OneOdio Monitor 80 Review – A Worthy Monitor 60 Upgrade?

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Big thank you to OneOdio for sending the Monitor 80 to review!

Full disclosure: This is a paid review but I made it clear to them that I do not guarantee positive reviews or recommendations – I make in-depth, honest evaluations based on my impressions and the ultimate value that the product may or may not provide. 

Greetings mate and Welcome aboard. Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear) all over again, so…

OneOdio Monitor 80

Price: Check Amazon! | Check OneOdio!

In The Box

Monitor 80 Headphones

Audio Cable*2

Manual

EVA Carrying Case

Specifications

• Frequency Response: 10Hz – 40kHz
• Speaker: 40mm neodymium driver
• Impedance: 250 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 100+3dB/mW
• Distortion: ≤1%
• Max Power: 1600mW
• Plug Type: 3.5mm/6.35mm stereo jack

Introduction

The last time we spoke, the Monitor 60 was on the menu and it mostly satisfied like a Snickers.

I found it a pretty excellent value all things considered but wasn’t completely sold on it as a true mixing headphone (even though it had some great qualities).

Does the Monitor 80 represent any real upgrade for roughly $20 more?

How does it sound and what’s different about it? Is it better for mixing?

Today we’ll take a look at OneOdio’s step-up and find out if it’s worth a purchase – by discussing things like build, comfort, sound, amplification, and more.

By the end of this article,

you’ll know which one is worth your hard-earned dollar.

Build

Look, it’s the M50’s child.

To start off, the Monitor 80 seems to be a tad lighter, but also smaller in stature than the Monitor 60.

It’s a more compact headphone but still folds and rotates in all of the same ways as the 60 did.

We’ve still got some metal for the headband adjustments and OneOdio has continued its tradition of mimicking the original Audio Technica ATH-M50x design; something I can’t and won’t complain about.

I like it.

Their company’s logo is again engraved on the top of the headband, but this time the cups are shallower and also made of velour vs. the protein leather found on the Monitor 60.

From here on out we’ll refer to them as M80 and M60.

I’m a bit torn as to how I feel about this new development.

On the one hand,

I love the fact that they are velour because it lasts longer and feels much better on your head.

The flip side is that Velour dirties easily, collects lots of undesirables (hair, dust, random particles, etc.) but also causes the sound to change a bit – something we’ll discuss a little later.

Both headphones don the much-appreciated dual-sided connectors, meaning you don’t need a 1/4″ adapter when switching between amps with 1/4″ jacks vs. ones that have a 3.5mm connection.

Both are also made of the same plastic material, but the M60 is heavier – likely due to the DUMMY THICC cups.

The outside of the grilles on each look a bit different aesthetically, and users should also note that the M60 is a closed-back headphone while the M80 is indeed an open-back.

These distinctions will be important later as we dissect the sound.

Another small discrepancy is the text on each of the cups.

The M60 reads “OneOdio Monitor 60” on the outside of both, while the M80’s text is larger – reading “High Definition Driver”, and below that “250 Ohm”.

The other cup reads “The power of music!” and below that “Monitor 80.”

Also, note that the M60 utilizes 50mm drivers vs. only 40 for the M80.

Rounding out the build are the same R and L indicators on the inside of the cups and they also appear in the same place near the headband adjustment’s circular silver pieces.

Comfort

In all honesty, comfort is pretty similar although I’d probably give a slight nod to the M80.

It feels a bit more like air and this most certainly has to do with its velour padding.

It almost disappears on your head and feels.

F****g.

FANTASTIC. 

While the M60 is certainly no slouch in the comfort department, it does take a backseat here although I will likely include both on my most comfortable headphones of all time list. 

AIGHT?!

Both clamp just about perfectly, and neither digs into the top of your head much; a huge benefit while mixing down tracks for many hours and something you’ll come to adore when it’s 3 a.m. and you know you should be in bed but don’t care much because you’re young and f**k it.

F YEAH. MIXING.

Sound

• Playlist: Here!

One thing you’ll notice right away is how much more music I listened to with both of these than with some other headphones.

This is certainly a byproduct of their mostly flat, neutral profiles as you can easily kick back with these for hours and not really know where the f**k the time went.

Not only are they both super duper comfortable, but the sound is incredibly non-fatiguing and pleasant – a nice added benefit when you’re not mixing.

In other words,

you can be a kickback and relax typa homie, or you can chug coffee all night long and mix down tracks.

It’s up to you.

Soundstage

One of the main differences between these 2 is the Soundstage.

This is quite interesting when you consider that the M80 should theoretically sound more open given it’s an open-back headphone.

• Related: Closed Back vs. Open Back Headphones | THE DIFFERENCE?

But this isn’t quite the case and it’s a concept I’ve discussed a lot over the years with folks.

One thing that most snobby audiophiles can agree on is the fact that pad size, shape, depth, etc. can and does have a monumental impact on how a particular headphone sounds.

Nowhere is that more apparent than here, as the M60 ends up being the more open headphone with better Soundstage!

That’s right you heard me correctly.

The M80, while technically a more neutral offering, sounds a little more boxed in, slightly duller, with a Soundstage that simply isn’t nearly as good.

Does this really matter when you’re mixing? Well yes and no.

The M60 seems better for actually enjoying music whereas the M80 works better in the studio.

But, the M60 seems to be a bit more revealing, exposing hidden artifacts in the song that you may not have been aware of.

The M80 does this too, but not quite as well. Again, this has much to do with the pads on each.

You will get that out-of-your-head feeling with some tracks on the M80, but it mostly has to do with how the song was recorded and has less to do with the headphones.

Take this song for example The Midnight Ez – “Midnight Anthem.“

I mean it sounds like the guy is trolling us.

I can’t even listen to it as I feel like someone’s throwing a pebble at my window every few seconds.

That was certainly done on purpose to add immersion and listener engagement.

There’s not a doubt in my mind it’s what the artist was going for.

The M60 by contrast provides a wide Soundstage the majority of the time – meaning it has less to do with the track and more to do with the pads/how the headphones were tuned.

I will be the first to tell you that both headphones can sometimes sound a bit overly dry, but I’d say the M80 certainly suffers from this more than the lusher, denser M60.

A lot of this has to do with the M60’s more pronounced mid-bass.

Is the M60 perfect though?

Not by a long shot. As we discussed in the official review, its mid-bass has mostly been rectified but still sounds a bit colored in comparison to the M80.

The M80 is about as flat as flat gets, but both headphones still have that papery, thin, dry, somewhat hollow character that’s hard to reconcile.

As if the music is missing some life, zest, sparkle, or snap.

You like that word salad?

You want another one?

If the M60 was all that stuff I just said and lacked some zip, the M80 really takes it to another level.

If it were an animal, it would definitely be Eeyore.

You’re welcome, Debbie f****ng Downer. 

No life, listless, kind of sad clown status. That’s the M80 for you.

As it turns out, this is definitely much better for mixing than the Monitor 60.

I still think the M60 is a viable option, but the M80 works better as a monitor because it’s much more neutral and places less emphasis on the mid-bass and pretty much everything else.

Comparing the 2 side by side really shines a light on how much flatter the M80 is. It’s actually kind of jarring.

The M80 handles the treble pretty well all things considered, but again, there’s little sparkle which is better for mixing but not as exciting for casual cats.

Amplification

I will caution you that the M80 comes in at 250 Ohms vs. only 38 for the M60.

Both are pretty efficient at 100 and 110dB respectively, so don’t freak out too much about blowing all your hard-earned street corner money.

Currently, I’m running the M80 out of the iFi Zen at 10 ‘o’clock with power match on.

That’s right, the Amp that all the internet parrots said was underpowered actually isn’t and they’re FOS (and have been for a few years now).

The Zen is JUST fine here.

In fact, I can turn power match off and still only have to turn it up to around 12-1. That’s it.

You could also opt for an audio interface if you plan to use a mic – something like a Universal Audio Volt 2 is my go-to.

DON’T OVERTHINK IT!!!

Before we give a final verdict here, let’s discuss some things that I liked and also what can be improved.

What I liked

• Value. A lot of companies claim their poor-sounding trashy headphones are studio monitors, but that’s a lie. OneOdio markets their Monitor 80 as such and I believe it’s an accurate label for these. They are almost hideously flat. In fact, some songs sound like absolute dog shit, and that’s probably a good thing. It means the M80 is exposing bad mixes and masters and rendering music how it actually sounds rather than how a company would like for it to sound.
• The comfort is excellent. The velour padding really helps with this, but the headphones are super conducive for long listening sessions and feel like air on your head. They basically disappear.
• Build. The flexibility of these is great for the studio and they feel just about as you’d expect for around $100. A bit on the lighter side? Sure. But the last thing you want when mixing for hours on end is a heavy a** bowling ball on your giant melon. Dig?
• Cables and the overall package. I really like the carrying case this time around and the cable variety is nice as well. You’re getting a straight cable and coiled, and again, no need for a 1/4″ adapter as the headphones have dual-sided jacks (One 1/4″ and one 3.5mm).

What could be improved?

• Wow, I don’t have any complaints. Shocker. I’m always b***hing about something. xD If I had to nitpick, yes, the dulled sound sometimes bothers me but again, remember what you’re using these for and chill tf out, alright?

Video Discussion

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Final Verdict

If you’ll recall from my Monitor 60 review, I wasn’t completely sold on them (for mixing) due to the slight mid-bass emphasis but I thought they did a lot right and felt they were worth a look.

The M80 for only $20 more does fit its “Studio Monitor” moniker quite wonderfully and I wouldn’t hesitate at all to mix on them.

In fact,

I just fired up a track I’m working on and plan to EQ it with the M80 because everything is just about ruler flat, and while they are some of the most boring headphones I’ve ever heard, that’s exactly what you want during a mixdown.

In listening to the rough draft of a beat I’m making, The M80 actually highlighted an area of the treble that sounds a bit overly bright so that’s already a great sign.

If I was apprehensive about adding the M60 to the list of Best Studio Headphones For Mixing, I’m certainly clearing a spot for the M80 – high on the list in fact.

If listening to 10+ hours of music in no time at all isn’t a clear indication of how neutral these are, I don’t know what is.

Anyhow, I’ve done enough rambling.

Learn More:

As for the M60?

I think it does better for casual homies who want to get a little more turned on when they listen, so if that’s your bag, go for it!

OH, BEHAVE!!!

Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this OneOdio Monitor 80 Review and came away with some valuable insight.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

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Are these worth a purchase? What headphones are you currently mixing on? I’d love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

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Photo Gallery

Look, it's the M50's child.

OneOdio Monitor 80

4.9

Build Quality

4.9/5

Comfort

5.0/5

Sound

4.8/5

Value

5.0/5

Pros

• Value for the money/Cables/Overall package.
• It's marketed as a Monitor and actually works as a monitor.
• Comfort and build are both excellent.

Cons

• None at the moment.

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