Not if the amplifier is designed properly.
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Yes I think Monoblocks are used to solve weight problems. The new top drawer Krell's are in 4 cabinets. Each channel has its own power cabinet, and then amp cabinet. Each weighs close to the limits of the shipping companies.
Theoretically there are sonic improvements with monoblocks, they have total channel separation, do not share a transformer, or capacitor storage, or even an electrical circuit if you wire the house up that way. So in theory they are better, but those advantages could be hard to discern when comparing to the best of the one box amps. Perhaps if you have a very large room using very large and consumptuous speakers, it's advantages would be more easily revealed? Perhaps most of us just don't have the need for the extra performance a monoblock brings?
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I found monoblocks do make a difference but not sure if it was a difference I wanted. Sure if you want more power to drive large speakers in a large room then they maybe better. However I have heard very good stereo power amps do the same without a problem.
You get less crosstalk with mono block amps which in theory means you may get a slight improvement in precision and detail in the sound, probably most noticeable on vocals. You also get an ease to the music which is hard to quantify but is there none the less. Separate power supplies also a useful thing to have but again not always necessary if you have a well designed power amp.
I really think I would only use them to answer my first point, that being driving large speakers with awkward loads in big rooms.
Labels getting me mixed up ?
Are not Mono blocks..Two separate Single channel Amps with their own everything.. including power cords?
Dual mono being two separate Single channel amps in one case sharing only a Power transformer and it's secondaries ?
Difference between the 2 being ; a case and individual Power tx's?
What does one label the rest of amp configurations.. ?
I wrote a pretty long post addressing advantages and disadvantages in detail about 6 months ago... gawd knows exactly where on the site but it's there.
I like the idea of monoblocks as in laymans terms the separation of boxes with a more specific duty appeals to me. It always has as it just seems to make sense to separate the channels as much as possible and have one power supply/circuit covering one channel only.
I will be getting a passive pre and matching power amplifier this year with plans to upgrade to a pre with outputs for bi amping (and even tri amping...not fully sure how that works but it sounds like great one upmanship :))
I am in touch with my hype meter and Im not sure if I could hear the difference in my price area between a well designed one box power and mono blocks. I am not an amplifier designer so could easily be persuaded that it reduces conflict issues and makes things pure.
I have to be honest that Im probably more in love with equipment that looks as though it means the business so I can say look Ive got a six pack :) I will be finding a good dealer and getting home trials with online ordering.
Cheers Martin
I don't personally care these days. Mono's, dual monopower amp, stereo power amp, integrated. As long as the sound is right. I've owned each type. Designed properly, they should perform as well as each other.