Customer2

SM-70/ SM-70 PRO

From: "Mike"
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:49:33 -0700
SM-70 PRO versus Tripath Digital Amp

Never heard the M901.
I liked the Kingrex a lot but it just did NOT play loud enough for me, nor have enough bass.
The Nuforce are favorites of mine. If you need a very simple amp (one input, one output) the Nuforce Icon Amp (not the vanillia 'Icon') can't be beat.
I had one, wish I'd kept it. I'm still using an Icon as a pre-amp.

The Virtue are more 'audiophilish' than similar amps. Better midrange, soundstage. But they are still a tripath amp. Like a really, really, really, good thirty dollar amp.
I think the parts quality on my 451 is excellent. I'm using it in my office/computer system with a pair of Energy RC-mini's and a Martin Logan Dynamo.

I think Nuforce is a good place to stop. I think the Virtue are better, but not hugely so, unless you're using a subwoofer.
The Virtue have an outstanding sub-out and the feature of '80hz filter to the main speakers' is KILLER if you're doing a sub.

-Mike

PS: If you're interested in separate amps check out the Monarchy SM70 Pro. Jesus, it's amazing.
Just knocks all this Tripath stuff into the dirt, but you do need a pre-amp. Best sounding low-powered amp I've ever heard by a mile.

From:xxxxaudiodesign@hotmail.com
Subject: Audiogon listing: Monarchy Audio P-100 AC Regenerator

TO: Monarchyaudio

Mr Poon, I recently sold my Monarchy SM-70 Pros, and have regretted it since.

I require a matched pair, as I run them mono to demonstrate my cables, and to evaluate speakers and other products. (Even to show people how much they are missing using inferior amps.) In fact, this set will be paired with a $14,000 set of loudspeakers, hand-built for my own application, wired with my own, hand-tailored cables.

Your amps are literally a benchmark, and I must have another set before the convention in Washington, DC on June 11-13, or I refuse to rent a booth there.

Please quote me a price for a pair of SM-70 Pros, shipped to 28411.

I would also like a quote on another M22C DAC/Pre, as I sold it for a "Benchmark DAC-1," which turned-out to be more of a doorstop than benchmark. Far too "digital," IMO, the DAC-1 barely touches the 18B, let alone the 22B/10a combo, or 22C.

I can not rep my wires on inferior gear, and I am quite upset I was ever talked-out of my original SM-70s to begin with.

Regards,

Joe @ Auricle Audio Design, NA
(xxx) xxx-WIRE [9473]

Date: 01-19-2009

Mr Poon, CEO of Monarchy Audio, asked me to jot down my experiences with my M24 and Dual Mono SM70 PROs.
Before I begin let me give you some background about myself: My name is Camen E. DiCini.
I’ll soon be 76 years of age. I’ve been listening to all types of recorded music for almost 62 years.

I’ve seen the advent of LP’s and 45’s. I was in high school when these came on the scene.
Then open reel tape followed, by Dolby cassettes, and finally the CD.

Over the years I have owned well over 100 plus pieces of audio gear.
This is more than a hobby to me: It is more of an education.
You are probably like me : a music lover. No doubt about it. Let’s fast forward to 1984.
At that time I had the space. I owned three systems, speakers and all.
I discovered headphone listening for the simple reason I lived in a condo at the time.
I am disabled and cannot sleep at night sometimes.
So I listen to my system via headphones direct from the amp or amps.
In 1984 I had Stax and the just released Grados. In 1994 I had a house with a listening room.
But because of medical problems I had to give it up. Back to an apartment and headphone listening.
Again direct from the amps (Grado RS-1)
In 2005 I purchased a new system: Cary AES 572-3 set Dual Mono amps, a Cary AES 3 preamp,

a Marantz cassette deck for old time radio and the great courses. Also a

Marantz CD player, a musical Fidelity DAC stack, DAC, Buffer and Power Supply.

I saw the Monarchy DIP in the Music Direct catalog, so I ordered one.

The DIP was drop shipped from San Francisco. I live in Sacramento

When it arrived I hooked it up. It worked like bank busters.

Enclosed in the shipping carton was a spec sheet for the SM-70 PRO.

What caught my attention was it was SE Class A and you could have Dual Mono

hook up. Plus it had a fantastic price. When it arrived I hooked it up.(At the time

<>I had a pair of AKG1000. They would not work with single amp. So back to the RS-1’s.

This was in April ’06 when I was using the Cary Preamp, and CD set up.

Oct 06 I purchased a M24. I was using the Marantz CD player and DIP to the M24: as good or
better than the reviewers stated. In Dec ’06 I purchased my second SM-70 PRO.

Now I had dual mono. The AKG 1000’s worked with this setup.

I use Maple Shade Speaker wires to the headphones also interconnect and two power strips.

I also have a pair of Denon AD5000 phones and a pair of AKG701’s.

I enjoy listening to all of them. Oh, I forgot I have a pair of Grado GS1000’s.

I discovered something: the longer the headphone cord the better they sound.

I am not going to say they sound better than speakers. But , they sound damn good.

I have owned electrostatic speakers, Ionic tweeters, ribbon tweeters, and planars.

With phones you don’t have to worry about room characteristics. If I had the space

I would have a few pair of speakers for daytime listening.

Oh, I also have a pair of Sennheiser wireless. I am listening to classical music.

Oh, I forgot I have a second DIP, and three tuners common to both my systems:

A Polk XM Tuner, A Sirus Tuner and a Sequerra HD tuner. For three years my XM

Tuner had a passable signal most of the time until Sirus got into the fray.

For the past year, XM’s off most of the time. I’ve had my Sirus Tuner if you can

call it that: smaller than Polk Remote.

They sure needed XM for programming. Theirs sucks. But they have three classical

channels and two old time radio.

Maple Shade came out with a super Mini to RCA adaptor.
With my Polk XM Tuner I have Fibre Optic cable going to the DIP at 96KHz.

The engineers here is Sacramento know nothing about HD Transmission.

When it is broadcast right it sounds as good as satellite.

Now I have two and a half systems: I have dual Mono Dignity Audio 300B SE amps.

I only have 500 plus CD’s. so if satellite is on the blink other than their poor program choice,
I have about 300 CD’s I haven’t listened to yet.

Well I hope you have gained some insight from experience with M24 and dual mono SM-70 PRO.
I am not going to belabor the point and repeat what the critics already have said. I stated my reason for this choice.
To me my systems satisfy my requirements.

If you are interested in purchasing the Monarchy gear call or email Music Direct in Chicago.

They are the best people around.

In conclusion I only have $18,210 invested in 2 ½ systems. At one time I had that much in speakers.

I’d like to leave with this thought: In the early 60’s, when Harmon Kardon released

the Citation Line they had a slogan: “For the sake of Music and our demanding love of it” ‘nuff said.

C.E. DiCini

Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 16:35:44 -0700

From: wonderboy
I just wanted to let you know that I replaced the SM-70 with a Bryston 4B-ST on my bi-amped speakers, with ten times the power the Bryston played louder with no distortion, but the sound! Arrrggghhhh! I am new in this audiophile world, I always thought an amp was and amp! But wow! what a difference! No comparison at all to the quality of the mids and highs, the SM-70 rules, all the way! Just for the fun of it I did another replacement, I replaced the Bryston on the woofer or bass with the SM-70 and again WOW! I could not believe my ears or eyes for a matter of fact, this little amp blew away the all mighty "Bass Master" of amps the 4B-ST! I do not think I need to move up to the SM-70 Pro version, this little amp has won my heart and ears, also my girlfriends, I played some soft touching music through the Eminent-Technology LFT-8b's and she had tears running down her face (almost me too) if that is not the altimate compliment, I do not know what is. With your amps and Bruce's speakers, I'm in heaven. Good job, very well done, my hat is off to you! Thank you for giving me such a great deal on those amps years ago, I talked with you on the phone back then. Keep up the good work.

Kevin Slater

Laurent from France 04-29-2008

Hi Mr. Poon,

I'm very happy with this new equipment and I wait SM70 Pro break'in time to say more about it.

It's difficult for me to tell all I want to explain because I am limited by my poor english.

I can tell that the two SM70 Pro and the M33 are very good. There are very "musical" and it's pleasant to have more power with the Rogers LS3/5a.

I have two other equipments : a tube integrated amp (Melody H88, a double push pull of KT88) that was my first access to the audio world and Quad33/303 that is my favorite by far because it's extremely "musical" with the LS3/5a and they have a "magical" touch.
For the moment, this new equipment seem to be as "musical" and as "magical" that the 33/303 but with plenty of things in more : more cleaner, more power, biger space in the music, more dynamic, more impact, more harmonic, etc...

The cost import was not as expensive that I expected.

I'm glad to have met your company and I want to continue to do business with you to order cables.
Can you tell me the total price (with postage cost) for the following order :
- 2 DAB-1 in two meters length
- 2 pair of RCA SR Symmetry in on meter length
For the question of gain with the M33, is it possible to have a lower gain ?
Thank's in advance for your answers.
regards
Laurent

"Nils Tikkanen"
Subject: Gain of SM-70 Pros

Hi,
I couldn't find the amp gain in the specs. What's the gain of the Monarchy SM-70 Pro when running in full balanced mode?
I'm enjoying my pair immensely -- I'll provide more feedback when I get my system set up with triamplification.

Thanks,
Nils

From: lacaleva
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008, 9:06 PM

Sent: Oct 16, 2008 6:26 PM

Thanks Mr Poon....The problem was solved completely in both amps with cheater plugs. Now they are nearly silent and sound absolutely great. The best solid state sound I have owned and I have had several far more expensive than these two. I am running these in unbalanced mode. Are they that much better in balanced operation? I would have to acquire a balanced preamp to do this.
Larry Cale

Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:17:03 -0400
From: billmilosz

I am now using the SM70 for the purpose that I bought it for, to drive a pair of Fountek ribbon tweeters in a tri-amp system.
These tweeters are quite efficient (98 dB/1 watt - 20 watt RMS max power handling) and the SM70 is perfect for them.
They are very revealing of any flaw in the amp. I've tried many GOOD solid state amps and they all sound really harsh
which increases exponentially as SPL rises, Idon;t what it is that I'm hearing but it sounds awful on these Adcoms,
Parasounds, NADs and so on. I tried a Dynaco Stereo-70 on the tweeters and it was quite good but lacked top end "air"
and tranient "bite" - I then tried an old Yamaha integrated amp with a Class A switch
(a Class A switch not the later quasi-class a "auuto class A" which was a high bias A/B option) - just using the power amp
section of the Yamaha - which I bought for $27 - the sound under Class A was quite good.
I then tried an AMC CVT-2030 which is a hybrid MOSFET driver / EL34 tube in class A output.
This has a wonderful silky quality, and NEVER sounded harsh but, again, lacked the transient detail.

So I bought this Monarchy SM70 after it was suggested to me on the AudioAsylum board- and WOW! THIS
is the sound I was looking for. No harshness, very silky sounding but with delicate detail and the transient sparkle
that was missing from the tubes. There is a real delicacy available through the SM70, and the power level suits
the ribbon tweeters perfectly.

The only problem is, the SM70 is such a jewel, it's so beautifully made, that I am having a hard time
putting it in my amp rack - I'd rather put it on my dining room table, under a spot light......
I particularly like that thick front panel.

I also tried it on my Quad ESL-57's. The highs and mids were wonderfully pure..... again,
the highs had that "satin nickel" quality- glare free yet detailed. But of course the Quads want more power,
and they seem very happy with the Sugden A25 or the Dynaco Stereo 70 which I alternate for driving the Quads.
The SM70 is going to stay in my other system, driving the ribbons.

From: billmilosz

Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2006 19:01:07 -0500
From: robert & nicole nicodemo
Pembroke Pines, FL

Dear CC Poon:
We received the pair of SM-70 Pro yesterday. We felt like sending you an email right away, but controlled
ourselves to wait at least a day. It may sound like a repeated statement but we never, in our experience,
have opened an audio product that sounds soooo gooood just out of the boxes. To think that they have not
broken in, & that we can always use the XLR balance configuration give us extra joy to look forward to.
For description of what we heard we leave it to the professional reviewers. We are just a regular couple
who love music. And incredible music we heard! The sound is so refined, true to reality, and exciting that
we can only say is the best amp we have ever heard anywhere, & in our system became the best piece of
our components. We had the Threshold 150 Stasis Series II as our back up system, but the SM-70 Pro are
exceedingly better. However, we are tube guys, & we own a pair of 80 watts per channel single-ended,
zero feedback mono amps, but I (Robert) needed something less heavy, more easy to manage, less heat,
and forget about biasing & the like. And the incredible thing is that with the SM-70 Pros we are not missing
anything we still love about tubes. Thus, the SM-70 Pro are part of our main system now.
This is the solid state amp for anyone who love tubes, truly, or anyone who wants to hear the real thing with the
composture, detail, and gusto that these amps bring. Yes, of course, we are hearing the old music again finding
a pleasure we had never experienced before.

Mr. Poon, you are a genius with heart, & someone who is quietly challenging the high-end audio industry.
While the magazines of the audio establishment are always creating a frantic search for ever increasingly costing
components, yours are an indictment to that industry. We could say that your products are the definite prove
that money is not the ticket for musical happiness.
We wish you the best, & lets only add that during around six years we were playing with the idea to acquire your
products but never did just to find out how badly those six years were expent.

God bless,

Robert & Nicole Nicodemo

PS: We would be very happy if you would like to use our testimony however you like it. Also if anyone in our area
wants to listen the SM-70 Pro's before buying please feel free to let us know.
-------
Save by Grace thru Faith working in Love!

From: "Ramon Fiestas" <RAMON@moninsa.com>
To: monarchy@earthlink.net
Subject: SM-70 Pro (from Spain)
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 19:32:42 +0200

Hello,.
Congratulation, you have a marvellous product.
Today arrived yours Sm 70 pro. Look beautifull, sounds sweet.
Perfect match . I will order more of your products.
Thank you very much.
Check the photos.
Best Regards.
Ramon. (Spain)

From: "Earl Cline"
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 10:37:33 -0400
Mr. Poon,
I got the new pro yesterday; its wonderful.
I can hear a clear improvement right out of the box.
The bass seems much fuller and more powerful.
The amp has the same refinement and excellent treble is even
sweeter sounding. I LOVE the amp.
The gain is still a tad to high but its an improvement over the previous amp for sure.
I will have a tube preamp in three weeks and I will let you know if the pairing worked.
Even if it doesnt, I am VERY pleased with the amp.

Thanks,

Earl Cline

Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 19:56:23 -0400
From: RICK CORVIN
Subject: Phone conversation Friday 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Mr. Poon,
Thank you so much for calling me back and helping me with speaker hookup
question. I have had the 70 Pros for several months and listened to them
in unbalanced mode. I just picked up a good, older, balanced pre-amp to
try them balanced. I am not a symphony conductor and my ears are older
and definitely untrained but my system now sounds the best it ever has.
My search now starts for a better pre-amp (too bad your model 33 does
not have remote and a few more features).
Sincerely,

Rick Corvin

P.S. I will be looking for opportunities to complement your products
and customer service on the audio web sites.

Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 17:06:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Duc Nguyen
Subject: SM-70 PRO
To: Microwise <microwisesystems@earthlink.net>

Hi Ming, how are you?

Yes I did pick the amps up yesterday at 2:00Pm.
Today I play a couple of hours with my system and they work fine, as good as I expected.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Regards.
Duc.

From: ruyterm
Subject: Report, news and possible small order...
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 00:22:10 GMT
(From Brazil)

Dear Mr. Poon,
Hope you and the business are OK.
Despite late, it´s time to report what are the impressions, so far, about
the products we experimented.
First, let me talk about the pair of SM70-PRO. They were very appreciated
by the costumers who listened to them in our show-room, specially after
isolating (or dumping) them against vibrations with the Aurios MIBs (and,
since last week, with the Still Points). It´s simply incredible how much
better they perform when we use under them Aurios or Still Points (the same
may happen with other efficient antivibration devices as well). I wouldn´t
dare to demonstrate them, from now on, without antivibration treatment, or
send them, at last, for review, without guarantee that the reviewer will
assess their performance using such kind of devices. With them, the
monoblocks performed as authentic top quality products, matching
performance of much more expensive competitors, like BAT VK-60 (hope I did
not exaggerate in the comparison)... Full bodied sound, refined and liquid.
Congratulations, Mr. Poon! No sales, yet, but a nice beginning.
I reported these impressions to the editor-in-chief of the main high-end
magazine in Brazil, and I seemed to succeed in impressing him, because he
compromised to review them, possibly, next month or at most next July. It
is my experience that only after a very strong review sales start to happen.

From: david
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 19:56:05 -0500

Ming,
The SM70's are the GREATEST.
But as Mr. Poon says on the first page in the sm70 manual
(if you use single balanced xlr cable from preamp to amp),
"Now you have a truly Balanced amp, with the output signal summing to the speaker terminals."
And these British "Monitor Audio" Speakers are the best I have ever seen..........And
the "adcom" preamp is wonderful............Wish you were.
David

Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 08:13:12 -0700
From: Myra & Bill Galther

I received the third SM-70 on friday, warmed it up and made a few
preliminary measurements, which are at least as good as the others. So, I
put the system together and it sounds wonderful!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It has never sounded so good. It has
also never been this quiet.   It is difficult to tell if it is even on, if
nothing is playing. The dynamics are great, and there is power to spare.

Thank you for your partnership in improving my sound system. It doesn't
get any better than this. I am thoroughly happy and satisfied.

I will be happy with a 4th SM-70 as you offered. I spoke to June about it
last week on Tuesday and sent the last SM-70 PRO back on Thursday as I
told her I would.

Thank you again. Dealing with you has been a pleasure. Your commitment
to satisfied customers is obvious and deserves commendation.   I'm sure
you'll be hearing more from me during my "optimizations".

Warm Regards,

Bill G.

From: TTOTPT
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 23:32:45 EST
Subject: 22C and SM70
To: monarchy@earthlink.net

Mr C.C. Poon,

I really like your products 22C and SM70 mono's.
They have really exceeded my expectations.
Does the 33 have the same volume increments as the 22C?
I like how smooth it is and the number of steps.
I have had over 20 preamps and the 22C is killer.
This is also the best DAC I have used. Thanks for your support

Tim
From: TTOTPT
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 01:06:34 EST
Subject: SM70

Hello,

I just purchased a used pair of SM 70's and they sound incredible. I have had at least 8 amplifiers in the last year and these mono's are on the top of my list. One question concerning speaker connections. In the manual there is a diagram that displays the woofers polarity being reversed. I am using the SM70's in mono with XLR connection.

Tim

From: "Luc Benac
To: "Microwise" <microwisesystems@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 12:12:10 -0800

Dear Ming,

I have received the SM70 and DAC33 and enjoy them very much. I found the
combination outstanding for the price paid.
I intend to purchase another SM70 when I am back after new year, could you
let me know by -mail of any offers or sale discount on the SM70 in January.
Thank you.
Regards,
Luc.

Luc Benac
Director of Finance
CTF Systems 2001 Inc.

Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 11:39:17 -0400
From: ROLF E HAGELGANS
Subject: Re: SM-70

To: microwisesystems
Just wanted to let you know that I received the SM-70 two weeks ago.
Arrived fine. Have been listening to it and really enjoy its tube-like
sound. Very pleased with the amp and the transaction. I am going to keep
your name on file for future purchases.

It was a pleasure doing business with you.

Thanks,
Rolf Beck
Emma Beck

From: TTOTPT
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 01:06:34 EST
Subject: SM70
To: monarchy@earthlink.net

Hello,

I just purchased a used pair of SM 70's and they sound incredible.
I have had at least 8 amplifiers in the last year and these mono's are on the top of my list.
One question concerning speaker connections. In the manual there is a diagram that displays the woofers polarity being reversed.
I am using the SM70's in mono with XLR connection.

Tim
______________________________________________________________________________________________

From: "Didier Deparis"
Subject: versus 845
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 21:06:14 +0100

Mr. Poon , i am happy to tell you i have made some comparaisons beetwen sm 70 pro versus   845 valve :
The preamp who was used for both was the Mystery One from Unison Research ,a very good valve preamp specialy designed for their monoblocs amps named: Smart 845   (Unison Research )
The source was a dvd audio /video Meridian flagship model 596
one sm 70 pro was used in stereo mode
Differences:
845 : liquid sound , pleasure to hear , soundstage ,coherence, the combinaison is my favorite for valve amplification .
sm 70 pro :more transparency , more high ,more deep , more bass ,equal sounstage,less liquid, less coherence (normal i suppose with a non dedicated preamp)

Conclusion :

i have always love the Unison Mystery/845 combo (best than other valve combo i had owned) but sm 70 are not in their maximum configuration (stereo mode and not with dedicated preamp) so i think i will go further with monarchy product   and i will sale my unison research nearly.

I have few questions please:

-do you plan a new preamp (model 44 ?) i have forgot to ask you this question from the begining.
-If not i will probably order a model 33 with piggy back(not for tube), it is possible to have twice piggy back ? ( 1chip +one chip more soldered on the pins of the original)
I understand it can sound fool for you but i want the maximum of sound quality from the model 33 even if is it the last 10 per cent .
-a friend of me ask me if there is a Monarchy dealer yet in France .

                                                      Best regards
                                                        Mr. Deparis

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date: Sat, 02 Jun 2001 20:19:03 -0500
From: Mike Klein
cc: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject: Quality products and support

I wanted to take the opportunity to praise the products, service and
support of one of the smaller of the high-end manufacturers, Mr. C. C.
Poon of Monarchy Audio. Both he and his company deserve all the support
they can get.

I have used the Monarchy Audio DIP and the DIP 24/96 for some time, and,
thus, am familiar with the company. I became interested in purchasing a
high quality amplifier at a very reasonable price. I visited his web site
(http://www.monarchaudio.com) and read some of the reviews posted there.
My speakers are built by a friend and present a somewhat difficult load to
drive. I called the company and talked to Mr. Poon about my concerns. He
suggested that his SM-70 Pro amplifier would be able to handle the job. I
purchased one with the background intent of later purchasing a second amp
and running the pair in bridged mono mode.

After the first amp arrived and warmed up I was immediately sold. The
sound qualiity from 45 amps was astounding. Plenty of detail. Plenty of
low end. Plenty of sublety. I knew then I would have to get the second amp.

I called and ordered a second SM-70 Pro. When it arrived a few days later,
I hooked it up, but heard a loud hum! Several phone calls and emails later
Mr. Poon helped me to identify and eliminate a ground loop! His level of
concern and professionalism should be a model for other manufacturers to
follow.

The SM-70 Pro is an outstanding product and easily better than amps
costing much more.

Mike Klein
Metairie, LA

From: "Tim"
To: <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject:
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 15:13:59 -0400

Hi there,

Well, I just wanted to let you guys know that I love my New Monarchy SM-70 (s).
I am running them in mono and they SOUND GREAT!
I have a question regarding the low noise rectifier upgrade.
Where can I purchase the rectifiers and what is the cost.
Hope you can help me out
Thank Tim

"GREAT AMPS"

Subject: Netherlands User comment: SM-70

From: "Robert Simon"
To: C.C.POON <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 03:15:03 +0200
Subject: sm-70 review

Dear CC Poon
Finally, as promised a long while ago, I've written a review of the SM-
70. It's long, personal, hopefully accessible, and quite positive
(needless to say). I will be posting it probably tomorrow both on
AudioReview, and on the AudioAsylum. I've pasted it below so you
can have a preview. Do feel free to quote from it or reprint it if you so
desire, where you like. The only thing I did not add to this is my great
interest in the SM-70 Pros, which are unfortunately beyond my
means. But I do continue to get enormous pleasure from my SM-
70s, and am glad to pass the good word on Monarchy Audio.

Best,

Robert

From: "Robert Simon"
To: C.C.POON <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 20:57:51 +0200
Subject: reviews posted

Dear CC Poon,

Just wanted to let you know that I posted my review of the SM-70s
on Audio Review and the Audio Asylum. Hope that these have some
positive influence. And given the fact that I'm soon about to expand
the size of my listening area, I hope that one day I'll be able to get
my hands on the SM-70 pros, about which I've heard wonderful things,
and given my experience with the SM-70s, I expect that these must
be pretty excellent amps.

I'm sending once again a copy of my review, since I corrected some
typos I found in the last version I sent you.

Best,

Robert

To put things in a nutshell: the Monarchy SM-70s are fine amplifiers,
and though it should be said that they are a great value for the
money (I paid roughly 1400$ for a pair), I believe that perhaps more
importantly the SM-70s offer a marked degree of real quality to
audiophile diehards as well as casual listeners.

Some personal background: I'm a lifelong music lover (and concert-
goer), and have very slowly and deliberately put together a collection
of 2000+ cds and roughly 1000 albums. Probably 90% of this is
classical music, with the rest divided between jazz, folk and pop.
Until something like a year or so ago I spent my money on music,
and lived happily with relatively lower-priced audio equipment. I've
always been distressed by the idea of assembling expensive high-
end systems--even assuming money would not be a barrier--around a
tiny collection of "audiophile" vinyl and/or compacts. I fully accept
someone's decision to focus primarily on the quality of sound and
sophistication of equipment, but for me my audio budget went
towards putting together what I consider to be a good and
comprehensive music library.

Not to say that quality of sound was entirely unimportant to the
equation: my pre-"major-upgrade" system consisted of a nice Rotel
integrated, an old, workhorse Pioneer cd player, and a pair of B+W
CDM1-SE speakers (no accessories, and generic cabling).
Pleasurable music listening was more than possible with this, and I
did have many opportunities to listen to high and super high-end solid
state and tube-based systems, which opened my ears to the
potentials of audio reproduction (and sometimes to the potential
lunacies of audio gear-o-philia).

In any case, when I decided it was time to put together my own
modestly high-end system, the first component I looked for was an
amplifier. I set approx. 2500/3000$ as a price limit. I did lots of
shopping around and listening, within the constraints of what was
available here in Holland. On the new and used market this search
led to Bryston, Musical Fidelity, Duson, Krell, Pass, Densen, and a
few others. My interest was in a solid-state design (valves perhaps in
a few years from now). But solid state without electronic glare, with
the ability to offer detail, delicacy, and the wonderful sense that
notes and voices hang in space. Also dynamic headroom, ability to
produce palpable bass, high frequencies without harshness, and the
capability of driving a wide array of speakers (this last being one
main reason, along with price, that I chose not to take the valve
route). Also: I'm not enamoured of highly analytical systems, which
to my mind is not the same as neutrality (this said from my live-
performance experiences).

While I found much to recommend the Bryston and Pass amps to
my tastes (and to a lesser degree the Densen), parallel research in
audio magazines, on-line magazines, email conversations and word-
of-mouth sources brought Monarchy audio to my attention. What I
put together was this: the Monarchys seemed, at least via reviews
and discussion, to fit the bill, a solid state design offering dynamics,
delicacy, articulation and glare-free sonic operation. And at a price
that would allow me more money available to spend on the rest of my
system upgrade.

Going the Monarchy route involved two big risks however. First, of
course, buying equipment I'd never heard first-hand. But I figured that
such a risk is sometimes worth taking in the context of a global
marketplace, where expanded options and possibilities have to be
balanced against direct contact with locally available equipment. And
second of all, buying from a small company at the distance of an
ocean and a continent was a daunting prospect. But I'd heard very
positive things from people who'd done business with Monarchy, and
then I gave a telephone call to Mr CC Poon, the man behind the
company--in numerous phonecalls and emails before and after I
bought the SM-70s, he was unfailingly courteous, straightforward and
informative. And always modest (though confident in his equipment)
and low-key: I never got the feeling that he was doing any kind of
hard-sell.

So I bought the amps, dealt with European custom tariffs (the overall
price still remained comparatively low), and set them up. No shipping
damage. After only a little break-in time my impression was this: a
real and expansive soundstage, an effortless ferreting out of detail, a
sense of coherent presentation of instruments and voices, and
perhaps best of all, a liquid sound, that offered up, with vivid clarity,
the flow of complex orchestral passages (eg the Scherzo of Mahler's
5th, conducted by John Barbirolli) in a way that made me lose
awareness of sound mediated by plastic, wires, cones and circuits.

The Monarchys anchored my system upgrade. Next better cabling
(including Harmonic Tech Pro-9 speaker cables, and interconnects
by Van den Hul and Monarchy). And then, selling off my Rotel, which
I'd been using for some weeks as a pre-amp, after lots of comparison
shopping and some in-house tryouts, I again went the sight-
unseen/sound-unheard route and mail-ordered the Morrison ELAD.
This is another subject altogether, but once again, anchored to the
Monarchys, I experienced a very tangible expansion of soundstage
and detail-retrieval (the ELAD promises no sound coloration, at which
I believe it succeeds eminently), all the while the system maintaining
its liquid character.

With one dissatisfaction however: though I much liked the precision
of my B+Ws, I'd always found them on the overly analytical side,
occasionally producing a degree of what I take as artificial-sounding
separations and insistent emphases, and at times a harshness that
undermined my much-cherished liquid sound. (And I do recognize
the contribution of cd-based music reproduction to certain sonic
unpleasantries).

Next, I moved from my Pioneer cd player to the AhTjoeb, with a pair
of NOS Philips E288CC Gold Pins. Again, another story, but another
system improvement and at a very modest cost, an improvement
particularly in the area of increased frequency range, and cd glare
reduction.

The next and biggest hurdle for me was a pair of new speakers.
Given the SM-70s' roughly 75w rms capabilities in bridged mode, I
worried about their ability to drive a wide range of speakers, which
was one of the reasons I opted for a solid state design in the first
place. I have a listening area of roughly 11' w x 17' l, not enormous,
but given the fact that I will listen to large-scale orchestral and choral
works at substantial volume levels, the power abilities of the amps
offered potentially significant constraints on my speaker choices.

A series of email and telephone conversations with CC Poon
followed, and as usual he offered a low-key and confident appraisal of
the Monarchys' capabilities in terms of my situation and interests. I
dragged my Monarchys with me all over Holland (an advantage of
small-sized equipment), and hooked them up to any number of
speakers. Finally wound up in one audio shop, and over a number of
days, tried them with models of Magnepan, Sonus Faber, ProAc,
and Vienna Acoustics. I fixed finally on the ProAc 1.5s, and the
Vienna Acoustics Beethovens, and then finally the Beethovens,
which offered, with my Monarchys, this indefinable quality of
musicality. The Beethovens are marvelous speakers, with a sound at
once natural and coherent, a pristine high frequency, detail without
over-analysis, a full-bodied middle and a solid, deep bottom end.
With my Monarchys, I found myself forgetting that I was auditioning
equipment, and the deal was done. Except for one thing: at the shop,
I replaced the Monarchys with a Krell 150w amplifier, and gave this a
try. Yes, there was an increased sense of "slam" as they say, but I
found this aggressive, rather than impressive, and the Monarchys
were able to offer, at equal volume, what for me was equivalent detail
retrieval, soundstaging, transient response, etc., with a superior
liquid and musical sense. The Beethovens are not an exceptionally
easy drive--91 dbl sensitivity, 4 ohm nom. impedance dipping to
around 2 or so--but in the audio shop, and then in my home, the
Monarchys have matched very well with my speakers, and I've never
had any problems with clipping.

Of course if my listening area was larger, I couldn't say if the
Monarchys would be entirely up to the job--they are 75w amps--and
perhaps in another setting at high(ish) listening levels they might
slow down, run out of juice. But that's something I can't comment on
and am not presently faced with.

The final chapter in this very long story is that as the last element of
my system upgrade I got myself a nice "entry level" analog front end,
a good price (here in Europe) on a Pro-ject 6.9 tt, a Goldring Eroica
LX cartridge, and a Lehmann Black Cube phonostage. I'm spending
probably 75% of my listening time now on vinyl (which totals at least
a few hours a day), and without wanting to repeat myself on the
virtues of the Monarchys, or extol the wonderments of vinyl sound,
the amps are excellent partners to records, to the sonic richness and
presence of analog sound reproduction, as usual maintaining a
striking level of clarity.

My system and sound are far from perfect, and I see areas for
improvement, both in terms of components, and room treatment and
arrangement (with great effort I just shifted into a long-wall speaker
placement, which so far seems pretty interesting). And the upgrade-
bug seems unavoidable, with the potential for better performance and
equipment lurking around every corner. I don't have any real
criticisms of my Monarchys, at least not in my present system, and
room setup. I have heard it said that the Monarchys can be
somewhat forward in their soundstage presentation, but I've not
experienced this. Soundstage certainly is a matter of
room/equipment synergy, along with everything else, and though I
dream of a concert-hall depth soundstage, I've found that the best
first steps one can take to make alterations here involve simple and
creative room and system rearrangements.

I do like listening to my music, and I listen very seriously, and a lot.
And as it stands the SM-70s have proven to be extremely fine
amplifiers, at an exceptional price. And Monarchy is a good
company to do business with.

From: "Ryan Tew"
To: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject: Just wanted to let you know
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 23:17:06 -0700

Hi Mr. Poon,

I have now had both my SM-70 PROs up and running in my system now for the last few months.
I just wanted to tell you that this is the best sound I have heard from my speakers ever.
They sound fantastic. Everything is so realistic and natural sounding.
I am headed toward the utalization of balanced inputs soon.
Well thank you very much for such a wonderful product. Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Ryan

From: "Ryan Tew"
To: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject: Just wanted to let you know
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 23:17:06 -0700

Hi Mr. Poon,

I have now had both my SM-70PROs up and running in my system now for the last few months. I just wanted to tell you that this is the best sound I have heard from my speakers ever. They sound fantastic. Everything is so realistic and natural sounding. I am headed toward the utalization of balanced inputs soon. Well thank you very much for such a wonderful product. Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Ryan

From: Ed Whitesell
Subject: Re: Re: SM-70/SM-70 Pro

Hello Mr. Poon,
I just wanted you to know that you have another happy customer!
I received the SM-70 and model 33 last Friday. I got them home and hooked
them up that evening and have been enjoying them ever since. I am quite
impressed with the improvements these components have made to my system.
I have 3 questions for you.
1. What benefits to the sound might I expect if I decided to get another SM-70
and use them as monoblocks? Remember my speakers are quite efficient and I
currently listen (at moderate levels) with the volume knob set ~9:00 or
less. Would the added power cause me to keep the volume level knob lower
(say ~8:00 or so) have a negative effect on the sound impact.
To phrase my question another way, are the amps as dynamic running so far
below their maximum power (mili-watts instead of watts)?
2. Why is the on/off switch on the rear of the model 33? Is it intended to
be left on all the time?
3. What is the normal break-in period? I have been listening ~10 hours so far.
Thank you so much for all the advice you have given me, and for making such
a fine product so affordable.
Best regards,
Ed Whitesell

To: monarchy@earthlink.net
Subject: Customer Review

Hello Mr. Poon:

Just wanted to tell you that I received the SM-70 and I am totally
satisfied. This is the best sounding amp I have ever owned. Please see
the review that I posted today on Audio Review.

http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/Amplifier/product_3204.shtml

I will be carefully investigating your other products!

Thanks,

Greg Ewing

Preview of the SM-70 PRO by Sam Ho, Chief Editor, Hi Fi Review.
Signal Source: Accuphase SACD
Preamp: Audio Note M6
Speaker : PMC IB-1 Monitors(Transmission Line)
Power Amps: 4 x MONARCHY SM-70 mono blocks.
Software: Peter, Paul and Mary "Green Fields" 1962

"The three performers stand right in front of us. You
can almost touch them.
"We substituted the SM-70's with the Mark Levinson No. 434
mono blocks, costing over HK$100,000. The feeling of flesh and blood,
the in-your-face presence, is simply not there any more.
"The SM-70 ranks supreme in the mid to ultra high response.
The sound field is deep and wide.
It does show a little weakness in the bass, and drums lack just a
hair of full impact.
In terms of value, no other brand name amp is the equal
of four SM-70's, regardless of price.
Full review appears in the Jan 2001 issue.

To: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject: SM-70/pro

Dear Mr. C.C. Poon,

Last week, on Monday the two Monarchy SM-70/PROs
arrived. I installed the two monoblocks, switched them
on, and have yet to switch then off...
I started listening to some of my current favorite discs.
I am very satisfied with these amplifiers!
It's rather strange, one plays a favorite disc,
and all of a sudden hear things in that record you
never heard before.
The effect these amps have on my system is such
that especially pianos sound much smoother. Also,
the positioning of the instruments is more apparent.
(And I like pianos a lot, for instance Dave Brubeck,
but also Milt Jackson and his Modern Jazz Quartet.)
So, to summarize: I can say that I am very happy
with these amplifiers.
Best regards,
Johan Blouw

Mr. Poon,

     I just finished posting a review for you on the
audioreview website. I hope that it helps to bring
you more customers. If anyone contacts me through
e-mail I will share my positive experiences with the
SM-70 amplifier. Thanks again, and if I get the money
together, I will purchase another and run them as
monoblocks. Right before I got the SM-70 in my
Kinergetics Research Chiro C-200 began acting up. I
put in an e-mail to them (Kinergetics) a week ago and
have heard nothing back. I believe that it is still
under warranty so we'll see how they handle it. The
SM-70 is holding it's own rather well against the 42
pound 140 Watt C-200. I was surprised. Thanks for
making such a well made and reasonably priced piece of
audio equipment. As I had written before, I wish I
had purchased the 22B DAC instead of the MSB Link III
DAC. I had an engineer modify the unit by replacing
many of the capacitors and resistors with higher
quality ones. The sound is now acceptable, but not
what I would consider great. I have ended up spending
more money than if I would have just purchased the
Monarchy DAC outright. If the DACs ever go on sale
just let me know and I'll see what I can do. As a
student, I don't have a whole lot of disposable
income. I used to have money but went back to school
after being out in the workplace for about ten years.
I will keep saving up and we'll see how it works out.
Thanks again!

A Happy Customer who wishes that he had more money to
spend on your products,

Chris Henderson

Dear Mr. Poon:
        I have just inserted the new Zero Feedback amplifier into
my main audio system - I am extremely impressed. I notice
that it is much different from the SM-70 internally, more
output devices, different parts, heftier power supply,
different caps, etc. This is a much better sounding amp
than the original SM-70. I know that you are in the process
of building a 200 wpc super amp, I hope that it has the same
superb sound qualities that this new amp has, just more
power.
        I have just started my audition of this amp, and there is
much work to do, but my first impressions of this amp are so
positive that I thought it neccessary to drop you a line.
Please send me specifications as soon as possible.
        Good listening,

Martin DeWulf
<>Bound for Sound Report
Martin G. DeWulf
Editor & Publisher
Kewanee IL 61443

Hi,
I received the amp on Wed as promised. It is definitely an improvement
to my Classe integrated amp which I am now using to only drive the
bass. The SM-70 drives the highs.

The improvement is much larger than any upgrade in speaker cables,
capacitors, interconnects, isolation, etc.

If there are any DIY tweaks available, please let me know. How about a
remote control for the power switch?

Regards and thanks,
Guillermo

Dear June,
The Sm-70 has arrived in good health and is currently burning
in on my system.   I am very impressed with it. I will be
demonstrating it to a customer this weekend and if he likes it
as much as I do, it should result in a few sales.

Thanks for your fast service

Jack DuMoulin
JMD Consulting

Hey Mr. Poon,
Just got the amp on Wednesday and I must say the first thing I noticed
was the clarity and detail. The amp just resolves the detail so well.
Also the amp creates a feeling of greater depth and spaciousness of
sound...its so great...I just ended up on the couch listening to
a piece I normally tire of but listened to it all the way through.
(I am comparing it with my ADCOM GFA-535II). I removed the ground pin
from the power cable because of the hum.
Does this affect the warranty in any way?
I assume it does not because it was in the manual.
Thanks again for your help and great product.

Regards,
Ryan

Hey Mr. Poon,
Just got the amp on Wednesday and I must say the first thing I noticed was the clarity and detail. The amp just resolves the detail so well. Also the amp creates a feeling of greater depth and spaciousness of sound...its so great...I just ended up on the couch listening to a piece I normally tire of but listened to it all the way through. (I am comparing it with my ADCOM GFA-535II). I removed the ground pin from the power cable because of the hum. Does this affect the warranty in any way? I assume it does not because it was in the manual. Thanks again for your help and great product.

Regards,
Ryan

Subject: SM-70 PRO Reviewer comments
The new SM-70
Pro amps are wonderful, and when used in the mono mode, they
constitute a new standard at the price point.

Marty
Bound for Sound Report
Martin G. DeWulf
Editor & Publisher
108 East Division Street
Kewanee IL 61443

Subject: User Comments on SM-70
te: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 21:37:32 -0400
To: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
From: Doug Burkett
Subject: Re: Gary Galo's review of Monarchy Audio SM-70

Dear Mr. Poon,

You certainly may use my comments on your web site, with my best wishes for
your continued success. I am looking forward to many, many years of satisfying
listening with my SM-70s. I also read the article on the SM-70 supply rectifier
mods. I don't doubt Mr. Galo's impressions of the improvements. I am an EE,
so this modification is quite within my capabilities. The price is certainly
reasonable. Even so, I must say that I don't feel terribly motivated to do the
modification. I'm enjoying the music quite enough, as is.

I want to tell you another experience I had with these amps. I had been using
them for a couple of months, then one night, late, I listened to Rostropovich's
recording of Bach's cello suites. This is one of my favorite CDs. At the end of
the first movement of the 3rd suite, I realized I had been holding my breath
for some time. Now, you can't take credit for Bach's genius or Rostropovich's
skill, but your amps did something (or didn't do something) amazing, to let the
music through to me like that.

Thanks again,
Doug Burkett
Eaton OH USA

At 02:48 PM 9/25/00 -0700, you wrote:

Dear Doug,

Many thanks for your kind comments.

We rely on word-of-mouth from customers to do our business.
Would you let us post the following comments in our Website
under a new column called "User Comments"?

Many thanks.

C.C.POON

At 10:01 PM 9/24/00 -0400, you wrote:

Dear Mr. Dell,

In April of this year I purchased two SM-70 amps from Monarchy Audio.
Mr.Galo's review of the amps in your #5 issue is dead on in terms of sound
quality, but not in terms of the problems he had. My amps don't hum (and
any hum at all *really* annoys me), they don't blow the fuses, and they
don't have much of a turn-on thump; more of an innocuous click.

Mr. Poon promptly answered my pre-purchase questions by email, and the
lady taking my order was courteous and efficient. The amps were delivered
promptly and well-packaged. The manuals are clear and to the point. The
build quality is simple, clean and solid, just as I like it. This has to be
the most pleasant purchasing experience I have had in a long time.

I am using unbalanced inputs, so I can't speak to Mr. Galo's comments on
the improvements from this option. However, even with single-ended inputs,
I hear the same detail and articulation that Mr. Galo mentions. It's a
cliche, but these amps are really forgettable in the sense that I can
quickly forget about the equipment and drop into the music as soon as I
start listening.

My system has been evolving for over twenty years. There are now two
components in my system that I hear no reason to change: my SM-70
amps, and my Magnum-Dynlab Etude tuner. But there's still the CD player,
speakers, and preamp... plenty of fun left!

I also want to mention that I am really excited about the new audioXpress
magazine. I had let my Speaker Builder subscription lapse, and I was always
curious about Glass Audio, so I'm very much anticipating the new
combination. Like most audio enthusiasts, I have subscribed to most of the
present and past audio magazines. Audio Electronics is the only one I kept.
I can't begin to describe how much enjoyment your publication has given me,
and for that I thank you. Perhaps the highest compliment I can offer is
that I have *never* felt like I didn't get my money's worth from any issue.
I am sure you will keep up the good work.

Perhaps the only change I would like to see is a few more equipment
reviews, which you promise for audioXpress. Great! How about a review of
the Musical Fidelity X-ray CD player? I'm really curious about that one.

Best regards,
Doug Burkett
Eaton OH USA

Subject: Re: SM70 pro's
At 10:29 PM 9/27/00 -0400, you wrote:

Dear Mr. Poon:

Just wanted to write to tell you how pleased I am with SM70 pro's, 24/96 Dip
and Model 33 combination DAC/preamp. The first SM70 Pro was doing quite
well all by itself in combination with the 24/96 dip and the model 33 Dac/Preamp.
I was impressed with how easy it was to listen to CD's which now sounded
smooth, and more natural instead of the compressed highs and tinny sound that
has bothered me about this format from the beginning. Then when I received
the second SM 70 Pro and the balanced connectors the improvement was
incremental again. The transparency of the inner voices, airiness of the
upper strings became even more pronounced. Most importantly for me as a
professional musician I did not get "ear fatigue." I auditioned many
components during my search for equipment but nothing was as pleasing to my
ear, (and I might add the ear of friends) including equipment that cost 3 and
4 times as much and which was supposed to be more "powerful." My thanks for
your patient answers to my many questions and for the prompt and well packed
way the equipment was shipped to me.

Regards,
Brad Buckley
Bassoonist, Contrabassoonist the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Brief Reviews by Gary Galo
The SM70 amplifier is an excellent performer, particularly when used as a
monoblock. It is incredibly punchy and dynamic, belying it's modest power
rating. The excellent inner detail and rich harmonic presentation are
amazingly satisfying during long-term listening. These amps really shine
when used in the balanced mode, fed by the Monarchy 22C or 33 D/A
converter/line amp units.

The SE100 is a world-class amplifier, delivering the finest soundstaging I
have ever heard from my system. The individual detailing of instruments, and
the superb sense of air and space, make the SE100 worth far more than the
asking price. These amps also mate superbly with the Models 22C and 33
feeding the balanced inputs.

Anyone looking for an entry-level D/A converter will find the Model 18B a
steal at the close-out price of $299.99, and Monarchy's "parallel DAC chip"
mod improves the performance even further. This is an ideal, cost-effective
way to upgrade any inexpensive, stand-alone CD player.

Gary Galo,
Review Editor
Audio Electronics Magazine
www.audioxpress.com