Mono Block Amp???

[cka69335]

Hi Guys,

I’ve been looking at different amps and, as this may sound ignorant… What is a mono block amp?? I keep seeing it on audiogon but I don’t know its purpose. What is the difference? Is there an advantage, and why?

Don’t laugh just help me understand?

Chris.

 

[avaserfi]

A mono-block amp is an amp that only has one channel. So a monoblock amp will power one speaker. It seems that often times monoblock amps are rated for more power and since they are seperate amps you won't have to worry about any signal interference between the two.

 

[mazersteven]

A Mono Block amp gives amplification to one channel, or one speaker.

 

[mazersteven]

Mono Block amps can also be placed closer to the speaker which is recommended, but not always possible.

 

[AdrianMills]

Mono Block amps can also be placed closer to the speaker which is recommended, but not always possible.

Uh, What?

 

[Seth=L]

Mono Block amps can also be placed closer to the speaker which is recommended, but not always possible.

Only the "audiophiles" say this. The only time a speaker cables run into problems is when the length is obscenely long, like many hundreds of feet.

 

[Tom Andry]

Sure, I actually recommend you set your speaker ON TOP of your amp. This helps warm up the midrange (especially if you have a tube amp) and decouples the speaker from the floor. I'd much rather buy multi-dollar a foot interconnects rather than 30 cent a foot speaker wire. That money tree out back is looking a little top heavy and it is hurricane season.

 

[mazersteven]

Only the "audiophiles" say this. The only time a speaker cables run into problems is when the length is obscenely long, like many hundreds of feet.

Audiophile or not,

Mono amps can be placed closer to the speakers which moves them away from other heat generating or heat sensitive gear. Also, placing the amp close to the speaker will shorten the speaker cable, which is about the only weak cable link in any audio system. The length of a speaker cable affects the sound.

 

[AdrianMills]

Sure, I actually recommend you set your speaker ON TOP of your amp. This helps warm up the midrange (especially if you have a tube amp) and decouples the speaker from the floor. I'd much rather buy multi-dollar a foot interconnects rather than 30 cent a foot speaker wire. That money tree out back is looking a little top heavy and it is hurricane season.

lol

But you guys didn't give him the chance to explain. Really, sometimes you spoil all the fun.

 

[AdrianMills]

Audiophile or not,

Mono amps can be placed closer to the speakers which moves them away from other heat generating or heat sensitive gear. Also, placing the amp close to the speaker will shorten the speaker cable, which is about the only weak cable link in any audio system. The length of a speaker cable affects the sound.

Holy Moly, really, and you still responded?

1) Heat in any normal setting should not be an issue unless you're running class A monoblocks stacked on top of each other - even then, how much of an air gap do you think you need between your heat sources and your other electronics to make heat a negligible concern?

2) As Tom suggested, it's the length of the interconnects that are far more critical than the legnth of the speaker cables for both cost and interference.

 

[mazersteven]

Holy Moly, really, and you still responded?

Nowhere to Run to, Nowhere to Hide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV4cgs-bPic

 

[Seth=L]

Hmm, this thread is completely messed up now.

Oh, and I don't think that speaker cables are the weak point of a system. The weak point of a system is not having two SVS Ultra subs, I feel weak without those.

 

[PENG]

2) As Tom suggested, it's the length of the interconnects that are far more critical than the legnth of the speaker cables for both cost and interference.

I thought he suggested that the interconnects are expensive, I am not sure if he suggested their lengths are far more critical as such. Interconnects carry low level signals while the speaker cables carry the amplified signals that are of much higher magnitude.

 

[highfihoney]

1) Heat in any normal setting should not be an issue unless you're running class A monoblocks stacked on top of each other - even then, how much of an air gap do you think you need between your heat sources and your other electronics to make heat a negligible concern?

You make it sound as if all amps run cool with the exception of stacked class a amps this is not even close to the truth,there are many hi power class a/b amps that produce enough heat in a normal setting to be concerned.

 

[speakerman39]

A Mono Block amp gives amplification to one channel, or one speaker.

Ummmmmmmmm............what if you wired (2) speakers in parrellel or series-parrellel???? It is my understanding that a "MONO" amp does only have (1)-channel BUT that (1) channel can be cofigured to drive more than (1) speaker. Of course, this all depends on the ohm rating the amp can power safely as well as the actual ohm load rating of the speakers in question. This is especially helpful when "bridging" so that the amp will in most cases deliver maximum output power at a given minimal impedance.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Sure, I actually recommend you set your speaker ON TOP of your amp. This helps warm up the midrange (especially if you have a tube amp) and decouples the speaker from the floor. :

Interesting. What if that speaker has a low driver. Would not that get that warmed up feeling first or totally, being closer to the amp?

 

[zumbo]

YYYYMCA, it's fun to stay at the YYYYMCA..............A

 

[AdrianMills]

I thought he suggested that the interconnects are expensive, I am not sure if he suggested their lengths are far more critical as such. Interconnects carry low level signals while the speaker cables carry the amplified signals that are of much higher magnitude.

Hm, yes, I added the "interference" and didn't mean to imply that Tom suggested that in his post although as far as I understand, interconnect signals are more subject to interference because they are such low power signals - hence the need for interconnects to be shielded as opposed to speaker cables which do not.

 

[AdrianMills]

You make it sound as if all amps run cool with the exception of stacked class a amps this is not even close to the truth,there are many hi power class a/b amps that produce enough heat in a normal setting to be concerned.

No, I didn't make it sound like any such thing.

And yes, a lot of amps produce heat but I was responding to a post that indicated that it's for this reason that someone should place the amps next to the speakers they are driving which is just silly. Most well designed amps should be rackable given a reasonable air gap and air flow - of course if you live on the equator without AC you may want to reconsider.

BTW, if you have amps that generate so much heat that you're concerned I'd think about swapping them out for better designed ones or do something about your room cooling.



Edited to add
I see that you used to have quite large McIntosh amps in a closed wooden cabinet with very little space - it's no wonder you've been concerned about heat in the past.

 

[mike c]

I had no choice in my HT, I had to have longer interconnect cables rather than longer speaker cables because I simply had more coaxial cable than I had speaker cables. (bought a thousand foot spool of coaxial cable)

but I was also thinking, doesn't the coax cable have more shielding than the speaker cables?

plus like PENG said, the difference in the signal they are carrying.