Mono-block amplifers fact and fiction

[Jaguar 10+ year member]

A guy I know who's been in the business for a while told me to be careful while shopping for ''mono-block'' amps.

 

He made it seem as if even though some amplifiers that claim to be mono-block, by the process of the way they work, they are not able capable of

performing single channel amplification as a supposed "proper" mono-block amplifier would. What do you suppose he meant. By this I could only assume he was referring to higher end models but, are there amps which claim to be mono-blocks which by process are in fact employing methods to replicate/reproduce the actual process a true single channel amplifier would (such as a work around). For the purpose of clarification by what specifications are ''true'' mono-block amps defined. Is there anything specific I should look to avoid or look for towards the future purchase of amps that say they are mono-block amplifiers. Thanks. Also I apologize for the misleading info I had given on a previous thread, I had assumed by definition a true mono-block amp had to be 1 ohm stable but it's more likely it was spoken to me in relation to my current system.

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

A mono block is a amp with a single channel. /thread

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

A mono block is a amp with a single channel. /thread

Just wait until his mind is blown by a monoblock that has two speaker terminals for + and two for - //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[rebelfromva 10+ year member]

Some mono blocks are not 1 ohm stable

 

[DoesDad 10+ year member]

All it's going to take to be a true mono amp is if it's one channel. Mono being one. And being 1 ohm stable or 2 ohm stable has nothing to do with it being a mono. And just because something is 1 ohm stable means nothing. A lot of nice mono amps are 2 ohm stable and nice. Take Kicker for instance or Alpine. Most of their amps are only 2 ohm stable but solid amps none the less.

 

[Jaguar 10+ year member]

A mono block is a amp with a single channel. /thread

That's not in question. The question is there some process some amplifiers that claim to be mono-block try to replicate the actual single channel

process by walk arounds etc (opposed to an amp which is built to handle single channel processing properly) as if they were offering the real thing.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

That's not in question. The question is there some process some amplifiers that claim to be mono-block try to replicate the actual single channel process by walk arounds etc (opposed to an amplifier which is built to handle the single channel process properly).

Some two channels can bridge to one channel but they are not mono blocks. A mono block is a amp with one channel. Why is this so hard to understand?

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

I have no idea whats going on.

 

[cal 10+ year member]

op are u sure he is not refering to mono and class d? ive seen some newer style 2 channel amps are class d and iirc they are more efficent than the traditional class ab but they are also not a clean power wise .

 

[Jaguar 10+ year member]

I have no idea whats going on.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Your gonna be OK though, promise.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

op are u sure he is not refering to mono and class d? ive seen some newer style 2 channel amps are class d and iirc they are more efficent than the traditional class ab but they are also not a clean power wise .

The good full range class Ds are good. JL HDs, ZED, Alpine PDX, Hertz to name a few. I feel something is missing but most audiophiles love them

 

[Jaguar 10+ year member]

op are u sure he is not refering to mono and class d? ive seen some newer style 2 channel amps are class d and iirc they are more efficent than the traditional class ab but they are also not a clean power wise .

Actually he was specifically referring to a Class D mono and 1 ohm impedance, but it was in relation to my current system setup.

 

[cal 10+ year member]

The good full range class Ds are good. JL HDs, ZED, Alpine PDX, Hertz to name a few. I feel something is missing but most audiophiles love them

i was not trying to put down the quality of those amps just saying the truth . older style class ab were power hogs but they were very clean like .005 for example the us amps or the older style rockford fosgate . the point was a mono amp can be a class d but a class d can also be a multichannel

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

op are u sure he is not refering to mono and class d? ive seen some newer style 2 channel amps are class d and iirc they are more efficent than the traditional class ab but they are also not a clean power wise .

Class D are more efficient at lower ohm loads than Class AB, but at high ohm loads that isnt true. Also Class D amps sound just as good as Class AB if you buy a quality Class D amp.

 

[cal 10+ year member]

well, like most have said a mono amp is not defined by what ohm load its stable @ but rather how many channels. also a mono amp will not have a hpf and will have a subsonic filter as these amps are used for driving a sub . so yes a mono amp can be a class d and 1 ohm stable and 2 ohm stable . i feel you are missing the point ur guy is trying to make a class d mono is actually a more efficent amp and can be stable @ lower ohm loads so if u were to run a 3000 rms mono compaired to a 3000 watt class ab it would be a big difference .