Why monoblocks?

Onhwy61
There are tons of Dual mono Dacs, Preamps, & amps obviously.

However Dual mono does not mean they have to be in different chassis, just completely separate power supplies, transformers, and discrete components to each channel. I own a dual mono preamp right now, one chassis, and they are rarer however there are also several designs using separate chassis for dual mono in both Dacs and preamps, and your right they are mostly in the real nose bleed components like Gryphon audio. Some of these designs have up to 4 Chassis!

So your talking ultra hi end, yes almost every ultra hi end is dual mono designs for sure, as a matter of fact I can't think of any that are not... We are not talking Levinson, Conrad, Mcintosh, BAT, Audio research or even Krell... We are talking like Dartzeel, Gryphon, FM Acoustics, Boulder etc... All in dual mono, and even every one of them I think have versions with up to 4 chassis just for one 2 channel preamp.

But Levinson, Conrad, BAT, Audio research do in fact make many dual mono amps in one chassis and dual mono preamps, and DAC's as well.

Is it better? I don't agree its always better, but on a top of the line basis they are considered the top tier.

As for amps I agree Monos are far easier to deal with in moving them, and even sometimes hookups, minus having to purchase or build an extra power cable.

Sonically you can for sure achieve lower distortion running dual transformers in one chassis or separate especially if they are on separate dedicated unlimited current outlets. Many Single chassis mono blocks have dual power cords on one unit as well... So you guys might be shocked how many there actually are out there.

And a final note, especially if your running pure Class A amplification, "OR TUBE" amplification for sure Mono two separate chassis can in fact add DOUBLE to Triple the Heatsinking and bring temps down to near room temp vs. running very hot in one and lossing some further efficiency. Thats just the facts in nature, putting it all in one box no matter what you will not cool as well as in 2 in this case, or liquid cool them could be the other way :-)

Onhwy61
"But if mono designs are really that much better then why aren't all ultra high end electronics monobloc designs? Where are the monobloc phono preamps, D/A converters or preamps?"

This is your quote exactly. And exactly why I said DUAL mono is all over the place, yes they are identical in design to MONO block, but sharing one chassis. So to your point, its in fact the way "Ultra high end" does work.

Now if we are going to debate over A) mono topology, or B) whether the 2 channels can be placed across the room from each other and not in one spot are two different points.

Honestly it does not make much of a difference as I clearly stated as long as they have their own discrete power supplies etc... Per channel.

Only Real advantages are physical beyond that, not topology, as stated different cable configurations, and possibly heat retention for specifically class A components, which most pure class A designs in large monos do in fact for the most part use 2 chassis.

But further there is no reason to do always more than one chassis for a preamp or dac, they don't get that hot, and they don't take up nearly as much room for circuits or transformers as an Amplifier, however they are still mono designs so to speak, but not mono "Blocks" which I guess is the word your hung up on. But again as you stated why would ULTRA high end not do it, almost guaranteed they do at their top levels.

Which by the way I am not defending "Mono Blocks" are the end all be all... It will completely be based on the systems needs, well speakers for the most part, of course a 50,000 dollar stereo amp, yep they exist can in fact be perfectly fine on most everything, accept possibly that real crazy load speaker and somebody needs bigger and heavier which in one chassis is not as marketable.

Again it was mainly based on your first post which was not clear you were looking at the topology MONO and not realizing that does not mean it has to be in two units, so I just clarified it. You said nothing about Dual mono either, I just pointed it out. Which it looks like in your system you have a Rowland amp that acutally is a dual mono, but a step further in 2 chassis separating just the power supplies? Thats even a rarer approach!