HELP: is Monarchy Audio DAC a good idea?

Thank you all for the input!

I'm curious: by eliminating Preamp, we are free from potential extra distortion to the music. Therefore direct to power amp should always sounds better, provided same level of equipment is used, i.e.

$1000 DAC --> $1000 amp
vs.
$1000 DAC --> $1000 PreAmp ---> $1000 amp.

???????

Thanks again,

Abe

Hi Abe,

Yeah...that's the theory, and technically it should be true. Many people have tried that method and prefer it...others prefer the way their music sounds via certain preamps. There are many reasons for that...some technical, and some emotional. It's true that most preamps are going to alter the signal to some extent, even if it is to a small degree, but some people do prefer the way the preamp alters their signal.

There are also many other issues involved. For instance...many CD players have built in volume controls on their variable outputs, but they are often rather cheap. They may do more damage to the sound than a good preamp will. Some people take care of that problem by using passive volume controls, passive preamps, or by purchasing a CD player with a good quality volume control. Other people try passive volume controls and preamps and decide that they prefer the sound of active preamps.

In the end, there really is no right or wrong way to approach it. Everyone has their own preferences, much like every other aspect of audio reproduction. Don't get bogged down by worrying about what is "best". It's much more fun if you worry about whether or not it sounds right to your ears (with your system...in your house). It makes a lot of sense to try the simplest, most economical solution first. If it sounds good to you, then you're done. Good luck!

Oh...by the way...

I hate to bring up another subject, but if you should make sure the output voltage of the Monarchy DAC is compatible with the input sensitivity of your Bryston amplifier. You can do this by checking with Bryston and asking them what their recommendations for minimum/maximum input voltage is (it might even be in your owner's manual). There is another thread listed today that concerns this very subject. If the DAC's output power is too high or too low for your amp, the music will either be way too loud or not loud enough. I figured I'd mention it...just to be safe and help you to avoid some future headaches.

I am currently using the 18B with a meridian 500 transport with excellent results and running it directly to the amp. I would say that the sound is good, however i prefer when I have a preamp hooked up. I am not an expert, but I think the extra amplification of the signal the preamp gives makes it sound better to me. A little deeper, more refined and more dynamic with my preamp.

Keep in mind that this is system dependent and to answer your question: Will the 18B offer great preformance? YES. Will it be better than a high end preamp like a rowland synergy or anything like that? To me, NO. It seems to lose a bit.

I think that what one gains by using an active preamp is dynamic headroom and the potential for "better" loading. Much of this can be negated and bypassed if the output of the DAC or CD player is rated for the same appr voltage that a preamp would produce i.e. way above 2 volts AND the impedances between the DAC and input of the amp are taken into account.

Even though most amps would be roaring with 2 volts fed into them from a normal line level output on a steady state basis, that does not mean that the simultaneous peaks that may last microseconds would be reproduced at full amplitude. That is, if the output of the one box player or dac is limited to 2 volts as a max output level. In other words, the dynamic status of music "may" require higher output than what a standard line level output may be able to provide on a short term basis. Adding an additional gain stage between the DAC and amp and the associated headroom that comes with further amplification ( the active preamp ) may be why things sound more dynamic. The fact that this also alters the impedance that the source sees and adds a "buffer" in terms of the signal that is modulated back to the source from the amp may also come into play. I say this as i've read more than a few statements to the effect of things sounding "cleaner", "more focused", "more resolving", "increased body and weight" etc.. with a preamp hooked up.

Keep in mind that all of this is just an educated guess. I arrived at these conclusions from playing around with a DAC that can provide 4.5 volts rms. This DAC has standard line outs to feed a preamp along with another set of outputs that are fed from a stepped attenuator for direct feed to an amp. I could hear no difference in performance when switching from "direct drive" with the DAC & built in stepped attenuators feeding directly into the amp and when i went to the dac using the outputs that bypassed the stepped attenuators into the preamp and amp. This tells me that the dac had no problems driving the amp and there were no problems with loading. It also tells me that the preamp is extremely faithful to the source and did not contribute or detract from what it was being fed. Both situations made me happy to say the least. I kept the preamp hooked up as the added versatility of multiple inputs was a necessity for me in that system. Sean
>

Thanks for Phild's response. I never thought of matching input/output issue before! From Platsolos and Sean's reply it looks like Monarchy 18B is ok in terms of directly driving power amps.

OK, I will go with 18B.

Interestingly, Monarchy Audio company is right in the neigherhood of where I work in South San Francisco! I can almost see their building from my office. A couple weeks ago I went to their office and briefly talked to their chief engineer C. C. Poon and auditioned the 18M. Frankly speaking I can't tell it sounds good or bad since my ears are NOT well trained (yet). But the build quality is obviously excellent! I trust all the user reviews and the advices from you guys. (plus it is on sale for $299 new!)

Again, big thanks to Sean, Phild, Platsolos, Tacs, Billhansen !!!!!! You guys are cool.

Abe