review M1000ANC Bluetooth
The Excellent Sound I've Come to Expect from Monoprice Monolith M1000ANC Bluetooth Headphones
Monoprice's Monolith line is one of the brands that fit into the "hidden jewels" category. Last year, I evaluated their M-TWE Earbuds and was completely blown away by the incredible sound quality.
Since then, they've been my go-to pair, but I believe the recently introduced M1000ANC Bluetooth Headphones are giving them a run for their money. I've been writing with headphones for a while now, but these have completely altered my viewpoint.
What’s in the Box
Unboxing the M1000s is a straightforward process. The M1000s, a USB Type-C charging cable, a 3.5mm audio cable, a carrying case, and an instruction booklet are all included with your order. Monoprice is generally fairly excellent at offering carrying bags or cases with their headphones, so I'm glad they didn't go from the norm with these.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
It's a robust and understated design that showcases the Monolith flair. The arms that hold the earphones are also rather fascinating, which adds a distinct touch to the headphones.
The chassis of the headphones is quite similar to the BT-600s; however the overall quality is greater. This is where the design element falls short for me. I simply think the headband is a little too thin, and I'm worried about it snapping with time. It's tough and springy, but there's no way of knowing if it'll give out after a year or two of heavy usage.
Specs and Audio Quality
Bluetooth 5
40mm Drivers
Memory Foam Earpads
Up to 60 Hours of Playback Time
Clear Phone Calls with Qualcomm cVc Echo Cancelling and Noise Suppression
Dirac Virtuo Spatial
Active Noise Cancellation
Wireless and Wired Operation
The M1000s have a lot of useful and functional features crammed into a small package. The playback time, in particular. I never had to charge these headphones in the two weeks I owned them. It's claimed as having up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, and to my surprise, this is correct.
Getting into that ANC; it is very likely the greatest application of it in audio tech that I have ever seen. As soon as you turn it on, it appears to be sucking the dead air straight out of your ears. There are two settings: low and high, but using it on high will change your life. This functionality is only enhanced by the inclusion of the Dirac Virtuo Spatial.
You can count on them to create a rich, complete soundscape for your ears, whether you're listening to music, gaming, or enjoying other forms of entertainment. I was curious to see whether there was any input lag between them and what was going on on the screen. Fortunately, neither my Nintendo Switch nor my PC had any problems. The Bluetooth connection was likewise lightning fast and never gave me any trouble.
What It Could Have Done Better
The headband is my biggest gripe with these headphones. While it is certainly bouncy, I am unsure whether it can be put in a bag or stretched too far. Only time will tell if this is true. Another issue I have is that you can't really utilize them for conversing. For starters, you can't really connect them to an Xbox or PS5 controller via the cable. Second, the mic in the game isn't the best.
Verdict
Monolith M1000ANC Bluetooth Headphones from Monoprice are currently my favorite headphones. The bright sound, luxury appearance, and long runtime are all top-notch. Though the headband appears to be a little flimsy, it hasn't been a problem. Look no further if you want to enhance your audio game because these are the ones. Superb!