Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Dolby Atmos & DTS:X Home Theater Processor w/Dirac & Alexa Compatibility

[shadyJ]

True. We'll just ignore his reviews and go straight to the measurement section like with Stereophile, S&V, and 99% of all reviews.

Wait.. even... even... my reviews?

 

[ryanosaur]

Wait.. even... even... my reviews?
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I read your prose, Shady.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hahaha. I'm gonna wait for the "real" ATI unit. If no dice, then Yamaha will be.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

Just a matter of time before the ATI ATP-1 comes out. I bet you can use something temporary to hold you over.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wait.. even... even... my reviews?
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That's why I said "99%". Audioholics is the 1% EXCEPTION!

 

[PENG]

You don't want Amir to review AVRs. He'll probably say nasty things about their quality of engineering, and give them a headless panther to boot.

Funny but may not be true. He seemed okay with a 55/105 W Yamaha streamer. Nice big head on that panther.
Review and Measurements of Yamaha WXA-50 Streaming Amp | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

 

[PENG]

FWIW, I'm a Mac guy for the past several years, but I keep a PC around just for situations like this, mostly for updating automotive firmware. You bring up Mac support with most companies and they laugh. When I brought up a Mac with one of the automotive firmware guys his response was, "A Mac? Can you spell that?" Message received.

I have been using a MacbookPro laptop for a few years, then my 10 years old PC finally die a few months ago, and I have since been using the Mac temporary but booted to Windows 10 using bootcamp. It quickly updated itself to the latest win10 build with no issues so far. I am so getting used to it now that I am thinking of getting a new MacPro laptop and use this old one as a permanent desktop replacement. Bootcamp really works, and works transparently.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I have been using a MacPro laptop for a few years, then my 10 years old PC finally die a few months ago, and I have since been using the Mac temporary but booted to Windows 10 using bootcamp. It quickly updated itself to the latest win10 build with no issues so far. I am so getting used to it now that I am thinking of getting a new MacPro laptop and use this old one as a permanent desktop replacement. Bootcamp really works, and works transparently.

I've tried Bootcamp and VMware, and my Softronic USB cable doesn't like either one. Fortunately, my wife uses a PC for work, and I use it for the Softronic app and the Velodyne app, which doesn't seem to like Bootcamp either. I suspect both don't like virtualized USB drivers.

 

[PENG]

I've tried Bootcamp and VMware, and my Softronic USB cable doesn't like either one. Fortunately, my wife uses a PC for work, and I use it for the Softronic app and the Velodyne app, which doesn't seem to like Bootcamp either. I suspect both don't like virtualized USB drivers.

Yeah, I guess it depends on what you use it for. I only use mine for the typical kind of Office work like MS365, Autocad and REW.

 

[Danzilla31]

Wait.. even... even... my reviews?
View attachment 46086

You'll always be my fave Shady

 

[caustic386]

Just depends on 3 things.
1. If you want a 9.1.6 setup
2. If you want an AVP that has among the best numbers on that ASR website, even though these numbers are inaudible
3. If you want Dirac Room EQ

1. I do, although currently my room layout won't support rear surrounds and room size (25x25x16') benefits greatly from dual subs. Also I'm trying to maintain compatibility between Auro/Atmos so it'd be something like 9.2.2 using front wide instead of rear/back surround. Rear/back height will be present, though. My interest is Auro 2ch upmixing because I've read so many good things about it but it's an easier financial decision if it can provide impressive results for movies, too.

2. Largely agree, but price being equal why wouldn't I want better measurements? Especially when, for example the 8500, I can get amps, zones, etc. Even if I don't use them.

3. I have yet to use either so while Dirac certainly has the best reputation, much like your audibility point, is Audyssey/YPAO/ARC good enough by the time you factor in untreated rooms, masking in typical domestic environments, etc etc?

By no means trying to instigate a conflagration here, I just really don't understand this unit outside of consumers who have more money than time and want it to work RIGHT NOW. Which is absolutely valid and reasonable, just like I could probably learn to replace my timing belt or spark plugs but it simply doesn't interest me so the mechanic takes my $ and I keep my time. I just want to be sure Im not missing some important puzzle piece given the popularity of this prepro.

Because of my background in IT I'd prefer a HTPC with Auro codec but I don't think that exists so want to understand my options before going all-in on hardware

 

[PENG]

I agree with your logic, so it would seem if 7.1.4 is enough for you and you can't wait, the CX-A5100 would be best, unless you have a specific reason for going with the CX-A5200, such as warranty concern?

If you need 13.1 channels processing, with 15 speakers connected so you can do Auro3D as well then the X8500H is a great option if you can get a deep discount on one. The X8500H has the following pros:
- internal amps you can use if and when you need to.
- has the best measurements among those ASR tested (note: your logic, why not regardless of audible benefits)

the cons:
- Can't do more than 13.1 even though you can connect 15.1 (so you can switch to Auro 3D quickly).
- Bulky and heavy for a preamp processor.
- No XLR, not an issue if your interconnects are short such as 2-3 meters.

AVP/Cs are of course better in theory but in the real world at the moment there just isn't even one that I would touch because I don't see anything that has better audio specifications and/or measured better than the Denon AVRs, let alone real world audible differences. Claims by their users of sonic superiority are anecdotal at best, if not totally not believable. Even if there are some that did measured as well or better, I would still be concerned about paying a significant premium and may do worse in terms of reliability and bugs. For AVP/C/AVRs, I would stick with the try and true brands such as Yamaha, Denon, Marantz or even Sony and Pioneer. I am not confident the boutique brands have the resource needed to support such complicated products, imo they should just stick with amps (pre, integrated, power).

 

[caustic386]

I agree with you logic, so it would seem if 7.1.4 is enough for you and you can't wait, the CX-A5100 would be best, unless you have a specific reason for going with the CX-A5200, such as warranty concern?

Not sure if this reply is for me, but just in case - I actually did have my eye on the Yamaha CX's because the app looks great (for the wife), I could make use of 4 zones, and all-XLR makes it slightly easier for me to use active monitors but unless i'm missing it there's no Auro support in any Yamaha product?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

..I'd prefer a HTPC with Auro codec but I don't think that exists...

Oh, HTPC-based Processors do exist, like the Storm Audio processors. But you are not going to like the price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

there's no Auro support in any Yamaha product?

Correct. And unless there are actually ANY Auro3D contents available in the USA, we will never see any Auro3D support from Yamaha.

Last time I checked, I can't even find ONE Auro3D content available in the USA.

 

[PENG]

Not sure if this reply is for me, but just in case - I actually did have my eye on the Yamaha CX's because the app looks great (for the wife), I could make use of 4 zones, and all-XLR makes it slightly easier for me to use active monitors but unless i'm missing it there's no Auro support in any Yamaha product?

Yes because I thought you mentioned the CX-5200 didn't you, unless I got mixed up with someone else. Anyway if you want to have Auro 3D that's another point for the Denon. As ADTG mentioned, contents (Native) may be scarce if available at all. I don't know how good non native Auro 3D is.

 

[panteragstk]

True. We'll just ignore his reviews and go straight to the measurement section like with Stereophile, S&V, and 99% of all reviews.

Cool, so it's not just me that does that?

 

[panteragstk]

Correct. And unless there are actually ANY Auro3D contents available in the USA, we will never see any Auro3D support from Yamaha.

Last time I checked, I can't even find ONE Auro3D content available in the USA.

I think ONE of my movies has an Auro3D track hidden in it's DTS-HD container. Am I going to pay $200 to add Auro to my receiver? Nope.

 

[caustic386]

Oh, HTPC-based Processors do exist, like the Storm Audio processors. But you are not going to like the price.

That's basically what I would build for this if all codecs were available. Probably wouldn't look as slick, but I'm sure it would be 75% less expensive

Yes because I thought you mentioned the CX-5200 didn't you, unless I got mixed up with someone else. Anyway if you want to have Auro 3D that's another point for the Denon. As ADTG mentioned, contents (Native) may be scarce if available at all. I don't know how good non native Auro 3D is.

oh yes, I see what you're referring to. I was speaking more broadly re: HTP1 vs other players given the price. Sorry for the confusion.

Agree as well on the scarcity of Auro-native content, that's why I'm so determined to use an Atmos-compatible speaker layout. This is really just an experiment to find out how far upmixing has come since I last tried it in the late 90s, and Auro seems to get the biggest thumbs up of all available formats. If it's junk, or another option is just as good/better, I'll simply flip to that. I understand DTS:X, inc Neural:X, doesn't require any specific layout? Hopefully I got that right

 

[PENG]

Agree as well on the scarcity of Auro-native content, that's why I'm so determined to use an Atmos-compatible speaker layout. This is really just an experiment to find out how far upmixing has come since I last tried it in the late 90s, and Auro seems to get the biggest thumbs up of all available formats. If it's junk, or another option is just as good/better, I'll simply flip to that. I understand DTS:X, inc Neural:X, doesn't require any specific layout? Hopefully I got that right

Because of you, I tried using non native Auro3D. It's different, and definitely not junk. To do it I had to switch from 11.1 to 9.1 layout, and because my speakers are positioned for Atmos so they weren't optimal for Auro3D.

I think you are right, if you configure your layout for Atmos, it will be fine for DTS:X and Neural:X as well.

 

[RichB]

For those interested, Spocko (on AudioScienceReview) sent Amir a Trinnov Altitude 16 (Megabucks).
There is a thread to discuss additional measurements suggestions beyond 2-channel SINAD.

Amir's time is limited so the most reasonable suggestions are 2-channel plus Center and a Surround channel (since it tests 2 at a time) and SINAD with simple processing engaged, 80hz crossovers to determine the impact of digital processing:

Review Questions for Flagship Processors: Trinnov, Storm, JBL, Lyngdorf, Datasat | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

The review is taking some time so I suspect, the SINAD of the PC based platform may not be stellar. Obviously, that is not the sole measurement but I think companies deserve to be hoisted that market their superior performance.

High-end multi-thousand dollar products seem increasingly reticent to publish meaningful specifications.

- Rich