[Jonathan]

I'm thinking about a buying a used Stratos to drive my Thiel 3.6s (there are a couple listed right now on A'gon). I see that there are also a couple of Dual Monos in one chassis for sale for a few hundred dollars more. I'm on a tight budget, but if the monos sound significantly better than the stereo counterpart, it might be possible to stretch my budget.

I realize it is hard to place a dollar value on perceived improvements in sound, but I'm wondering if it would make any sense to NOT go with the mono amps, considering the price difference is not huge.

Thanks for your input--I appreciate it.

Jon

[Lkdog]

Lots of advantages to monoblock amps and these are truly monos with separate power supplies/switches etc.

I would get the dual monos no question.

[Will]

Dual monos.  Just ask Klaus.

And you'll be even better prepared for that upgrade to Mono Extreme SEs. 

[djbnh]

Dual monos.  Just ask Klaus.

And you'll be even better prepared for that upgrade to Mono Extreme SEs. 

I think the dual monos would be better than reg/cap upgrade Stratos. However, I'm personally more inclined to wait, get some more cash, and then grab a used / new pair of Monos / Extreme Monos; the used units seem to come up from time to time. My feeling is that it's an easier / more financially prudent upgrade path instead of churning gear.

The comment about talking with Klaus is always good; also, he may have some B stock monos that could suit your discriminating wallet.

Best of luck with your decision making. Go Pats!

edit: corrected typo

[Christof]

in the case of monoblock amplification, if a driver forces one amp to clip, it can do so without sending distortion nasties to the entire system.  Music signals typically contain high- and low-frequency signals simultaneously. Often, the high-frequency signal that clips is riding on top of a low frequency. This modulated clipping creates audible low-frequency intermodulation products. This is my primary reason for using Dual Mono's on top.

c.

[Jonathan]

in the case of monoblock amplification, if a driver forces one amp to clip, it can do so without sending distortion nasties to the entire system.  Music signals typically contain high- and low-frequency signals simultaneously. Often, the high-frequency signal that clips is riding on top of a low frequency. This modulated clipping creates audible low-frequency intermodulation products. This is my primary reason for using Dual Mono's on top.

Hmmm, not sure I follow anything you said.

In any case, the Thiels are not bi-ampable, so the monos would be used one on each channel, with the speakers running full-range. Nor do I expect there to be any clipping, which, if I understand it correctly, results from overdriving the amp or preamp, neither of which is likely to happen in my smallish room.

[Christof]

Jon

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is important to maintain peak transient capability with your amp(s).  By "clipping" I do not mean amp shut-down, squaring off a wave can happen at a pretty small level.  Transients can cause quite a draw and this can muck things up for all the drivers.  Klaus can do a much better job at explaining this than I.  If you listen at moderate level this will probably never be a problem anyway.  I had a pair of SP Tech Time Piece 2.1's in a pretty big room and it was a problem.   My solution was to go with Mono's.

[denjo]

As a long suffering Thiel CS2.4 owner (having previously upgraded from 1.6) and familiar with my Dad's towering 7s (driven by Krell 650FBP monos), I have come to the conclusion that Thiels are at their best with powerful amplification, with ample headroom to drive them effortlessly. Without the power, Thiels can sound terribly anaemic. Just my 0.02 cents' worth!

[TomS]

I agree with Denjo.  I drove my old 3.6's with Rowland 7 mono's - big brutes.  Go for the mono's, extremes if possible.  Tom