Recommend me some Monoblocks

[Audio Al]

I have a pair of Albarry M608 mono blocks they do the job rather well and even better if used with the Albarry 1108 pre amp , you can also get the step up transformer Albarry MCA 11 if using a MC cartridge if you are old fashioned and use one of those strange black disc things

[danilo]

I use monoblocks, as I like the idea of the power amplifier to be as close to the speaker as possible, thereby minimising speaker cable.

The monoblocks I use are no longer made:

Mark Levinson ML-2
Quad 50E
Quad 510
Quad 405-2 that have been extensively modified and 'monoblocked',

however I believe Quad may still make their QMP monoblock designs.

That's an 'interesting' dichotomy.. a preference for minimising pretty well impervious/bulletproof Speaker cabling in exchange for extended length, fragile and genuinely tricky signal level cabling ??

[Barry]

That's an 'interesting' dichotomy.. a preference for minimising pretty well impervious/bulletproof Speaker cabling in exchange for extended length, fragile and genuinely tricky signal level cabling ??

The signal cabling is fully balanced, so too is the preamp output as are the inputs to the power amps.

[Clifford.T Ward]

I started out using a single Rotel RB 850 and was pleased with the results but always felt that there was more ....so when cash was avaliable I added a second and used them bridged as mono blocks .....for me that was the Eureka moment , the sound improved several fold . better sound stage tighter bass , no sense of struggling at all......that was 25 years back and I have never looked back ......or course you need a good pre amp to start with ......

[User211]

A pair of vintage Accuphase M-60 monos. Unbelievably good I think. Best solid state amps I've ever had in the house in 40 odd years. And considering that's how old they are...

Should be able to track a pair down for £1500 to £2000.

[Arkless Electronics]

...but you would see the benefits in a dual mono amp in one case vs a stereo one?

It's tenuous... Any advantage in crosstalk performance due either to dual mono or monoblocks is infinitesimal in real terms. A cartridge for example gives a maximum separation of about 30dB whilst even an amp with poor crosstalk will manage 60dB or better... Remember that decibels are logarithmic. 30dB is 31 x whilst 60dB is 1000 x

[Firebottle]

I don't think you listen with enough 'resolution' in your expectation or aural experience Jez.

The figures quoted are I'm sure reasonably representative, but when you have a fabulously detailed soundstage the emotive and spatial feel to the experience is though very low level sounds, certainly ones I have heard that come through better with monoblocks.

This is monoblocks built to an almost identical build as a stereo but as separate mono amplifiers.

[Arkless Electronics]

I don't think you listen with enough 'resolution' in your expectation or aural experience Jez.

The figures quoted are I'm sure reasonably representative, but when you have a fabulously detailed soundstage the emotive and spatial feel to the experience is though very low level sounds, certainly ones I have heard that come through better with monoblocks.

This is monoblocks built to an almost identical build as a stereo but as separate mono amplifiers.

I disagree with you 100% and would disagree more if there were more % available. As to my experience and expectations well they are second to none and I consider that an insult. Personally i would never talk bollocks like "emotive and spatial feel to the experience".... Been reading 6 moons lately?
Nor would I build amps with probably 2% or more distortion, including significant crossover distortion, and dubious damping factor..... Happy xmas

[Droog]

Blow that trumpet Ark......

As to my experience and expectations well they are second to none.
(Jezzer).

[Firebottle]

Happy Xmas to you too Jez
No insult intended (sorry ) but our experiences seem to differ a lot. Hey ho it would be boring if we were all the same.