CES 2019: Monoprice Unveils Its HTP-1 16-Channel Processor with Dirac and New Sealed Subs

CES 2019: Monoprice Unveils Its HTP-1 16-Channel Processor with Dirac and New Sealed Subs​

(Monoprice) The all-new HTP-1 Processor will ship this coming fall.(January 3, 2019) There’s always one or two bombshell CES reveals that rock the home theater world, and this year Monoprice is taking the controls and striking first. Just minutes ago, the company officially raised the curtain on two new Monolith product classes that have been kept under tight wraps.

First up, we have the all-new Monolith HTP-1 Home Theater Processor. Aggressively priced at $3,999, the HTP-1 delivers a whopping 16-channels of processing backed by support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound (along with Dolby and DTS upmixing alternatives). That means enthusiasts can utilize a variety of speaker arrangements, including max deployments of 9.1.6, 7.3.6, and 7.5.4 for Dolby Atmos, and 7.1.4 or 7.5.4 for DTS:X.

Connectivity-wise, the rear of the HTP-1 presents seven upgradable HDMI 2.0b input modules loaded with compatibility for current 4K video technologies, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, along with a host of digital and analog input options. It also offers two HDMI 2.0b outputs, with one capable of delivering Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) performance for immersive sound. Other outputs include 16 balanced XLR connectors for primary subwoofer and amplifier connections.

Monoprice says the HTP-1 will ship with a Google Chromecast dongle for access to audio sources such as Spotify, while also internally housing Bluetooth and Roon Endpoint connectivity.

Among a range of “audio enhancements,” such as PEQ, 4thorder Linkwitz-Riley Crossovers, tone controls, and the like, Monoprice has opted to grace the HTP-1 with Dirac Live Room Correction functionality.

This particular processor is currently scheduled to begin shipping sometime during Q3 of 2019. Based on Monoprice’s ability to deliver Monolith products on time, this date should hold true.

Monoprice is also unveiling three new THX Certified sealed subwoofers. The all new 10”, 12”, and 15” models have the same amps, two-layer long fiber pulp/glassfiber drivers, and HDF cabinet construction found on its popular THX Certified ported Monolith models. And, once again, the subs are finished in a Black Ash vinyl covering, featuring two RCA inputs and XLR input/outputs. I’ve had an early peek at preliminary frequency responses for the three new models and the low-end looks like it should hit hard and deep, with bass performance down to 20Hz and below. This is great news for enthusiasts looking for high-end performance from affordable sealed designs.

Monoprice has not released official weights for any of the three models.

Pricing and model designations are as follows:

• M10-S 10” THX Certified Sealed 500 Watt Powered Subwoofer: $499.99
• M12-S 12” THX Certified Sealed 500 Watt Powered Subwoofer: $799.99
• M15-S 15” THX Ultra Certified Sealed 1000 Watt Powered Subwoofer: $1,299.99

All three subs are expected to begin shipping sometime during February or March of 2019.

(Monoprice) The new M10-S 10" Monolith Subwoofer*Editor's Note: AV NIRVANA has confirmed that the HTP-1 will ship with Auro-3D onboard!

 

[AJ Soundfield]

The Lexicon MC-10 has some serious competition with this piece!

I have one of those, which is why I'm reading this thread ;-).
Got it for the L7 Immersion, use only for 2ch + music. Monoprice coming out of nowhere with this one, for me at least.

 

[tesseract]

Hey, AJ. Are you using Dirac with that?

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Gotta love all these new processors surfacing with Dirac Live... sweet!

 

[NBPK402]

I’d be willing to bet good coin that these guys get this puppy to market sooner than later.

While exciting at $3.9k... that’s still a massive boatload if cash. Someone is going to REALLY need to want those extra Atmos channels. Worth noting, DTS:X will only matrix to 4 height channels.

They need to add Auro3d so they can utilize all the channels.

 

[AJ Soundfield]

Hey, AJ. Are you using Dirac with that?

Hi Dennis, no, I don't use any of those sort of things.
As noted, I use it mainly for the L7i, but only for indirect radiation, not direct.
Agree with Negatron Auro should have been included with the HTP-1

 

[Todd Anderson]

I saw two prototypes of the HTP-1 yesterday, one working and one near-final build (they’re still working on the screen size).

The working version was very limited in its capabilities.. no correction, etc, in operation. So I can’t really comment on its performance.

Monoprice does, potentially, have a big announcement about the HTP-1. Unfortunately, they asked me to wait on discussing it. Perhaps I’ll get a green light today.

Here’s a couple of photos (working prototype is on top, near production version on bottom):

 

[Todd Anderson]

Alright... the HTP-1 WILL carry Auro 3D!!! Just got the confirmation last night!

 

[Todd Anderson]

Oh... it will also have Dirac Bass Management

 

[andyc56]

The Harman approach uses common eq and common crossovers for all subs but differentiated the phase.

Haman SFM uses a per-sub delay, a per-sub attenuation, and one per-sub PEQ, in addition to global EQ and a shared sub delay and gain.

According to the AES article "Low-Frequency Optimization Using Multiple Subwoofers" and other articles, Harman SFM proceeds in multiple phases:

1. Optimize the seat-to-seat variation in sub (-only) frequency response without regard to the flatness of said response.
   
2. Integrate the mains and subs by adjusting the relative delay between the mains and subs (all together), the analogous relative gains, and possibly some other parameters.
3. Flatten the response at the main listening position using global EQ.
   
4. Integrate other satellites and subs using all-pass filters.

For step 1 above, only one PEQ per sub is used, along with a per-sub delay and gain. Only discrete values of per-sub gain are allowed (0, -6 and -12 dB). The same is true for the per-sub delay (0, 5, 10 msec). The Q of the per-sub PEQ is allowed only 3 values (1, 4 and 16). Three values of PEQ center-frequency attenuation are allowed (0, -6 dB and -12 dB). The PEQ center frequency is set to the frequency at which the seat-to-seat variation in sub responses is worst. The optimization technique for step 1 is a brute-force algorithm, which evaluates all the allowable discrete values of all adjustable parameters.

 

[gooddoc]

Alright... the HTP-1 WILL carry Auro 3D!!! Just got the confirmation last night!

Oh... it will also have Dirac Bass Management

Awesome. I have been very patient waiting for the release of a reasonably priced processor that integrates MSO/SFM style bass management into a single box.

Since I'm a believer that features are what primarily differentiate modern well designed electronics - not unmeasurable voodoo - I could not justify the ridiculous stratospheric costs of the current 16+ channel prepros.

The combination in timing of this new Dirac bass module release and this Monoprice prepro is almost too good to be true. It ticks all my boxes.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I think it's exciting too. This pre/pro seems to have it all! And adding Auro... what a score! That's one feature that Emotiva can't claim right now. I poked around and got the feeling they aren't interested in adding Auro. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The word is that chips are extraordinarily difficult to source right now, so hopefully Monoprice won't be delayed in production.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

Haman SFM uses a per-sub delay, a per-sub attenuation, and one per-sub PEQ, in addition to global EQ and a shared sub delay and gain.

According to the AES article "Low-Frequency Optimization Using Multiple Subwoofers" and other articles, Harman SFM proceeds in multiple phases:

1. Optimize the seat-to-seat variation in sub (-only) frequency response without regard to the flatness of said response.
   
2. Integrate the mains and subs by adjusting the relative delay between the mains and subs (all together), the analogous relative gains, and possibly some other parameters.
3. Flatten the response at the main listening position using global EQ.
   
4. Integrate other satellites and subs using all-pass filters.

For step 1 above, only one PEQ per sub is used, along with a per-sub delay and gain. Only discrete values of per-sub gain are allowed (0, -6 and -12 dB). The same is true for the per-sub delay (0, 5, 10 msec). The Q of the per-sub PEQ is allowed only 3 values (1, 4 and 16). Three values of PEQ center-frequency attenuation are allowed (0, -6 dB and -12 dB). The PEQ center frequency is set to the frequency at which the seat-to-seat variation in sub responses is worst. The optimization technique for step 1 is a brute-force algorithm, which evaluates all the allowable discrete values of all adjustable parameters.

I didn’t realize that. Thanks for the detail and correction. So each sub is eqed differently, like in your program?

 

[Matthew J Poes]

I think it's exciting too. This pre/pro seems to have it all! And adding Auro... what a score! That's one feature that Emotiva can't claim right now. I poked around and got the feeling they aren't interested in adding Auro. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The word is that chips are extraordinarily difficult to source right now, so hopefully Monoprice won't be delayed in production.

I also had confirmation from the builder that this is made by ATI on the same platform as the lower end Datasat. They couldn’t share specifics of how it’s similar or different. I wanted to know more about the DACs and circuit design.

Todd if you can ask about the internal chips and if it’s a true differential balanced design, that would be helpful.

 

[andyc56]

I didn’t realize that. Thanks for the detail and correction. So each sub is eqed differently, like in your program?

Yes, but SFM has only one PEQ per sub. There's also global EQ to flatten the overall response. It's spelled out in Welti and Devantier's AES article (PDF).

 

[Matthew J Poes]

Yes, but SFM has only one PEQ per sub. There's also global EQ to flatten the overall response. It's spelled out in Welti and Devantier's AES article (PDF).

Thanks

 

[Noah Katz]

... However the upmixer could encroach on the RMC-1 market, since Emotiva seems to have dropped that for the time being.

What upmixer (other than DSU and Neural:X that both have)?

Also, any word on if the HTP-1 will have DTSX Pro?

 

[NBPK402]

I just read in another forum.... Monoprice says it will have Auro3d!

 

[Todd Anderson]

I just read in another forum.... Monoprice says it will have Auro3d!

Yup... look about 4 posts above ;-)

 

[Todd Anderson]

What upmixer (other than DSU and Neural:X that both have)?

Also, any word on if the HTP-1 will have DTSX Pro?

That's a great question about the Pro version of DTS:X. For those not aware, the current "home" version of DTS:X only supports 11.1 or 7.1.4. Pro expands that.

I'll check and see. Once can only hope!

 

[Noah Katz]

great, thanks

 

[NBPK402]

I wish this was on my 2019 list of items to get, but I will continue to watch, and I might be able to afford one by 2020 XMAS. It definitely has everything ai want!

 

[kjkjkjlkjlkjlk]

With the comments about not having an OSD, any word on whether that includes volume & info displays?

 

[Todd Anderson]

You mean on the unit itself? Or flashed on a screen when manipulated?

 

[kjkjkjlkjlkjlk]

You mean on the unit itself? Or flashed on a screen when manipulated?

Yes, the on screen display.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yes, the on screen display.

Looks like the answer, right now, is no.