2. amps-preamps
  3. 182330-161025

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 3 responses by jjss49

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jjss49
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 primare i-30

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jjss49
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i have both the kinki exm1 and the primare i-30

both are excellent, kinki improves with replacement of key op amps (i did mine with sparkos)... resultant sound has a supreme crystal clarity with tremendous bass drive... an overtly powerful and exacting sound, some speakers do better with this type of amp

primare is more organic, warmer and smoother, excellent detail and drive but moves midrange forward and gives it more of a sense of body, more tube like in character... it is a special amp for sure

both are just terrific, great values, built like absolute tanks

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jjss49
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Thanks for sharing your experience.

How do you think the i-30 would do with harbeths from a treble and mid-range standpoint? I have Shl5+’s.

yes indeed, i ran exactly that pairing in our second home system for several years... terrific combination... the primare’s sweet treble and immense low end grip is just what the shl5+ (my set were older non xd's) needs and the midrange excellence is exactly what you would expect 👍

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