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Mono Blocks on a Budget, is it possible?

I’m really struggling with the direction to take my system. I have the following:

Legacy Classics speakers
Aurender N100H media player
Schiit Freya tube pre-amp
Schiit Yggdrasil DAC
Schiit Vidar x2 (in mono block mode)

I will be replacing speakers at some point but the rest of the system I love... except the Vidars. Before them, I had NAD 356BEE that was used for the amp. Very clean and I loved it, except it was only 80 Watts. I decided to upgrade to the Vidars. They cost twice as much From a good manufacturer like Schiit so they must be better right? Not really. They are more noisy than the NAD amp and I’m finding myself less in love with them that I though I would be. I was planning the Vidar purchase for about a year and now that I got them I don’t know which direction to take in replacing them. I want to get cleaner mono amps but don’t want to spend more than $3k MAX for both. The Vidars are 400 Watts into 8ohm, are there any options out there for me that are close to the Vidar specs? I’m open to used but mostly I want the amps to sound almost completely clean with practically no distortion. 
xerotrace
tweak1
3,668 posts
 
you can likely find a pair for ~ $1500
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
I'd have thought the PS Audio Stellar M700's would be an obvious recommendation.
erik_squires
16,128 posts
 
I definitely think that in the linear power supply "world" this has more merit than in the switch mode power supply "world" as is typical of class d amps such as ICE and Hypex.

The problem is I have seen very little data on this.

Hypex as well as ICE devices may or may not share a power supply. Not only is the risk of possible channel to channel crosstalk increased, but perhaps other noise going from one amp to another is also more possible. I believe I have seen some data suggesting that due to the amplifier switching being rather RF like, it was possible for one Class D amp to affect another if placed too closely together. 

However, again, I lack data so I am unable to make any sort of determination. :)

One other trait about monoblocks: You can make your speaker cables super short.

But honestly, I think overall the point that money is best saved and spent on other things has a lot of merit. I happen to have gotten a super sweet deal on my ICEpower modules, so spent way too little even as monoblocks. :) 

Best,

E
213runnin
914 posts
 
xero, the problems you are describing may have to do with your speakers, are they 4 ohms and with 94 db sensitivity?  That's a bad combo for many monoblocks if they aren't true monoblock amplifiers.  Or do you have some other Legacy model that isn't 4 ohms?

The other thing is the Nad C356BEE.  I owned that model, and I've also owned the 375 and two 326.  These definitely are a budget design that all have limitations and compromises.  The 356 sound was inferior to the 326 when comparing dynamics and the "in the room" experience.  

I paired the 375 with some simple 4 ohm speakers and the result was puzzling to say the least with the Totem Rainmakers.
jeburgess
5 posts
 
Xero, the two amps you’ve used are 80 and 400 Watts. Question: what was wrong with the 80 watts that you didn’t like? 
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