From: "Jack Weiss"
Subject: comment on upgrade
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 15:43:24 -0800

Hi, Mr. Poon,

As you know I recently upgraded the Monarchy DAC 33 that I bought from
you years ago. At your suggestion I also switched to single ended from the
balanced wires that I had been using with my SE-70s (now that I switched
over to your SE-100 amps).
The new 24-bit chips seem to increase the bass depth. The resolution seems
better than ever. I am extremely pleased with the up-grade.

Your products and company are first rate and a real bargain.
Jack Weiss


From: "Doug Curapov"
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:04:38 -0500
Subject: Model 18 DAC

Hi CC,
Sorry about the late reply - not that I need (or want) to make excuses, but
life has been both hectic and eventful since I got back.
I haven't listened to the Model 18 for some time - probably a couple of
months now, but I did use it extensively prior to that point, including a
good number of hours spent carefully listening to the unit and comparing it
to other similar and not-so-similar DACs. I had it in three different
systems, ranging from a decent home theatre to two two-channel audio-only
systems. The associated gear was of decent to high quality, with the home
theatre being the "weakest" system - a Marantz DV9600 DVD player feeding the
DAC via coax, connected directly to an Aragon 8008BB amp driving a pair of
Martin Logan SL3's. The other two systems consisted of a modified Theta Jade
transport feeding the DAC, through a Pass Labs X2.5 preamp, to my self-made,
discrete solid-state 70 wpc class-A amp driving a pair of B&W Silver
Signatures (my main rig), and the reference system consisting of a Wadia 270
transport, Wadia 27ix DAC, Mark Levinson 326 preamp feeding a pair of Pass
Labs X600 monoblocks driving Talon Khorus X speakers. The other DACs that I
compared yours to (in addition to the Wadia 27ix) are a self-made, 20-bit
8-times oversampling unit of a similar era (and age) as the Model 18, and
another self-made, non-oversampling TDA1541A-based DAC. Both of these DACs
as well as the amp in my main system are of my own design and manufacture
and were hand-built with premium - but not boutique - parts. Suffice to say
that all three systems are carefully set up (room acoustics included), but I
do NOT believe in wishful thinking and placebos like $10,000.00
interconnects, tuning dots or cryogenically treated and degaussed CDs and
other similar bu11$h!t. For the record, I am also not into tubes (been
there, done that - I'll take my transistors and FETs any day) nor vinyl
(been there as well - same story as tubes). I like to hear every single
transient, not some artificially sweet and harmonically over-saturated mush.
I also don't use SACD or DVD Audio, nor (going the other way) MP3s and other
compressed garbage. In other words, it's all 16-bit, 44.1 KHz Red Book CDs,
at least until someone comes up with a better standard. And, I also tinkered
with it somewhat, replaced a few parts here and there, but for all intents
and purposes my tinkering did not produce an audible improvement. Enough said.
So, now that I have described everything else, the sound of the Model 18: it
is better than most, but not quite as good as some others. In other words,
it is very good but not the best there is. Which, I suspect, is what you
were expecting - so allow me to try to quantify it a little better. To my
ears, the unit outperforms anything currently built and sold that costs
under a couple of grand. My own "bias" notwithstanding - it sounds more
detailed and accurate than anything that uses tubes (I think that no
explanation is required here). It is also considerably more musical that the
current "low-cost" non-oversampling DACs like the TDA154x- based lot that's
out there, including my own - I find all of these to be either too edgy,
harsh and full of glare, or artificially soft and colored if the analog
stage is designed and built to mask the lack of filtering. I also find it
more accurate than software based DACs, both of the current 'too much
over-sampling' variety as well as the older, DSP-based units like the Theta
Gen V and the like. Comparing it to other oversampling, multi-bit DACs, I
find the 18 detailed, accurate and musical, but not up there with the best.
It doesn't quite resolve very fast, low-level transients as good as my own
20-bit DAC or the Wadia combo; it doesn't quite have the bottom end of mine,
nor the three-dimensional imaging of the Wadia. That being said, I have been
tinkering with and improving my own design - I keep going back to the same
one - over a period of ten years, with the full benefit of hindsight and
commercial unviability as I could not (re)produce my unit for under $3K
(that's my cost, not what I would need to sell it for to make a profit); the
Wadia combo I believe retailed for roughly $10K a few years back. At the
risk of over-simplifying matters, I would say that your Model 18 is better
than 75% of the offerings out there. As for the other 25% - which are of
equal or better quality - the crucial factor would be the price at which you
could offer the unit. For the $250 that I paid Kit Fung for the demo unit,
it is an absolute bargain and exceptional value, but I doubt that you could
commercially produce the same and afford to sell it at that price. It would
still be a good value at $500, but I don't think you could nowadays go much
higher than that with an audio-CD-only DAC without 7.1 channels and no DSP
processing in any quantity (the alternative is that you can get a killer
chassis, price it at $9999.00 and sell maybe a dozen units worldwide). Or,
if you like analogies, your DAC is like my 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo. It is
still very fast, and, at least to me and a small number of like-minded
individuals, a much greater joy to drive than any modern, 400+ horsepower
drive-by-wire, self-correcting, self-adjusting, self-parking,
brushes-your-teeth-and-irons-your-shirt-while-you-sleep (err, drive) Benz or
BMW. That being said, my car is worth $25K at best, while the Benz goes for
$125K. So, I would rather buy your DAC than the sexiest,
pure-silver-solder-with-Cardas-wiring triode MP3 iPod player - but that's just me.

I hope the above helps in your decision. It took me a while to write it, but
for the deal I got on the Model 18 I owe you at least that much. :)
Let me know what you decide - I am just being curious.
Best regards,
Doug

From: "Ping-Cheng Yeh"
Subject: M22C vs. Ack! dAck!
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 16:12:23 -0400

Dear Mr. Poon,
I was deciding to upgrade my DAC (ART DIO). Finally I
decided to buy an used M22C for $500. My friend at the
same time decided to buy one of the most praised DAC
currently on Audio Asylum, Ack! dAck!, for $525 new.
Last week we had a chance to compare them side by side.

I was really shocked by the result. I think M22C is better in
all aspects. Ack! dAck! simply does not have the high frequencies
and the bass of M22C. Moreover, it sounds veiled, not as
transparent as M22C. M22C sounds richer, and there are
more harmonics with M22C. With M22C, the violin which
sounds thin on Ack! dAck! is no longer thin at all, it sounds
rich and enjoyable. As much as Ack! dAck! is highly praised
on the forum, to me M22C is truly the winner. I am really
glad that I made a great purchasement. Just want to let you
know that I really like your M22C DAC. Two thumbs up!!

Best regards,

P.C. Yeh


Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:50:59 -0700
From: Tom Miller


Mr Poon:

I've had a few days to live with the model 33. Your modification and shipping was impressively quick. My only annoyance was the alignment of the thick aluminum front panel and the volume knob. The knob dragged at high volume settings. I played with it for a few minutes and it's now happy. And no, I'm not dangerous with mechanical stuff - I work on one of a kind multi-million dollar reseach equipment for a living, so I treated it nicely.

First off, I plugged it in instead of my Levinson 38s and internal decoder on my Sony SCD-1.

Wow. VERY nice. Smooooth with great soundstage. I then plugged the DAC outputs into my 38s. Not quite what I expected. Perhaps I'm imagining it, but I think your line amp blows away the 38s.

The 38s does everything but make pop-up toast, but seems cold and uninvolving in comparison. As a result, the 38s is going up for sale. Hey, at least I didn't buy it new.

I'll be able to run the SACD output from the SCD-1 and the surround processor into the auxilliary inputs of the model 33. I just need to set the 33 for unity gain for the surround processor. However, I need to check the maximum output voltage on the processor to make sure I don't overload the input stage of the 33. What is the maximum input voltage on the 33? I can always cut the front channel output a bit from the processor and make up for that with the line amp in the 33.

The line amp is now set for 20dB gain, and that works well with the SE-160s.

I'm still diddling around and sorting things out, but am very happy thus far.

Thanks for some great products and service.


Tom




From: RONNYBOYCUDA
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 04:43:34 EST
Dear Mr. Poon,
I received the SE-100 Delux and 22C a couple of weeks ago and I just wanted to thank you and your staff for handling my order in a timely and professional fashion. I have the system up and running and have allowed for some "run in" time. The only way for me to describe the sound of the SE-100 Delux and 22C combo is "REMARKABLE"!! My only complaint is that I am trying to find the time to "rediscover" my CD collection........they are that good! I am also surprised at how cool they run; they do get warm to the touch, but not as hot as I thought they would being single ended Class A. I guess the substantial heat sinks really do the job. I have Athena Technologies AF-S2 speakers and the combination is wonderful. The Athena's simply came to life after the amps were connected! I could go on and on about the sound of these amps but I believe I would not be adding anything new to all the wonderful reviews previously written about these products. Thank you again...I plan to enjoy the sound for a long time to come!!
Ronald A. Grosso


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: "Luc Benac [CTF Systems 2001 Inc.]"
To: "Microwise"
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.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: TTOTPT
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 23:32:45 EST
Subject: 22C
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

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Subject: Model 33

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

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: "Mark and Lorie Sloan"
To: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject: 18B Dac/Pre
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 21:49:25 -0700

Dear Mr. Poon,
I'm impressed that you answered me - thank you very much. I checked and the piggyback upgrade is indeed there.
It was very exciting to finally hear the words to songs thanks to your DAC - it is attached to the cheap 50+1 Sony jukebox. Right now it's running through two preamps (cheap Sherwood AV receiver and vintage Sansui integrated) most of the time. When noone is around, I just go straight to the Sansui. I CAN'T WAIT TILL MY MONOBLOCKS ARRIVE AND I CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THEM! I assume it is only then that I will really benefit from all the 18B has to offer.
Feel free to extract any remarks from the following which I posted on Harmonic Discord's digital forum after the first day listening with the 18B (the reference to the "6.9" below is a nOrh speaker which I really like). I think it's borderline criminal the quality system I will have for <2000 when the monoblocks get here - you and the nOrh founder have similar ideas about audio value and I wish you both the very best. You're both bringing high quality sound at an affordable price.
It's good! It's good! I can hear the words now icon_smile.gif Climbing out of the primordial audio soup is really fun.
When I got my SM 6.9, I experienced imaging, clear highs, tight bass, and head some new sounds in the music (like Steven Tyler saying "hoot hoot" during Rag Doll - stuff like that which I'm sure everyone with a decent system is used to hearing). This with a Sherwood receiver.
Kind of tizzy sounding on (Sony jukebox) CD though with empty gaps between the instruments - holes in the soundstage I guess, so I got the Monarchy DAC. Didn't know what to expect.
The tizziness is gone, soundstage is filled up, and I can hear lyrics suddenly. Ballad of John and Yoko = "the way things are going" not "the way that you're going". Tiny Dancer = "You had a busy day today", not "you had a better day today". (and by the way, if I'm in fact wrong about these lyrics, I don't care. They sound a lot clearer anyway.)
Like a baby learning his first words.
Wonder what LeAmp will add to the mix? Hopefully it will let me play louder and keep the clarity? It will cut a pre-amp out of the mix which I guess should help in some way too?
Anyway, I don't know if the Monarchy is "good" or not. I know it blows my mind after using the DAC in the Sony jukebox or the Sherwood. Both of those suck. So it was a good $228 upgrade for sure! Even if the Sony is a sub-par transport, just upgrading the DAC brought me a LONG LONG way.
Just thought I'd share... it worked out.
btw: I haven't opened it up, but I'm pretty sure the volume is passive - but there look to be hella power supplies in there. It's heavier than the Sony with 50 CDs in it.

From: HighSpeed1
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 21:39:34 EDT
To: monarchy@earthlink.net

Dear Mr. Poon,
Thank you for the prompt reply. I will be watching for the release of the
DIP plus DAC and look forward to installing one in my system. A quick word
of "kudos" for your products; I have been "into" high end audio for about 4
years now. Since that time I have owned 5 pairs of speakers, 6 amps, 3 CD
players and one transport, and countless cables. . .the one constant all this
time has been my Monarchy 18B. One day I'll upgrade to the 22B.

Thanks for a great product!

Best Regards,

Rick

From: HaraldFeller
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 12:34:23 EDT
Subject: 18B

Dear C.C.POON,
again many thanks for your kindness and help.
The 18B arrived well. Everything works very good. And the sound is tremendous.
This DAC is a bargain. The 18B makes so much good in quitness, factor of
time, correctness of reproduction in dynamic and color of instruments.
I am really sad, Monarchy Audio does not have any distributors in Germany or
other european countries around.
Again all best wishes and further on a good hand for you and your company
Harald Feller


From: HaraldFeller
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 19:16:26 EDT
Subject: 18B/audioreview

Dear C.C.Poon,
as I understand your e-mail you post my lines on this site audioreview.com.
So let me add to what I wrote in August:
The 18B ( specially with Monarchy's DIP!) is a bargain. It makes so much
good in quitness, factor of time, correctness of reproduction in dynamic and color of
instruments. I use it in two different audio-systems: an elderly Kenwood DP1100-SG as CD-Transport
Stax Lambda Pro headphones with Stax tube-amp french "Le Tube"-preamp developed by L'Audiophile-Magazine
Bedini cd-clarifier and Blacklight. TQWT-"Roiene"-full-range-loudspeakers
Uchida 300B-tubeamp (6 watt per channel) Kaneda preamp.
Classical music (Chesky's Leibowitz-Beethoven or Leonid Kogan's violin on EMI) and jazz (ECM) are played with
a richness of musicality even much higher expensive components cannot do.
A most critical listener said to me after an audio-session with my system,
those who want more must give good reasons for their wishes.
The Monarchy-combination 18BplusDIP bring peace and harmony into the listening-room.
Forgotten the test- and audio-magazines. Disappeared the restless search for the next "better" component.
There is only you and the music.

<>Another comment from Audiotweak:

From: "Robert Hart"
To: "C.C.POON" <monarchy@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: 18 B vs Bel Canto DAC 1
Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2000 20:43:58 -0700

Hi Poon,

More good news!

I just came back from Andy Bartha (Andy Bartha Audio) he does
component mods (he's also South Eastern Lowther rep). His name
frequently appears in BFS, and Positive Feedback. He has been playing
around with the MSB dacs, upgrading board parts and power supplies.
He also does a great Pioneer 525 /606 DVD player MOD.

He wanted to see inside the 18B. Upon inspection, we removed the ac
filter (these things suck). Before we put the 18B into his system ,
I replaced a Seismic Sink and several levels of brass cones with
3 Symposium Shelfs, This was the first time in all the years he's
owned the Lowthers that they exhibited some decent weight.
Frankly, all the great reviews I've read of Lowthers had me
scratching my head because his did not live up to the hype.
His always sounded anemic- almost totally lacking lower mid/upper bass.


Now that we had decent sound, we hooked up the 18B. The results were
similar to what happened when I replaced the Bel Canto DAC 1.
More body, extremely clean sound stage, which meant greater depth.
The music was more organic! So even a heavily modified MSB does not
compare!

Robert Hart
Audio Tweakers
<>
From: Robert Hart
Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2000 10:26 AM
Subject: 18 B vs Bel Canto DAC 1

Hi Poon,

Just thought I would update you on our impressions of your 18B vs the Bel Canto DAC1. My partner came over to hear it for the first time tonite. He confirmed what I heard brand new, right out of the box. This was really no contest at all- your 18 B is much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! This comparison was done using my Klyne 7.3 LXBP ($5600 preamp). Next, we hooked the 18B direct ( I forgot I had a pair of Monster Y connectors)- the sound was cleaner and deeper. As soon as I sell the Klyne, I'll order a stereo 70. I'll only need one for the 103 dB efficient Avantgarde Duos which I'll be getting in about one month. Even the 25 watts will be overkill.

Do you have any DSD/SACD tricks up your sleeve?????????

Thanks for making such a terrific product. Assuming the amp sounds comparable, I'ld like to talk about carrying the line.

Robert Hart
Audio Tweakers, Inc.
Here's our website www.audiotweakers.com

Audio DAC M22C Consumer reviews from: http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/DAC/product_4488.shtml
Average Rating: 5.00/5
Number of Reviews: 3

Ed, an Audiophile
Date Reviewed: 10/7/99

Review Summary:
This is a review for the 22B with Stan Warren's modification.Monarchy has so many DACs,
it's easy to get confused. The following DACs
belong to the same family. They all use the BurrBrown PCM63P
22A: older generation, NOT upgradable to the rest of the family
22B: super fine DAC
22B limited edition: 22B + Jennifer Crook modification
22C: 22B + line amp + piggy back BurrBrown DAC
33: 22B + Monarchy 10A line amp

I am not using any audiophile words and phrases, here is what I convey.
I upgraded from the Cambridge Dac, which itself is a pretty good bargain.
While not expecting a huge improvement, I was stunned. It was like moving
from a box speaker to a Maggie. It's day and night. no exaggeration,
no nonsense here. The very first thing I noticed was the smoooooooothness
of a female lieder played thru the system. I could not believe my ears.
Then it was the ability to pick up all the low-level noise I never heard.
Another layer was added to the soundstage, now vocalists and solo
instruments were closer to me. The bass was also improved.

Cambridge transport
Monarchy 22B
EVS Nude Attenuator
Monarchy se100 delux
Celestion SL700

When time allows, I'll experiment with the piggyback DACs.

Thanks Monarchy!

Overall Rating: *****
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Submitted by: Keith , an Audiophile
Date Reviewed: 6/17/99

Review Summary:
The best DAC I have ever heard for under 3k.
I agree with the previous review.

This unit is very difficult to find used... there is a good reason for this.

Also, Monarchy has been designing DACs for many years, only recently have they delved
into Amplifiers. I think this DAC is relatively better than any amplifier they make.

This DAC mates quite well with outstanding passive preamps (i.e. Referenceline 2A) due to
the extremely high output of the DAC.

Overall Rating: *****
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Submitted by: Robert Raville, an Audiophile
Date Reviewed: 3/17/99

Review Summary:
The latest DAC from Monarchy Audio is worth auditioning. The model M22C with line
amplifier and separate volume control is absolutely stunning in perforamnce and musicality.
For the reasonable cost of a high grade DAC with the latest Burr Browm 20 bit processors
with built in class A buffer amplifiers is well worth the elimination of the separate preamp.
You can run your amplifiers directly off the DAC, tube or solid state work excellent with this
unit. All the musical detail with excellent sound staging is reproduced with EASE. The
enjoyment of music can be appreciated all over again. If I could give this unit a six star
rating I would. Highly recommended, tired of all the audio hype see the Monarchy line and
enjoy music all over again with reasonable pricing for the working man or woman.
Overall Rating: *****