Monolith Amplifiers 2022 - series from Monoprice

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2 жыл бұрын

Monolith Amplifiers 2022 - series from Monoprice. This video starts a Ripewave Audio Series on home theater amplifier separates. We examine the entire portfolio of Monoprice Monolith Amplifiers available in 2022 including the newly release 8125x and 8250x class D amplifiers which utilize the Hypex NCORE modules.
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Пікірлер: 54

@markmcfeaters9116 6 ай бұрын

I own the 200X5. My opinion, its a great amp.😂 Clean and powerfull. My set up sounds amazing Here is the breakdown. Sony master series 65 inch tv. Nad M17 V2 master series processor. Monolith 200 watt 5 channel amp XLR balanced with Kimber cables all the good stuff in cables. All Bowers n Wilkins speakers. Front = 702S2. Center = 705S2 paired together for the center channel. Rear 705S2. For home theater SVS PB3000 subwoofers. Just ordered a new Amp Nad M28 master series amp. Rated at 200X7 or 220X2 for stereo. For just stereo its rated 220 watts per channel. 8 ohm. All channels driven is 200 watts per channel. 8ohm. Its a match for my processor. Thats the main reason why i purchased this amp. Very very low distortion dipping down to .003 which is very low and perfect match with my Nad processor. Cant wait for the new amp to arrive.

@ripewave 6 ай бұрын

What a great system. Thanks for sharing. So good to have someone weigh in that has the Monolith amps (among other great amplifiers from NAD). How does the Monolith compare with NAD? I will add that you have quality throughout from B&W speakers to Kimber cables. -Jon

@wayneblackwood8832 Жыл бұрын

I have the Monolith 7x. I can't break it. The more you turn it up, the better it performs/sounds. You really can't beat it for the money. Just don't try to lift it; it's about 93 pounds and brutal to move.

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

Sounds like the ATI designed Monolith and Outlaw amplifiers are very respectable. Thanks so much for sharing. It is particularly helpful to get this feedback from someone who owns both. Is one audibly better than the other? -Jon

@shaolin95 Жыл бұрын

Yep...beast in peformance and weight lol

@TomlynAdvisors Жыл бұрын

I have a Yamaha A6A and Martin Logan Motion speakers. I like the "natural" sound of Yamaha vs. Denon / Marantz. In your experience, does the Mono provide a "natural" pass-thru sound, or does it change to more a flat-Denon, or other ?

@kx8960 Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it, I'm planning on getting one because....(Dammit Crutchfield!!!), Crutchfield currently has an absolutely smoking deal on the Focal Chora 826 for $699 each(!!!)...so I just had to order 7 of them for my new home theater upgrade. I've been told I really should have a dedicated 15 or 20 amp socket for this amp, so, that's another expense. BUT, it should be amazing when I'm done!

@bingdong8571 2 жыл бұрын

Info, info, info, THANK YOU for pretty much 100% useful info, no bullshit

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

Glad that straight forward presentation worked for you. Thanks - Jon

@jb.2986 2 жыл бұрын

Class D amps have certainly come a long way in the last couple of years Jon. Legacy Audio has some impressive units as well. As you know we prefer the meter look. We choose amps not only for sound and build quality but also for aesthetics as amplifiers can be considered pieces of art especially as their prices increase (similar to speakers). Surprised you can’t daisy chain the trigger input/outputs. That seems fairly common at this price point and higher. We use multiple triggers extensively in our system. I have yet to hear a Class D amp and am looking forward to a listening test sometime in the near future.

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

Jack- I will likely purchase class D/H amplifiers for my side and rear surrounds. I wish more amps had meters today. I find it very odd. I like to watch. My Emotiva XPA-1s have a digital meter which is at least something - but it can’t compete with a classic McIntosh meter. I was surprised that Monoprice didn’t include and trigger out for daisy chaining - that seems like such a simple thing to add.-Jon

@audiotechguy 2 жыл бұрын

Love Monoprice Monolith

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

They have done a nice job with the entire range-Jon

@XXshadowscreamerX 2 жыл бұрын

I like the utility chape build/look of these amps they seem very cool but would be good if they had meters like the old gear like the old times technology has come a long way since then but still having a meter for amps is useful and cool looking especially useful for surround setups when you might have A lot of speakers in one room depending what you use the amp for…👍

@Saturn2888 Жыл бұрын

I own two 8250x units. They overheat like crazy! I don't know how people do it. I had to put two Nocuta fans blowing through it to fix the overheating issue where the amp actually shuts off channels.

@happyfisch1033 2 жыл бұрын

I have an amplifier recommendation. Esspecial for the volks in Europe. The IOTAVX AVXP1: 7 channel (class AB) amplifier Currently 1471 USD or 1371€ (discounted) Response (+/- 3db) 10hz-60khz 2 channels driven: every channel modul can handle 250 watts (4ohm) or 150 watts (8ohm). However the power supply limits the all channel (simultaneously) driven output to 170 watt/110 watt. I see this as an amplifier with higher and lower watts module (like the 9 or 11 channel monolith or emotiva), but more flexible: every channel having the potential to be an "high watt" channel (and a everything in between), just not all at the same time. As long as their COMBINED POWER isn't more than 1190 watts (4ohm) or 770 watt (8ohm) you are within spec (my assumption based on the all channel driven rating). As Jon said. Your speakers likely need different power anyways. For example if your speakers have different power requirements due to different sensitivity or distance to the listening position. Maybe you only need "lower power" modules. The power supply isn't enough for you? Keep in mind any power supply (or multiple power supplies) can only suck so much power out of the wall before the circuit breaker does its job. So check the electricity in your wall. You might have to run another circuit thru your walls or you might not benefit as much as you think from a more powerful amplifier/power supply. However, feel free to go insane anytime 😉. If you want IOTAVX also has an stereo amplifier with less watts per channel. You can bridge it thou. Sadly that's all they have. No 5 or 3 channel module. Many of the other known "low budget" power amplifier for hometheater are not available in Europe (at least here in Germany).

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

Nice choice - I will be sure to cover in a future video.-Jon

@elvinechevarria8079 8 ай бұрын

Those amplifiers have 12 transistor for chanel insane Doble that emotiva..

@ripewave 8 ай бұрын

Very nice. An exciting detail I did not know about. Thanks - Jon

@benjaminfranklin414 Жыл бұрын

hi, love this comparison. what will the sensitivity 8 ohm of 1.6v vs1.465 or 2.07 impact to the sound? what is the implication of the impedance of 28 vs 47 ohms?

@Turtleback8024 Жыл бұрын

Sad that we don’t have these amplifiers/receivers in South Africa🇿🇦 We are extremely limited when it comes to Hi-fi gear. We don’t even have Emotiva.😢😒

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

That is unfortunate. What is your closest matching brands available in South Africa? -Jon

@Turtleback8024 Жыл бұрын

@@ripewave We do have some pretty decent ones like: Onkyo, Denon, Anthem, Rotel, Yamaha etc. However I truly wanted to own the Monolith 7X (True 200) or Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 3 but we don’t have those in the country, unless you bring them in as grey imports for which you’ll bleed through the nostrils and will have to wait for over thirty days for clearance at customs. Most of the time we have no choice but to “settle” for what’s available, which is sad.🫤

@vinylmonster4907 Жыл бұрын

I been watching your channel and videos for a while now and really enjoying them and since you've already reviewed the new Pioneer AVR LX505 - I thought id ask a question. I want to, if possible connect it to my old VSX-933 for additional amplification until i can scrape up enough cash to purchase a proper external power amp like ToneWinner AD-7300PA. So, can it be done (connecting the LX505 to the VSX933) and how can it be done? I'd appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

As the VSC-933 doesn’t have multichannel inputs, you best option will likely be to send you HDMI source to both receivers and have the older unit only supply the height or surround channels and the new unit handle the others. Hopefully it all lines up so the internal amps of the new model can handle the remaining channels. You will need to manually balance the sound levels using two volumes controls. I have done something similar - not ideal, but functional -Jon

@guillermomartin8248 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the detailed review of CLass D variants. Question for you, in the 8250 with the two power cords, do you need to separate outlets for this amp? or can both power plugs be plugged into my power conditioner? Thanks!!

@benjaminfranklin414 Жыл бұрын

i think i've read where that each of the cord are needed because of the total amount of current this amp will take at peak. if both are plug to the wall outlet and is 30 (? not 15) amp, there will be enough current. hope it helps.

@joekool5676 Жыл бұрын

Can you explain what the specifications mean, such impedance voltage, signal to noise ratio, damping factor, voltage. Etc. What are values that help distinguish one amplifier is better than another. I don't understand when at times a 50 watt per channel amp sound better than 100+ watt amplifier

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

Those are great questions while important specifications, there impact on the sound quality and performance are not widely understood. Perhaps a good topic for a video as a lot to cover in a simple response. A 50 watt amplifier can sound better than a 100 Watt amplifier. First it is important to know the conditions in which the power output rating was measured. It is like lifting 100 pounds for a second vs carrying 100 pounds across the room. Another real noticeable difference is how clean it delivers those Watts - Total harmonic distortion or THD. Sometime shown with noise - THD+N. So when I am carrying that load across the room is the load stable or am I wobbly. -Jon

@salmesquivel 2 жыл бұрын

Assuming a requirement that at least 5 channels get the same high clean power, I would think a straightforward solution for 13 channel setup would be the 7x amp mated with 13 channel AVR, using its preouts for your main 5-7 speakers and the rest using the onboard power of the AVR. I just don't know if the commonly lower specifications for the other 6 channels would be enough to disregard the benefit of an additional multi-channel amp. Where would that line be? Does that line even exist if all we need is 80 clean watts (for instance) for the other 6 channels and the AVR can do that easily? Else, you have 13+ channel pre/pro and 2 separate amps, me thinks.

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

Sal - you raise a good discussion point. There are a few variables in play. The quality of the AVR, the type of surround speakers 8-13 used, etc. You are certainly addressing the most critical channels with your proposal. I believe many would say you are sufficient using the AVR to power channels 8-13. I believe the quality of the processor side the AVR becomes more noticeable then the amps for channels 8-13. That drive some to separates more than those amps.-Jon

@deepaksudevan 2 жыл бұрын

Please review Tonewinner amplifiers too

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

I added Tone Winner to the list - Thanks. Jon

@TheWrathofnumenor 2 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know how monolith compares to anthem or say parasound in terms of sound quality? The value of these monolith amps can't be ignored so curious how they stack up against the prime players in the market.

@ripewave 2 жыл бұрын

I have heard the monolith stacks up well against strong competitor like Emotiva, Parasound and Anthem - but I don’t have direct comparative experience. -Jon

@TheWrathofnumenor 2 жыл бұрын

@@ripewave Thanks Jon. These videos are awesome. Keep up the good work!!

@shaolin95 Жыл бұрын

You won't hear a difference. Anyone claiming otherwise is either trying to sell to you or just placebo

@benjaminfranklin414 Жыл бұрын

I have had a pair of Hypex nCore, which is highly regarded because of low noise level, low heat (which kills circuit), low power requirement, and low weight. best use case of class d amp is it doesn't add any color and etc. what ever the sound is from the pre-processor, AV, and etc will sound louder. anthem class d may have add its own filter to salt a bit of pleasantly sounding distortion, can't say for 100% sure. Nevertheless, the sound are not the same. Which you a person like will depends on the music they grow up listening to and etc. Best is try them and do an A/B test, knowing and trusting, class d hypex nCore will faithfully produce the source.

@ckannz 9 ай бұрын

Can I connect a 4ohm speaker and 8ohm speaker to the same amplifier?

@ripewave 9 ай бұрын

You can. Given the same signal the output level will be different. Just level balance within your processor, receiver or preamp. - Jon

@BugleBoogie Жыл бұрын

I believe that you errored in your per channel calculation for the 1X. It's $227.00 per channel. $2500 / 11.

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the correction. I am not sure how I let that error into the presentation, but you are right. Not $375, but $227 per channel with 11 channels and $2,500 total cost. -Jon

@Wozzaatwozza Жыл бұрын

I’m surprised the ATI made amps were not fully balanced, like Outlaw. I need a fully balanced amp for my Polk Legend L800’s. Question: do all Hypex amps sound the same? My NAD receiver has Hypex, and I purchased a M28 and shockingly the Hypex sounds better. The bass is more alive on the Hypex on the polks which requires high volume to drive the woofers.

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

I would like to audition the Polk L800s. I grow up with Polk SDA 2B speakers in the 80s with similar Stereo Dimensional Array technology. Nice wide soundstage. Polk speakers love power. First I heard that fully balanced amps are equally important as being high current high output. To me they do far better at 200W vs 100W - night and day.-Jon

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

Not sure about your Hypex question. I believe that with class D modules there is less for amplifier brands to add their own signature to. I would imagine all Hypex amps have similar traits. The NAD Hypex module looks real nice.-Jon

@Wozzaatwozza Жыл бұрын

@@ripewave I heard the SDAs in the early 90s before they disappeared. So come the opportunity I purchased the L800s, L600, L400, and R800 heights. They are all amazing. Beautifully balanced.

@ripewave Жыл бұрын

Glad the L800 and family of legend speakers have been performing well. Your success has renewed my interest in the L800s. I can envision using the new SDA speakers for front speakers and moving my Lsi15s towers to the rear or front wide position. -Jon

@Wozzaatwozza Жыл бұрын

@@ripewave I had the LSi25’s, Centre, LSi15s, and LSi F/X. I still have the 15s as a pair on my main floor and sold the others to buy the Legend series.