2. amps-preamps
  3. 1143155834

2 stereo amps in a mono-block config = 2 x power?

I wish to double the power of my system. I have a stereo integrated amp with two sets of pre-outs. One set of pre-outs is connected to my sub. The amp manufacturer offers the power amp portion in my integrated as a stand-alone stereo power amp. If I drive one channel with my integrated, and connect the other channel via one pre-out into one channel of the stand-alone, will I effectively be doubling my power? I cannot bi-amp in the traditional sense, as my speakers have only one set of binding posts. Also, by keeping the one interconnect to the stand-alone amp as short as possible, will I be introducing problems with coherency between the two speakers (time and phase) or cause other problems?
rockadanny
porziob
316 posts
 
Unless both pwr. amps are the same, the sonic signature will differ so bye bye coherence.
dc2daylight
53 posts
 
Pre amp "out" signals are usually 2 volts or less. Your power output of the amp would be the rating of the amp. Are you talking about 2 separate compontents when you say the "manufacturer offers"?
It sounds like you want to connect the preamp "out" of your integrated to the preamp "in" on the same unit? Maybe I missed something.
edesilva
768 posts
 
I can't visualize your set up--do you just have the integrated with two stereo amps built in, or do you have an integrated with a stereo amp built in and a separate, standalone power amp? In either event, going from two stereo amps to two mono amps with twice the power is not always possible--stereo amps have to be "bridgeable" to do that, and its something that most amp manufacturers don't build in...
rockadanny OP
1,225 posts
 
My setup is: I own a stereo integrated amp rated at 90wpc into 8 ohms. My speakers require more power than my integrated can adequately deliver at higher volumes. My intent was to buy a new separate power amp to connect to the pre-outs of my integrated so I could at least utilize the pre-amp section of the integrated, saving myself the expense of replacing it with a separate pre-amp. I asked the distributor of my integrated for pre-out specs so I could properly match it to a new separate power amp (I've read that the power amp input impedance should be at least 10k times that of the pre-amp output impedance). But instead of providing the requested specs, he suggested I purchase a new stereo power amp from him. One which is an exact duplicate as the power amp section in my integrated. Then use the two stereo amps (one stereo integrated and one stereo power amp) in a monoblock configuration: one channel from the stereo integrated amp dedicated to one speaker; and one channel from the separate stereo power amp dedicated to the other speaker - so each channel is driven by a different amp. He suggested that would provide each channel with 180 watts of power into 8 ohms, since only one channel was being loaded per amp. Is this clearer?
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