Monarchy Audio DAC M22C DACs
Monarchy Audio DAC M22C DACs
USER REVIEWS
[Feb 17, 2012]
Dseanm
AudioPhile
Very rarely seen for sale, Monarchy M22B DAC, best DAC I have heard. I have compared this DAC with several DACs in the hope of upgrading but I never found my self happy with other DACs, to me the M22B sounded MUSICAL (IN CAPITAL) it was and still is the most Musical DAC.
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[Jun 07, 2007]
bassdude
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Simply incredible, awsome sound.
Weakness:
Can't dim the LED light - pretty minor. This is a review of the Monarchy M24 - which Audio Review has banned from it's forum for some reason - but, the DAC is truly a "World Class" DAC which equals those costing many thousand$ more - which everyone should know about!
Customer Service Superb! Similar Products Used: Cal Audio Alpha & Sigma II - also "World Class" DAC's
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[Mar 16, 2004]
joeymazz
AudioPhile
Strength:
flawless, noiseless reproduction with ZERO digititis, distortion, etc.
Weakness:
Exposes every shortcoming in my setup! I would need a $5k amp and a $5k pre to truly appreciate this, along with $10k speakers, and a Rega or Linn transport! Even with my limited system, the 22b is a KEEPER!!!! This is the Monarchy 22b with a built-in DIP, Jena Labs mods, and a digital Taddeo, ALL IN ONE! I picked it up from Ed, who reviewed it above as "smooooth" way back in 1999. I assume he added the Jena Labs mods, etc, after the review. First, the unit arrived inoperative (though well packed, it has so much stuff crammed inside, that the Taddeo was shorting to the DAC circuit). It was a SIMPLE fix, and a local tech only charged me $38 to fix it. The balanced inputs were remove, and the toslink is inoperative. (I almost sent the thing back when I sa the optic in was not working! THEN, I LISTENED TO IT!) All I can say is: WOW. Wow-wow-wow! If you hate redbook CDs, or can't stand anything other than Analog, TRY A MONARCHY DAC/DIP combo! I have owned Bela Fleck's "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" for over a decade. I was amazed at its sonics via a plain Rotel cdp, then, a dedicated transport/dac by Rotel, and now, I have "heard" Bela Fleck for the first time! I thought my Pinnacle BDC 1200 towers were in need of a subwoofer. I was wrong. I thought albums like Mick Jagger's "Wandering Spirit" were simply harsh with sibilance. Once again, wrong! Even on Mick's worst attacks, I can hear his vocal chords and throat, rather than my tweeters crackling with distortion. Where there was once mild confusion, ride cymbals, multiple acoustic guitars and banjos, woodwinds, violins, whispers, and finger swipes--there is now total resolution! Everything is as it should be. Nostril inhaltions sound like nostrils, scrapes like scrapes. I even hear differences in wood tones. Seperate keys on xylophone (sp?) each have distinct timbre and spaces of their own. It is like I have been privied to the same thing the producers got to hear. There are improvements we make in our systems that make us stand back and say, "Yeah, that makes a bit of a difference." or "It adds something, I'm not sure what," etc. With the Monarchy 22b/DIP/Taddeo, there is no mistaking the complete metamorphosis which your system undertakes! My only wish is that they were all seperate, so I could add each one-by-one. Long story short--If the newer Monarchy stuff (22c, 33, DIP Classic, etc.) is better even than this, I can not wait to hear it! When I received an inoperative unit, I was quite unhappy. But, after a quick fix, I was not about to part with it over a cheesy Toslink connector! Ed got instant positive feedback the minute I finally stopped listening to the 22b! Anyone who wastes their money on DACs costing $2k or more would be embarrased if they heard the 22b/DIP combo in their setup! It shames almost anything I have heard, aside from 6-figure-audius-unobtanus DACs. The monarchy 22b is the finest upgrade I have yet made to my system! -joeymazz Similar Products Used: None! No, seriously, only the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista comes close. Maybe some $20k units I have heard at the local ultra-high-end shop. (Even then, if I had his amps, etc., the Monarchy would problably hold-up just fine against ANY dac at any price!!! That's sayning alot... |
[Jun 27, 2001]
Rene van Es
Audiophile
Strength:
Very detailed, flexible, XLR input/output
Weakness:
no 24/96 conversion In the past few weeks I was fortunate to have four separate D/A converters at home and ready to play with them. These included: Similar Products Used: Audio Alchemy DDE V3.0 |
[Sep 18, 2001]
Matthew
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Wonderful soundstage and detail I purchased a used Monarchy 22B DAC last month, and have augmented it with the Monarchy 24/96 DIP. |
[Mar 17, 1999]
Robert Raville
an Audiophile
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. |
[Jun 17, 1999]
Keith
an Audiophile
The best DAC I have ever heard for under 3k. |
[Oct 07, 1999]
Ed
an Audiophile
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 |