Monoprice Monolith M565C

The Monoprice Monolith M565C is a closed-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional sound quality for the price, especially around $215. It's heavy, wired-only, and has a terrible mic, but for pure audio performance it competes with headphones costing much more. If you want the best sound per dollar and don't care about wireless features, this is a no-brainer.

Let's talk about what these actually sound like. The 106mm planar driver delivers the kind of detail retrieval and speed that dynamic drivers in this price range just can't match. Bass is tight and controlled, not bloated, and the imaging is genuinely impressive for a closed back. You get that planar "fast" sound where complex passages don't smear together. For genres like jazz, classical, or well-produced rock, the M565C shines. The sound score in our database puts it in the 97th percentile, which means it's competing with headphones that cost two or three times as much.

Where it falls short is everything that isn't pure sound. The mic quality is rough, landing in the 21st percentile, so don't expect to take calls on these. Connectivity is even worse at the 8th percentile, which makes sense since these are wired-only with no Bluetooth, no USB-C, nothing. That's not a flaw if you're a purist, but it does mean you'll need a decent amp to get the most out of them. Planars are power hungry, and while the M565C is more efficient than the open-back version, a phone headphone jack probably won't drive them to their full potential.

Compared to the Sony ULT WEAR and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the M565C is a completely different animal. Those are wireless ANC headphones built for commuting and convenience. The Monolith is a wired, amp-hungry planar built for sitting in a chair and actually listening. If you want noise cancelling and Bluetooth, get the Sony or Bose. If you want raw sound quality per dollar, the Monoprice wins easily. The Apple AirPods Max is another common comparison, but again, that's a wireless lifestyle product. The M565C sounds better for critical listening, but it won't pair with your iPhone or take a phone call without sounding like you're underwater.

The Technics EAH-A800 is probably the closest competitor in spirit, since it's also aimed at people who care about sound quality first. But the Technics is still wireless with ANC, and it costs more. The Sennheiser HDB 630 is another wired option worth considering if you want something lighter and more portable, but you'll give up the planar speed and detail. For pure audio performance in this price bracket, the M565C is hard to beat. Just know that you're trading away every modern convenience to get it.

Here's where things get weird. The price range across vendors is absurd, spanning from $215 all the way up to $4,724. That's not a typo. Some third-party sellers are listing these at prices that make no sense whatsoever. If you're shopping for the M565C, the best deal we're seeing is around $215, and at that price these are an absolute steal. The customer review we have literally says they beat headphones that cost twice as much. But if you're looking at a listing north of $500, walk away. You're being ripped off. At the low end, the value proposition is nearly unbeatable for planar magnetic sound. At the high end, you could buy a used Audeze and have money left over.

If you've been hunting for planar magnetic headphones that don't require selling a kidney, the Monoprice Monolith M565C is probably already on your radar. And honestly, it should be. These closed-back over-ears pack a 106mm planar driver into a black and wood design that looks way more expensive than it is. The pitch is simple: audiophile-grade sound with the isolation of a closed back, so you can actually enjoy your music in a room that isn't dead silent. For anyone curious about planar magnetic headphones under $500, this is one of the most interesting entry points out there.

The M565C is a redesigned take on the open-back M565, with a new symmetrical magnet structure that makes the driver more efficient in a sealed enclosure. That matters because closed-back planars are tricky to get right. Monoprice claims lower distortion, better linearity, and impressive imaging. Based on our database, the sound quality lands in the 97th percentile for this category, which puts it right up there with the absolute best right now. That's a big deal for a headphone that often sells for a fraction of what flagship planars cost.

Comfort is another strong point. The large pleather ear pads and padded headband are built for long listening sessions, and our data backs that up with a 91st percentile comfort score. The catch? These things are heavy. Like, noticeably heavy. The customer review we have mentions they're the heaviest headphones they've ever worn. If you're sensitive to weight on your head, that's something to think about before you click buy.

Skip the M565C if you need wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling, or a usable microphone for calls and meetings. These are wired-only headphones with a mic that ranks in the 21st percentile, so they're useless for Zoom or gaming chat. If you're sensitive to weight, look elsewhere too. The M565C is heavy, and you'll feel it after an hour or two. Commuters and travelers should get the Sony ULT WEAR or Bose QuietComfort Ultra instead. And if you want something lighter for studio monitoring, the Sennheiser HDB 630 or a pair of Audio-Technica open-backs will serve you better for long sessions.

Should you buy the Monoprice Monolith M565C? If you're an audio enthusiast who wants to try planar magnetic headphones without spending $500 or more, yes. Absolutely. At the $215 price point, these are one of the best values in audio right now. The sound quality is genuinely top-tier, the closed-back design makes them usable in shared spaces, and the comfort is better than you'd expect from something this heavy.

But if you need wireless, noise cancelling, a decent microphone, or something you can wear for six hours without neck strain, these aren't for you. The M565C is a specialist's headphone. It does one thing extremely well and ignores everything else. For the right person, that's exactly what makes it great.