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Good things come in two's for Sandy Greene:
the Monarchy Audio
M24 tube DAC/line tube preamp &
SM-70PRO stereo power amplifier
March 1, 2006
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M24 tube DAC/line tube preamp:
- Burr Brown select grade PCM63P-K used with
DF1704 digital filter
- An upgrade version of Monarchy Audio's most
popular Model 22/33, with DAC and Line Amp
in one single package
- 24/96 compatible
- Auto detect 44.1 , 48 and 96 KHz sampling, with
front panel display
- Tube Analog stage in DAC section
- Military Grade 6DJ8 used in both the DAC and
Line Amp sections(4 pcs)
- Audiophile Grade Volume Control on Solid
Stainless Steel knob
- 10 Sections of fully regulated power supplies
- Separate toroidal transformers for the Digital
and Analog sections
- Separate Line Amp can be used with other
external inputs(Tape or Tuner, etc.)
- Gain = 16 dB
- DAC Direct Output for use with other Preamps
or Control Centers
- 117 or 230 Volt version available
MSPR: US$1,490
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SM-70PRO stereo power amplifier:
- zero feedback
- 0.6 V sensitivity for full output
- stereo: 25 Wpc/8 Ω; 40 Wpc/4Ω
- monoblock: 75 watts/8 Ω; 120 watt4Ω
- over 150 watt on 4 Ohms above 10KHz
- 180 Watt/4Ω above 10KHz in True Balanced
mono mode
- 140 Watt/4Ω below 10KHz in mono mode
- epoxy-filled, higher-power toroidal transformer
- Double input drivers
- Double output MOSFETs
- Larger heatsinks and chassis
- Higher value filter-capacitors -- 60,000 uF
(MFD) total
- Double rectifiers
- Larger front panel
- Weight: 24 lb.
MSRP: $980 each.
Please contact the factory or its distributor Microwise
for specials on two units or more.
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Monarchy Audio
380 Swift Ave., #21,
South San Francisco, CA94080, USA
Tel : (650) 873-3055 Fax : (650) 588-0335
Email : monarchy@earthlink.net
http://www.monarchyaudio.com
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Perhaps I need a few different systems for different kinds of music. I guess for
Dagogo’s readers with varied tastes, not that mine are that varied, the ultimate goal of
building a hi-fi system would be to put together one that does justice to all their favored
types of music. I can tell you right off the bat, right now, that listening to electronic up-
tempo, big-beat grooves sounds absolutely fantastic through Monarchy Audio's new M24
Tube DAC/line tube preamp, and their SM-70 Pro stereo amplifier. It’s also fantastic with
rock and country. In fact, it is pretty fantastic all around, with jazz and classical too. I just
found it to deliver the most satisfaction when given a healthy dose of funk.
In my previous review with the Sonic Euphoria PLC preamplifier, I discovered that piece
to really, really rock with its more upfront sound, terrific texture and unlimited dynamics.
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The M24 DAC/Preamp and SM-70 Pro
almost rock as much but seem to be a little
bouncier, happier and friendlier. A little
more round if you will, with a very full and
robust bottom end that doesn’t possess as
much grind as it does bounce. The top-
end and midrange have some real tube-
like qualities to them with slightly
compressed dynamics, yet beautifully juicy
tone and air. The sound through the
Monarchy Audio combo is so full and rich,
you just want to jump into it.
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M24 tube DAC/line tube preamp
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Let’s start with some physical descriptions of the gear. First up, the SM-70 Pro.
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This little amp, and I mean little,
it’s about 12” wide, 12” deep and
5” tall. 1/4 of the width is the heat
sinks on both sides of the amp.
The amp does get a little warm
but nothing to be concerned
about, and it’s also really heavy
for its size and feels as solid as a
brick. Nothing pings or moves
around; it is literally built like a
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SM-70PRO stereo power amplifier
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tank. It looks and feels completely indestructible. On its front panel you’ll find the
Monarchy Audio logo, two small metal handles and the on/off rocker switch. Pretty typical
for an amplifier. Around the back, you’ll find a chock-full panel with the speaker binding
posts, stereo RCA inputs and one channel balanced input. There’s also a heavy-duty
fuse holder and a small switch to change the amp from stereo to mono mode. The overall
look of the SM-70 Pro is very utilitarian and smart.
It’s not necessarily a hide-away look, but it certainly does not call attention to itself.
The new M24, on the other hand, looks really beautiful and sophisticated. With bold
chrome feet, a thick aluminum front panel, very elegant small aluminum buttons, a large
turned stainless steel volume knob and neat big blue lights to indicate the digital
sampling frequency and input choice. The M24 is 17" wide, so it will fit with just about
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any standard system. It’s not too tall, at
about 4” high and 14” deep with its big
strong feet. On the top panel there are 4
circular cut outs revealing the 4 tubes from
the DAC and line stage. Chances are you
won’t be seeing the top very often, so it’s
more for venting than look, but it is neat to
see the glow of tubes if the DAC/preamp is
set alone on a shelf with nothing above it
The M24 is basically a three input device,
with one coaxial and one optical digital
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input to the DAC, each individually selectable from the front panel, and one line-level
analog stereo RCA set of inputs.
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On the front panel, you choose either the DAC or the LINE input, and can have two
separate digital devices connected to the DAC; one via optical and one via coaxial. I
had my Airport Express connected via optical and my CD player via coaxial, and my
phono preamp into the LINE input. There are two outputs around the back as well: One
Line Out that follows the volume control (for connecting to an amplifier) and an ANALOG
OUTPUT that is for the DAC’s output only at a nominal line level output. You would use
the ANALOG OUTPUT if you were using the M24 as a DAC between your sources and
your preamplifier. The M24 is every bit as solid and tank-like as the SM-70 Pro. With
these two pieces of Monarchy Audio gear, you certainly feel like you are getting a lot of
value and quality for relatively very little money.
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M24 interior
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This amp, DAC/preamp combo, being fed a digital signal from my trusty Eastern Electric
MiniMax CD player via coaxial cable on its way to my consistently true and reliable
Meadowlark Kestral II loudspeakers, just loves to rock and boogie. On the system now is
the Propellerheads album from 1998 titled, Decks and Drums and Rock
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and Roll. Barely a single track slower than 120bmp on this
album made up of samples, synths and rock instruments. The
title track, “Take California”, is just an all out assault to the
deepest regions and it clips along at a great pace with dynamic
impact and a projection that completely fills the room. The SM-
70 Pro just wants to rock and rock loud. It never sounded
strained and seemed to have more and more fun the louder it
went. I have had gear in this system that really didn’t do well too
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loud. Not the SM-70 Pro. It loves to crank; it possesses a fantastic mix of evenness
across the frequency range with really wide dynamics, an airy and pleasant treble that
never gets grating. This is a great amp at all volume levels and a fantastic match with my
89db sensitive Kestral II’s.
The DAC in the M24 is simply fantastic. With the M24, I am able to feed both the analog
output of my MiniMax and a digital feed from my MiniMax at the same time, making A-B
comparisons as simple as toggling the DAC/Line button. Both the MiniMax and the M24
have a tube output stage. Besides tube types, which certainly would have their own
slightly different sonic signatures, this is about as close as one could get to an even
comparison. The M24 uses two Military Grade 6DJ8’s in it output stage (and two in its
DAC for a total of four). The MiniMax uses two 6922 tubes in its output stage. I am using
the stock tubes on both.
I found the M24’s DAC to be a little more musical than the MiniMax, and that’s saying a
lot as I have found the MiniMax to be more musical than quite a number of CD players
over the years. The M24’s DAC has just a tad more excitement and life to it. It is at the
same time a little more robust and round; or warmer, if you will.
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SM-70PRO rear panel
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Like I mentioned at the beginning of the
review, I found myself reaching back into
my electronic music back catalog. I
rocked loud through Fatboy Slim’s Better
Living Through Chemistry album from
1997, as well as the Beastie Boys 1996
In Sound From Way Out, a bunch of
instrumental outtakes and jams from the
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previous recordings. Both of these recordings just loved being played through the SM-70
Pro/M24 combination, and both records and just about every other album I played through
the combo had this incredibly inviting quality to the reproduction. It was like a super drug,
one that I have not experienced before, in audio reproduction that is. The sound was not
over analytical, it allowed me to have fun with the music, to want to crank it up and enjoy
enjoy enjoy! Smile smile smile. Dance dance dance. My 4-year-old daughter just
absolutely loved it. She was dancing right between the speakers and would not let me
stop the music. This combo drew her in like no other system I have had in the house.
A little Johnny Cash from 1965’s Orange Blossom Special sounded perfectly acceptable
through the SM-70 Pro/M24 combo. And I say perfectly acceptable because I did not find
this recording to be spectacular, and more importantly, the Monarchy combo did not
make me feel bad about putting on less than audiophile fare
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as you can tell. On some more
analytical systems I have
heard, I would not be able to
enjoy an album like this due to
its less than perfect-recorded
quality. That was not the case,
as the Monarchy combo
allowed me to forget about the
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gear and hear the song in the
song. I was not transported
back in time and place as I
have been with other gear, but I
certainly was entertained with
the Man-in-black’s fantastic
songs and rendering of songs
(like a few Dylan songs on this
classic album).
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Here’s where I really had a bunch of fun with this Preamp/DAC, the M24, and it really got
me thinking of the future of our audio sport. I ran an optical digital cable from my Airport
Express into the M24’s optical input and through its tube DAC and tube analog output
stage. It is so convenient to stream music wirelessly from my Apple laptop to the Apple
Airport Express… any format: non-compressed audio, lossless compression, mp3’s,
internet radio, video’s audio. Whatever the format, the M24 took that data and raised the
sound level to that same musical plane it did when converting the digital output of my CD
player. Compared to the straight analog audio output from the Airport Express’ own
onboard DAC, the digital feed through the M24 had much more of everything musical.
The sound was more 3-dimensional, it involved more of the room, and it was more robust
and richer. Now, make me an integrated amplifier from the M24’s DAC and preamp with
the SM-70 Pro’s amplifier in the same size and beautiful chassis as the M24, and I’d be
in heaven. This would be the kind of single, elegant, flexible, and affordable (hopefully)
audio device that would really have me excited to use and show off.
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In conclusion, I could completely live with this system for a very long time and always have
a smile on my face. I find it fun, useful, cheery, robust, musical, reliable, comforting, and
entertaining. The SM-70 Pro and M24 tube DAC Line Amp have a very special magic
combination of energy and ambience. At all volume levels this system delivers a fantastic
mix of detail and full-range sound. It lights up my living room and has me pulling out music
I have not listened to in a while. The music is not necessarily audiophile fare, but real fun
pop and electronic gems… and that’s OK with this Monarchy Audio combo. It is equally
as fulfilling with other types of music as well, but I really found myself digging back into my
electronic music collection, 90’s alternative and funk collections a little more than my
vintage jazz or singer-songwriter.
The M24 is a very attractive piece of equipment. If Monarchy Audio designs an amplifier
that matches the physical proportions and also has that beautifully subtle engraved front
aluminum panel, or even better yet, put all that goodness into one classy chassis like the
M24’s, I’d be extremely tempted to own it as my new, minimalist, flexible, connectable
and modern system. The quality of sound of both the SM-70 Pro and M24, and the useful
facilities of the M24 combined with its special tube stage, create a fantastic musical
experience that is both fun and refined, always musical and just begging to be played
practically all the time.
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ALSO SEE THE DAGOGO REVIEWS OF:
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Eastern Electric MiniMax
CD player
Roksan Caspian M Series-1
integrated CD player
Sonic Euphoria PLC Passive Line Controler
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DAGOGO© 2003-2006
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