Mating Monarchy 48/96 upsampling DIP to Scott Nixon TubeDac?

kafka · « **on:** 21 Jan 2004, 10:24 pm »

My main goal is to inprove my front end at a reasonable price. My real question is: does it make sense and is there any "sonic logic" behind mating upsampling and non-sampling digital components in series? I have heard great things about the SN TubeDac and have to admit I'm unclear about the technology going into it. I want to improve my transport and present the DAC with a cleaner more refined signal, but if the SN Tube Dac has no added dither and upsampling what will the DIP add besides maybe boosting the digital signal? I am extremely confused and need someone to set me straight.

If the TubeDac reads at 16 bits what benefit will feeding 24 bits into it from the DIP have?

scottnixon · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Jan 2004, 12:46 am »

Monarchy's older DIP or the new DIP Classic which are 44.1k specific on the output will work fine. The upsampler models will not work. Unless you have/own one of these already, I'd not worry about it. Get a good cable and forget about it.

kafka · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Jan 2004, 03:37 am »

Thanks for responding Scott. I could not have asked for a better person to reply!!

MaxCast · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jan 2004, 12:01 pm »

Hi Scott. Nice to see you around. Keep up the good work.

MttBsh · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jan 2004, 03:22 am »

Kafka,

I loved what my Monarchy 24/96 DIP did for my system, mated with a Monarchy 22B DAC. later, I moved up to the DIP Classic, and that sounded even better. However, when I bought a Scott Nixon Tubedac Plus, Scott's DAC sounded so good that the Monarchy DIP added nothing to the sound. Really, I was surpised to hear no difference with the DIP in or out of the system, and I really listened. That's how good the Tubedacs are. I sold my Monarchy DIP Classic the next day.

Matt