Dual Mono designs seem to bridge the divide. One power cord, but two separate power supplies and amplifier circuits. Just housed in one chassis. Am I missing something?
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- 60 posts total
@mashif - Often the transformer is shared, even in dual mono stereo amps, but not always (e.g., BAT). When the transformer is shared, there are greater chances of inter-channel modulation, crosstalk, and noise. Whether any of that matters, or is audible, and how good the amplifier sounds is likely based on many other design choices, as well as the system it is being played in. While housing the amplification components for each channel in their own individual chassis reduces the likelihood of certain undesirable effects, it doesn’t guarantee success since there are good and crappy sounding amplifiers, both stereo and monoblocks. |
I’ve had quite a variety. From a massive 70’s Kenwood receiver a Sony wee compact dual mono (really!!) simply shined …which my daughter and a succession of two roomies will be happy to attest to, through Conrad Johnson tube preamp and dual monos, through a succession of Naim Classic separates but not dual monos…100, 200, 500, to finally using the most astounding of all, ATC 50 active speakers with an amp for each driver, plus 2 REL Gibralter subs. I think the main thing is less complex load in the path between the wall socket to each speaker always sounds better, closer to the recording. It was not the pure tonality of each string and horn of my Naim/ATC/REL setup, but adding the bi-amp signal clarity let every bit of Linn’s charm sing, sing, sing. |
- 60 posts total

