Originally Posted by
jandl100
Hmm
I home-demmed Monarchy SM70, and I have to say I wasn't much impressed. Moderate rez at best, imho, a bit pipe&slippery. OK if you like 'smooth', but not all of us do.
But then I find that I never get on with solid state pure Class A amps - I always find them too smooth.
Those Monarchy amps are cute little buggers, though!
Bet it was the 'Pro' you tried. It has a slightly softer, warmer sound compared to the regular SM-70. I use both and there is a difference, the basic SM-70 being more open and lucid, but both sound lovely. They are a bit fussy which pre-amp you pair them with though. My 'Pro' sounds stunning with my big Tannoys, no lack of resolution in that application. I use valves too when it suits and don't find the Monarchy Audio amps wanting in any way in comparison, just different.
It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!