Hap123, you have a few of your terms mixed up! You can get an integrated amp, which includes an amp and pre-amp in a single chassis. Or you can buy an power amplifier and pre-amplifier separately - each has it's own chassis (metal box). The pros of the integrated would be less expense, less space needed, simpler. The cons of the integrated would be some compromise in sound quality related to a single power supply, other compromises made in design to get two functions into a single chassis.
Your question on mono blocks is a little confusing also. When choosing an amplifier, straight power amp or integrated amp, you can choose an amp that creates it's power(gain) using tubes , or transistors(solid state).
Mono blocks refers to a straight power amplifier that uses separate chassis' for each channel (left and right). You can get tube mono blocks, or solid state mono blocks.
There are a wide range of power ratings available for both tube and solid state amps. In general tube amps are lower powered and would therefore require more efficient speakers to create the same volume level.
I hope this helps clear things up. Welcome to Audiogon.
Your question on mono blocks is a little confusing also. When choosing an amplifier, straight power amp or integrated amp, you can choose an amp that creates it's power(gain) using tubes , or transistors(solid state).
Mono blocks refers to a straight power amplifier that uses separate chassis' for each channel (left and right). You can get tube mono blocks, or solid state mono blocks.
There are a wide range of power ratings available for both tube and solid state amps. In general tube amps are lower powered and would therefore require more efficient speakers to create the same volume level.
I hope this helps clear things up. Welcome to Audiogon.