Setting up monoblocks

Nsgarch - I appreciate you taking the time to actually look up the amplifiers and getting to the bottom of the story.

I made the assumption that a monoblock amplifier would be intended to only run a single channel and the use of a rear channel set of speakers would be better using a second amplifier. The ability of the amplifier to run two sets of speakers in an A/B configuration would be perfect for people with two sets of main speakers, but it didn't occur to me that anyone would want to run identical signals to both front and rear speakers.

Wouldn't using a pair of these amplifiers to drive a pair of front and rear speakers be the equilavent of putting a surround receiver on the "all channels stereo" setting? It's can be nice for room filling sound but is certainly not for critical listening.

Your additional research gave the OP more information to work with and that's always a benefit.

Wouldn't using a pair of these amplifiers to drive a pair of front and rear speakers be the equilavent of putting a surround receiver on the "all channels stereo" setting? It's can be nice for room filling sound but is certainly not for critical listening. Your additional research gave the OP more information to work with and that's always a benefit.

mceljo -- I have little patience for the mountain of opinion and speculation one finds masquerading as "answers" in these pages -- much less the reasons some feel compelled to always add their "two cents" ;--))

As for the question at hand, I avoid connecting speakers of different electrical characteristics in series (usually) or parallel, to a single amplifier and here's why: an amp "sees" or "looks at" a load made up of the speaker's driver(s), its passive crossover network, and (very important to remember and include) the connecting cables. The speaker designer has anticipated the speaker's performance based on how a typical driving amplifier will drive the load that speaker presents. When different speakers (with different load characteristics) are combined and presented to an amplifier, you are now in uncharted territory in terms of how each speaker will deliver a music signal into the air. You can only be sure that it WON'T be what the designers of those speakers had in mind!

Of course if the user intends to run only one speaker at a time (and not combine them,) it's very convenient to be able to switch from one to the other; and it also allows for the use of different (kinds of) cables for each speaker, if appropriate. For example an electrostat on 'A' and a bookshelf/monitor on 'B'.

Having two sets of binding posts is a feature that makes bi-wiring a lot easier and more economical too; and many amp makers now provide two pairs of binding posts, even without the switching function. You won't have to spend money just for a dedicated bi-wire speaker cable, AND (even more important when bi-wiring) you can try using all those different 'regular' pairs of cables you have laying around to drive the high and low frequency sections of the speaker.
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Wow this got interesting. Thanks. While I can understand not normally running each amp into two same side speakers all four speakers are the same. Paradigm studio montitors version2.

I had a small budget to stick to( not like some of you lol ) and picked up an Audio research LS3 preamp and a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic which I needed. This is all for this year. That is why I wanted to use all 4 speakers, I am stuck regardless with the monoblocks till next year.

As for getting the all "all channel stereo sound" I understand your point, that was why I wondered if crossing the amps like front right to rear left etc might have improved the sound; again primarily music and not really concerned for TV or movies.

Just trying to do the best and get the best sound with what I have at the moment.

Regardless I do appreciate the feedback,and comments. It has directed my researching a little more specific than just random Google searching.

I say hook them up and try it. You can turn the rears off with a simple push of a button if you don't always want them on. I would put the best pair in front unless there is a large discrepancy in volume. A small difference can be compensated for by moving the rears further away from the listening position.