Dual mono integrated amps


I’m curious about dual mono integrated amps and if they can approximate the benefits of monoblocks. I had the good fortune of trying a friend’s electronics which included a dual mono preamp driving a pair of monoblocks and the result was not subtle. There was an expanded soundstage with more solid imaging. Is this an effect that most of you experience when each channel has dedicated circuitry? Are there particular examples of integrated amps utilizing a dual mono design that do a particularly good job in this respect? Ones that don’t?

Thanks for the help

128x128voodoochillin

Showing 2 responses by curiousjim

@voodoochillin 

The H390 and H590 have two transformers. The larger one is oversized ( Says Hegel). Is it better than Mono Blocks? For the money? Maybe. If you buy a preamp and two $2000 amps, a pair of interconnects and an two extra power cords, maybe.   I’ve had separates since the seventies and the H390 is my first integrated.  There’s Accuphase and Luxman you might look at as well.  All three are great and all three have a house sound. I went with Hegel, but I wished there was a Luxman dealer near me.😁