How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Monoprice Monolith M1070C — biggest strength: a 106mm planar magnetic driver with a dual linear symmetry magnet array in a closed-back enclosure, tuned for a wide soundstage, airy highs and tight deep bass.
• Monoprice Monolith M1070C — biggest trade-off: it's a full-size over-ear wired headphone weighing under 23 ounces, so it's built for seated listening rather than pocketable, on-the-go use.
• KZ AS24 — biggest strength: twelve balanced-armature-style drivers per side with a two-board, eight-level tuning system covering ultra-high, high, mid and low frequency bands.
• KZ AS24 — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear design with a plastic 3D-printed shell, so it blocks sound passively through fit rather than the large closed-back cup isolation of an over-ear.
• Who the Monolith M1070C is for: listeners who want a big, comfortable, upgrade-friendly home headphone with removable earpads.
• Who the KZ AS24 is for: musicians, engineers and audiophiles who want a tunable, detailed in-ear monitor with a detachable 2-pin cable.
The M1070C is built around one big idea: a 106mm planar magnetic driver inside a closed-back cup. Planar drivers move a thin diaphragm across a large surface, and Monoprice pairs that with a dual linear symmetry magnet array. The stated result is a wide soundstage, extended airy highs and tight, deep bass — all from a closed-back enclosure. If you've only used small dynamic headphones, the scale of the driver is the headline here.
The closed-back design matters just as much as the driver. Monoprice explicitly frames this as a headphone for "less than silent environments" — the cups keep outside noise out and your music in. That makes the M1070C a sensible pick if you listen in a shared room, next to a window, or anywhere you don't want to leak sound or be distracted by it. It's a wired headphone with a 3.5mm connector and remote media controls, so it plugs into laptops, desktops, DACs and portable players without fuss.
Who should buy it: home listeners who want a big, comfortable, isolating over-ear with a wide soundstage and the option to change pads. Who should skip it: anyone who needs something pocketable, wireless, or worn during movement — this is a seated, wired, full-size headphone.
KZ AS24: Who It's For
The KZ AS24 takes the opposite approach. Instead of one large driver, it uses twelve driver units per side — a 24BA configuration across high, mid and low frequency bands, joined by professional crossover technology. KZ describes the result as smooth, ductile treble, solid and stable midrange, and powerful, clear low end. The point of cramming that many units into an in-ear is separation: each band is handled by its own dedicated hardware, which is exactly what monitoring work rewards.
The most interesting feature is the tuning system. Each earpiece has two tuning boards with four independent audio adjustments, giving eight levels of control over ultra-high, high, mid and low frequency bands. That's a genuinely unusual amount of adjustability for an in-ear — you can shift the balance toward bass or toward treble, or leave it neutral, and match the response to different genres or monitoring tasks. The impedance is listed at 20 ohms, with a tuning-version range of 20–50 ohms, and sensitivity of 112dB standard or 109dB tuning version. Frequency response spans 10–40000Hz.
Physically, the AS24 uses a one-piece DLP 3D-printed shell with a rounded tip and an internal sound-guide structure KZ says is more accurate than conventional designs. The cable is a high-purity silver-plated dual parallel OFC design with a detachable 0.75mm 2-pin connector — so you can swap in a microphone cable, a Bluetooth cable or an upgrade cable. The 3.5mm plug works with most digital sources, and the 1.2m cable is a sensible length for stage or desk use.
Who should buy it: musicians, engineers and detail-focused listeners who want a tunable, replaceable-cable in-ear with strong band separation. Who should skip it: anyone who dislikes in-ear fit, wants over-ear comfort, or prefers a simple plug-and-play experience without tuning decisions.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for fine-tuning the sound to your taste → KZ AS24. Two tuning boards and eight levels of adjustment across four frequency bands.
• Best for isolation in shared spaces → Monoprice Monolith M1070C. The closed-back over-ear design keeps noise out and music in.
• Best for portability and stage use → KZ AS24. A compact in-ear with a 1.2m detachable cable travels far more easily than a full-size headphone.
• Best for long, comfortable listening sessions → Monoprice Monolith M1070C. Under 23 ounces, padded headband and large pads, plus swappable lambskin or velour earpads.
• Best for cable flexibility and future upgrades → KZ AS24. The 2-pin detachable design accepts mic, Bluetooth or upgrade cables.
• Best for monitoring detail and separation → KZ AS24. Twenty-four driver units per pair with dedicated crossover work.
• Best for a simple wired home setup → Monoprice Monolith M1070C. 3.5mm connection with remote media controls, no tuning decisions required.
In my opinion, the Monoprice Monolith M1070C is the one I'd buy if I were picking a single headphone to live with at a desk. The 106mm planar driver, closed-back isolation, sub-23-ounce comfort and two included pad options make it the more versatile everyday choice for home listening. I'd recommend the KZ AS24 instead if your work involves monitoring, tuning or moving between locations — its eight-level tuning and detachable 2-pin cable are genuinely useful there. Both are wired, but they solve entirely different problems.
Neither is universally "better" — they're different formats. The M1070C is a full-size closed-back planar headphone built for soundstage and comfort; the KZ AS24 is a tunable in-ear built for monitoring detail and portability. Pick based on how you listen, not on which sounds more impressive on paper. If price matters to you, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
The AS24 is listed at 20 ohms impedance with 112dB sensitivity in the standard version, which suggests it's easy to drive from typical sources. The tuning version ranges from 20 to 50 ohms and 109dB, so it may want a bit more headroom. A basic dongle DAC should be plenty.
The Monoprice M1070C uses a closed-back over-ear design specifically for isolating you from outside noise. The KZ AS24 relies on in-ear fit and passive sound isolation. For blocking a noisy room, I'd lean toward the over-ear M1070C; for sealing tightly in your ear canal, the in-ear AS24 is the more compact option.
Yes, in different ways. The M1070C has removable earpads and ships with both memory foam lambskin and velour pairs, so you can swap or upgrade them. The KZ AS24 has a detachable 0.75mm 2-pin cable, so you can fit a microphone cable, Bluetooth cable or upgrade cable. Both are built with longevity in mind.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.