Any reason why Pass is not Dual Mono amp???

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by Trance

If that's your belief then you would never of purchased a Pass labs X-250.5 or any other high end amplifier.
Why not settle on a radio shack amp. they cost LESS and have even LESS components.
Can I get an intelligent answer than the less is more **.

Why do people prefer 2 MONO amps and they cost MORE! Cause separate amplification is superior to stereo amps, they don't share the same power supply and sound better.

Another alternative is Dual Mono amps, they cost less than Mono amps while providing better separation to each channel.

The only advantage of one power supply for two channels is that it cost LESS to build.

Please don't answer this if all you can say is Less is More...

I would concur with the above as i have found 2 mono amps to be better sounding than a single chassis dual mono etc ...

I'm sure you could repair your ML for far less than 2000 ...

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

So you don't want to buy a Levinson - you want us to
build one for you?

.................................................. ..

Originally Posted by MEGA-amp

Couldn't be further from reality. You probably won't get an intelligent response with this mindset. Many different amplifiers, many different design philosophies. If Nelson made this design dual-mono, you'd be hard pressed to measure a difference with any significance let alone hear one. The fact that an amplifier is/isn't dual mono means relatively little to the final result...(fact). The PS on this amplifier is capable of 20 Amps. If you want to look at it another way, there is actually more power supply capability than is necessary.

I would have to disagree about the mono aspect . I would wager a mono bloc version would be better sounding ...

[Magura]

Originally Posted by a.wayne

I would have to disagree about the mono aspect . I would wager a mono bloc version would be better sounding ...

Unless the design is inductor loaded or the like, x-talk is very limited, and counting out x-talk, I would be hard pressed to come up with a reason to agree with you.

As stated above, weight is the only reason for a regular power amp to be mono-blocks.

I have personally set the weight limit to 70-80 kg. Above that, it's getting too much trouble to move the amp around.


Magura

[Nelson Pass]

I think it's pretty remarkable that a big company like
Harmon would not repair the 23.5.

In any case, if your budget is constrained you are stuck
with either the used market or building your own. Since
this is DIYAudio, I recommend the latter.

[Trance]

I agree, Shame on Mark Levinson for not being able to repair their own amplifiers, they have two private contractors in the United States who they refer you for repair, both these repair guys charge a fortune knowing that you are stuck. I returned the amp to the buyer on ebay and got my money back. I will not buy a Levinson product till they get their act together, Harman Kardon ruined a good company. I am going to try and get a X-150.5 since this is more in my budget. from what I read it looks very promising.

[tiefbassuebertr]

Originally Posted by Trance

I agree, Shame on Mark Levinson for not being able to repair their own amplifiers, they have two private contractors in the United States who they refer you for repair, both these repair guys charge a fortune knowing that you are stuck. I returned the amp to the buyer on ebay and got my money back. I will not buy a Levinson product till they get their act together, Harman Kardon ruined a good company. I am going to try and get a X-150.5 since this is more in my budget. from what I read it looks very promising.

NP: "I think it's pretty remarkable that a big company like Harmon would not repair the 23.5."
Trance: "Shame on Mark Levinson for not being able to repair their own amplifiers" -
the reason is easy the uneconomical for oneself and perhaps follow:

It is very hard, to disass'y certain Mark Lenvinson power amp devices for service and maintenance (through nessecary to solder out all power devices even for little works at the PCB). I have repair some "No 23" some years ago and I hate this work.

Additional to the normal repair work I had to cut out a section of a overheated board aera (ref current resistors for idle current of VAS) and must perform larger resistor components from this area (to avoid hot spot one more) and must additional perform free wiring of this devices.
Some capacitors arround this aera must be also replace through 125 degree versions.
For the customer who was actually an insult by Mark Levinson, at such prices, such weaknesses and deficiencies not to remooooove already while developing.

But we must not forget one thing: There are two groups of buyers: one, which is about the real (i. e. perfect sonic transmission), and one which is about their own status symbol (similar often like car's).
In the latter case - money save isn't important, and this user's don't like therefore any repairs; they prefer more to buy new products but more expensive devices as before (look at the successor collection from ML).

Latter group are the audience of Mark Levinson - I would say.
and therefore they don't see this unsatisfy. They say "nothing lasts forever".

[a.wayne]

I had ML stuff in the early 90's before Harmon , there CS was beyond approach .... sad to hear they have become such ...



Magura ,

I would say you have never done the Monobloc thing , give it a try , or even better move the power supply away from the flat amp ...

[Zen Mod]

every Magura's amp is monoblock ;

they're simply too heavy , with his approach .

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by Zen Mod

every Magura's amp is monoblock ;

they're simply too heavy , with his approach .

OK, so i guess he is saying there is no difference between "his" stereo amps and his mono blocs , besides weight ? ....

My listening experiences have been the opposite, especially when the transformer is moved away from the flat-amp board and inputs ...


Magura would love to see your approach !

[Zen Mod]

we are talking rubbish here ;
there are too much possible variables and important things involved , so saying that monoblocks are ALWAYS better than any other concept is same as saying that blue chicks are ALWAYS better than dark chicks ;

without considering class of operation , amount of capacitance , size of xformer(s) , wiring quality blahblah , that's just teeth sharpening ........ so we can't make universal conclusion .

in any case - give me Papa's amp over ML ones , every day .

take that this way - Nelson doesn't need all that drek ( tightly packed monstrousity with preputium class of components) to make good amp .
what you pay is what you get .
in case that you need Nelson's monoblock - buy two smaller stereo ones and bridge them .

then you'll see those "fancier" monoblocks running to woods , trying to hide .

so - everything is in 3 things :

1.good & knowledgeable engineering
2.honesty
3.good pair of ears attached to reasonably sane head

first two are conditio sine qua non for manufacturer , last one for buyer

[peranders]

Did we get any good answer from Mr. Pass about mono block vs. stereo?