ss multi-ch. amps vs multi seperate amps any adv.

In general the multi channel amps I am familiar with are not to the same standard as 2 channel or mono ones. They are designed to a different market that is perceived to have different priorities; there is no inherent reason that this should be so but it is. You will find that amps with the same power rating can be very different in sound. The fact that you assume all similar rated ones sound the same shows why multi channel ones usually don't sound as good, in this segment of the market power output and features rule with sound quality not being emphasized.

Monoblocks are usually not the best answer in practical applications.

Unless you have a dedicated 20 or 30 amp circuit in your power box, you will short out your 15 amp breaker with 5-7 monoblocks + tv + etc etc.

While all the comments are accurate, we're talking HT here.

Unless you are going to be building the SOA $40k multichannel music sound system, there is no need to use all monoblocs.

Maybe to the L&R mains if you use must them for a 2channel music double duty system. Most good high quality multi-channel amps should give you what you need.

>09-03-10: Longhornguy
>Monoblocks are usually not the best answer in practical applications.
>
>Unless you have a dedicated 20 or 30 amp circuit in your power box, you will short out your 15 amp breaker with 5-7 monoblocks + tv + etc etc.

Only if you try to feed them test tones, have very small sub woofers with a lot of equalization, or the amps are biased for enough class-A output that they're doubling as a space heater in which case the extra air-conditioning will be a bigger problem.

For the last three years I had my home theater setup prior to moving I ran a half dozen amplifiers (7.1 with actively tri-amplified front speakers) placarded at 5760 Watts maximum off a single circuit along with 675W of recessed lighting.

It never popped a breaker because the amplifiers were generally loafing along at under 200W total (although reference level home theater can get loud, there's enormous dynamic range and the average isn't even a Watt).