Mono Blocks / why are they not more prevalent? + Wyrded4Sound SX1000R

Like pretty much everything in this world, just follow the money. 

My current Tube Monblock amplifiers do sound different from my equal level quality tube stereo amps I moved from to the mono amps. And, different yet again from my last two dual mono solid state stereo amps. The channel separation, instrument placement, sound stage presentation, and layering was immediately evident with my current monos.  

I'm fairly convinced now it would likely take a much more expensive dual mono stereo amplifier to provide similar results to my current monoblock amps - fwiw.   

+1 roadcykler:  I would also add that that is the trend nowadays in audio:  to compartmentalize everything, regardless of whether it has any benefit in sound quality.  Does anyone remember when you couldn’t buy a preamp without integrated phono?  Also benefits mfrs. by increasing the price x 2….

IME a well designed pair of mono power amplifiers will always do a better job of controlling the speakers they are driving than a stereo power amplifier of similar wattage. 

For example, years ago I was using a Naim Audio system with a 70 wpc  into 8 ohm NAP 250 stereo power amplifier.  I upgraded to a pair of Naim NAP 135 monoblock amplifiers which were only rated at 5 watts more per channel (75 wpc at 8 ohm speaker impedance). Even though the 135’s were for all intents and purposes a monoblock version of the 250, they did a better job of imaging and had significantly more control over the speakers I was using at the time (15 ohm Rogers LS3/5A’s).  They had a very similar sonic signature to the NAP 250 which I liked, but took the performance to the next level. 

I have been using both Quicksilver Minimite tube monoblocks as well as Antique Sound Lab AV25 tube monoblocks in my two channel system for the past 20 years, and remain very happy with them.  👍 

Dear @mitch2 ​​@mashif   : The dual mono with one transformer could be really dual mono all depends of the circuit design and transformer design.

My Levinson 20.6 monobloks comes with not one but TWO transformers each monoblok... The best John Curl design ever.

R.