Mono block and stereo block difference?

[Audio_Freek]

Hi Fm's

While just passing my time in Stereophile website,found some good reviews on monoblock Amplifiers which are more cost then normal stereo amp, So some questions raised in my mind and googled the same but hard luck diff answers from ppl so thought of posting in forum to get exact knowledge from Audio Guru's

I have below understanding,please correct if something wrong

1.Mono block amplifiers are build with single block process unit for sound, which "receives the input from two channel(Stereo), "Process or merge the two channels into one (Mono) output and supplies to the speakers in two channels(L+R and not stereo)

2.They seems very costly in the market as it "process" the stereo output to mono output also apart from amplifying it performs conversion too

3.The voltage for the Monoblocks seems to be less compared to integrated stereo amps and they are giving expected output to drive even some giant speakers.Ex: B&W 802 sounds well with Mono block than stereo, though there are lot of integrate amps which has power to run them and costly wise very less compared to monoblock.(I came across this sugg in a thread)

4.The advantage or theory of stereo music is about "the micro sec delays between two speakers", which makes a virtual feel of the music, So why ppl spend more on a outdated mode"Mono"?

5.So does a DAC and mono block performs the same function?

6.Finally how could a 100 Watts @6 RMS stereo is beaten away by same configuration Mono Block amp?

In general whats the diff between Mono and stereo amplifiers "Pls note its not" Best" only diff, hope a big war between Mono sound lovers and stereo sound lovers happening in most part of the world and still answered "which is best for music"

Please clear my doubts Guru Ji's

Thanks mates

 

[srinisundar]

Have fun by reading this.. Almost everybody will search the net and put the same reply.

Integrated Receiver/Amp vs. Separates vs. Monoblocks - CNET Home audio & video Forums

Stereo vs Monoblock | AVguide

 

[Audiodoc]

1. is wrong. Monoblock means there is a separate amplifier for each channel. Thus you need two to play stereo music. One for left one for right channel. It is believed to sound better by having no stereo crosstalk.

2. They are costly as you need two enclosures two transformers two power supplies as compared to a single one in a stereo amp.

3. Since you need to drive only one channel the transformer can be smaller.

5. Is not true a DAC converts a digital signal to an analog one.

6. There is difference is stereo crosstalk. One channel is not affecting the other.

To me most music is recorded as stereo and should be reproduced as stereo.

 

[CLEARCUT]

I have listened some hifi stuffs. No the high end. Bec there is no limit for the word high end gears. Taste differs according to one and his setup. While going for higher setup we have to be very careful it will instantly depict what is the error. While going higher higher value for money goes down. When going for mono blocks it should be very highend power cord interconnects and speaker wires difference between will be shown away immediately. If the mono block itself should be 0 error between them to keep stero imaging perfect. According to me going for a good built with high R&d developed integrated amplifier with good watts is better. Because there is no need of separate power chord and interconnects and so on. One of friend who had been using Audio research pre
Mark levinson power amp felt better while he started using DArzeel integrated amplifier with 150 p.c. Now he has gone for audience cable and high end cd player and speakers. Now he says 200% satisified than his pre power combo. So it is all depends up on ones tastes and choosing. Thanks

 

[Audio_Freek]

Guys,

Thanks for the response and valuable comments so

1.Mono Block Amp is composite of two different amplification set-up which amplifies left and right channel independently, hence the Quality of music is good.

2.In Stereo amplifier their is single amplification unit which does the job of amplifying two channel,so their is chance of distortion\cross talk issues


Ex:Stereo: Pulling a bag weighting One Kg with single thread
MONO: Pulling two bags with two thread weighting Half Kg each

As the channels are individually processed their quality is good and amplifier also doesn't loaded even at higher volume



m i right? Pls forgive for such nasty example

 

[ranjeetrain]

All the separation has only two underlying principles:

• Decreased cross-talk
• Increased flexibility

From integrated to separates, from separates to mono-blocks, the basic philosophy remains the same. An intergrated (Stereo) amplifier is two things.

• A pre-amplifier
• A power-amplifier

Q: What is the benefit of doing this?
A: Increased flexibility. If you like the sound signature of Pre-amp A but think Power-amp B delivers power in a better way for your speakers, you can mix and match. In case of an integrated amplifier, you are stuck at living with the sound signature of the amp as a whole. An exception to this is - when the integrated has pre-outs. A pre-out allows an integrated amp to be used as a pre-amp and connect to an external power-amp (from the same brand/line up or different).

A monoblock breaks down the second component into two.

• The power amplifier for the left channel
• The power amplifier for the right channel

Q: What is the benefit of doing this?
A: Decreased cross-talk, increased SNR, increased manageability.

A very thoughtfully made integrated amp may as well combine everything in one box. But at some point in their audiophile career, people grow big enough to see the benefit they will get from breaking down their integrated in components. In early days a component based system used to have 4 components.

• A tuner
• A pre-amplifier
• An equilizer
• A power-amplifier

The last component, and the only one that directly connects to the loudspeakers are the power amplifiers (or the power section of integrated amplifiers) is responsible for ultimately delivering the power the speakers want. By breaking down the component into further two parts, they target to:

• Further reduce cross-talk due to being in the same box and picking up noise from the other channel
• Make bigger units, with larger electronic components inside
• Increase manageability (each box is one hefty unit, specially if it's a > 100-200 wpc unit operating in pure class A, which generates tons of heat and hence employs large heat sinks)

 

[corElement]

There are also dual mono integrated amplifiers where there are two amplifiers with two transformers and sometimes there are two amplifiers but 1 transformer.

 

[kanwar]

Hi Fm's
I have below understanding,please correct if something wrong

1.Mono block amplifiers are build with single block process unit for sound, which "receives the input from two channel(Stereo), "Process or merge the two channels into one (Mono) output and supplies to the speakers in two channels(L+R and not stereo)

Wrong...!!!
Monoblock amplifier accepts the input of either right or left channel when used in Stereo configuration and outputs only one channel, It doesn't merges the 2 channels into one channel.

2.They seems very costly in the market as it "process" the stereo output to mono output also apart from amplifying it performs conversion too

There is NO conversion of any sort in the monoblock amplifier. One channel input, one channel output.

3.The voltage for the Monoblocks seems to be less compared to integrated stereo amps and they are giving expected output to drive even some giant speakers.Ex: B&W 802 sounds well with Mono block than stereo, though there are lot of integrate amps which has power to run them and costly wise very less compared to monoblock.(I came across this sugg in a thread)

Again a misconception....
Driving the speakers requires matching the impedance and power requirements between amplifier and speakers, it has nothing to do with monoblocks/stereoamps/integrated amps.

4.The advantage or theory of stereo music is about "the micro sec delays between two speakers", which makes a virtual feel of the music, So why ppl spend more on a outdated mode"Mono"?

Your understanding of "Stereo" music is itself very horrible.
Firstly the main and core reason for a music being recorded in stereo format is to make the listener feel and reconstruct the position of various instruments and vocalist positions in his mind just like the way it was recorded in a concert or a studio. This is the reason you have left & Right channels. This helps you to perceive distance/depth/sound-stage of the music.

Secondly to play a stereo music you need two monoblocks or one stereo integrated amp or simply a stereo amplifier.

5.So does a DAC and mono block performs the same function?

DAC is Digital to analog converter, where as monoblock is an amplifier of an analog signal not a converter.

6.Finally how could a 100 Watts @6 RMS stereo is beaten away by same configuration Mono Block amp?

Your statement is technically incorrect.:sad:

There are also dual mono integrated amplifiers where there are two amplifiers with two transformers and sometimes there are two amplifiers but 1 transformer.

A proper dual monoblock must have a separate transformer + power supply capacitors for each channel but housed in one single chassis.

 

[murali_n]

Hi all,

Another advantage of having a sepearte pre & power amp is the we can mix and match the combo to get the desired sound for eg: Tube pre with SS Power or SS Pre with tube power and so on. They are called hybrid systems. Even different brands of Amps combo can be paired to get the desired sound signature.

N.Murali