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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

voodoochillin
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
6,044 posts
 

@voodoochillin 

The H390 and H590 have two transformers. The larger one is oversized ( Says Hegel). Is it better than Mono Blocks? For the money? Maybe. If you buy a preamp and two $2000 amps, a pair of interconnects and an two extra power cords, maybe.   I’ve had separates since the seventies and the H390 is my first integrated.  There’s Accuphase and Luxman you might look at as well.  All three are great and all three have a house sound. I went with Hegel, but I wished there was a Luxman dealer near me.😁

barts's avatar
barts
802 posts
 

This FAD of putting 2 behemoths on the floor between speakers is just plain stupid. It refelects the spudity of the owners.

Pretty strong statement there Mr. Wolfie62.

Regards,

barts

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,454 posts
 

@petaluman Wrote:

I applaud the dual mono concept in integrateds, but it's not the same as mono blocks.  Separate chassis, separate power cords, even separate circuit breakers if you can arrange it.

I agree. I have mono blocks each one on dedicated 20 Amp circuit.

Mike

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,454 posts
 

@barts Wrote:

Pretty strong statement there Mr. Wolfie62.

I agree!

Mike

petaluman
221 posts
 

To return to the original question, have you checked out the Parasound Hint 6?  Extremely versatile, with built-in phono & DAC sections, crossovers for subwoofing, Home Theater bypass...  A bit of a kitchen sink, but a great one box solution for many pieces in building a system.  You can always upgrade section-by-section.

The dual mono power amp was designed by John Curl.  A single power transformer is used.  I suspect that is the case(!) with most integrated amps - there's just not enough space for 2 of them.

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