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which is better? Stereo Amp or Monoblocks?

Which do you like better ?  Stereo Amp or Monoblock amps ? Thanks for your Input!
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erik_squires
16,119 posts
 
I should also point out, despite the amps I used having relatively poor channel separation, using them in mono or stereo didn't make a really big noticeable difference.

Eventually I used one for pure surround, so I could turn it on/off by trigger and save the electrical costs.

Best,

E
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
stringreen nailed it.

Dave
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
If in mono separation was poor, the problem lies upstream of the amps.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

Obviously, comparing a $500 monoblock with a $3000 stereo amp (say Rotel vs Parasound).  The Parasound is going to win.  I took this question to ask about amp topology.  Not which amp actually sounded better. 

Say you have a monoblock amp and a stereo amp with all the same component quality, driver circuit design, output devices, power supply capacitors, etc.  If the stereo amp uses a shared power supply, then the monoblock is going to sound better.  It may still sound better even if the monoblock is single ended.  If the monoblock is fully balanced/differentially, it will beat the stereo amp (as long as the it is properly designed for balanced topology -- some amp circuits do not bridge/mono well).

ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
1,048 posts
 
+1 on stringreen being all over it.
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