Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands or deals, including promoted items.
Sorry, this deal has expired. Get notified of deals like this in the future. Add Deal Alert for this Item
Frontpage

Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier Expired

$80
$129.99
+ Free Shipping
+30 Deal Score
24,177 Views
Monoprice has Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli on sale for $79.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Hunter TattyBear for sharing this deal.

Specs:
  • Dimensions: 4.6" x 3.7" x 1.5" (117 x 94 x 38 mm)
  • Weight: 9.6 oz. (271g)
  • Headphone Output: Unbalanced stereo 1/4" TRS jack
  • Preamp Output: Unbalanced stereo RCA jacks
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 108dB (ref. 1 Vrms input / 2 Vrms output @ 1kHz)
  • Crosstalk: –73dB (ref. 1 Vrms input / 2 Vrms output @ 10kHz)
  • Output Impedance: < 0.1 ohms
  • Gain: +3dB or +6dB
  • Input: Unbalanced stereo RCA
  • Output Protection: Delay and offset protection

Editor's Notes & Price Research

Written by
  • About this deal:
    • This price is $50 lower (38% savings) than the list price of $129.99.
  • About this product:
  • About this store:
    • Information about Monoprice's return policy here.
Good Deal?

Original Post

Written by
Edited January 18, 2023 at 03:43 PM by
Monoprice [monoprice.com] - Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli $79.99
Shipping is Free

Product Features (details [monoprice.com]):
  • Dimensions: 4.6" x 3.7" x 1.5" (117 x 94 x 38 mm)
  • Weight: 9.6 oz. (271g)
  • Headphone Output: Unbalanced stereo 1/4" TRS jack
  • Preamp Output: Unbalanced stereo RCA jacks
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 108dB (ref. 1 Vrms input / 2 Vrms output @ 1kHz)
  • Crosstalk: –73dB (ref. 1 Vrms input / 2 Vrms output @ 10kHz)
  • Output Impedance: < 0.1 ohms
  • Gain: +3dB or +6dB
  • Input: Unbalanced stereo RCA
  • Output Protection: Delay and offset protection
If you purchase something through a post on our site, Slickdeals may get a small share of the sale.
Deal
Score
+30
24,177 Views
$80
$129.99

Price Intelligence

Model: Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli

Deal History 

Sort: Most Recent
Post Date Sold By Sale Price Activity
03/01/24Monoprice$34.99
7
02/26/24Monoprice$60 frontpage
39
01/01/24Monoprice$74.99
4
08/16/23Amazon$54.59
0
08/06/23Amazon$54.60
2
08/01/23Monoprice$54.60 frontpage
22
03/19/23Amazon$51.94
6
03/15/23Target$52 frontpage
47
03/14/23Monoprice$61.10 popular
8
03/03/23Monoprice$68 frontpage
64
02/22/23Monoprice$74.99
3
02/16/23Monoprice$74.99
0
10/07/22Monoprice$84.99
4
08/26/22Monoprice$84.99
0
08/19/22Monoprice$85 frontpage
34
07/11/22Monoprice$79.99
0
07/01/22Monoprice$79.99
18
05/09/22Monoprice$80 frontpage
51
11/15/20Monoprice$89.99
2
Show More

Current Prices

Sort: Lowest to Highest | Last Updated 5/21/2024, 12:16 AM
Sold By Sale Price
Monoprice.com$199.99
Amazon$69.49

Your comment cannot be blank.

Featured Comments

Simplified answer:

Most phones, PCs and laptops were not designed to handle the 300 ohm loads of "real" headphones.

So although sound will come out, it will be anemic and lacking deep bass.

So the goal of these amps is not to make the sound louder, but to drive the headphones from the deepest notes to the highest, without distortion
Not perfect, but a pretty good headphone amp for the money.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/ forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-monoprice-liquid-spark-headphone-amp.5224/

(like always, remove space for detailed measurements and review)
I have owned all 3 at some point. The Atom and Magni are a little cleaner to me. This has a little warmness to the sound. I liked all 3 amps, but ended up keeping my Schiit stuff. They were all a bit redundant to each other. The best combo IMO is the Modi Multibit with the Magni 3. I know that DACs with any type of distortion get trashed, but for me that DAC is still something special. Of course, I am a bit subjective and not 100% on the measurements only train.

For a shorter answer, pick the ecosystem you want because they are all close. I like Schiit because there is an EQ you can add also, and made in USA.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Sep 2016
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,622 Posts
1,055 Reputation
Pro
vid1900
01-17-2023 at 11:56 AM.

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank vid1900

01-17-2023 at 11:56 AM.
Not perfect, but a pretty good headphone amp for the money.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/ forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-monoprice-liquid-spark-headphone-amp.5224/

(like always, remove space for detailed measurements and review)
14
>
3
3
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Oct 2009
Shemomedjamo
> bubble2 11,461 Posts
5,535 Reputation
Pro
Expert
This user is an Expert in Computers
TekkenLord
01-18-2023 at 07:36 AM.
01-18-2023 at 07:36 AM.
This or Schiit Magni?
4
1
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jan 2016
L3: Novice
> bubble2 184 Posts
14 Reputation
Buck_Flanders
01-18-2023 at 07:53 AM.
01-18-2023 at 07:53 AM.
Anyone use this for PC gaming? If so, is it worth it?
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jan 2017
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 373 Posts
96 Reputation
KVW
01-18-2023 at 08:19 AM.
01-18-2023 at 08:19 AM.
Same price on Amazon too. I'm considering buying it there since I've built up Amazon credits I can only spend there.

https://a.co/d/eOFcCzz
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Nov 2010
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,168 Posts
142 Reputation
MasterRigger
01-18-2023 at 08:44 AM.
01-18-2023 at 08:44 AM.
Educate me please. Why would somebody want to amplify their headphones. Wouldn't that be bad for your hearing?
4
2
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Nov 2014
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 309 Posts
85 Reputation
jinjuice
01-18-2023 at 08:45 AM.
01-18-2023 at 08:45 AM.
How does this compare to Schiit Magni and JDS Labs ATOM? or any other amps around $100?
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2016
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,622 Posts
1,055 Reputation
Pro
vid1900
01-18-2023 at 08:59 AM.

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank vid1900

01-18-2023 at 08:59 AM.
Quote from MasterRigger :
Educate me please. Why would somebody want to amplify their headphones. Wouldn't that be bad for your hearing?
Simplified answer:

Most phones, PCs and laptops were not designed to handle the 300 ohm loads of "real" headphones.

So although sound will come out, it will be anemic and lacking deep bass.

So the goal of these amps is not to make the sound louder, but to drive the headphones from the deepest notes to the highest, without distortion

40
>
8
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Dec 2019
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,693 Posts
216 Reputation
User18383921
01-18-2023 at 09:29 AM.
01-18-2023 at 09:29 AM.
Quote from TekkenLord :
This or Schiit Magni?

According to some Amazon reviews, they are very similar. I would read the Amazon reviews
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Last edited by RunningOnEmpty January 18, 2023 at 09:51 AM.
Joined Aug 2018
Level 2 Lurker
> bubble2 188 Posts
48 Reputation
robteee
01-18-2023 at 09:32 AM.
01-18-2023 at 09:32 AM.
Quote from vid1900 :
Simplified answer:

Most phones, PCs and laptops were not designed to handle the 300 ohm loads of "real" headphones.

So although sound will come out, it will be anemic and lacking deep bass.

So the goal of these amps is not to make the sound louder, but to drive the headphones from the deepest notes to the highest, without distortion
Can you also educate me how this would be configured?
It looks like you plug the headphone into the front, but would you run a headphone jack-to-RCA L+R splitter or something to plug into the back? Or how would you plug a PC into the back of this? And why are there two sets of input?
3
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Aug 2007
L3: Novice
> bubble2 153 Posts
47 Reputation
Fieryphoenix
01-18-2023 at 09:52 AM.
01-18-2023 at 09:52 AM.
Quote from robteee :
Can you also educate me how this would be configured?
It looks like you plug the headphone into the front, but would you run a headphone jack-to-RCA L+R splitter or something to plug into the back? Or how would you plug a PC into the back of this? And why are there two sets of input?
The headphone is plugged into the front. Your input comes from a stereo RCA source, and it passes through as a preamp to another device by an RCA out. One example configuration could be a MIDI keyboard connected to this headphone amp for private listening, then passed along to a regular amp without heaphone jack to play on speakers. There is only the one input.
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Dec 2019
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,693 Posts
216 Reputation
User18383921
01-18-2023 at 10:09 AM.
01-18-2023 at 10:09 AM.
Quote from robteee :
Can you also educate me how this would be configured?
It looks like you plug the headphone into the front, but would you run a headphone jack-to-RCA L+R splitter or something to plug into the back? Or how would you plug a PC into the back of this? And why are there two sets of input?
If you're going from your computer, you would need a DAC to go in front of this.

Might as well get a refurb SoundBlasterG6 (DAC/Amp combo)for $89 if you're starting out.

https://us.creative.com/p/refurbi...-stock#buy

or buy this and buy a less than or around $100 DAC to go with this. The Atom DAC or Schitt Modi are very popular.
5
1
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Last edited by RunningOnEmpty January 18, 2023 at 10:17 AM.
Joined Sep 2016
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,622 Posts
1,055 Reputation
Pro
vid1900
01-18-2023 at 10:52 AM.
01-18-2023 at 10:52 AM.
Quote from robteee :
Can you also educate me how this would be configured?
It looks like you plug the headphone into the front, but would you run a headphone jack-to-RCA L+R splitter or something to plug into the back? Or how would you plug a PC into the back of this? And why are there two sets of input?
Yes, you could get a 3.5mm plug to RCA adapter cable, plug the 3.5mm into your computer "line out" (this is usually green color on a desktop) and then the RCA end to the cable to the RCAs marked "I" on the amp.

The RCAs marked "I" are the input, the ones marked "P" are pass-through

4
>
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Nov 2006
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 631 Posts
286 Reputation
d3a1z
01-18-2023 at 10:56 AM.

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank d3a1z

01-18-2023 at 10:56 AM.
Quote from jinjuice :
How does this compare to Schiit Magni and JDS Labs ATOM? or any other amps around $100?
I have owned all 3 at some point. The Atom and Magni are a little cleaner to me. This has a little warmness to the sound. I liked all 3 amps, but ended up keeping my Schiit stuff. They were all a bit redundant to each other. The best combo IMO is the Modi Multibit with the Magni 3. I know that DACs with any type of distortion get trashed, but for me that DAC is still something special. Of course, I am a bit subjective and not 100% on the measurements only train.

For a shorter answer, pick the ecosystem you want because they are all close. I like Schiit because there is an EQ you can add also, and made in USA.
8
>
3
2
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Last edited by d3a1z January 18, 2023 at 10:58 AM.
Page 1 of 4
Start the Conversation
 
Link Copied

The link has been copied to the clipboard.