.  It was a full-on audio assault.  And when the Balrog chases the Frodo and his fellow-travelers to the bridge of Khazad Dum, the Monolith let the SVS Ultra setup render the Balrog’s primitive, guttural, menacing roar in full force. Glorious. This is why you make an investment in home theater.

X-Men Apocalypse on Blu-ray 4K/Ultra-HDI fired up the 4K/Ultra-HD Blu-ray version of X-Men: Apocalypse with its Dolby Atmos track.  Once again, the Monolith didn’t flinch. Scott Summers, AKA Cyclops, blasts an uncontrolled trench in the boy’s bathroom wall and ceiling with his optic blasts.  The Monolith provided ample power so that the SVS Ultras could reproduce the optic blasts exploding with full force. And, the Monolith/SVS Ultra one-two combo didn’t miss a beat when the delicate crackles of falling tile and drifting dust envelop you in the scene’s aftermath.

In the climactic scene, with the X-Men standing against Apocalypse and his four horsemen, the Monolith helped the Denon and SVS Ultra setup recreate a seamless, stable, and deep soundstage where both dialogue and sound effects moved with exacting precision.  All in all, the Monolith showcased how timbre-matched surrounds driven by the same amplification can generate sonic bliss.  The seamless illusion of space and depth transported me right into the action. Once again, dynamics never crushed fine details. Rendering details never compromised the brute force the amp was capable of delivering.

Was there any downside to the Monolith? Not really. To use a sports analogy, the Monolith for me wins the coveted 6th player (basketball) or 10th player (baseball) award.  It’s the one player who could be a starter—even a star—on any other team, but when paired in an all-star lineup might features an amp with more power and balanced inputs he becomes your absolute go-to guy off the bench. That probably sums up the Monolith best.

Monoprice Monolith 7 Amplifier Measurements & Analysis

by: Gene DellaSala

Design Overview

Inside the Monolith 2 you will find a lot of empty space. This is NOT a bad thing mind you as there is plenty of space for ventilation.  The power modules are constructed as monoblocks; each having 6 output devices per channel and 4x 5,600uF, 80V capacitors in parallel to yield a total of 22,400uF of capacitance per channel. 

Monoprice Monolith 2 Two Channel Amp

Interior view of the Monolith-2 two-channel amplifier.

The power modules are constructed as monoblocks; each having 12 output devices per channel (6 visible, 6 under the PCB) and 4x 5,600uF, 80V capacitors in parallel to yield a total of 22,400uF of capacitance per channel.  The parts are rated at 85 deg C which,is pretty standard fair for a product of this caliber.  The entire amp is fed off one large 800VA transformer.  This amp has all the right hardware to deliver its rated power honestly, and then some.  The same principles remain as you move up the model line-up with their Monolith7 boasting dual torrodial power transformers (1,230VA and 1,025VA) to maintain rated power with all channels driven.

Bench Test Results

All measurements were conducted on a Monolith-2 using our Audio Precision APx585 8 Channel HDMI Audio Analyzer following our rigid Amplifier Measurement Test Protocol.

All of the amps in the Monolith series feature the same gain blocks and similar power output.  The following test results were conducted on the Monolith-2 two-channel amplifier.  All Monolith series amplifiers use exactly the same amplifier modules and will yield the same measurement results. And as you'll read below, the power supply in the Monolith 7, seven-channel version is sized to deliver rated power to all channels. Voltage gain is spec'd to be 28dB which allows the amp to reach full rated power output with 1.6Vrms input.  I actually measured closer to 28.8dB voltage gain allowing the amp to reach full rated power (200 watts) with 1.43Vrms input.  Most AV receivers with preamp outputs should be able to deliver this.

Signal to Noise Ratio

Monoprice Monolith 2 SNR measurements

Monolith-2 SNR (A-wt) @ 1 watt 

The Monolith-2 exhibited an incredibly low noise floor which isn't surprising given the quality of the guts inside and the expert design of the folks at ATI behind it.  At full rated power (200 watts), the noise floor was around 121dB.  If there is noise in your system, rest assured it's not caused by this amplifier.

Frequency Response

Monoprice Monolith-2 Frequency Response

Monolith-2 Frequency Response @ 1 watt

The frequency response of the Monolith-2 was ruler flat at virtually every power level within the audio band and down only -1dB at 10Hz and the limit of my measurement system (80kHz). 

Power Measurements

Using our Audio Precision APx585 8-channel HDMI analyzer, I conducted a full barrage of power tests on the Monolith-2 using a dedicated 120V / 20A line. 

We tested power using three methods all of which were taken at < 0.1% THD + N:

  • Continuous Full Power Bandwidth (CFP-BW) from 20Hz to 20Khz into 8 and 4-ohm loads
  • 1kHz Power Sweep vs Distortion (1kHz PSweep) - popularized by the print magazines, this is an instantaneous power vs. distortion test at 1kHz. The problem with this test is it often masks slew related and or frequency response problems some amplifiers exhibit at the frequency extremes, and thus inflates the measured power results. It does provide instant gratification # for consumers to argue over on the forums, so we are now incorporating this test to please the masses.
  • Dynamic PWR - 1kHz CEA-2006 Burst Method testing. This is a dynamic power measurement adopted from the car industry similar to IHF method, only a bit more difficult for an amplifier and more representative of real musical content.

Keep in mind most review publications don't do continuous power measurements and they usually publish power measurements into clipping at 1% THD + N. Our measurements are very conservative as we use a dedicated 20A line with no Variac to regulate line voltage.  We constantly monitor the line to ensure it never drops more than 2Vrms from nominal which in our case was 120Vrms. 

For more info on amplifier measurements, see:  The All Channels Driven (ACD) Test.

Monoprice Monolith 4 Ohm sweeps

Monoprice Monolith Full Power Bandwidth Continuous Sweep (335 watts, 4 ohms)

The Monolith-2 delivered a whopping 335 watts/CH full bandwidth with both channels driven at less than 1% THD+N.  It's nice to see a manufacturers product deliver more than rated power as its uncommon today in the AV receiver market.  

 

Monoprice Monolith 1kHz Power test 8 and 4 Ohm loads

Monolith-2 1kHz Power Test

Top Pic: 8 ohm load;  Bottom Pic:  4 ohm load

The power sweep tests revealed the Monolith-2 to be a powerhouse comfortably delivering more than its rated output power with both channels driven.  We measured 221 watts/ch at 1% into 8 ohms and 356 watts/ch at 1% into 4 ohms, both channels driven.

Monoprice Monolith Dynamic Power Test 8 Ohm

Monolith Dynamic Power Test 4 Ohm Load

Monolith-2 Dynamic Power Test (1kHz)
Top Pic: 8 ohm load;  Bottom Pic: 4 ohm load

The CEA-2006 burst tests simulate musical program material.  The Monolith-2 proved have incredible dynamic headroom partly due to its very beefy power supply.  Into 8 ohms, the Monolith-2 produced over 1.5 dB of dynamic headroom for 8 ohm loads and 2.5 dB for 4 ohm loads. 

Monolith Power Measurement Table

Monolith-2 Power Measurement Table

Monoprice rates the Monolith-2 as follows:

  • 200 watts: 20Hz - 20kHz < 0.03% ; 8 ohm load
  • 300 watts: 20Hz - 20kHz < 0.03% ; 4 ohm load

The Monolith-2 easily delivered rated power and then some.  It's refreshing to see an amplifier manufacturer conservatively rating its products.

FFT Distortion Analysis

Distortion Analysis for Monoprice Monolith

Monolith-2 FFT Distortion Analysis

(Top pic: @ 1 watt ; Bottom pic: @ full power)

I ran FFT distortion plots at 1 watt (top pic) and full rated power (bottom pic) to determine how clean this amplifier really is. 

There was a slight ground loop that developed between the Monolith-2 and my test equipment I was unable to fully resolve which did have a negative effect on the distortion results.  That said, the noise floor was exceedingly low while the odd-order harmonics dominated the distortion profile.  The 3rd harmonic was still 96dB below the fundamental.  At full power, the distortion products rose as expected but the 3rd harmonic was still 83dB below the fundamental which was good.

Crosstalk

Crosstalk measurements for Monoprice Monolith

Monolith-2 Crosstalk (Channel to Channel Isolation)

The channel to channel isolation of the Monolith-2 is simply superb exhibiting -120dB at 20kHz with a very slow rise up to 80kHz.  This is about as good as it can get and allows you to get the monoblock type of isolation from a multi-channel amplifier.

Downside

There was little to fault in the performance of the Monolith-2 amplifier.  It offers text book measurements, and clean ample power with plenty of dynamic headroom.  The lack of balanced inputs was perhaps my biggest gripe with this amplifier followed by the closely spaced +- speaker terminals that can make it challenging to mate with some fancy speaker terminations.

Monoprice Monolith 7 Amplifier Conclusion

Monoprice Monolith 7 Multichannel Amplifier

The Monolith 7 is a formidable amplifier regardless of price point. At $1,500, it's one of the great bargains in high end audio.

By definition, a monolith is a single, massive stone or rock.  In practice, the Monoprice Monolith 7 is a single, massive pillar of power that will rock even the finest reference setups. Whether you chose to designate the Monolith 7 with multichannel channel duty or give it the sacred task of anchoring a high-end two-channel setup, the Monolith will excel in both.  There’s absolutely nothing second rate about this amp—from parts to performance. Monoprice deserves any and all accolades for their foray into high-end audio and home theater. You’ve got one shot to make a first impression. And what an impression it is!

That Monolith is going to stay right there. It’s found a permanent home in my setup. That’s how much I liked it.

The price/performance and build quality of this amplifier is nothing short of astounding. For $1,500 you get real, unadulterated, unbridled power that will rock the very foundations of Middle Earth.  Do the math. That’s just over $200/channel and, in my book, ranks as one of the biggest bargains in high-end audio and rightly deserves a place in our annual awards. There are also two channel ($999), three channel ($1099), and five channel ($1,299) models available too, though their value ratio isn't as great as the Monolith 7.  In our opinion, the Monolith 7 represents the best value investment of the bunch and you can always use the extra channels for multilple zones and immersive audio if you don't need them immediately.

Monoprice Monolith Amplifier YouTube Review

At just shy of 94 pounds, some people will need to think long and hard about where and how to place it.  For me? Well, all I know is that the  Monolith 7 isn’t going anywhere. “It’s just too heavy to send back!” (nudge, nudge; wink, wink) I told my wife. That’s right, I’m not packing this beast back up. That Monolith is going to stay right there. It’s found a permanent home in my setup. That’s how much I liked it. Highly recommended.

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

  • StarStarStarStarStar — Excellent
  • StarStarStarStar — Very Good
  • StarStarStar — Good
  • StarStar — Fair
  • Star — Poor
MetricRating
Frequency Response LinearityStarStarStarStarStar
SNRStarStarStarStarStar
Output ImpedanceStarStarStarStarStar
Measured Power (8-ohms)StarStarStarStarStar
Measured Power (4-ohms)StarStarStarStarStar
Multi-channel Audio PerformanceStarStarStarStarStar
Two-channel Audio PerformanceStarStarStarStarStar
Build QualityStarStarStarStarStar
Fit and FinishStarStarStarStar
Ergonomics & UsabilityStarStarStarStar
FeaturesStarStarStarStar
PerformanceStarStarStarStarhalf-star
ValueStarStarStarStarStar
About the author:
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Theo Nicolakis has been reviewing high end audio, video, home theater, headphone, and portable music products for the past 14 years. His reviews have appeared here on Audioholics as well as Techhive.com, PCWorld.com, MacWorld.com, and more. His reviews span high end two-channel and home theater systems, AVRs and immersive audio processors, headphones, DACs, DAPs, music servers, sound bars, and display technologies.

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