You have heard both amps yourself with same front-end and loudspeakers? From your words I think I will like the Monarchy over the AVA. But for taking the risk of not liking them, they are "a bit" too expensive...
se160 is a great sounding amp that will sound different then the AVA line. Monarchy will have more texture, body and warmth and the AVA will have more drive, dynamics and detail.
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