[jimdgoulding]

I bumped into some very credible sounding opinions about this $1500 DAC and pre on Audio Asylum and read some reviews at MA's site.  I'm wondering if any of you own or are acquainted with this unit.  Please share.  Thank you.

[Regalma]

I actually have one. I don't claim to have a golden ear so take my input with that in mind. I very much like the sound. It is natural and balanced. No irritating qualities to my mind. The highs are airy without being etched. It beats out a number of less expensive DACs I have tried. I have replaced it because I am a bit skeptical about tubes due to their limited life, and how they start to deteriorate immediately. I already have a tube Modwright preamp in my system.

It is also a lot more device than I need. I did not use the preamp section. I already had the Modwright, which is great and has a remote control. I switched to an Apogee mini dac which to my ears sounds pretty much identical and is much smaller.

The person I bought the Monarchy unit from and also another poster on a forum had this and a DAC One. They both ultimately chose the DAC One for its greater precision. Me, I am more concerned with engagement than with precision so maybe I would choose the Monarchy over the DAC One. 

[1000a]

  Love mine and when using the preamp (which I think is also excellent) the price is very low considering the performance of both. I have no intention what-so-ever of looking for a different one.   The unit can usually be had about 20% less, call Monarchy for price.  There are 4 or so more users of it on AC, maybe they can chime in.  Search under Monarchy NM24 or M24 I wrote extensively about mine when I got it about 2 yrs bk.  I particularly found Lynn Olson's rev (linked on Monarchy site very helpful). 

I run my line-stage with a TVC, together they are exceptionally good .  I run the tubes in each section with Herbie's tube dampers to further refine the sound of the DAC and Line-stage.  I also find the option to still tube roll (especially since I replaced my Tube amp with a T-amp design) fantastic.  I find this DAC more than capable of delivering plenty of detail without losing any emotion or organic qualities of the music.

Hope this helps

[low.pfile]

Regalma
Yeah, check out 1000a's thread on the NM24: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=42597.0

the NM24 has a solid state DAC option in addition to the tube DAC section. I don't care for the SS section at all. heard it in another system too. That SS lineout can be used for feeding a sub though.

I use a completely stock NM24 in my second system in my home office. I originally had it in my main system. I only use the DAC section. using the linestage section requires a TVC. Oh, I use TOSlink from DAC to computer. It's a nice DAC, with the right amount of detail for me.

[Housteau]

A while ago I compared the Benchmark Dac1 to the Monarchy NM24 and chose the Monarchy due to the many reasons already mentioned in this thread.  However, just recently I placed a Benchmark back into my system and I like what I am hearing.  I just seem to be getting more of everything without any ill effects that I thought I had heard the first time around.  Although I love the Monarchy, especially on vocals, I have just purchased a Benchmark Dac1 Pre, because it sounds more correct to me now in so many ways.

[char1]

The DAC 24 is a wonderful device. I have had the DAC1 in my system and the DAC 24 in comparison just seemed easier on the ears and more 3 dimensional. In many respects the DAC 24 is a very sane product. A few points... it sounds better with the top removed and believe it or not I think you should leave it on all the time (except for vacations). The 6n1p tubes that the company will provide are just very good. It does seem to perform better with a DIP 49-96 jitter reduction device. And if you put it on a Mapleshade platform with brass footers it will really bring a smile to your face.

[flintstone]

I own one, it replaced my long time Counterpoint DAC a couple years ago. As a DAC, it is outstanding, and as a DAC/preamp it is very good, although the preamp is not quite as good as my Audioprism Mantissa preamp to my ear.

That said, I still use the preamp once in a while....it's something different, and a little more forward sounding than the Mantissa (I like that sometimes). I use Amperex tubes in mine....6dj8's and 7308's

[Val]

Jim,

Unless you need the SS DAC for a separate subwoofer, get the older M24, the one with a tube DAC only. I love it, but find the line stage not quite to the level of the DAC.

[Regalma]

The engineer in me has to point out that there is no such thing as a tube based DAC. If you could build a high performance audio DAC using tubes it  would probably be the size of a large building and use even more electricity. And require an army of maintenance folks. The output amp stages are tube based.

[jimdgoulding]

Jim,

Unless you need the SS DAC for a separate subwoofer, get the older M24, the one with a tube DAC only. I love it, but find the line stage not quite to the level of the DAC.

Everything else the same you think?  Thanks.  Que paso, Val?

[low.pfile]

Jim,

Unless you need the SS DAC for a separate subwoofer, get the older M24, the one with a tube DAC only. I love it, but find the line stage not quite to the level of the DAC.

Everything else the same you think?  Thanks.  Que paso, Val?

There are a few other differences......There was a short review by the folks at Affordable Audio years ago. PDF download of AA issue with full review

Excerpt of AA review Monarchy NM 24 DAC/Line Stage, By John Hoffman:

The owner of a NM 24 now has the ability to choose between two different DAC configurations, both of which give a different presentation to the music. To put it quite simply, Monarchy has found a way to offer a highend digital analog converter that can be configuired for either solid-state or vacuum tube output. Monarchy has also upgraded the D to A convertor chip in the NM 24 to the Burr Brown PCM 1704. The previous generation machine was built around the Burr Brown PCM 63, which has been taken out of production. The PCM 1704 has a reputation as a high quality chip set, but Mr. Poon decided go whole hog, and has installed the Select grade of this chip. Burr Brown performs a series of tests on a production run of PCM 1704s, and those chips that are the cream of the crop are given the Select designation. This Burr Brown chips allows for true 24-bit word length, so the NM 24 is capable of authentic 24/96 performance. Even though the PCM 1704 gives this DAC the ability to play a high-resolution format, the real value of it can be heard when playing a conventional Redbook format disc. This chip set is capable of preserving the purity of the data stream, which is responsible for the NM 24s ability to reproduce the subtle nuances of a performance. The PCM 10704 Select chip set is the heart and soul of this player. If you do a bit of research you will find that this chip set has been used in machines from Wadia and Boulder, which have been considered to be some of the finest digital pieces ever produced.
Other than these two changes, the NM 24 circuit is essentially the same as the M 24 D to A converter. Mr. Poon installed a few minor refinements to the unit, such as larger toroidal transformers, and an upgrade of a few capacitors in the unit, but these are essentially refinements of a proven design. The circuit layout of the pre-amplifier is carried over from the previous generation.

Cheers, ed