[Harmon]

Has anyone heard the Monarchy Audio SM-70 Pro Monoblocks?  If yes, can you give me a short review?  Thanks

[Cacophonix]

Has anyone heard the Monarchy Audio SM-70 Pro Monoblocks?  If yes, can you give me a short review?  Thanks

I'm not much of a reviewer ... but in short, it is a wonderful amplifier. I used it in the stereo mode, and was more than happy with the way it mated with the GR Research A/V 3 speakers. The only draw back is that they run hot and don't put out as many watts as you'd like. Pair it with a speaker that has higher than average amps, and you should be very happy with them.

[GHM]

Yes agreed ...
 I loved my little Monarchy. These are great sounding amplifiers. I dare say sweet sounding.

At the time, I had one SM70 that I used with 92 dB efficient floor standers. The 25 wpc was enough to rattle pictures off the walls! Yes they do run warm,but they are very musical little amplifiers. This amplifier easily embarrassed a McIntosh multi channel amplifier I had at the same time. After hearing the Monarchy.. I sold the Mac off! I paid around $350 for the Monarchy..the Mac cost me $2200 used..boy did I feel like a jackass!

The Mac sounded veiled by comparison.

[Harmon]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments.  If anyone else wants to chime in please do so.

[Bill Baker]

Hello Harmon,
 I had one of the 70 stereo units in about a year and a half ago for modifications and obviously spent some time listening to them before opening them up. I will have to agree with others in that they are wonderfull amplifiers. Yes, they do run a bit hot but the 35'ish watts did a very nice job with various speakers I hooked up to it.
 I would be interested in hearing a mono bloc setup with a bit more juice and current.

[Mister Pig]

Hi

I wrote a review in the August 2006 of the Monarchy SM 70 PRO amplifiers for Affordable Audio.

www.affordableaudio.org

I had a great time listening to these amplifiers. They are still in residence in my lsitening room, and see regular playing time in my reference system. My Electra-Print 300DRD SET amps can only drive a limited range of speakers. I love listening to the Monarchy with a good speaker. For instance, I could easily live with a pair of Eminent Technology speakers and the SM 70 PRO's.

BTW I use a pair of the SM70 PRO bridged to mono. Plenty of power for most speakers, unless you get something with a wicked impedance drop in the bass region.

Regards
Mister Pig

[dave_c]

I've had the Monarchy SM-70 non pro and followed the progression from 1 Stereo, 2 Bridged and then to 2 Bridged Balanced and the Bridged Balanced is the way to go with these guys.  They are more quiet and sound more effortless and musical this way.  Worked well with Electrocompaniet Pre which are also fully balanced. 

[jt1stcav]

They're also a great choice of amplification for efficient Klipsch loudspeakers. Although I have never auditioned the SM-70s, several Klipsch forum members own them and swear by their excellent sonics!

I believe they're class-A power amps (correct me if I'm wrong), which I guess is why they run hot.