Monolith Encore T5 and B5 Review - Compared to Audition T5 and Encore T6

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[@gregmatula9749]

Great detailed review! I love that you have a leaderboard, other reviewers need to take note.

[@joentell]

I appreciate that! The leaderboard helps me because I have to decide which speaker I think is better than another rather than all of them being "the best".

[@junelopez9520]

I appreciate you, bro - I didn't even know about these speakers so I pray they still have something for me on sale 😊 I'm a true OG audiophile aka DJ

[@hdmoviesource]

Interesting that these speakers have raised treble like that. Must be a mismatch between the woofer chosen and the tweeter, meaning the SPL doesn't match. But, for the price, it's not terrible, and that's an easy EQ to bring that down. Nice video Joe, thanks.

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

Those are good budget speakers, I saw your using the pioneer Andrew Jones atmos concentric speakers…. I have those too! I use them in a secondary system now a days but I still have the whole series and still love them ✌️🔈🔈🍻

[@keepingupwiththejones2933]

Monoprice makes some great products. Love my Monolith 11x amplifier

[@pedroortiz9744]

Great Video! I have them and I love them... I always had been a klipsch fan so the treble is not a problem for me but its realy Hight in this speaker but with EQ 💯

[@tbob2224]

Great review! I think they are an absolute steal at $180/pair. The photos on the site still don't match the actual product though - woofers and binding posts are different . Response is a bit different from what I've measured (200hz and up) but the old amps I'm currently using may just be a bit warmer (or less transparent DAC, etc), I'm not seeing that big bump in the treble - my measurements actually follow the ones on Monoprice's product page fairly closely - but this is from a static position 3ft at tweeter level. Edit: Just as a note I realized my 20y old AVR was coloring the sound - making the response flatter overall. Tested with a newer DAC and they were pretty bright without any EQ.

[@joentell]

I noticed that

[@LDBaha]

I got 4 B5 Encores before they went out of production for like $40 each! What a steal. I used them for my 4 atmos speakers on brackets. They sound phenomenal. Super happy with the performance

[@neo4102]

what klipsch towers are these comparable to? Also how would you compare them to standard klipsch and RP lines?

[@the_ltz_guymaster7912]

So I currently have a Sony str dh520 receiver how do hook 4 wires from one speaker to one red and black for a left side because I plan on buying 2

[@phrankdatank]

ALOHA Brotha, good video and set up! may i ask where you got your rug? looks clean.

[@joentell]

I don't remember, but I know it was cheap. I can't have nice things with young kids. :-) One day.

[@bingdong8571]

Hey joe, you seem like the monolith answer guy. Have you heard the thx 460t towers? I believe at some point this holiday i will be able to get them for under 1000 bucks a pair with sales. Great reviews and measurements but that i will be replacing b&w speakers for these so....i need bigger speakers.

[@judeplante6241]

Thanks!

[@christiank.8035]

How is this when you compare it on the 1st gen Klipsch rp-8000f?

[@wheelstandr]

Still out of stock. Can someone say if they have ever had the chance to buy these towers or were they discontinued as fast as this video came out?

[@indridcold4210]

I bought a pair at the $89 price level a month ago. Man are they heavy! I had to carry them up a staircase and it was not easy.

[@joentell]

I had to carry those up as well as the T6 towers

[@stingber]

Great content!!! Can you share your measurement hardware? Specially your turn table 😉👍. Thanks!

[@joentell]

Affiliate links incoming! UMIK-1: bit.ly/UMIK-1CalibratedMic bit.ly/MotorizedTurntable (45lb max) amzn.to/467yy9h (265lb max) REW software: www.roomeqwizard.com/ I hacked up my own method of doing polar plots, but I plan on making an app that everyone can use.

[@stingber]

@@joentell Thanks Joe!!! I look forward to your app.👍

[@roberthorwitz8607]

Sorry I did not specify that these were going to be for a large computer desk. do you think the B6's would be too big or would I be ok. The B5's are $50 each and the B6's just dropped to $90 each.

[@jon1913]

I picked up 3 Encore T5s for my LCR (with an actually transparent screen) during their last $89 sale. Before EQing the treble was quite noticable but after room correction and EQing it sounds absolutely fantastic. I don't think there is a better bang for your buck tower out there right now. I've considered picking up some B5s or B6s for my ceiling speakers. Do you have any thoughts on that?

[@joentell]

B5's take well to EQ and sealed, smaller size is probably better suited for heights

[@hienvu1714]

​@@joentellHi Joe. I have ordered the Encore T6 twice (at $169/each) and Monoprice messed up both times. Instead of receiving the speakers, I received emails informing me that my order had been canceled because inventory was messed up. I'm trying to decide whether to wait for them or buy a pair of SVS Ultra Towers ($2000) or Polk R700 ($1500). I have plenty speakers I can use so I'm in no big hurry but I'm kinda losing faith in Monoprice! In your opinion are the Ultra Towers and R700 worth 4x to 6x the price of the T6? Thanks.

[@sawyerc.6033]

Absolutely the B5s make for a great "satellite" speaker at any location/for any channel! I am running a system where I use my Pioneer Elite VSX LX505 as a processor, running all channels of an Atmos 5.1.4 speaker configuration, to my Integra DTA 70.1 nine channel integrated amplifier. I have two Encore T6 towers for Front L&R Mains, an Encore C6 center channel, and then ALL SIX of my satellite channels (Surround, Front Height, and Rear Height) are handled by my Encore B5 bookshelf speakers. I'm using Monoprice's heavy duty 22 degree (up/down tilt adjustment spec) swivel mounts for the four height channels, and some really nice heavy duty low profile hanger-mounts for my surrounds (close enough to the wall that I cannot use banana plugs for those connections, which I wouldn't love, accept for the fact that the low profile mounts just look really clean, to the point where it is clear that they are on mounts and not just hung on the wall by a nail or screw in a keyhole, but still very close to the wall, and directed straight forward without any droop or downward angle due to the weight of the speaker and gravity, like I've experienced with so many other mounts, low-profile or otherwise) and I sincerely could not be happier with the performance of each of the Encore Series speakers respectively. But I will say, that while the T6s are the most impressive of the 3 Encore models I own, still, the C6 center has been amazing as well, always providing clean and clear dialogue, making the "adjust as needed" approach of content intake, a thing of the past, while also maintaining the ability to dig deep with the T6s, which makes for awesome immersion provided by the front LCR, and this speaker array as a whole (which is what is most desireable regarding the setup in its entirety, in my opinion, is the fact that, especially after Dirac Live room correction has been run, these 9 speakers couldn't sound any more balanced and well matched than they most certainly do!) really, and the B5s definitely work wonders as well, and play a huge roll in bringing it all together for an exillerating experience every single time we crank the newly updated HT up to watch a movie, or to play some XBOX Series X, or PS5 (my personal favorite, as the sound is killer, and the picture of our 65" LG C2 makes anything look outstanding, but games most of all I think... If you own either console, and you are not gaming on a quality OLED display - no matter the size - you don't know what you are missing, because this IS how developers intend for their games to be played ideally). The B5s were the most difficult of all the speaker choices, because I have always preferred a much more discreetly sized speaker for the satellite positions, but ultimately, I went with them, because I didn't want to throw speakers with a higher impedance (6 or 8 ohms) in the mix with my Encore Series LCR, so that ultimately limited my options. So I went with the B5s, because they were the smallest Encore Series speaker available, and I accepted the fact that my satellites would not be near as "discrete" as they had always been in the past, and MAN did I ever end up pleased as could be with that acception I made! Because adopting bookshelf speakers - more specifically, the B5s - as my means of peripheral audio supply via the satellite channels, it just opened things up to a whole new level of immersion that I had never even assumed was even possible!! I realize now, how ignorant I was, but hey, we all learn as we go, and through experience above all else. And having - what I call - full sized satellites has opened up the 3-D soundstage immensely, to the point that I am still getting a kick out of just how much information is really almost always present in some way, from those channels. And the B5s, they keep right up with the pace of the T6s and C6 in the front all day long, and thanks to the port-less design, I can have them on my low-profile mounts, without ANY issue at all from being so closely mounted to the wall as my Surround L&R definitely are. That's something to take into consideration when considering ANY of the other Encore AND Audition Series speakers, is the fact that ALL of them, except for the Encore B5, are all a ported, bass-reflex design, so if you need to mount them close to, or ON to a wall, the B5 Encores are going to be your best bet, even over the Audition B4s! They WILL NOT let you down in such a use case as you have described as your reason for taking them into consideration!! Now, would I purchase them for use as a front LCR? I can't imagine that I would, however, that is an all together different monster, and I would say the same for just about ANY speaker I might consider for use as a satellite, period. If you ask me, the Encore B5s were made specifically for this use, and it is a job they perform so well, that in hindsight, I could not see myself choosing any other speaker over them, for my particullar setup, and that includes the Encore B6s! In closing, I'll voice one other thing that is right on the Monolith specs for the Encore Series and Audition Series's web pages respectfully, and that is - something Joe himself, mentioned a question in regard to - the fact that the drivers DO indeed vary between each of these two series of speakers, with the Encore Series drivers (not tweeters) being manufactured using a "long fiber pulp cone with NBR surround", and the more affordable - and more treble-forward - Audition Series drivers (again, not talking tweeters here, driver/woofer only) being manufactured using a "polypropylene cone with NBR surround", hence the more treble-forward nature of the Audition Series, as budget speakers, using "poly" or plastic - for us laymen out here - cones, do typically tend to lean more toward the bright end of the scale, while drivers made of "pulp" - long fiber or otherwise - which is essentially paper, just, paper specifically engineered for use in the construction of speaker cones/drivers, are notoriously more "full" sounding, and tend to lean more toward the "warm" end of the spectrum, which happens to be the more desirable and sought after sound profile/signature, over other, more "bright" or "forward" sounding drivers. There are exceptions here of course, just like so many other areas regarding subjective preferences relating to sound, but generally speaking, the "warm" sound is historically the more sought after type of sound between the two. So, perhaps that was the part where someone learned their "something new for the day", and perhaps not. Either way, I just thought it might be important for anyone actively considering the possibility of purchasing one of these types of speaker, or the other, to be able to make as educated a decision possible. So hopefully this has been of some additional help to someone out there. But to an extent, one truly cannot go wrong purchasing either Series, but if I were the one making the recommendation, I would, without a doubt, recommend the Encore Series, hands down. The value in that series is just difficult, if not impossible to beat!

[@officialpoa3171]

*WAIT! So you telling me that these MonoPrice hometheater speakers for the low$ is comparable to like lets say POLK AUDIO R7s or MONITOR AUDIO RS6's??*

[@robert71457]

Audioholics did a similar test and also had the same results. They also recommend the t5s at that price point. annnd they're SOLD OUT, go figure. Great video too.

[@joentell]

What test are you referring to? I did a few tests in this video.

[@tbob2224]

Did they measure the Encore T5? I thought they only reviewed the Encore T6's.

[@WindomRettes]

As you get older Joe you gonna need that HOT tweeter.

[@joentell]

I don't think so. As my high frequency hearing capabilities decrease, so will my ability to hear those sounds in the real world (my reference.) So listening to music with less high frequencies will sound "normal" and increased treble will still sound bright in comparison.

[@jtjumpshot]

Why is the T6 being discontinued?

[@KPG9999]

You compared the b5 to the b6 a lot in the video but how does the encore b5 bookshelf compare to the audition b5 bookshelf?

[@joentell]

I thought I compared the encore and audition. Maybe just the towers. But they're very similar. One big difference is the Audition is ported and the Encore is sealed! Tonality is similar on both with better components in the Encore B5 leading to slightly better tonality.

[@ShopTherapy623]

What’s your pick for a budget system that’s better than a soundbar? Just got a new 75” TV. My old soundbar isn’t cutting it…

[@joentell]

speakerleaderboard.com See what you like from there. You can pair bookshelf speakers with an inexpensive class D amp and you're set.

[@simpsonbergman2185]

Good to see this. Did you compare encore T5 to T6?

[@joentell]

I showed the size difference and frequency response difference

[@ronniehosein7384]

Hey. Thanks for the reviews. If you have choose between the encore T6 vs the heco aurora 1000. What would be your choice. 60% music 40% movies. Thanks again

[@joentell]

Encore T6 for me.

[@Goose_Lord]

Holy crap, you managed to Jerry Rig a half decent spinoroma? That's incredible. Next we need the compression testing included 😅 As far as output, how does the B5 compare to the THX sats? Does it get any louder? I know the B5 sensitivity sits between the THX sats and the on-walls, but curious if these offer any other performance benefits vs the much more compact offerings.

[@joentell]

Ha! I can do compression testing, but it's damn loud, and it's really easy to damage speakers since I'm using pink noise, not sweeps, in order to take quick measurements in real-time. Pink noise can easily mask any audible distortion and it's played for extended periods which can damage speakers. This might actually be a more realistic test compared to running sweeps as it plays all the frequencies together. The B5 can get louder than the THX Compact Satellite speakers without distorting. Surprisingly, they don't play as low either. The THX Sats are more linear and you can't beat the directivity of those concentric speakers as they are pretty much the same vertically as they are horizontally.

[@Goose_Lord]

@@joentell That does sound like a good test, but I don't want you blowing anything up lol! Very interesting results. Monolith has something for everyone in this price range, which is fantastic.

[@joentell]

@@Goose_Lord for subs, it's kind of open season since they typically have built-in limiters

[@rjr1284]

I use 6 Encore B5's for my height channels. Hard to beat for $50/ea at the moment.

[@joentell]

What are your mains?

[@rjr1284]

@@joentell It was previously Encore C6 for LCR with Neumi cs5 for sides and rear surrounds. Now its Monolith 365t left and right and C6 side surrounds and center. Waiting for the 365c to go on sale and pick up another c6 for the rears.

[@joentell]

@@rjr1284 dang! Keep moving up huh!

[@rjr1284]

@@joentell Its hard to say no to these monoprice deals hah. Already have a pair of monolith 15s and gonna snag another pair of v2 when they go on sale. Black friday isnt far off either. Hopefully that satisfies the upgrade hunger until Dirac ART comes around. Currently running x6700 with crown xls2502 for front stage and an older Kenwood thx 6ch for heights. Will be full preamp mode soon.

[@joentell]

@@rjr1284 Yeah, the deals are dangerous! 😁

[@roberthorwitz8607]

What would you say would be better value, the Encore B5 at $50 each or Encore B6 at $147 each? Thanks

[@joentell]

B6 all day! The amount of bass on the B6 is shocking and they have the 1" tweeter that I like more.

[@tracyherbert2978]

Monolith need to make some speakers like JTR.

[@eyeshezzy]

how are they even making any money

[@joentell]

Good question!

[@cliffordstalder7156]

Why are they all 4 ohms

[@joentell]

Most speakers are between 4-6 ohms nominal impedance. Even some that are rated at 8 ohms dip below that.

[@MRPC5]

There has to be more to all of these companies boosting their treble than just the showroom curve explanation. Is the Harman target simply not actually what most people prefer? I understand that's basically questioning scripture, but these companies must have data to back up their design decisions.

[@longplayer8600]

Black oak/vinyl/whatever just screams cheap unfortunately.

[@joentell]

I've seen some inexpensive light wood vinyl with no texture that looks worse. These aren't offensive imo

[@tbob2224]

The only issue I really have with them is the sharp edges which could be easily damaged. At the sale price the build is above most other speakers in price the range, the Sony SSCS3's feel much cheaper for example. The JBL A170 are probably closer to the build quality. All very different sounding speakers though. I haven't heard the A170's but the Sony's were way too bright for me even after attempting to EQ among other issues and went right back. I generally do not care for most budget level metal dome tweeters so I probably wouldn't care for the A170's. At the normal price the build quality would be good but not exceptional. I think the extra weight is due to bracing - even playing loud I didn't notice any cabinet resonance - very sturdy.

[@siddhu14]

Please review Moukey M20-3 passive bookshelves 🤍🙏🏼