Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Monoblocks or Receiver

I'm having a hard time deciding on whether to go with 5 IRD monoblocks with a Rotel RSP-1006 preamp/pro or going with a Denon AVR-4802. Any ideas from you guys would surely help. Would the sound quality be much better with the monoblocks and Rotel over the Denon?

I have the 4802 now and love it. That said, I haven't compared it to a Rotel IRD combination so I couldn't tell you how the two compare to one another. I tend to doubt the veracity with which some claim monos improve sound. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the isolation does remove noise, but I wonder whether that fact is dramatic enough to make a really profound difference, especially on speakers in this price bracket.

For me, it came down to the fact that the 4802 has three high bandwidth component inputs and all the processing formats I could hope for. If you decide to go that route, I'd recommend the 4802R which is the same product at the same price with the addition of THX Ultra2. If it's free, you might as well have it.

i find the real significant avantages of having seperates are that whenever the is a new format or dsp, surround sound field (looks like they spit one out like with new cars) you can upgrade without changing the amps thus making it alot less expensive on the long run

That's why I've recently went the separates route. I have the Rotel RSP-1066/RB-1075 combo. Very happy with it. When DD-ES/DTS-EX goes the way of the dinosaur, I'll still be able to keep my amp, and just get a new processor.

You're certainly right, Johnny, but all he asked about was sound quality.

Curious, Semi-on, whether your most recent post was meant as a joke.

I've gone with outboard amps on my HT systems. Thought about monoblocks a while ago (Le Amps) ended up with a 5 channel Anthem PVA-5 and a vintage 2 channel Kenwood KA-9100 using an Onkyo 797 as a processor/preamp on the big system, and a pair of 2 channel Onkyo M282 105 wpc (into 8ohms) amps using a Sony STRDB1070 as an amp for the center channel and a preamp/processor for the rest.

Definitely more musical and more at ease during demanding portions of movies. I'd say that going to 5 or 7 monoblocks would guaranty that you'd never be short of power for the even most demanding passages.

sure.. but i should elaborate a bit then,
as for sound quality i've seen quite some real nice big setups (up to $200,000.00)in the pas few years and taking in mind that all setups have different variables such as room size & proper installations, i've notice the following ... that there is a very small maraginable gain in sound quality in seperates, and that the quality of decent hi-mid end, all in the box amps such as a denon avr4802 (the one i currenty own)and denon 5803, HK-8000, and so on, are so very close to separates, and that the money involved in going the separates route would have to be one of upgradabily, for sure in 10 years those monoblocks will be outdated, as the quality of sound will improve in time, just like cars,computers and so on.... (is a 10 year old Beamer with some millage better than a brand spanking new maxima ......hummmmm)

if you decide to go with seperates,do your homework on how much power they will require, you may want to have a dedicated electrical circut or two just for your system,depending on the draw......ron

just to give you an idea... look at this... http://www.audiorevolution.com/news/0203/25.omega.shtml
very hi-end amps made in Montreal, Canada

or even better this is the official web site ... http://www.classeaudio.com/