Digital Drive: REVIEW: Monarchy Audio DIP Upsampler 48/96 DAC Processors by Dynaudio

Model:	DIP Upsampler 48/96
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	$299.00
Description:	Upsamping digital converter with jitter reduction
Manufacturer URL:	Monarchy Audio
Manufacturer URL:	Monarchy Audio

Review by Dynaudio_Rules ( A ) on January 11, 2007 at 09:19:24
IP Address: 136.1.1.101

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for the DIP Upsampler 48/96

For this review I am using an Adcom GCD700 CDP as the digital front end, the CDP is sitting on Black Diamond Racing Cones and has an upgraded power cord.
Digital cables are all AudioQuest VDM1 s/pdif out to the DIP AudioQuest Raven AES/EBU out to a Berhinger DEQ 2496 DAC/Digital EQ.
Associated equiptment and cables are:
Anthem Pre-2L pre-amp with Mullard 6922 NOS tubes and an AudioQuest NRG2 power cord.
Aragon 8008BB amp with an NRG2 power cord and Dynaudio Audience 82 speakers.
Analog cables are AudioQuest King Cobra, speaker cables are AudioQuest Gibraltar.
After about a few days with this product listening with it in place and without it I find that it does give a certain smoothness to the sound at all frequency levels. With the jumpers in place for 48 bit sampling the sound is very mellow almost tube like, seeing that My Anthem preamp is only slightly such. Having the DIP set to 48 a very noticable tubey character appeared with wasn't bad at all.... I placed the jumpers to the 96 bit position which really seemed to increase the level of detail and small micro-dynamics in the music. What was also very noticable was the blackness in the background while the music was playing, you hear only the music and nothing in between, the seperation of notes becomes very clear, vocals appear like ghosts without warning or any signs of their retreat. The layers front to back becomes more noticable too as the back up vocalist sound more distant but still clearly heard.
All in all, I like the DIP 48/96 it delivers on the goods at a modest price tag.

Product Weakness: switching from 48 to 96 requires taking the cover off
Product Strengths: Size, cost, smooths out the music and provides good upsampling

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	see review
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	see review
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	see review
Speakers:	see review
Cables/Interconnects:	see review
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz, vocals, guitar
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	switching from 48 to 96 requires taking the cover off
Product Strengths:	Size, cost, smooths out the music and provides good upsampling