Do high dollar mono blocks truly improve the Sound Quality over the mid tier amps

Great great room  

That’s a lot of glass. Curtains? Other treatments as tolerated. 
 
Pre Amp

Streamer. (Grimm MU2?)

I would consider eliminating the preamp as you have the MSB reference Dac. I would also recommend trying a pair of MSB m205 monos. I went from D’Agostino momentum m400 with momentum pre and a discrete Dac to a premier and s200 and am loving it. The pairing of the MSB amp and Dac is great. I will soon upgrade to either the ref or add the digital director.

I’ve had many Classe pieces in the past: ca-200, 3 of their preamps last 1 being the cp-60, and the last amps being the ca-m600 monos. I didn’t like the newer Classe products and I didn’t like the thinking of Classe was going to be in business tomorrow. So I went looking for new amps a few years ago and went with the ps audio amps, better performance, and I know they will be supported next year and probably for the next decade. The m600’s didn’t sound bad, they were warm sounding like all the Classe amps before them, but I didn’t like all the fan circuitry that could go south. I would buy another ca-200 or even a cam-350 pair for my 2nd system.

I used to work with a guy that bought a pair of CAD 805s.  He was constantly going off about how it was like "being there."  However, I never went over to listen to his system.  In retrospect, now I wish I would have.

Go checkout AGD mono blocks class D Thst kick butt against 

Anything and everything even above their price class .

check out the reviews  and  go. Have a listen .

Without getting into system synergy, and keeping everything else constant, you would likely find it worthwhile to go from Classe to CH. Mostly midrange layering, delicacy in the highs and tightness in the dynamics. You might have to trade a tiny bit of boldness and sheer impact for that refinement and delicacy you would get from CH. However, if you listen to mostly rock and pop, I would not go there. 

The best sounding amp(s) I ever owned were a pair of ARC VTM120s.  The only reason I got rid of them is that they could be a bit unreliable.

 

 

A popular audiophilism is that the shorter the speaker cables the better. Do you think this is a significant issue? Thanks.

IME that is true to an extent. For instance, using 8’ 16 gauge VS a 25’ 16 gauge cable. But a 10’ length of 14 gauge cable is not going to present a significant LCR difference VS a 5’ length of the same cable.

IME, it’s better to put the same money into a higher power and/or better quality stereo amp, just so long as it has decent crosstalk performance, which will be the case for nearly any modern solid state amp and most tube amps as well.

The vast majority of audiophiles are using speakers that in my opinion/experience are undeserving of a high end stereo amp, let alone high end mono blocks. If there’s anything I agree on with Kevin Deal of Upscale Audio, it’s his claim that most audiophiles are using amps with capabilities that exceed their speaker quality.

Yes. A more expensive amplifier usually sounds better.  I went through a long series of upgrades of everything, and I can vouch that every component got better…of course, I upgraded with thought, as there are some very expensive components that may not sound better.

Is your room well-treated? Any upgrade should consider the degree to which the room will or won't allow a real difference in component to be audible enough to be worth the money.

I have been demo'd ESL's I am familiar with as a model, that were modded to be direct coupled to Power Amp's. These ESL Speakers were indelible and I have not heard a better ESL from any Brand experienced in use. 

I suppose this could be called a Active ESL.

I have not heard non-Active Cabinet Speakers converted to Active so it is difficult to make any further comments on betterment as a outcome.

@helomech A popular audiophilism is that the shorter the speaker cables the better.  Do you think this is a significant issue?  Thanks.

Mono blocks are only advantageous if you are switching to them from an amp that had high levels of crosstalk. A competently designed, high-power stereo amp can be just as good or superior. 

Those are good amps. Cost alone means nothing. You can always change if you don’t like the amps for whatever reason: to try newer technology or a different design, a different visual look/aesthetic, measured performance, or whatever you please. That’s totally up to you. I just would never ever make a change based on price alone.

Also always a good idea especially with big ticket items to either audition first or be sure to have a cost effective way out if things do not pan out as expected.

An Ad in the Link is from earlier in 2024, a very similar Spec' is on sale in the UK for £2K.

This Model Type and Spec' of Amp' will stand 'toe to toe' with Amp's up to 20 X this Value. I have been present and witnessed this this occur with the lowest and highest of the Neurochrome range. The lowest has stood 'toe to toe' with £8K Branded Valve Power Amp's.

There will be substantial funds reserved if the Neurochrome route to Power Amplification is adopted.

Such savings of funds do enable options to be considered to max out on the most desirable upstream supporting devices. Possibly even used sale item Speakers can be discovered, where careful selections are with the potential to create a ' Out the Ball Park' system for the price of Branded Off the Shelf Power Amplification.

If a device is bought from a Competent and Skilled Amp' Builder, there is nothing not to like about such a methodology to attaining a very impressive Power Amplification for a system.  

Tried to focus the discussion on amp upgrade to folks with direct experience rather than a general system critique. @ghdprentice  thank you for your kind words.  In response to comments on my pre and music server I will offer this.  I have the new Innuos Zenith NG on order arriving in a few weeks.  As to the pre I recently sold my VAC Signature Mk IIa (SE) which was in the system.  I preferred the pre in my MSB Reference DAC which has one additional balanced input that I run my phono pre into.  Room acoustics are great.

Wow, beautiful system and house. What a wonderful place to enjoy music!

If you would like better performance I would look at upgrading your streamer and preamp. That is what looks to me to be constraints on your outstanding system. Look at the top of the line Aurrender to put your digital end in line with the rest of your system. For preamp I would look towards Audio Research or Conrad Johnson. 
 

A bit of a different point of view on @atmasphere ’s comment about price. Audio companies have different house sounds (“intentions”) and by moving up in cost of product the house sound is invariably improved. So, in this sense you get what you pay for. I have never heard a lower level component sound better than a higher level one. For instance moving from entry level Audio Research preamps to their flagship. However, you might prefer the house sound of, say Boulder better. So, if you don’t have a wide range of exposure you could consider a low level ARC preamp to be better sounding that a top tier Boulder. 
 

Alternatively. You could add a high end component to your lower tier system and it could sound bad because it just isn’t synergistic. But within sound categories you universally get better sound the more you spend. I’m sure there is a few exceptions or special circumstances, but in my fifty years I have not stumbled into any real concrete examples. 

on a serious note: I am sure you can get a different sound that you enjoy more. I don't know how you go up from where you are now.

I don’t think upgrading those already excellent amps will make a noticeable difference. Better speaker placement, better room, better recordings would imo make much bigger differences. It’s my belief once your amp/amps are very well made and powerful, differences beyond that from upgrading the amps are extremely subtle.

Obviously changing speakers would change your sound. But you have great speakers, so it’s unclear if changing them is an upgrade or not. 

In your system I’d first look at a better streamer from Innuos, Aurender, Grimm, etc.  The Zenith is really good, but I think there’s a good bit more to potentially be had there.  Just my $0.02 FWIW.

A post made in previous threads follows:

"  

I feel like I have left out a recommendation of a Low Powered SS Power Amp' that has thoroughly impressed me during demo's in a variety of Build Models, which I made known recollection of experiences had on this forum.

 The Neurochrome Modul 65 has been in use in my Local HiFi Club as a SS Amp' demonstrator for quite a few years. This Amp' had been used in comparisons to both Valve Power Amp's - Valve Integrated Amp's and the same in SS.

It has been used driving Quad ESL's both Vintage and Modern, as well as much kinder loads for a Speaker.

Where it really showed it strengths, was at a time when it proved quite difficult to separate its presentation qualities during a comparison to a EAR 899 Power Amp.

With the resident 899 in the system used, the system Value is close to £50K

With the Modul 65, the system Value is closer to £40K

Neurochrome Amp's are today my top of the list consideration for Amp's when I retire from using my system that is totally Valve Orientated. 

FYI, In a £200K System with a Soulution Power Amplification and a value of approx' £150ish K with the Neurochrome Modul 686 as the comparison Power Amp', the system was just as impressive with the 686 included. some from the short term demo' received made their preference for the 686 known. The system owner was usually an outspoken individual, which following the demo' was not too outspoken, "

 I've been considering upgrading these amps to the next price/quality level.  My biggest concern is whether I'll get the level of improvement in SQ that will move the needle.

@skinzy 'The next level' has little to do with price just so you know. High end audio isn't driven by price (although many think it is), its driven by intention.

On top of that there's something called the 'Veblen Effect' which causes people to think that if they spend more money they will get more value. Sometimes that's true and sometimes it isn't!

Put another way it sounds like what you really want is something that sounds better. That may or may not be the amps. FWIW, sound quality always starts with the source- get that wrong and nothing you do downstream will sort things out. If the source is right, the preamp is the next step.

Since you are running a balanced power amp, consider this: there is a standard for balanced lines which I've found many high end audio manufacturers seem to ignore. If the standard (AES48) is supported, then you'll find the interconnect cables to not contribute to the sound of the system- they will be far more neutral (which is part of the goal of using balanced lines, other than elimination of ground loops).

only if the upgrade exceeds 57K

I think you might see a bigger improvement by changing your preamp. You have good amps.

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