LEARNING SERIES
This series is aimed at providing insights on Audio domain while ensuring the ease of understanding. Don’t miss this opportunity of voyaging through maze of thousands of concepts, articles, thereby mastering the art of determining the best product. Your perfect setup is just few guidelines away.
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Chapter 11 : Integrated Vs Pre + Power Amplifier combination
- Generally, separates sound better than integrated amplifiers
You can put money on the component that matters the most to you
- The pre has its own power supply so low powered components are shielded within
Separate pre and power amplifiers allow for the mixing and matching of various manufacturers (personal preference)
- There is more flexibility in the selection of speakers as they are not limited based on the amplifier’s capability
Separates give an option to swap individual parts when there is a need to upgrade or if a part has gone bad and cannot be repaired
- Integrated amplifiers are typically more affordable
The integrated amplifier is better suited for limited space or small to mid-size room
- The sound path of the integrated amps is far shorter and eliminates one connection between the two
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Chapter 12 : Stereo Vs Monoblock Amplifiers
- In Stereo amplifiers, both channels are built in a common cabinet, sharing a common transformer, power supply, capacitor bank and amplifier board
Monoblocks, on the other hand, have separate transformers, power supply, capacitor bank and amplifier boards for left and right channels, providing better dynamic range, channel separation and lower noise floor
- Monoblocks come in 2 configurations, one with individual chassis for both the channels and the other one with a common chassis (Dual Mono) for both channels
Benefits of Monoblock over Stereo amplifier are, no crosstalk (bleeding of left and right channels into each other) and great channel separation
- Stereo amplifiers are less expensive and lighter as compared to Monoblocks
People who pay attention to the details, image, separation, clarity and sound stage prefer Monoblock amplifiers
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Chapter 13 : Monoblocks / Power Amplifiers for Home Theatre
- Home Theatres are designed in X.Y.Z configurations
X – Left + Right + Center + Surrounds; Y – Subwoofers; Z – Atmos
- 80% of the sound in a movie, comes from Left + Center + Right speakers
If the watching or listening area is acoustically treated then due to reduction in room gain because of sound absorption and reduced reflections, higher power from the amplifier is required
- Usually AVR power ranges from about 85 – 115 watts per channel, which might not be enough to fill a big acoustically treated room at high decibel sound
On diving deep into AVR power specifications, it will be found that the claimed audio power output will be insufficient for great sound in a large acoustically treated room. This is mainly due to limitation in size of the transformers and capacitors used in order to keep the cost and size of the final product low
- Using 3 channel Monoblock / Power amplifier in LCR setup makes sense if the area is greater than 2500 sq ft or the room is heavily acoustically treated or the same Left and Right channels will be used for listening to serious music. How monoblocks improve the music sound quality is already covered in the chapters 10 & 11
As a new design language of Home Theatre installations, engineers are going in with either a pure AV processor and installing Monoblocks / Power amplifiers with it for driving all the speakers or installing a high end AVR with preouts and installing 3 channel Monoblock / Power amplifier for driving LCRs. Surrounds and ceiling speakers are directly connected to the AVR
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Chapter 14 : Subwoofers
To be published on 07/06
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Chapter 15 : Music Vs Home Theatre Speakers
To be published on 14/06
DISCLAIMER : The above information is only meant to provide useful and helpful insights on the subject discussed and in no way meant to challange existing practicies, beliefs, products and processes.