Submitted by: Toby Douglass, Audiophile from Cambridge, England  This product's model year is 2000 and Toby has used it Less than 1 month Date Reviewed: 3/11/01 8:48:31 AM Strengths: Strong DAC, excellent analogue output, excellent specification, impressive price point Weaknesses: None Similar Products Used: AC3R, Classe Five, ProPassion, OBH-10 Price Paid: $1930 Purchased At: Wollaton Audio, England Review Summary: First, my system; Martin Logan Ascents Monarchy SE-100 delux monoblocks (Class A) Monarchy Model 33 DAC/pre-amp Marantz CD63se (transport only) Van den Hul D102 III hybrid interconnect, 2m XLR, between the pre-amp and the amps Van del Hul revelation speaker cable (biwired) XLO digital co-ax between the 63se and the Model 33 This is the first high-end system I've put together. The pre-amp has been the last piece of the puzzle; I bought all the other items first. I listen to female voices; Sarah MacLachlan, Tori Amos, Tanita Tikaram. I also like some heavier stuff - Faith No More, NIN - and some more conventional stuff, Peter Gabriel, Dire Straits. Until yesterday I was trialling this unit but I'm now satisfied enough to buy it. The CD63se is acting as a transport only so the sound I'm hearing from the speakers is that of the 33's analogue output. Previously, I had been trialling the Model 10A which is basically a 33 without the DAC, and so I had the analogue output of the CD63se going into the 10A and then coming out again...the 10A helped to ameilorate the over-warmness of the CD63se which was good. However, the 33 on its own to me is better. The sound I'm getting seems to me to be a faithful reproduction of what's on the CD; you can't hear a tone or colour from the 33 being introduced but at the same time the pre-amp maintains the authority of the music - sudden bursts of music come out properly, without sounding strained or weak (which was exhibited when using a passive pre-amp on the CD63se analogue output). The passive units I'd used managed the first part of this trick (no tone) but failed on the second part - when the music picks up, the passive's output doesn't. I can't say much more about the sound I'm hearing except that it draws me to listen; it's beautiful. Of course, that's a product of the whole system - but the pre-amp is an integral part of that system and the other pre-amps I tried in the same system produced a sound which to me was signficiantly less enjoyable that what I'm hearing now. The other two active pre-amps I've tried, a Classe five and the Musical Fidelity AC3R both fail compared to the 33. The five (2.2k UKP new) loses detail and the AC3R (1k UKP new) is very coloured (the 10A beats the AC3R in my opinion - and they're the same price). You would do well to listen to similar units before the 33; you need to know what's bad before you can realise what's good. Specificationwise, the 33 is excellent. Balanced, unbalanced and TOSLink digital input. Three sets of analogue unbalanced input. XLR and RCA output. (I use the XLR output, since the SE-100s have XLR in). The analogue output is Class A, as well - useful to me, since my monoblocks are also Class A. The 33 combined with the monoblocks gives me an atypical cabling layout. I have a digital link from the tranport to the 33, so that's only one cable and it's not going to shape the colour of the music like an analogue signal. The 33 has a pair of XLR cables (balanced, so good for the longer distances) going to the monoblocks. The monoblocks are immediately behind and facing the opposite way to the speakers, so there is a *very* short run of biwired speaker cable between the amp and the speaker. I'm very happy with this; my cabling runs are minimzed and where I do have length in the cables I'm running over a balanced cable. I'm also very happy with that I've upgraded the DAC on the CD63se, which was something I wanted to do, and that I've only got one analogue output stage before the pre-amps, instead of two. Value rating - well, it's expensive in the UK because of VAT/import duty. However, you think - you're getting a strong DAC and an excellent output stage. In the US it's only 1400 dollars which I think is a *steal*. Overall? Superb quality for a low price and I like it enough to spend my money on one. Gotta be a five! Value Rating:Overall Rating:

Submitted by: Valter C, Audio Enthusiast from Hong Kong  This product's model year is 2000 and Valter has used it 1 to 3 months Date Reviewed: 11/15/00 4:21:12 PM Strengths: Transparency, dynamics, realistic timbre, localization of sound sources, solid build, deep and precise bass, preamp + DAC in the same box Weaknesses: none I could find Similar Products Used: none Price Paid: $719 Purchased At: HK Distributor of Monarchy Audio Review Summary: After communicating with Mr. C.C. Poon through email (his prompt replies and helpful advice before and after my purchase of his products were examplary of what a good customer service should be like), I finally purchased the DAC M33 and a DIP 24/96 from his HK distributor. The DAC and DIP improved the sound of CDs in just about every aspect of sound reproduction re. my Rega Planet alone. Really no contest. With the M33 (no DIP) the difference was already very clear: better transparency and detail, improved transients, more realistic timbre of instruments and voice, much better dynamics, more bass extension. While before I could hear that something was present 'down there', I could not hear clearly distinguishable bass lines. This changed when the M33 was in the system, with the Rega used as transport. The improvement in the reproduction of low frequency sounds was a real surprise, since I wrongly thought that the lack of precision and extension at low frequencies was due to the fact that my speakers (Sonus Faber Concerto) are bass-shy and that their placement in my room was less than ideal. Another improvement was better localization of sounds. When I introduced the DIP things got even better: bass sounds had even sharper attack and better defined pitch, instrument localization improved, but especially transients became more realistic. With the DIP, I can hear the noise of the bow on the string of violins and the puff of air in flute sounds; never happened before, not even with the M33. Brief, I am very enthusiastic about the improvement in sound quality brought by this purchase. My other system components: Copland CS 8 integrated amp Rega Planet CDP as transport Wireworld Orbit Speaker cables Wireworld Oasis interconnect DIY digital interconnects (one using coax and the other using DH Labs BL-1cables)   Value Rating:Overall Rating:

Submitted by: William , Audiophile from Michigan  This product's model year is 2000 and William has used it 3 months to 1 year Date Reviewed: 11/10/00 6:20:14 PM Strengths: Excellent DAC with line-level pre in a single chassis. Outstanding tonal balance, clarity, soundstage....for less than the price of a pre or DAC anywhere close to this quality. Weaknesses: Wish it has an absolute phase inverter, not because it necessarily needs it, but I'd like to experiment with it. Similar Products Used: MSB Link, Acurus DIA Price Paid: $1030 Purchased At: factory direct Review Summary: I've meant to get around to writing this for awhule, and the new Audio Electronics just ran an article on the piggy-back chip Monarchy tweak. My M33 has it, so I thought I'd add my 2 cents. I decided some months ago to try the Monarchy SE 100 delux class A monoblocs. Since I was running an Acurus DIA 100 MK.II (a one box with a passive 'pre' into a high gain stage), I obviously need a pre to go with it. Mr. Poon, the owner of Monarchy suggested I get the M33 instead of his line-level pre, promising that the DAC section would outshine my Link 2. I figured, what the heck, the price differential was sufficiently small that it seemed worth the chance. I was a little apprehensive about running analogue sources through a line level in the same box as a DAC, but , again, I figured i'd go for it. I soon added the piggy-back tweak...imagine, a factory-installed tweak. The AE article I mentioned explains the rationale. Improves noise and dynamic range, a 3db per doubling improvement. And all 4chips are top-grade BurrBrown PCM 63 PK, a self-trimming resistor ladder chip that I understand to be highly-regarded. But those are technical observations. The real question is,how's the sound? I have a modest Parasound CDP 1000 player/transport. It feeds a Monarchy DIP. The first one I got improved the sound out of my old Link in a huge way, so I added a second. In my present set-up, the M33 is fed the twice-reclocked signal via 2m of AES/EBU. The thing that struck me about the M33 with digital sources was how undigital it sounded. I enjoy analogue through a Rega 25. There is something about the solidity and realism of sound that hasnt been reassembled. But I find that the M33 draws digital very near vinyl (with some CD's besting some vinyl), not because of some euponic manipulation of the sound to eliminate digital problems, but by overcoming the digital nasties. Steely strings, artificial cymbals, sibilant voices, flattened sound stages, harsh horns, mooshed together instruments...all gone. It struck me that the M33 sorted out all of the seperate elements in the music, not in isolation, but preserving their interrelationship within the music. Two jazz horns, in close proximity on the stage retain their seperate identities, Brass has a sweet tone, but without softening their bite. Orchestral works are layered on a huge stage. Clear highs, solid bass without bloat. Hall reverb, image depth, yeah, it sounds more like a live venue. If it seems like I'm repeating audiophile reviewer cliches, prehaps I am because that is the language I'm familiar with. But all those phrases accurately describe the 33. Oh, and as a line-level handling the analogue input, I can hear no adverse effects from the physical proximity of the digital electronics. Instead, I hear nothing in the way of the sound, just the ability to change volume levels. I've heard a number of DAC-du-jours, and a variety of one boxes that run from the ridiculous to the sublime in price. Recognizing that some of them were in unfamiliar system contexts, I cannot say that i have personally heard the M33 bested on Red Book reproduction. Indeed, I just moved up a rung on the Magnepan speaker hierarchy, and the M33 had what it took to raise the goose-bump level..it was up to the task of delivering something near the current best in CD reproduction. Five stars. P.S.Like my DIPs and Amps, build quality that puts others to shame at anything near their price-points. Value Rating:Overall Rating:

Submitted by: Brad Buckley, Audio Enthusiast from St. Louis MO  This product's model year is 2000 and Brad has used it Less than 1 month Date Reviewed: 10/3/00 7:15:09 PM Strengths: Clarity, warmth, versatility, Price Weaknesses: None that I can hear or see Similar Products Used: Arcam, California, Musical Fidelity, Creek, Krell, etc Price Paid: $750 Purchased At: Direct from Monarchy Review Summary: I bought this unit as part of a complete system replacement. I was primarily interested in the DAC but when I became aware that I could get a DAC and a Pre Amp combo decided to try the model 33. This gave me the advantage of less equipment cost outlay and less space taken up. I am using a pioneer DVD player as the transport (as an experiment I tried a horrid DVD player made by apex and it sounded good also although I wouldn't buy one). The combination of the model 33 and Pioneer DVD player has worked out beyond my expectation. I auditioned a lot of CD players and/or DAC's. The DAC in the model 33 sounded as good or better than than all of them, some of which cost 5 to 8 times as much. With a good CD (reference etc) the sound is like vinyl without the surface noise. I can even stand to listen to remastered, overcompressed CD's now. I would describe the sound as clear, warm and balanced. Inner voices are easy to hear. What it doesn't have is the glass scrape highs so typical of bad digital sound. Violins actually sound like they are made of wood not aluminum! The pre amp part of the model 33 is very versatile and includes both RCA's and Balanced XLR inputs and outputs. I do not know of any other equipment in this price range that has Balanced connectors. There are enough outputs that I can connect Amps and have 2 sets of RCA outputs left over for other equipment plus digital COAX and toslink inputs for the DAC. Supplied Power cord is very good. Build and finish is first rate, gold plated RCA's and an audiophile volume control. As good as the DAC is, when fed by a Monarchy 24/96 DIP it gets even better plus I now have the ability to play audio DVD's. All of the above for less than a grand. I also appreciated that C.C. Poon was was more than willing to spend time talking with me and answering questions. Shipping was prompt and well packed. I have had no problems with it since I got it and I have had it on 24 hours a day for 4 weeks now testing and burning it in (thank god for the digital cable music channels). This is a piece of equipment that deserves serious consideration by anyone looking for high quality that just happens to be affordable. 5 stars  Value Rating:Overall Rating:

Submitted by: MARK PIETSCH, an Audiophile  Date Reviewed: 5/17/99 Review Summary: WELL I THOUGHT I'D BE THE FIRST TO SUBMIT A REVIEW ON THE MONARCHY 33 DAC/PREAMP,BUT SOMEONE BEAT ME TO IT. I ALSO BOUGHT IT ALONG WITH THE MONARCHY SE100 AMPS, BUT I GOT THE BASIC MODEL. I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF ANYONE WHO HAS HEARD THE DELUX ALONG SIDE THE BASIC, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANY SONIC DIFFERNCE. (MONARCHY'S AD CLAIMS "NO SONIC DIFFERENCE"). AT ANY RATE, THE SOUND IS THE BEST I'VE EVER HEARD, AFTER REVIEWING SIMILAR PRICED COMPONENTS OR BETTER. I RUN WITH LEGACY SIGNATURE III'S, AND A MARANTZ CD TRANSPORT. SOUND IS EXTREMELY OPEN, AND BASS IS TIGHT AND POWERFUL. THE LEGACY SIG III'S ARE VERY GOOD WITH DEEP BASS, BUT CAN BE OVERBEARING WITH UPPER BASS IN MY ROOM, BUT THE MONARCY PREAMP/AMP COMBINATION SEEMS TO CONTROL THEM VERY WELL. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO ANY PARTICULAR BRANDS OF INTERCONNECTS; THAT COMES NEXT. I AM STILL A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS OF TRYING TO REINVENT OHMS LAW. GETTING BACK TO THE AMPS, THEY'VE ONLY BEEN IN MY SYSTEM FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE THERE TO STAY. ALL THE CD'S I'VE PLAYED ARE COMING TO LIFE; I'M HEARING THINGS I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE: LITTLE DETAILS THAT MAKE THE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE SO REAL. A DEFINITE 5 RATING!  Overall Rating:

Submitted by: Keith , an Audiophile  Date Reviewed: 5/16/99 Review Summary: My equipment:Monarchy SE amps Monarchy Preamp model 33 Vampire ST-1 Speaker cable Vampire OFS/OFC Star Quad Interconnect (What can I say? The best hi-fi shop in town is a Vampire dealer) Adcom 575 CD player transport Totem Model 1 Speaker (Not bi wireable) I just upgraded everything in my system except my transport and speakers. What is truly sad... is that I paid almost as much for my previous electronics as I paid for my new Monarchy Model 33 Preamp and Monarchy SE amps. Truly sad... since the sound I am getting from my system now is light years better than my old equipment. However I did get a great deal on my current electronics: Monarchy SE amps for $950.00 (for the pair), Monarchy Model 33 Preamp for $675.00 Yes I am pretty darn lucky (pricewise)... However even at the price you can get these from online dealers, about $2400.00 combined for both preamp and amps (SE deluxes run about $2800.00), this is an AMAZING VALUE. I am sure there is better amplification out there... but you search long and hard to find it for under $3000 to $5000. I am sure there is better preamplification available... Preamplification is a difficult thing to get right, BUT this Monarchy 33 was designed to match the Monarchy amps. And it not only doea a great job at preamplification, but it does a wonderful job at digital to analog conversion. Very detailed... It is sort of a double edged sword having a D/A converter built into your preamp. On the plus side, it saves lots of $$$. No need to by a seperate D/A converter and no need to buy a pair of interconnect. The only bad aspect of a piece like this can occur when you finally replace it. Unless you can find another preamp D/A converter combo, you are gonna have to spend some bucks... HOWEVER, the nice thing about this pream is that it sa a D/A OUT. This enables you to use it merely as a D/A converter. Thus, you can upgrade your system in steps. This gives you the option of upgrading preamplification or DAC in any order you wish.  Now a bit about Monarchy Amplification: These little guys have no right to amplify as well as they do. One look at them and the adjective 'cute' comes to mind. They look almost like toy amps... but so help me God, I swear that the sound that radiates out of them is more musical than I have heard in an amp that I have ever heard from an amp anywhere near my pricewise. The one thing I have noticed is that they are very interconnect finnicky. Review them with several sets of interconnects. I tried the 2nd to the top of the line Vampire interconnect (about 300.00 cable) and did not like the sound at all when compared to my old MAS black interconnect (about 180.00 (6) years ago). I now am trying the Vampire silver cable that runs 135.00 or so fo a meter. Man oh man... what a difference... MUCH more transparrant. Much more musical. If any of you audition these amps in the delux models and end up not likeing them (I can forgive the transgression), please... PLEASE email me and I just might buy them off you for a reasonable price. On a price/performance scale of 1 to 100 I give the Model 33 preamp a 95. There are probably some preamps and DACs out there that surpass it and may even be better values, but this value is pretty darn good, esp if you can find it used. On a absolute sound scale of 1 to 100 I give this preamp an 85. There is better preamplification available out there. There is better DAC out there. However, you will pay over 2k to 3k to surpass this.  Enjoy Monarchy gear, Tok aka Keith in real life     Overall Rating:

 

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