Why use monoblocks?

[Cbdb2]

Be honest, which looks cooler:

My two (vertical) monoblocks behind each speaker or the stereo one in the middle? Say the latter and you will get a two week ban....

Neither, I dont like seeing the gear, especially siting out in the room. I would hide my speakers if I could. If anybody wants to see the gear they can. Dont get many request for that.

 

[amirm]

Neither, I dont like seeing the gear, especially siting out in the room. I would hide my speakers if I could. If anybody wants to see the gear they can. Dont get many request for that.

Then you must really dislike the R2R deck. If so, we are not going to be friends!

 

[Count Arthur]

Be honest, which looks cooler:

My two (vertical) monoblocks behind each speaker or the stereo one in the middle? Say the latter and you will get a two week ban....

The reel to reel tape deck, obviously.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

I agree with the "longer interconnect, shorter speaker cable" principle, but of course the interconnect should be balanced (XLR) if the runs are long. Your amp examples are very low cost and I doubt they'd be of balanced design.

As you get higher quality kit, the advantage of mono amps increases as balanced connection is more likely to be an option and can be taken advantage of.
But to answer your question, at the level you are talking about, most of your cash goes into casework, power supply and sockets, so duplicating these appears daft if the actual amp spec between the mono and stereo versions is the same - and I don't mean just the quoted output wattage.

It doesn't take a lot of effort to find out that they are balanced, and it would be a good idea to do so before posting misinformation.

As for quality, well, there are pretty eye (ear?) opening reviews of those amps on this very site:

Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping PA5 II stereo balanced amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $219 (sale). There is a plus version with higher current power supply for $289.50. The fonts are hard to see but there is not much to read anyway. A power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Topping B100 Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping B100 "monoblock" amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $299. I was surprised by the desktop/low profile of the amplifier. I expected something a lot taller/chunkier especially since this is a class B amplifier and not...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[OldHvyMec]

You know you can HIDE Monoblock a bit easier too if you want. I used both SS and valve amplification. Sometimes you want to show your stuff off
and sometimes you want to hide the stuff. Channel separation, separate PS and weight in the class A and AB.

Say the latter and you will get a two week ban....

LOL, what do you get if you like both or are a mono/sound bar kind of guy.

I'm JUST askin'

BTW Otari BII 2? I sure like mine. Tinker city!! I have a direct head playback capable preamp too. Decware ZP3 (M) Tape / phono amp.

Regards

 

[Cbdb2]

Then you must really dislike the R2R deck. If so, we are not going to be friends!

Actually, probably because of my studio nostalgia, I like seeing the reel to reel, especially when spinning. So maybe we can still be friends. Aesthetics are hard to measure.

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

They look damn cool and manly!!!

Mine certainly do Amir.

 

[Sokel]

??? Thats basic engineering in either case, pun intended. Put more heat sink on if heat is a prpblem.

Agreed, but first it's better to have two heat sources (amp+PSU) instead of four for a true dual mono (comparable with monos) and second it's easier to manipulate if weight goes up for traditional A/AB class with linear PSUs or high power ones in general.

 

[JustAnAudioLover]

Be honest, which looks cooler:

My two (vertical) monoblocks behind each speaker or the stereo one in the middle? Say the latter and you will get a two week ban....

New forum ban speedrun?

But yeah, the unit in the center is ugly ; if you can't put a single unit in your furniture I completely see the point of having two monoblocks then

 

[BeeKay]

If box count counts go mono

 

[mhardy6647]

Before stereo you had, say, a QUAD II mono and single ESL speaker.

Stereo comes in so rather than buy a stereo amp you get another mono amp (and another speaker).

I believe this is the origin and that they still exist is just a hangover from that time.

That they are easier to cart about than the same ironwork in one case is maybe why they have stuck around, added to making your top of the range amp as monoblocs gave them a USP over the lower amps in the range.

indeed one did.

but then...

and then...

so many Quads...

 

[xanalog]

Many believe in 'separates'... for many a reason.
These are just fringe groups who take 'separates' to another level.
Looked at it from a different perspective: Monoblocks prevent a single point failure.

If one of the monoblocks DOA; at least, you can still listen to music in the other mono channel.

 

[restorer-john]

Be honest, which looks cooler:

My two (vertical) monoblocks behind each speaker or the stereo one in the middle? Say the latter and you will get a two week ban....

What monoblocks? They are oil heaters!

 

[Overseas]

Nooo, they are monoblocks with oil cooling.

 

[Hear Here]

It doesn't take a lot of effort to find out that they are balanced, and it would be a good idea to do so before posting misinformation.

As for quality, well, there are pretty eye (ear?) opening reviews of those amps on this very site:

Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping PA5 II stereo balanced amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $219 (sale). There is a plus version with higher current power supply for $289.50. The fonts are hard to see but there is not much to read anyway. A power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Topping B100 Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping B100 "monoblock" amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $299. I was surprised by the desktop/low profile of the amplifier. I expected something a lot taller/chunkier especially since this is a class B amplifier and not...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Take to look at the review you quote of the PA5 II - the second photo showing the back panel. If it really is balanced, where's the socket to accept a balanced signal. I think you are simply wrong in saying this amp is balanced. I'm confused as to why the first sentence of the review describes it as a "stereo balanced amplifier". Is it really? Or was the reviewer describing a balanced output wattage from left and right channels? Thanks

 

[BeeKay]

where's the socket to accept a balanced signal.

It’s a TRS socket. Just next to the RCAs.
Different plug same balanced signal as with XLR.

 

[tomchris]

As for vertical vs horizontal monoblocks...

Take a look at the Audio Physic Cerubin amplifier.

Now that is truly an awful form factor...taking up more floor space than both loudspeakers combined!

 

[Hear Here]

It’s a TRS socket. Just next to the RCAs.
Different plug same balanced signal as with XLR.


View attachment 438649

Yes, but that's in the mono amp, not the PA5. In fact the inclusion of balanced (circuit hopefully and not just extra sockets) would explain much of the big price difference between the 2 amps under discussion.

 

[BeeKay]

Yes, but that's in the mono amp, not the PA5. In fact the inclusion of balanced (circuit hopefully and not just extra sockets) would explain much of the big price difference between the 2 amps under discussion.

Nope. It’s the PA5II (“IN2”)

 

[Multicore]

I agree with the "longer interconnect, shorter speaker cable" principle, but of course the interconnect should be balanced (XLR) if the runs are long.

Let's go all the way, eliminate the silly speaker cable altogether and run balanced to an XLR on the back of the speaker cab, like my old Genelec 1029A here on the desk.