2. amps-preamps
  3. 1216056039

Up grading power amp... Mono blocks or stereo amp?

I am thinking of upgrading my Rogue Audio ST-90 power amp.
My System: Rogue Audio Persious Pre amp, the st-90 powere amp, Krell SACD Standard CD player, Pro-ject 10 Turntable w/ Shelter MK II cartridge, Straight wire Interconects and Speaker cables, And B&W 803s speakers. This amp is nice but I think I could get an amp that is more quite, richer, and a bit more powerful. I was thinking about the Rogue Mono Blocks. What are the advantages/disadvantages of Mono Blocks versus a stereo amp? And yes, I want to stay w/ tubes.
dougdubin
zeal's avatar
zeal
168 posts
 
I love my Rogue Audio 150 monos with my RA 99 pre amp pushing my Martin Logan SL3's. Its not good....Its great. Don't let the price fool you.These baby's rock with the best of them.
curio's avatar
curio
305 posts
 
If you have space in front of your hi-fi setup two monos are always better than a stereo amp
Long signal cable (balanced are better) but short speaker cables
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>two monos are always better than a stereo amp<<

Not true at all.

There are many excellent stereo amps and an equal number of poor mono blocks.

Separate chassis does not guarantee anything except the requirement of an extra power cord.
newbee
4,757 posts
 
Best thing about mono's is if one breaks down you still have one left to drive a center channel and you can use the other as a more effective boat anchor. The only reason I got big mono's is that they are still smaller than a comparable stereo amp - I'm not they guy that got sand kicked into his face by Charles Atlas, you'd probably need a crane to haul around a 160wt stereo tube amp. :-)
curio's avatar
curio
305 posts
 
>> There are many excellent stereo amps and an equal number of poor mono blocks << (Audiofeil)

Obviously I was meaning "at the same quality level"
Everyone knows there are poor monos and good stereo amps!
But when you have the same quality level .. imho .. two monos are "always" better than the equal stereo amp
More to discover