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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Monarchy Audio 100SE Delux Amplifier (SS) by maxlorenz

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REVIEW: Monarchy Audio 100SE Delux Amplifier (SS)

200.85.205.224


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Model: 100SE Delux
Category: Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $1275
Description: SE Class A 100W/8ohm Monoblock
Manufacturer URL: Monarchy Audio
Manufacturer URL: Monarchy Audio

Review by maxlorenz ( A ) on March 10, 2004 at 16:07:27
IP Address: 200.85.205.224
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for the 100SE Delux


I began my quest for musical satisfaction 3 years ago. I can't audition gear beacuse of distance/availability. I proceed in a "blind" way, reading every review there is. When all reviewers, no matter origin, colour or religion, agree on a product being a "great bargain" I go for it. That's how I started with a NAD T761 receiver (great) and turned to quality 2 channel audio buying the Monarchy's amps, wich are synonymous of "great bargain" but also are wonderful amps on absolute terms. These are extensively reviewed in its several iterations, but I was shocked, nevertheles, with their fantastic soudstage qualities and the "continuity" of the music, wich must be attributed to Class A operation. Reading it is easy but you can't imagine it until you hear it: it's a non transferable experience.

Frequency extension is not unsatisfying, IMHO. Some may like "deep, thunderous bass" but this is seldom encountered in classical music, and when it comes, the amps behave quite well. Bass is agile, quick, detailed, textured and easily followed, wich make discern what bass instrument is playing (something that few amps can do and wich reviewers don't tell). The rest of the scale is the well known warm, sweet, detailed, layered, Monarchy sound so I won't extend on that (get you own units).

I want to make clear that every time I upgrade other components the benefits show up instantly, making me sure that the amps won't be the limiting rate step in my audio-chemichal reaction. I recently added Bybee's purifiers (quantum and slipstreams) to the speakers cables and a pair of fabulous Tannoy Definition D500 (dual-concentrics; review to come) and they mate perfectly!! Now "the system" sounds less like HiEnd or HiFi or whatever, and more like "the real thing", like english speaking coleagues use to say. This is quite an accomplishment for a $1600 pair of monoblocks (I got a better price Ji, Ji...).

If musical satisfaction is important to you, strongly consider them as your (last?) amps.


Product Weakness: gets hot. crowded inside.
Product Strengths: price. performance. capable of be mated with costly partners and well behave.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Monarchy SE100Deluxe monoblocks (sens: 1.5V; imp: 33Kohm)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): NAD T761 receiver as DAC/preamp.
Sources (CDP/Turntable): cheap Sony DVD -DVP NS325--> MOnarchy Audio DIP upsampler.
Speakers: Tannoy Definition D500
Cables/Interconnects: Fully Bybeed JAmo speaker cables; DH Labs Silver sonics D-75 digital from DVD to DIP to NAD
Music Used (Genre/Selections): classical: symphonic; chamber; opera.
Room Size (LxWxH): 7m x 3.3m x 2.4m
Room Comments/Treatments: DIY: tube Bass-Traps; Bass panels; Romm Lens (thanks John Risch!)
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Bybeed Cryotweaks.com power cord on NAD.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Monarchy Audio 100SE Delux Amplifier (SS) - maxlorenz 16:07:27 03/10/04 ( 3)