Monster Amps?

Systems
Systems Posts: 14,873
edited June 2007 in Electronics
Are Monster Amps any good? I was investigating one of their clean power units for my setup and came upon them. I like going with brands that I have recognition with. Seems like theres to many Amps out there made by companies I have enver heard of before (I have trust issues):

http://www.monstercable.com/power/home_theater/signature_series_power_centers.asp
Testing
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Testing
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited June 2007
    I have never used the Monster amps but have seen a lot of good reviews everywhere. I had heard that Monster had them made for them by another company. I think it was John Curl, who makes Parasound amps. If you can get a good deal, go for it.
    V
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited June 2007
    Silverti wrote: »
    Are Monster Amps any good? I was investigating one of their clean power units for my setup and came upon them. I like going with brands that I have recognition with. Seems like theres to many Amps out there made by companies I have enver heard of before (I have trust issues):

    http://www.monstercable.com/power/home_theater/signature_series_power_centers.asp

    For the right price, a year ago you could get them wayyyy under MSRP, now they are getting harder to find. A couple of us own them on here.

    Anyway, yes, they are best beast amps i have ever owned. They rock in my book..... Not a single complaint. Going on a year!
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited June 2007
    They can usually be found on ebay and other online sellers for way under retail (damn, too slow with my post). I would do some research before you buy, make sure you're getting a good price.

    I think, for online / used prices, they would seem to be a good amp.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited June 2007
    venomclan wrote: »
    I have never used the Monster amps but have seen a lot of good reviews everywhere. I had heard that Monster had them made for them by another company. I think it was John Curl, who makes Parasound amps. If you can get a good deal, go for it.
    V

    Richard Marsh, not Curl... I think. Been awhile. Just don't pay MSRP for them.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited June 2007
    unc2701 wrote: »
    Richard Marsh, not Curl... I think. Been awhile. Just don't pay MSRP for them.

    Yes, it's Marsh. +1 on all that's been said about them. They took a big hit when monster started suing every company with the name monster in it. Bad publicity pretty much sank these things eventhough for the sub $1000 prices you could find them for on ebay you just couldn't get a better amp new for the price. I have both the 2 channel and 3 channel versions powering an LSi surround setup. And they can pretty much deliver anything my 15s ask for. Your ears will bleed out before the amps will. But the real + I've found is in increased low volume detail and general bass slam all around. And this is with LSis.
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited June 2007
    Yep, they are a Richard Marsh designed amplifer.

    I own two of the 3250's for a little over a year now, and I will never get rid of them!

    +1 On Cheddar. They have plenty of power, more than I'll ever need. The only down side that I can think of is that they can get a little warm if keeped on all day, but I believe that's just the natural characteristics of a class A/B amplifier.
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited June 2007
    i looked into them very seriously at one point but did not end up buying anything at the time...

    I am also very interested in them, i really like the asthetics of them, i would like to hear some of your guyus oppinions that own them as well. what do you think of em
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  • XJRGUY
    XJRGUY Posts: 258
    edited June 2007
    Too much BLING for my tastes.
    http://www.laspeedgarage.com
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited June 2007
    Can someone who owns a Monster amp open it up and snap some pics? I'd like to see the guts.

    Thanks.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited June 2007
    XJRGUY wrote: »
    Too much BLING for my tastes.

    BLING?? The're not any spinners on the amps??:confused:

    If you are referring to the lights, the brightness is adjustable along with shutting them off.
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited June 2007
    Early B. wrote: »
    Can someone who owns a Monster amp open it up and snap some pics? I'd like to see the guts.

    Thanks.

    Here are a couple pics from AVS.

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855075&highlight=Monster+Amp
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited June 2007
    MikeC78 wrote: »
    Here are a couple pics from AVS.

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855075&highlight=Monster+Amp

    Thanks for the link.

    Impressive guts. A hefty toroidal transformer for each channel. Very nice.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited June 2007
    Very nice looking configuration.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited June 2007
    Early B. wrote: »
    Thanks for the link.

    Impressive guts. A hefty toroidal transformer for each channel. Very nice.

    I thought the insides were kind of "messy", I do like the TT for each channel like you said.

    They sound good and get the job done, and match the rest of my Monster power stuff.:o
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  • XJRGUY
    XJRGUY Posts: 258
    edited June 2007
    MikeC78 wrote: »
    BLING?? The're not any spinners on the amps??:confused:

    If you are referring to the lights, the brightness is adjustable along with shutting them off.

    Hey it's just my opinion.

    The amps are garish with the BRIGHT "look at me" silver and HUGE bling bling power meters, especially on the 5 channel flavor. Yuck!

    Understated power is sexy, but the cartoonish nature of these things would never find their home in my rack.

    Of course this has nothing to do with sound, and I admit I've never auditioned them before, but audio is subjective and so are looks.

    XJRGUY
    http://www.laspeedgarage.com
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited June 2007
    MikeC78 wrote: »
    Here are a couple pics from AVS.

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855075&highlight=Monster+Amp

    Thanks Mike, i have been wanting to see the inside of my Monsters. I was not going to take mine apart. Very nice! Beefy............
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited June 2007
    i just really like the idea of knowing the real time wattage going to each channel.....
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    Early B. wrote: »
    Thanks for the link.

    Impressive guts. A hefty toroidal transformer for each channel. Very nice.
    Nice indeed, having a separate power supply for each channel is a big bonus.There also appears to be lots of filter capacitance as well as there are six on each channel.
    It is a safe bet that if Marsh did the design then it will be a good amplifier.
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited June 2007
    XJRGUY wrote: »
    Hey it's just my opinion.

    The amps are garish with the BRIGHT "look at me" silver and HUGE bling bling power meters, especially on the 5 channel flavor. Yuck!

    Understated power is sexy, but the cartoonish nature of these things would never find their home in my rack.

    Of course this has nothing to do with sound, and I admit I've never auditioned them before, but audio is subjective and so are looks.

    XJRGUY

    :cool: Understood.
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