I have used them both extensively, reviewed them both, to be found on Dagogo.com
They both have merits, and are like opposite sides of a coin. If your rig is comprised of warm/laid back gear and you desire some more definition and detail especially, look into the Benchmark.
If you have what you feel is good amount of clarity but seek a touch of warmth, then go for the Monarchy.
I would characterize both as good value, excellent performance and reliability, but with slightly different presentation, as delineated above.
Also, keep in mind that cabling will influence each significantly. Read my review of the Wire World cabling in this month's Dagogo.com reviews to find an alternative method of raising the warmth of a rig though use of DIGITAL cables used as IC's. (NOTE: This was an experiment I conducted with Wire World cables; I'm not guaranteeing that all manufacturer's ICs will work similarly, but it's possilbe. That's something to be explored further.)
They both have merits, and are like opposite sides of a coin. If your rig is comprised of warm/laid back gear and you desire some more definition and detail especially, look into the Benchmark.
If you have what you feel is good amount of clarity but seek a touch of warmth, then go for the Monarchy.
I would characterize both as good value, excellent performance and reliability, but with slightly different presentation, as delineated above.
Also, keep in mind that cabling will influence each significantly. Read my review of the Wire World cabling in this month's Dagogo.com reviews to find an alternative method of raising the warmth of a rig though use of DIGITAL cables used as IC's. (NOTE: This was an experiment I conducted with Wire World cables; I'm not guaranteeing that all manufacturer's ICs will work similarly, but it's possilbe. That's something to be explored further.)