Coming in with some appreciation for this amp!
I’ve been meaning to write something about this amp for a while now, but have been holding back because I struggle describing gear outside of hps. Mostly I can just compare the different chains I’ve tried with the Monotor, in which case it becomes far too much for a neat summary.
Still, I’m gonna give it a go since so far, of the amps I had in house, this is my favorite.
For reference, these are the amps I’ve had for a certain period of time where I feel comfortable comparing them solely in terms of my preference:
- RNHP
- Lake People G111
- BHC + Speedball
- Violectric V281
@M0N has done a far better job describing the first two (along with the Monotor) than I could dream of doing right now, so I’ll just link this thread here for anyone who appreciates a clear and detailed description.
TLDR: they all perform on a similar level, all various degrees of neutral with different leanings, the Monotor stands out being a bit more analytical and forward with a black background
For the other two amps I can say this:
The BHC has not impressed me on any of the dac and hp combinations I’ve tried. In fact, I’ve used it so little I don’t feel confident describing it.
The V281 is the most technically capable amp I have. It’s neutral with a warm/smooth tilt. In fact, just a tad too warm for me. For most hps it takes away too much treble energy for me.
I originally got the Monotor because I did not enjoy the Clear on the often recommended chain V281 + Soekris 2541. I wanted to test if the amp was the problem. Replacing the V281 with the Monotor in this chain made me appreciate the Clear so much more and guaranteed them a mainstay in my collection.
The combination Monotor + Soekris 2541 can lean a bit feeble. Only recently I went back and switched out the Soekris with the Bifrost 2 and it made me fall in love with the amp all over again. For the Clear I still prefer the Soekris, but almost every other hp benefits from the added lower end of the Bifrost. It allowed me to see the benefits of the LCD2. The ADX5000 is fun on it. I even think it drives the Utopia admirably for its price point. Naturally, it throttles its capabilities immensely; however, it is still very enjoyable to me.
My preferences are brighter, aggressive and more forward sound and I would wholeheartedly recommend this amp to anyone who might have the same leanings.
I very much hope I can come back and describe this amp more accurately and with more confidence once I’ve tried out more source gear.