300+ wpc, brand new: $420

[Feanor]

Feanor,

If you were forced to part with one amp would it be the Monarchs or the SDS?

Great job and enjoyed your review at AA.

Thanks, PG.

I think I would part with the Monarchys and might might list them on Audiogon in the near future.

[E-Stat]

I think I would part with the Monarchys and might might list them on Audiogon in the near future.

If you're still in the tinkering mood, I might suggest beefing up the power supply for either amp. That is an area where most amps can benefit given the size of the standard supply. I suspect the Monarchy amps would most have more punch and openness with a stiffer supply. Perhaps your new amp might also respond well to having more joules.

rw

[Feanor]

If you're still in the tinkering mood, I might suggest beefing up the power supply for either amp. That is an area where most amps can benefit given the size of the standard supply. I suspect the Monarchy amps would most have more punch and openness with a stiffer supply. Perhaps your new amp might also respond well to having more joules.

rw

Well, the Monarchys do have 60,000 uF per side and I don't imagine it would be safe up the voltage. In any case I'd be further ahead selling the Monarchys as-is since I pretty sure I like the Class-D-Audio better anyway.

The CDA SDS-258 is amenable to an upgrade and I know that some have done it. It will handle up to +-70 volts. I'm not sure what the current PS actually supplies since the transformer doesn't specify the DC output; maybe I could measure it with a multimeter. The capacitance is only 14,400 uF per side. One guy did up grade to this PS board from Connexelectronic which will handle 71 VDC and has 6 x 18,000 uF (or 54,000 uF per side).

[E-Stat]

Well, the Monarchys do have 60,000 uF per side and I don't imagine it would be safe up the voltage.

No, I would only increase the capacitance given the design. Point to ponder: my thirty year old Stasis 3 runs 50,000 uF @ 65 volts while a pair of SM-70 Pros run 120,000 uF @ 30 volts. Which one has nearly twice the energy storage as the other?

I'm not sure what the current PS actually supplies since the transformer doesn't specify the DC output; maybe I could measure it with a multimeter.

It is quite easy to do. Measure across the positive and negative leads of the caps.

The capacitance is only 14,400 uF per side. One guy did up grade to this PS board...and has 6 x 18,000 uF (or 54,000 uF per side).

I would focus first on raising the rail voltage since energy storage goes up with the square of voltage. It may require using a different transformer.

rw

[Feanor]

...
It is quite easy to do. Measure across the positive and negative leads of the caps.

I would focus first on raising the rail voltage since energy storage goes up with the square of voltage. It may require using a different transformer.

rw

I will measure the rail voltages first.