Monoprice Monolith 7 amp on sale $1199.00

Dabutcher

Rebranded ATI amp. Made in California. 98 pounds. 7x200. Might be worth a look see for HT. Peace. D

tonyb

Eh....for half that price you can get the same power/channels in a B&k amp, which in my opinion would probably mate better with Polk speakers.

jeremymarcinko

That's a great deal...if it sounds as good as the ATI amp I owned...it's an amazing deal.

Paradoxex

tonyb wrote: »

Eh....for half that price you can get the same power/channels in a B&k amp, which in my opinion would probably mate better with Polk speakers.

Pray tell? Are we buying a used 10-20 year old amplifier in this comparison?

Dabutcher

Just throwing it out there. On paper sounds like a deal. I would try it but I am sitting amp fat right now. Peace

EndersShadow

Paradoxex wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

Eh....for half that price you can get the same power/channels in a B&k amp, which in my opinion would probably mate better with Polk speakers.

Pray tell? Are we buying a used 10-20 year old amplifier in this comparison?

I'm guessing yes there.....

I paid 550 for my 200.5 and I know someone else who paid ~700 for their 200.7. Some of the older Outlaw Audio amps might also be around and sell for less....

rooftop59

Paradoxex wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

Eh....for half that price you can get the same power/channels in a B&k amp, which in my opinion would probably mate better with Polk speakers.

Pray tell? Are we buying a used 10-20 year old amplifier in this comparison?

Yes, and if its 10 years old and looks and works as new, there is no reason it won't keep trucking right along. And if you buy said amp on the bay you can get a squaretrade warranty for security.

But I admit if I was a newbie and 500-700 bucks was a lot to me (which it is) I might be tempted to save up for a new one, but not sure about this one...

Paradoxex

I've never done that...can you buy a used amp on EBay and then get a squaretrade warranty like that? Squaretrade just takes the seller's listed condition as fact in that case, regardless of age, etc?

I don't have this amp, nor do I have plans to buy it, but seeing as Monoprice is located mere miles from ATI, like this isn't a terrible deal, especially if you don't infer quality or lack thereof from the price. After all, the amp is not being marked up through a dealer network.

pitdogg2

ATI makes many amps for many people yet the cost of the parts is not going to be the same as some high end amps ATI makes it will be made at a price point regardless. We buy a lot of monoprice stuff here at work for the cost of the amount of items we replace HDMI, USB and other types mono sells I'd pay for the better item everyday and twice on Sunday. It just does not hold up in the long run like better name cheap stuff.

EndersShadow

^doesnt matter one capacitor sounds the same as another right

So all amp sound the same your paying for the looks and name

^said in as sarcastic of a tone as you can get^

gudnoyez

ATI makes Outlaws stuff, I have heard those M2200 monos they were pretty impressive for thier price.

tonyb

Paradoxex wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

Eh....for half that price you can get the same power/channels in a B&k amp, which in my opinion would probably mate better with Polk speakers.

Pray tell? Are we buying a used 10-20 year old amplifier in this comparison?

I would....if your on a budget and sound quality is at the top of your priority list. Granted, can't make any direct comparisons as I've never heard that MP amp yet. Given how well the older HCA series of Parasound amps and B&k amps get along with Polk speakers, for chump change, I would imagine the only gains one might find in the MP amp at twice the price are purely cosmetic. Which too, aesthetics are very important to some so I'm not discounting that fact.

scubalab

EndersShadow wrote: »

I paid 550 for my 200.5 and I know someone else who paid ~700 for their 200.7. Some of the older Outlaw Audio amps might also be around and sell for less....

Dan - I think I'm the someone you're referring to! I actually paid $800 for the 200.7, but got some nice Vampire Wire IC's with the deal, so, yeah, I paid around the same $/channel as you did for yours. I've yet to see another one offered for less than $1000-$1100 when you can find them. So, I do feel like I got a pretty good deal.

I love the B&K amp and won't be getting rid of it, but that MP amp doesn't look too shabby for similar specs and brand new. I posted a thread when MP debuted this amp and the consensus was that it most likely was the rebranded ATI and a pretty good deal at the debut price of $1400. At $200 less seems like a very good deal for new. But, with a little patience and some bartering, you should be able to find a comparable B&K or Parasound for a little less.

I've bought many things from MP, mostly bulk speaker cable, iPod cables, HDMI, banana plugs, etc. Yeah, they're not audiophile grade, but hard to beat for the price if you're on a budget. They're customer service is great, and their cables are warranted for life (I've utilized this warranty a couple times without issue). If I needed a 7 channel amp and had to have new, I wouldn't hesitate.

-Al

ken brydson

scubalab wrote: »

EndersShadow wrote: »

I paid 550 for my 200.5 and I know someone else who paid ~700 for their 200.7. Some of the older Outlaw Audio amps might also be around and sell for less....

Dan - I think I'm the someone you're referring to! I actually paid $800 for the 200.7, but got some nice Vampire Wire IC's with the deal, so, yeah, I paid around the same $/channel as you did for yours. I've yet to see another one offered for less than $1000-$1100 when you can find them. So, I do feel like I got a pretty good deal.

I love the B&K amp and won't be getting rid of it, but that MP amp doesn't look too shabby for similar specs and brand new. I posted a thread when MP debuted this amp and the consensus was that it most likely was the rebranded ATI and a pretty good deal at the debut price of $1400. At $200 less seems like a very good deal for new. But, with a little patience and some bartering, you should be able to find a comparable B&K or Parasound for a little less.

I've bought many things from MP, mostly bulk speaker cable, iPod cables, HDMI, banana plugs, etc. Yeah, they're not audiophile grade, but hard to beat for the price if you're on a budget. They're customer service is great, and their cables are warranted for life (I've utilized this warranty a couple times without issue). If I needed a 7 channel amp and had to have new, I wouldn't hesitate.

-Al

I'll add TV wall mounts to the list. Can't beat the quality for the price.

scubalab

Ken - forgot about that! I have two and they're rock solid for 1/5 the price of box store mounts...

I also have a set of outdoor (rock) speakers in the garden that sound halfway decent. My garage mounted Atriums sound better, but for parties on the patio, the cheap MP speakers work fine.

I did try MP's little hybrid tube integrated amp. It went back. It was junk. But for $219 with speakers, I wasn't expecting much.

EndersShadow

scubalab wrote: »

Dan - I think I'm the someone you're referring to! I actually paid $800 for the 200.7, but got some nice Vampire Wire IC's with the deal, so, yeah, I paid around the same $/channel as you did for yours. I've yet to see another one offered for less than $1000-$1100 when you can find them. So, I do feel like I got a pretty good deal.

I love the B&K amp and won't be getting rid of it, but that MP amp doesn't look too shabby for similar specs and brand new. I posted a thread when MP debuted this amp and the consensus was that it most likely was the rebranded ATI and a pretty good deal at the debut price of $1400. At $200 less seems like a very good deal for new. But, with a little patience and some bartering, you should be able to find a comparable B&K or Parasound for a little less........If I needed a 7 channel amp and had to have new, I wouldn't hesitate.

Yup, it was you, but I figured if you were to sell the IC's you probably would be in it for about 700, which is still a steal of a deal consider you got an extra two channels of amp for only 200 more than me.

I dont disagree it "seems" like a good deal, my concern is that in order to hit a given pricepoint corners have to be cut somewhere. I realize if it was a full on ATI branded amp, or one of the other folks that use them, you'd be paying a bit for the name, but their is NO WAY the markup is ALL for the name, and that it doesnt factor into the parts in some what shape or form.

For me, if I'm going to pay 1100 for a amp, why not just pony up more to get it new from a brand like Emotiva (I shudder to say it but still), Parasound, etc. Yes your paying more, but your also getting an amp from a company with an established amp brand.

I'd NEVER buy the first gen of ANY product as its normally got some issues to be worked out. Especially from a company known more for the cheap cost of their goods rather than high quality.

scubalab wrote: »

I've bought many things from MP, mostly bulk speaker cable, iPod cables, HDMI, banana plugs, etc. Yeah, they're not audiophile grade, but hard to beat for the price if you're on a budget. They're customer service is great, and their cables are warranted for life (I've utilized this warranty a couple times without issue).

ken brydson wrote: »

I'll add TV wall mounts to the list. Can't beat the quality for the price.

scubalab wrote: »

I also have a set of outdoor (rock) speakers in the garden that sound halfway decent. My garage mounted Atriums sound better, but for parties on the patio, the cheap MP speakers work fine.

I did try MP's little hybrid tube integrated amp. It went back. It was junk. But for $219 with speakers, I wasn't expecting much.

Monoprice is branching out all over the place beyond what they initially were known for (cables). Personally its cool to watch them grow, and their products have a large market, but I just think its too much to fast.

Their expansion is reminding me of Starbucks in the 90's and early 2000's. They sold EVERYTHING there, breakfast, lunch, dinner, merchandise, etc. Then they lost their identity as a company somewhat (and a lot of profit) because they had expanded into markets with MUCH MORE competition and they simply couldn't compete. So they had to reevaluate what their company was about and scale back to just their niche market: coffee drinkers and coffee bar aficionados.

Would you buy a LCD from Monoprice OVER Dell/HP/Asus if the cost was similar?

Note I'm not saying their products don't have demand and a good market (heck I have a Insignia LCD TV myself), just if I was buying a NEW amp, at that pricepoint, I'd spend more for more.

For outdoor speakers, super cheap cables for my ipod/iphone, etc, I'd check em out. I just dont think most of us would go Monoprice over a used B&K, Parasound, or even a NEW emotiva, marantz, etc.

To quote another thread "You cant AFFORD to buy cheap"...

scubalab

Don't disagree at all Dan! It's just all in the way you look at it, and what you want for the money you have to spend. Some folks put a higher price on new with warranty (3 years in this case) than used/no warranty...

And, I agree also that MP may be expanding a little too much, too quickly. But, if it's working (not saying it is), why not...

I don't know much about ATI, but I believe their own branded 7/180 amp (AT1807) retails for close to $3000 and has a 7-year warranty. If it's the same amp/components/sound, is having the brand stamped on the faceplate and an additional 4 years warranty worth more than twice the price? Or are they in-fact cutting corners in other components? You'd almost have to think so, but you'd be surprised how much some companies (as well as loyal consumers) think their name on something is worth... Take for instance Monster (cringe) - What makes their banana plugs worth 10x more than say Sewell or Media Bridge (I'm not endorsing them, just saying). They're darn near identical.

It'd be interesting if someone here has seen/heard this amp and could offer their own unbiased review.

And yeah... I LOVE my B&K - thanks for the nudge on that buy!

Paradoxex

Don't forget that MP is only selling this direct, so the cut that the dealer takes is eliminated. MP clearly is making money on the product, but so is ATI on their branded amps before dealer markup.

I imagine that's not an insignificant reduction in cost-to-market.

RamZet

Sweet.

Dennis Gardner

From what I have concluded, this is internally an Outlaw 770 which was offered by Outlaw 15 years ago. They stopped selling this model when they came out with the balanced design in their 7700.

The new Monoprice amp has been put into Outlaw's new 7700 rounded corner chassis.

2001 Outlaw 770 MSRP $1799 5 Y warranty Transferrable
2016 Outlaw 7700 MSRP $2149 5 Y warranty Transferrable
2016 MP MSRP $1499/ $1199 3 Y warranty (First owner only)

Based on the stability of the Outlaw amp line and ATI reputation, I would trust the MP amp to be a great buy that would most likely outlast its warranty.

Monoprice will never be a name that will retain its cache or value, (note that they have had to discount the intial pricing 20% since initial debut to even sell them) but I think this amp will be one of the better values in the next few years (new or used)