Monarchy Audio DIP 24/96 - Digita Interface Processor

Next up, the Monarchy DIP (Digital Interface Processor) 24/96 that promises to add to one's sonic stew. The much-acclaimed basic DIP was one of the earliest and most cost-efficient jitter removers of recent years. Selling for short money, it was praised by the international audio press for doing the job, and in a small, pint-sized unit. The original DIP reclocked the digital signal and suppressed jitter. It’s also intended to isolate the converter from the transport, blocking hum and RFI, while boosting the digital signal for the hungry DAC. Finally, it converted between digital formats.

The new DIP 24/96 does all that and one-ups the original by accepting 24/96 signals for you DVD fans, decoding and encoding sampling frequencies from 32 to 96kHz, accepting and passing through any data between 16 and 24 bits, and obviously working with typical CD transports and DACS. Features include one RCA and one optical input, one RCA and one AES/EBU output, and a slot for a detachable power cord.

Staying with coaxial digital ins and outs, the DIP 24/96 made the music fatter and deeper, adding longer decays and slightly more soundstage depth too. It was almost like reinserting the balanced cable into the setup, but the sound was even weightier than that. Bass notes were especially extended, intense and more distinct now; cymbals had more breadth and body. The overall tonality seemed to shift downward ever so gently, while everything remained very harmonious. Is the DIP 24/96 worth it one's digital end? It’s a no-brainer and big bang for the bucks, and I haven’t even tried it with a DAC other the ones in-house.

Monarchy DIP (Digital Interface Processor) 24/96: $199 + shipping and sales tax when applicable