Monoprice is Set to Rock CEDIA 2017 with Its New Monolith THX Subwoofer Series

Monoprice is Set to Rock CEDIA 2017 with Its New Monolith THX Subwoofer Series​

(Monoprice) The new Monolith THX Ultra Subwoofer(September 1, 2017) CEDIA is a show that’s loaded with cutting-edge stereo and home theater tech, and every year one or two companies shock the system with a few products intended to disrupt the status quo. Last year, Monoprice hit the show floor with its impressive Monolith Air Motion Cinema Series Speakers. This year, the company has a variety of tricks up its sleeve, including three new subwoofer models submitted for THX certification. Monoprice says it hopes to receive final approval from THX within a few short weeks.

Priced from $500 to $1300, all three models sport configurable-ported HDF cabinet designs with horizontal and vertical internal bracing and onboard DSP control. Headlining the group is a 128-pound beast that’s awaiting THX Ultra Certification for use in home theaters as large as 3,000 cubic feet. The Monolith 15” THX Ultra Subwoofer features a 1000-Watt Claridy amp and a 15-inch bi-layer pulp/glassfiber cone. Because it has three ports, the sub can be run in one of three modes, with performance down to 14 Hz in a two-port configuration.

The Monolith 12” THX Select Subwoofer ($800) features a 12-inch driver paired with a 500-Watt Claridy amp. It weighs slightly less than the Monolith 15” (103-pounds) and features dual forward facing ports. Monoprice says the Monolith 12” is capable of hitting down to an impressive 18Hz.

The smallest offering (Monolith 10” THX Select Subwoofer) carries a 10-inch driver and a 500-Watt amp. This sub, along with the Monolith 12”, is under review for THX Select status (meaning certification for rooms up to 2,000 cubic feet). At 70-pounds, the Monolith 10” is much more manageable than its big brothers, and its enclosure (18.8” x 14.9” x 21.3”) is almost half as big as the Monolith 15”.

(Monoprice) The Monolith 10" and 12" THX Select Subwoofers
Monoprice says that all three subwoofers will begin shipping this fall.

The company is also beefing up other areas of its Monolith line with Planar over-ear ($199) and in-ear ($149) headphones, several THX Headphone Amp and DAC models with onboard Dirac technology ($229-$329), a Pure Tube Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth ($329), a new line of in-wall speakers with ribbon tweeters ($119-$189), and a pull-down full-motion TV wall mount ($199). AV NIRVANA will have more details about these products during its coverage of CEDIA 2017.



Monolith THX Subwoofer Specifications

Monolith 10" THX Select Subwoofer
Woofer: 10", 60mm v.c, t-pole,bi-layer pulp/glassfiber cone, NBR surround
Enclosure: sealed/vented, HDF cabinet, horizontal and vertical bracing
Finish: black ash PVC
Amp: Claridy DSP500 - class D 500Wrms with DSP control
Harmonic Distortion (2nd & 3rd Harmonics): <1.0% 20-100Hz (90dB@1m)
Frequency Response: (-6db): Extended EQ Sealed: 28 - 200Hz, Vented: 18-200Hz; THX EQ Sealed: 31-200Hz, Vented: 20-200Hz
Variable Level Control: +15/-20dB
REF Level (100mV @ 40Hz): 89dB @ 1m
Crossover: inline/bypass, variable 40-160Hz
Variable Phase: 0-180o
Inputs: RCA(2), XLR
Outputs:(direct pass thru) XLR
Signal turn on: selectable always on / auto
Auto Turn Off: 30min
Dimensions: 480 x 380 x 500mm (543 w/grille)
Net Weight: 32.9 kg
Gross Weight: 42.6 kg

Monolith 12" THX Select Subwoofer
Woofer: 12", 60mm v.c, t-pole, dual shorting rings, bi-layer pulp/glassfiber cone, NBR surround
Enclosure: sealed/vented, HDF cabinet, horizontal and vertical bracing
Finish: black ash PVC
Amp: Claridy DSP500 - class D 500Wrms with DSP control
Harmonic Distortion (2nd & 3rd Harmonics): <1.0% 20-100Hz (90dB@1m)
Frequency Response: (-6db): Extended EQ Sealed: 26 - 200Hz, Vented 1 port: 19-200Hz, Vented 2 port: 18-200Hz; THX EQ Sealed: 29-200Hz, Vented 1 port: 23-200Hz, Vented 2 port: 20-200Hz
Variable Level Control: +15/-20dB
REF Level (100mV @ 40Hz): 89dB @ 1m
Crossover: inline/bypass, variable 40-160Hz
Variable Phase: 0-180o
Inputs: RCA(2), XLR
Outputs:(direct pass thru) XLR
Signal turn on: selectable always on / auto
Auto Turn Off: 30min
Dimensions: 580 x 425 x 600mm (643 w/grille)
Net Weight: 44.7 kg
Gross Weight: 57.0 kg

Monolith 15" THX Select Subwoofer
Woofer: 15", 60mm v.c, t-pole, dual shorting rings, bi-layer pulp/glassfiber cone, NBR surround
Enclosure: sealed/vented, HDF cabinet, horizontal and vertical bracing
Finish: black ash PVC
Amp: Claridy DSP1000 - 1000Wrms with DSP control
Harmonic Distortion (2nd & 3rd Harmonics): <1.0% 20-100Hz (90dB@1m)
Frequency Response: (-6db): Extended EQ Sealed: 15 - 200Hz, Vented 2 port: 14-200Hz, Vented 3 port: 64-200Hz; THX EQ Sealed: 23-200Hz, Vented 2 port: 19-200Hz, Vented 3 port: 20-200Hz
Variable Level Control: +15/-20dB
REF Level (100mV @ 40Hz): 89dB @ 1m
Crossover: inline/bypass, variable 40-160Hz
Variable Phase: 0-180o
Inputs: RCA(2), XLR
Outputs: (direct pass thru) XLR
Signal turn on: selectable always on / auto
Auto Turn Off: 30min
Dimensions: 680 x 450 x 700mm (743 w/grille)
Net Weight: 58.3 kg
Gross Weight: 73.8 kg

 

[tripplej]

That is cool. Never realized they were into speakers, etc.. Wonder if anybody ever reviewed them?

 

[Todd Anderson]

These subs haven't been seen in public yet.

I reviewed the Monolith Air Motion Speakers last year and really enjoyed them... keep your eye on these subs. Price-wise, they're killer deals. We'll see if we can get one for review... we're due to receive their K-Bas bookshelves, so I'd imagine they'd be game for AV NIRVANA to give these a pro-analysis.

 

[tripplej]

It would be great if AV NIRVANA can review them.

 

[Michael Scott]

I'm honestly curious. their midrange sub would make a good bedroom sub for me as my twin PB-10s are getting a bit old.

 

[Todd Anderson]

The Monolith Air Motion Speakers had very nice build quality and sounded pretty good... no reason to believe these subs won't perform well. Indications are that Monoprice's design team is pretty amped about them. I think this is very positive!

 

[Asere]

They seem like nice subs. The logo kinda looks like the old Miller & Kreisel MK.

 

[phillihp23]

Sounds very promising at a $500 starting price point. At that weight it's a serious indication of quality components. Heck that Monolith 10 ways as much as my PB NSD12. The Monolith 12 comes in at a hefty 30lbs more.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm curious about the cabinet finishes... "Black Ash PVC"

 

[tesseract]

These prices are unreal!

 

[Tony V.]

That's unreal for pricing, that 15" could be a contender against the PB16u for people who are budget minded

 

[ShpongleDMT]

I love how this company has built a solid name around good products without charging high prices.

 

[Bacovish]

these things are monsters. Looks like monolith is making a pitch to stay in the game long term. I will be picking up one of these and one of their amps in the near future.
Right now I'm redoing my Tahoe sound system. I need to take up wood carving for a hobby. All these new toys are killing me. If the wifey really knew how much I was spending she will kill me.
My biggest fear is if something happens to me and she sells things for what I told her I paid for them. Someone will be getting a smoking deal.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Nice... and black ash PVC seems normal for this price range. At least it's not black ash vinyl.

We should be able to review these... I know Todd is all over it.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'll have details in the CEDIA review... turns out, it is in fact a high-grade vinyl type covering.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Oh well... that's not that good, unless it is a thick laminate. If it's that paper thin stuff... it's too easily knicked and really cheap.

 

[Todd Anderson]

It's fairly robust. Obviously not as thick as veneer or painted surface... but it looked like it would be durable enough for a subwoofer.

 

[ShpongleDMT]

I just saw a real life pic of the 15" monolith sub. It looks huge! Definitely going to make it's presence known in a room.

 

[Todd Anderson]

It's massive. I'm going to share these pics in my show report... here's an advance look ;-)

 

[Todd Anderson]

These pictures are of the sample sent to the THX labs (which, by the way, now have official THX Certification). So, final production might look slightly different.

 

[tripplej]

Wow. very impressive. Thanks for sharing.