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 5 responses by voodoochillin

voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin OP
61 posts
 

Thanks for the responses. It appears that Hegel uses 1 toroidal power supply for its dual mono design. Can anyone comment on this technique? Doesn’t this defeat the purpose?

voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin OP
61 posts
 

@petaluman 

my father in law has a hint 6 driving some LS50’s which I will listen to soon. I do prefer a simplified integrated since I have an external Dac and streamer. 
 

@jimmyblues 

this is what I’m getting at. I have a pass integrated which is great. The separates beat it at soundstage dimensions. Tone is another question as the Pass is glorious.

 

voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin OP
61 posts
 

Thanks for the i-30 recommendation. It may allow for experimentation without breaking the bank. Those are some beefy transformers...

voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin OP
61 posts
 

@jafant 

It’s hard to complain about all this wonderful equipment we have access to. But we can still be crazed and obsessed!

voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin OP
61 posts
 

@jjss49 

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.

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