monoblocks vs stereo power amp

damnusernames
damnusernames Posts: 84
in 2 Channel Audio
Any pros and cons?

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    Main thing is that you have 2 separate chassis and power supplies are independent and the channels are kept separate.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • damnusernames
    damnusernames Posts: 84
    Thank you for your input,

    I understand that the chassis being separated, you get two power supplies and everything but, do you also get a discrepancy in between the channels?

    I mean, I work with 2 computer screens, bought at the same time, same model...quite high end, 27 inchers.

    I can't get exactly the same image on both, does that apply to monos?

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited April 2015
    I don't understand what you mean with your computers, I own the top of the line iMac 27" retina 5K display so I understand what you mean with large high end screens, but I don't get the audio analogy.

    You want to keep the 2 channels separate, that's better than having cross talk.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • damnusernames
    damnusernames Posts: 84
    Ok,

    well simply put. Twice the same products, both very high end (Nec). same settings....not the same image side by side, subtle but there.

    Could you also get that in audio?


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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    If you are putting out the same image onto 2 monitors and not getting the same image, then something is off.

    In audio, you have 2 channels, and they are supposed to be different (i.e. Stereo). So each channel is to be different signal amplified.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    In addition to monoblocks there are stereo amps and integrated amps that are true dual mono, some with a separate power supply chassis.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    F1nut wrote: »
    In addition to monoblocks there are stereo amps and integrated amps that are true dual mono, some with a separate power supply chassis.

    This is what I would recommend. It would virtually eliminate (or eliminate) any discrepancies you brought up in your computer screen example. I have owned a couple true dual mono amps and didn't hear a difference between channels (but not a seperate chassis for the power supply). I recommend buying true dual mono, IMO if you are interested in "dual mono".
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    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

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  • damnusernames
    damnusernames Posts: 84
    edited April 2015
    Joey_V wrote: »
    If you are putting out the same image onto 2 monitors and not getting the same image, then something is off.

    In audio, you have 2 channels, and they are supposed to be different (i.e. Stereo). So each channel is to be different signal amplified.

    Regarding monitors, like I said, it is subtle, but it is different. I even brought back the monitors at first, and the dealer and myself tested several, they are not "exactly" the same.

    I am being very picky with this though (photography) most people would not notice.

    Obviously I meant, output difference for same signal...Even though music is stereo you want same response to any given signal on the two channels. Any discrepancy in the output is not desirable which does not equate to the channels having to play the same thing...







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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited April 2015
    Your analogy simply doesn't apply to using monoblocks/dual mono amps in your audio systems. The input the 2 amps receive is different. The output is supposed to be different. All other things being equal (amps being the same and running at spec), the output is going to be different as that is what makes the miracle of stereophonic sound!
    Dual mono/monoblock amps are generally considered the pinnacle of amplification (*edit) methods.
    Post edited by vc69 on
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
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  • damnusernames
    damnusernames Posts: 84
    vc69: Fair enough, So there ARE advantages of running monos. Some cited (amongst other things) the elimination of crosstalk.

    I am not familiar with the concept of crosstalk.

    Someone to elaborate please?

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  • damnusernames
    damnusernames Posts: 84
    interesting! I am being tempted by this idea...

    And the fact it looks good does help too!

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  • scotvl
    scotvl Posts: 88
    Should you have two dedicated separate ac lines to run each mono block off of?
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    The crosstalk thing is a biggie, no doubt. Having separate power supplies delivering transient peak power demands is also a major factor.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • damnusernames
    damnusernames Posts: 84
    vc69 wrote: »
    The crosstalk thing is a biggie, no doubt. Having separate power supplies delivering transient peak power demands is also a major factor.

    That sounds very logical indeed.

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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    If you are interested in optimum sound quality, then yes, you need two seperate lines for the amps, and one for the source.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    Yes, I did jump up the electronics chain as well

    This being the bigger factor.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited April 2015
    F1nut wrote: »
    In addition to monoblocks there are stereo amps and integrated amps that are true dual mono, some with a separate power supply chassis.
    Excellent point made here by F1, back in the mid 80's I bought a H-K Citation 19 SS power amp that had the two separate amp sections. Each channel had a huge transformer and had huge beer can size caps. Every time there was an amp clinic going on at the stereo shop I bought it from, that amp always__ spec'd out better in watts per channel RMS and slightly lower THD and IMD than what the manufacturer's specs. showed. I hope someday to go back to a dual mono design.

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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    I can't think of much of anything that has more Sex Appeal in Audio than a pair of Mono's sitting on Amp Stands, flanking the front end and just doin' their thing!

    http://digichar.com/imgs/a/c/e/o/t/audio_research_reference_210_tube_monoblocks___22__000_msrp___lots_of_ve_reviews_1_lgw.jpg

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