Thread for the Little Labs Monotor headphone amp
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A great take on an analytical studio amp that’s extremely well rounded for the job. Overall great resolution and clarity, great speed and speration, very precise imaging and stage, very balanced dynamics with a more micro lean, still good timbre. Overall a very accurate sounding amp that works as a great microscope into things
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One of my favourite amps that I’ve tried (I think @Kron likes it a lot as well). One thing that particularly impresses me is that despite an analytical it has really good control on treble (on top of everything else M0N has mentioned like timbre and dynamics). Imo it sets an example of how being analytical doesn’t always mean harsh treble or flatness that you usually hear from THX or other measurement-chasing amps.
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Definitely think it’s my favourite amp I’ve heard so far, it has the edge over the RNHP for me personally as I think its a bit better in the treble department. Not had a lot of time with the BX2+ yet to compare to everything else I’ve heard.
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Coming in with some appreciation for this amp!
I’ve been meaning to write something about this amp for a while now, but have been holding back because I struggle describing gear outside of hps. Mostly I can just compare the different chains I’ve tried with the Monotor, in which case it becomes far too much for a neat summary.
Still, I’m gonna give it a go since so far, of the amps I had in house, this is my favorite.
For reference, these are the amps I’ve had for a certain period of time where I feel comfortable comparing them solely in terms of my preference:
- RNHP
- Lake People G111
- BHC + Speedball
- Violectric V281
@M0N has done a far better job describing the first two (along with the Monotor) than I could dream of doing right now, so I’ll just link this thread here for anyone who appreciates a clear and detailed description.
TLDR: they all perform on a similar level, all various degrees of neutral with different leanings, the Monotor stands out being a bit more analytical and forward with a black background
For the other two amps I can say this:
The BHC has not impressed me on any of the dac and hp combinations I’ve tried. In fact, I’ve used it so little I don’t feel confident describing it.
The V281 is the most technically capable amp I have. It’s neutral with a warm/smooth tilt. In fact, just a tad too warm for me. For most hps it takes away too much treble energy for me.
I originally got the Monotor because I did not enjoy the Clear on the often recommended chain V281 + Soekris 2541. I wanted to test if the amp was the problem. Replacing the V281 with the Monotor in this chain made me appreciate the Clear so much more and guaranteed them a mainstay in my collection.
The combination Monotor + Soekris 2541 can lean a bit feeble. Only recently I went back and switched out the Soekris with the Bifrost 2 and it made me fall in love with the amp all over again. For the Clear I still prefer the Soekris, but almost every other hp benefits from the added lower end of the Bifrost. It allowed me to see the benefits of the LCD2. The ADX5000 is fun on it. I even think it drives the Utopia admirably for its price point. Naturally, it throttles its capabilities immensely; however, it is still very enjoyable to me.
My preferences are brighter, aggressive and more forward sound and I would wholeheartedly recommend this amp to anyone who might have the same leanings.
I very much hope I can come back and describe this amp more accurately and with more confidence once I’ve tried out more source gear.
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Man the combo of the Clear OG & Monotor is just so nice, possibly my favourite combo I’ve heard so far
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Definitely agree! Went from “I think I’ll sell the Clear, this is not working for me” to “They are never. ever leaving my collection”
Any dac or hp combinations that stand out to you?
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100% agree, the Clear is really enjoyable on the BF2 + Monotor chain although I personally slightly prefer the BF2+RNHP chain and the Monotor is for when I want something a bit more dynamic and aggressive. Whilst I don’t have the V281, I definitely find the 1421+V200 chain a bit too warm and smooth for the Clear, although I quite enjoy the Arya or TH900 on it, most likely because the latter two are brighter.
It seems that we share similar preferences then, I still keep the BHC whilst I quite enjoy it with Bendix 6080 and Tung Sol for a more neutral and analytical tilt, it’s my least used amp and mostly reserved for HD650/DT880 only if I want something a bit fun as I generally prefer the G111 for those.
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TRIGGERED!
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I wish I had the RNHP still in house by the time I got the Clear just so I could hear the comparison myself. It did make sense for me to sell it though, because it wasn’t a good pairing to the headphones I used at the time (Sundara and 880); it tilted them just a bit too bright.
Have you tried a 1421 + Monotor combo? Would love to hear your thoughts.
So glad to find people with similar preferences! It does feel like bright and aggressive is a more unusual taste and warm and relaxed is the more common and preferred sound.
You may be further infuriated by the fact that the HD600 did nothing for me 
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If you already enjoy the Monotor+Clear combo so much then I don’t think you need to hear it on the RNHP again. I personally prefer it because I am mostly after organicity and naturalness, which are something imo not the Clear’s strengths so the RNHP make up for that part. I think coming from the Monotor you might find the RNHP a bit soft sounding.
Also I think the RNHP might struggle slightly to power the two headphones you’ve mentioned so I’m not surprised you didn’t like it back then.
I haven’t but I’ve tried 1321 with the Monotor and I thought it was too dry and lean and aggressive. I think the Monotor can be a picky amp, I didn’t like it with the Ares II either and only like it with the Bifrost 2.
I agree, we often see bassheads but I don’t think we have enough treble heads. I think @MacDLaw can be considered as one haha
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SUPER TRIGGERED!
But jokes aside…
The hd6xx didnt do anything outstanding untill i put it on the bhc. For years it was mediocre on a dinky dac/amp combo i had. But as always if its not your cup of tea, it just means there is one more for the rest of us.
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Ah, thank you for describing that so well. That somewhat fills my curiosity on the RNHP + Clear.
I actually loved the RNHP! That amp was my first audio “wow” experience. And I still kind of long for it because of that, but I also acknowledge it is not a good fit for me ultimately. But yeah, just a bit too bright for my hps at the time.
That definitely makes sense. The Bifrost rounds out the Monotor a bit more for sure and is overall more suitable for a wider range of hps.
For sure!! @MacDLaw has been such a great guide in finding the nuances of my sound preferences and how to express them.
Do you have any Audio Technica headphones, by any chance? We’re both huge fans, for sure
Well, then I’m all the more glad that you found something you love 
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Im definitely a brightness junkie I became more like you, the more I listen the less I can tolerate dark treble
Even the hd650 I found too dark to keep
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You sound like you can be tempted to buy a RNHP just to try on the Clear XD I wonder what your DAC was at the time? Cause I personally think RNHP is a neutral slightly warm amp and isn’t particularly bright or harsh on its own although there is a slight forwardness in the upper mid range
Urgh oh. IIRC I still have 8 Audio-Technicas, mostly wooden vintage cans that are in storage so yes there’s definitely a correlation. I’m also a Grado fan, its older lower end models are quite enjoyable for trebleheads
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Do you still enjoy the 2PF? That one is pretty dark. Same is Nighthawk.
Then I see both of those cans in your profile description lol @gris now I rmb, you got the W1000 recently, nice choice and congrats. Hope you still enjoy it.
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You know me so well already mochi 
I just had the Bifrost for the longest time. That you describe it as a warm tilting amp is suuuuper curious to me. I didn’t feel like that at all at the time, but then I was also very much an audio newbie. The one thing I do remember was how “clean” they sounded.
Omg, AT GANG 
I’m so happy to have found you
I adore it! Putting them on lets me step into a hazy dreamworld which is unlike any other hp I’ve heard. @MacDLaw was the one who suggested them to me. I was also tempted to get the WP900, but after I got the Utopia I feel like I’ve reached my goal with hps. At this point, I’d mostly get more to try them out for the fun of it. So for now it makes more sense to upgrade my source gear to get the most out of what I already have.
Yep, I do have both of those cans xD To my ears I can hear that the treble is recessed, yet sufficiently sparkly for my taste. It’s something I still struggle to understand or find words for as many would describe these very differently.
Also peeked at your profile now. You have so much!! What an audiophile paradise your room must be. Could I potentially pick your brains on your impressions at a later point?
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Gotcha. Actually I rmb first upgrading to BF2+RNHP and finding it bright as well. I think it might be the intimacy and forwardness in hindsight. It’s by no means a warn amp, just a hint of warmth and for example, warmer than a Monotor.
Oh you’re more than welcome to. Perhaps PM is a better idea as we’ve already derailed the thread so much 
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I dont know whats happening with the lcd2pf but I dont hear them dark at all, more like balanced, theyre not going anywhere
As my taste changed I dont appreciate the nighthawks as before, they are very good for used price but not for me anymore
Also I am getting the awkt soon, the w5000 + yamamoto ha02 are my current favs, I hope the awkt is as good
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On the Monotor, pretty much everything sounded its best. It was always trading blows with the RNHP as to what sounded slightly better, but I enjoyed everything on it even my IEMs at the time even if the volume pot is infuriating for them 
ones that I remember standing out other than the Clears were my purpleheart lawton emus & my Denon D2000s. In terms of dacs, I only used it with the BF2 for a bit then the Ares 2 and whilst the ares could sound pretty nice with it, it wasn’t quite the BF2… I’d love to get one again and try using my P6 Pro as a dac to it, but they’re not easy to come by unfortunately.
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