Monarchy Audio SM-70 Pro

[Ninanina]

Just a thought...

Does anyone have experience of the Monarchy amps ?

I believe they are Class A amps

Thanks for any help.. ;)

[struth]

A few on here do... Geoff being the biggest fan as he has some

[Ninanina]

A few on here do... Geoff being the biggest fan as he has some

I didn't know that Geoff had them... I bet he uses them as monoblocks.. I wondered how good they were used as a single power amp....

[struth]

Fab as a single and super fab as monos. I've one of their dacs and their stuff is top notch

[Ninanina]

Fab as a single and super fab as monos. I've one of their dacs and their stuff is top notch

Have you heard the SM-70 Grant ?

[walpurgis]

Just a thought...

Does anyone have experience of the Monarchy amps ?

I believe they are Class A amps

Thanks for any help.. ;)

I have the Monarchy Audio SM-70 and SM-70 Pro Bev. Yes they are pure Class A. They really are superb by any standards and unbelievable for the money. I'd put mine up against any £5000 power amp for sound quality. Spending a lot more, you may get more exclusivity from a 300B SE amp, but not that much gain in sound quality and on the solid state side, all more expense gets you is more power, no huge improvement in sound. My SM-70 Pro is doing great service driving my big Tannoys. Packs a far bigger punch than you'd expect too. I rate these above any Class A Sugden I've tried.

If you've got your eye on that one on eBay. So have I. I don't need it really, but I'm tempted. I'm just greedy. :)

[struth]

alas no, but very nearly bought 2 of the non pro versions which are great as well. The pro is a step up I'm told. I got outbid. These things are meant to be I guess as I have 2 great monos at a fraction of price that I like very much....so much I bought another 2 as backups. with very efficient speakers they are fabulous... They are too cheap for most folk to give credance to so doubt many have heard them at there best. brian has and think he said he could listen to the combo all day :eyebrows:

[Ninanina]

Thanks Geoff and Grant..

I was wondering how it would compare to my Oto....

As you say Grant they seem too cheap to be true... However I have read a couple of reviews of them and they seem to rate them... I am tempted... and I didn't think I would ever be 'tempted' away from the Audio Note to be honest...

Geoff are you using a single SM-70 to drive the Tannoy's ?

[walpurgis]

The pro is a step up I'm told.

The 'Pro' is not a step up. It has a (very) slightly softer presentation and is lovely with my Tannoys, but the basic SM-70 has the edge (just) on lucidity. Both punch above their weight and sound more like 50 watt amps. I have Class A EL34 valve monos and a big type 'D' power amp which both sound very fine, but I just keep using the Monarchy. Wonder why?
:scratch: :D

[Ninanina]

The 'Pro' is not a step up. It has a (very) slightly softer presentation and is lovely with my Tannoys, but the basic SM-70 has the edge (just) on lucidity. Both punch above their weight and sound more like 50 watt amps. I have Class A EL34 valve monos and a big type 'D' power amp which both sound very fine, but I just keep using the Monarchy. Wonder why?
:scratch: :D

As a single amp Geoff or as monoblocks ?

[walpurgis]

Geoff are you using a single SM-70 to drive the Tannoy's ?

Yes. The results from running a single have been so good, I felt no need to double up.

The sound would be different to the Oto, but not inferior. The Monarchy will have a lot more punch! Mine sounds absolutely sublime with a TVC pre-amp.

[walpurgis]

I've one of their dacs

I've got two :ner:.

[Ninanina]

I've got two :ner:.

Now that's just greedy Geoff....

Now how would that compare to my AN Dac 1x Sig I wonder ?

[struth]

I've got two :ner:.

My new pi dac has overshadowed it ;)

[struth]

Now that's just greedy Geoff....

Now how would that compare to my AN Dac 1x Sig I wonder ?

its a fair bit better than my old AN dac 0

[Ninanina]

its a fair bit better than my old AN dac 0

Very interesting Grant....

[Ninanina]

So what would be a good price to pay for the SM-70 Pro amp ?

[walpurgis]

Now how would that compare to my AN Dac 1x Sig I wonder ?

I've not done the comparison, but have been told by somebody who has that the Monarchy DAC is superior.

[walpurgis]

So what would be a good price to pay for the SM-70 Pro amp ?

They sell for between £400 and £600.

[Ninanina]

They sell for between £400 and £600.

Thanks Geoff

Could the 70 Pro be successfully paired with a passive pre like the Tisbury etc ?

[walpurgis]

Yes. I've used a stepped attenuator pre and it works, but the TVC is in a different league. It's also better than any active pre I've used with any power amp.

It's one of these: http://i58.tinypic.com/1sl5qe.jpg

[Ninanina]

Yes. I've used a stepped attenuator pre and it works, but the TVC is in a different league. It's also better than any active pre I've used with any power amp.

I don't know the TVC pre, never heard of it to be honest... ;)

[struth]

Ive got one as well.. transformer volume control pre. best by far imo

[Ninanina]

Ive got one as well.. transformer volume control pre. best by far imo

What's the cost of the TVC ' ish ?

[struth]

varies tbh. dearer than standard stepped usually

[walpurgis]

I don't know the TVC pre, never heard of it to be honest... ;)

As Grant says, it means Transformer Volume Control. There are a few makes. Music First are the best known. Promitheus sell on eBay. The Ming Da I have is not available any more I believe. There is a Raphaelite item (which should be superb) offered on far east eBay sites now and then. Prices vary. Anything from £300 (ish) used, to a couple of thousand quid.

[Ali Tait]

There are also the Dave Slagle modules -

http://www.intactaudio.com/atten.html

I have a pair at the moment, have yet to finish fitting them to a nice quality passive pre I bought on here. Will be used with a 70 Pro. Can only echo Geoff's comments, great bit of kit.

[StevenZ]

Have any of you used or considered one of these? http://www.khozmo.com/ For the price they seem quite reasonable.