Power Amps

[mjn]

Has anybody seen or is anybody using these http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/warehouse/...ID=MARMA6100GD

The mono-blocs seem a good idea, the ability to add channels as and when needed!!

Just wondered if anybody had actually demo'd or tested them?

Mono-blocks are the best idea, but you are paying extra boxes and transformers...

[mjn]

but overall, must offer the best option. You could buy 14 of them, for a 7.1 setup, and bi-amp all 7 speakers. Don't think you'd be able to buy a 14 channel power amp or even 2 x 7 channels amp??

Quote Lowrider: "but you are paying extra boxes and transformers..."

Surely the whole point of monoblocks is that you have a separate power supply (and thus current reserve) per channel. These extra transformers are not wasted.

I sort of agree with you on the boxes, but even there it can be argued these give better channel isolation, plus these are often used as heat sinks on high end models (Naim for example)

I know they are not waisted, just you pay extra... The TAG has 5 independent amps in one box, as do others, but up to a budget I think you might get better quality from all in one, like Rotel...

[mjn]

but then you have to buy 5 channels at a time!! what if you don't want another 5 channels.

[dts_boy]

i have to say that given your equipment, mo

[dts_boy]

given your equipment, it would be a worthwhile upgrade. not sure how good the Sony is at processing, but the in-built amps are nowhere near as good as THX Ultra monoblocs. you could add a Lexicon MC12 at a later date, that would be awesome

[mjn]

MC-12....i ain't won the lottery!!

I tried selling the wife, but i couldn't get £8000 for her, so i decided not to!

Buy a Rotel 1075, 5x130...

Sure, the theory goes that the extra isolation of monoblocks will give you a better sound, but in reality, don't you have to make a decision based on the actual sound output an amp makes? Or, to put it another way, would 5 of those babies together give you a better sound than a 5 channel power amp costing around £1150?

Something makes me think not. For all the money that is saved in housing's etc, that are duplicated in the monoblocks, you get a lot of money that could be diverted into better quality components, all things being equal. I rather suspect that the disbenefits of multi-amping in one box will be overcome by improved sonics which could be delivered with the money saved.

Of course, that's just my take on it, and only your ears would prove me wrong, but it's interesting to note that not many people take the route that you've just outlined. That's not a definitve argument, just an observation. But you are right, it would be nice to be able to add channels in a modular way, as and when we fancied/ could afford.