Talk me out of buying Monoblocks and into a stereo amp instead


I am planning on buying a McIntosh system. It is a system I have been wanting a very long time. No need to suggest any other brand... I am set on this one.

I am going to get the CP 12000 preamp for sure. However, I can’t decide between a pair of MC611’s monoblocks or the MC-462 stereo amp. It seems like for $6k, the mono blocks are not much more in price and I get a lot more audio for the extra $6k.

Talk me out of buying the monoblocks! Tell me your experience if you had both? Do you like stereo amps better after owning monoblocks? Tell me why.

dman777

Far be it from me to talk you out of doing something good for your system. Monoblocks have some advantages. The physical separation of monoblocks offers some SQ benefits. A stereo amp circuit in a single chassis has more crosstalk, usually shares a single power supply, and definitely weighs more. Monoblocks also split the heat between two chassis.

Not sure that a single chassis unit offers much benefit over monoblocks if the price isn’t prohibitive, other than perhaps that you only need one space (though larger) and one plug for it.

I say go for the mono blocks! Oh sorry you wanted us to talk you out of it. Also I don’t have Macs and don’t have mono blocks. I got caught up in the excitement of getting mono block amps. I guess just get a Bosewave radio instead…

I love my mono blocks but honestly have not been able to compare them to an integrated version of themselves because none exist.

I'm curious to hear what people say, but how many apples-to-apples comparisons are there, really?