Monlith 7x or 3 Outlaw M2200 Monoblocks

M

Mark M

Junior Audioholic
I'm still figuring out my plan.....
I have a 5.1 setup.
I currently have an Onkyo TX-RZ900 AVR which provides good power for AVR standards by a Toroidal Tranformer.

I was thinking of adding a Monolith 7X amplifier
OR
3 Outlaw M2200 Powerblocks and just drive the surrounds with the Onkyo.

What would you guys do?
 
Last edited:
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Outlaw 200 x 3 = $1039
Monolith 200 x 5 = $1300

I would get the Monolith.

Actually I wouldn’t get any amps at all and save money. :D
 
D

Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
I'm still figuring out my plan.....
I have a 5.1 setup.
I currently have an Onkyo TX-RZ900 AVR which provides good power for AVR standards by a Toroidal Tranformer.

I was thinking of adding a Monolith 7X amplifier
OR
3 Outlaw M2200 Powerblocks and just drive the surrounds with the Onkyo.

What would you guys do?
The Monolith I like outlaw but it makes more sense in your situation. If you want to add in more channels they are already there
 
M

Mark M

Junior Audioholic
I was thinking the monoblocks would be better since each speaker would have a separate amp and power supply.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
I was thinking the monoblocks would be better since each speaker would have a separate amp and power supply.
The Outlaw won’t sound any better, as in 0% better.

The Monolith is made by ATI.

The flagship Outlaw amps are made by ATI, but that Monoblock is not made by ATI.

ATI is associated with Mark Levinson, Lexicon, Cary Audio, Theta Digital, DataSAT, B&K, Adcom.
 
M

Mark M

Junior Audioholic
The Outlaw won’t sound any better, as in 0% better.

The Monolith is made by ATI.

The flagship Outlaw amps are made by ATI, but that Monoblock is not made by ATI.

ATI is associated with Mark Levinson, Lexicon, Cary Audio, Theta Digital, DataSAT, B&K, Adcom.
Got it! Thank you.
I’ll go with the Monolith.
However, it seems by your first post you thought I should just skip adding an amp all together. Do you think adding the Monolith won’t do much other than cost me money?
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Got it! Thank you.
I’ll go with the Monolith.
However, it seems by your first post you thought I should just skip adding an amp all together. Do you think adding the Monolith won’t do much other than cost me money?
Read the posts @Pogre made when he went from a Marantz 6012 alone to adding the Monolith 7....

I seem to remember an amp designer said something to the effect that as long as you have crosstalk in excess of something low like 30 dB there's not much point to a monoblock. Think it was Nelson Pass....but he does sell monoblocks now otoh. My usual advice is get an avr with pre-outs for flexibility but start with the avr alone and see if you really need an external amp. I used to use external amps, don't any more (but using higher sensitivity speakers and don't play as loud either) so it's one of those "it depends" things....
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Do you think adding the Monolith won’t do much other than cost me money?
Usually, yes.

If your system already sounds good, don’t change it.

What is the distance between your listening position and your speakers?

What is the sensitivity and nominal impedance of your speakers?
 
M

Mark M

Junior Audioholic
Usually, yes.

If your system already sounds good, don’t change it.

What is the distance between your listening position and your speakers?

What is the sensitivity and nominal impedance of your speakers?
-Speaker Sensitivity: 85 dB at 2.83 v/1m
-Speaker Impedance: 4 ohm
-10ft between speakers and listening position in a large great room on couch in middle of room.
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
As mentioned, the Monolith is made by ATI which is one of the best sources fo home audio amplification.
However, the Outlaw 2200 is made at the same facility that makes Parasound amps! Although I have more respect for ATI, Parasound is certainly no slacker.
Power amps are a very mature science and you should not expect either of these companies to have a significant (audible) design/performance advantage.
Obviously, the monoblocks will have less crosstalk between the channels, but the level of crosstalk for the ATI/Monolith is simply not an issue!
In practice, these options are essentially equivalent.
Both are sweetheart products because they are well designed/built units being sold without the level of markup normally associated with a brick & mortar network of dealers.
If I were in your shoes, I would look to other considerations such as cost and appearance (and fitting in your console as well as 3 vs 1 power cord) to make the call.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit if your Onkyo is capable of managing all 5 channels. How loud do you listen? Do you hear distortion from your speakers? Which speakers (generally you might assume the amp is clipping, however, some speakers distort when pushed)?
Depending on your speakers and subwoofers, it may be wiser to spend the money on something that will make a more obvious improvement in your sound quality than adding amplification!
If you have your "final" speakers, and have the coin warming your pocket, go for it and buy amplification!
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
-Speaker Sensitivity: 85 dB at 2.83 v/1m
-Speaker Impedance: 4 ohm
-10ft between speakers and listening position in a large great room on couch in middle of room.
That usually means 100W will produce over 100dB of sound.

So like probably 99% of people with rooms no larger than 20’x18’x10’, your speakers most likely don’t need external amps.

I my previous house, my room was 20x18x10. My AVR as a Denon 3312. Speakers were Philharmonic 3, B&W 802D2, and 2 other towers from Focal and Dynaudio. Never needed more power, but definitely needed 3 fans atop the AVR. :D
 
M

Mark M

Junior Audioholic
As mentioned, the Monolith is made by ATI which is one of the best sources fo home audio amplification.
However, the Outlaw 2200 is made at the same facility that makes Parasound amps! Although I have more respect for ATI, Parasound is certainly no slacker.
Power amps are a very mature science and you should not expect either of these companies to have a significant (audible) design/performance advantage.
Obviously, the monoblocks will have less crosstalk between the channels, but the level of crosstalk for the ATI/Monolith is simply not an issue!
In practice, these options are essentially equivalent.
Both are sweetheart products because they are well designed/built units being sold without the level of markup normally associated with a brick & mortar network of dealers.
If I were in your shoes, I would look to other considerations such as cost and appearance (and fitting in your console as well as 3 vs 1 power cord) to make the call.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit if your Onkyo is capable of managing all 5 channels. How loud do you listen? Do you hear distortion from your speakers? Which speakers (generally you might assume the amp is clipping, however, some speakers distort when pushed)?
Depending on your speakers and subwoofers, it may be wiser to spend the money on something that will make a more obvious improvement in your sound quality than adding amplification!
If you have your "final" speakers, and have the coin warming your pocket, go for it and buy amplification!
Thank you!
I doubt these will be my final speakers.
The onkyo sounds good and doesn’t seem to have any problems driving my speakers, I think.
I know the monolith will be on the Black Friday sale tomorrow and thought it would be good to add it to my system for added, separate amplification. I also figure that the monolith would sound better than my onkyo.
 
M

Mark M

Junior Audioholic
That usually means 100W will produce over 100dB of sound.

So like probably 99% of people with rooms no larger than 20’x18’x10’, your speakers most likely don’t need external amps.

I my previous house, my room was 20x18x10. My AVR as a Denon 3312. Speakers were Philharmonic 3, B&W 802D2, and 2 other towers from Focal and Dynaudio. Never needed more power, but definitely needed 3 fans atop the AVR. :D
My room is 26x28x9
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
My room is 26x28x9
The salient thing is the distance from the seat to the speakers.

My living room is like 23x46x13. But the sofa is only 18ft away from the speakers.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
IMO if you own an AVR and you don’t need amps (like probably 99% of people), then don’t get amps.

If you own “separates” like Pre-pros or Preamps or externally-powered Subwoofers, then you have to get amps. :D
 

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