2. amps-preamps
  3. 192242-74231

Moving from a stereo amp to a dual mono set up

I thought this would have been not much a change and easily accomplished.

Boy was I wrong.  I found a second Plinius SA102 on Audiogon a few months ago at a great price. I had it drop shipped to Ralph Abramo for a good going through.  A few weeks later and it was done so I drove to his shop to pick it up. I asked about how to set up the amp for dual mono. A easy thing to do. Change the position of a switch in the back and connect the speaker wires to both R / L positive leads and connect the input to the right channel.

My speaker wires are Straight Wire Cresendo 3's. The leads are not able to reach the 9" spread to the positive speaker connections of the amp.  I spoke with Straight Wire, they can alter the cables to a 12" long lead so they can reach.  OK, shipped them out yesterday.

Now considering my electrical plug issue.  One more plug is something I do not have. I have a older PS Audio AC filter that can receive up to 8 inputs.  But I do not like the idea of running 2 high power amps through it. I want to do directly into the wall for my power.

I called an electrician and he is coming over next week to do a Job Walk. to see what it will cost to add a new circuit to my power panel and run the wires for a new plug. 

Then there is the physical amp to deal with. I need a second stand to get the amp off the floor.

I will have to disconnect and move my existing equipment and stands around to make the system visually balance out.

Then there is still one question I am not sure of. Do my current XLR cables from Preamp reach across to the new positions of the amps. Are they long enough?

All this equipment is between the speakers. I like where the speakers are right now. 

bill_peloquin

Showing 4 responses by bill_peloquin

bill_peloquin's avatar
bill_peloquin OP
49 posts
 

Regarding setting on the Plinius.

The amp is a designed with a switch on the rear of the unit to run in Stereo, or Mono and which inputs I am using. I am using the XLR inputs. SO I move the switch to the Mono position with XLR Inputs.   So my connection is to connect to the right channel input. The speaker connection is  Positive speaker wire to the Positive Right channel, Negative speaker wire to the POSITIVE left channel.   There is a distance of 9" to those 2 binding posts on the back of the amp.  That is why I sent my cables to be altered, the speaker wire leads could not stretch that far apart. 

Shipped them on Thursday. Straight Wire will be getting them tomorrow. They should be back in UPS by Friday. I might have them by the 19th of this month. 

Bu then I hope the electrician is done. I should only take about 4 hours max for them.  And I am sure I will have to move my system off the back wall to give them some room to work. So, I can then reposition everything so things reach. 

Good thing I have a second system in the same room to use for my birthday and the holiday weekends we have coming up. 

bill_peloquin's avatar
bill_peloquin OP
49 posts
 

No, 2 separate amps. I per speaker. 

bill_peloquin's avatar
bill_peloquin OP
49 posts
 

I do not know. All I do know is the main Plinius man here in the USA told me how to do it. And I have all i can do to hook up 2 amps and not 4 of these beasts.

 

bill_peloquin's avatar
bill_peloquin OP
49 posts
 

Ok I am all done.  Costs for the electrician was $960. He ran 2 circuits from the box to my wall. Large wire. 20 amps available. 

I patched the holes and painted the wall from snaking wires down. 

I bought a second amp stand. Then there is the amp and rebuild. About $4000 total for that. 

Altered speaker cables $160. Also they sold me 2 new power cables for the amp. $1225 total from the power cables.

The guy that sold me the used SA 102 amp said it was in perfect condition.  Ralph told me that it looked like it had water damage internal. That caused problems.

But now all this is behind me. 

The system is really good. 

I have (2) Plinius SA 102 amps running mono producing about 250 upcoming ea

Audio Research Ref 3 pre amp

Canton Ref 3 speakers

Wyred4sound 10th anniversary DAC

Aurender N10 streamer

Teac VTS transport cd

Dr Feickert Volare turntable 

Unami blue cart mc

Stogi unipiviot arm.

All the hi zoot wires I need.

PS power filter

 

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