Changing to monoblocks - things to consider?

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by gadawg

Also ... the voicing on the 452 is different than the 1.2kw's so it will sound different. Same reason I picked 601's(very similar to 452) over the 1.2's but that's more of a personal preference but it will sound different for sure.

George

George makes a good point. There have been many threads over the past several years discussing the improvements McIntosh unveiled with the 452 and 601's and I am sure the 611's and 1.25k also sound a bit different from the 1.2k's. You may also wish to try a different tap off the back of the 1.2k's than you previously used with the 452.

[Levitator]

Originally Posted by nicoff

+1
After switching to mono blocks, the biggest change that I noticed was when I decided to add a dedicated circuit to each amp. It cost me less than $1k, but the benefit was impressive. Nothing that I could have done for that price would have made a similar improvement.

Thanks nicoff - good to know...my sparky and I did check whether this was necessary and thought not given the amps run on 240v over here which means only a max of 6.5amps each rather than 13amps for you guys in the USA.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Levitator

... first pair of monoblock amplifiers (MC1.2kw's) in place of my MC452 which has served me very well for some time now...

just curious, are the 1.2kw amps brand new (not broken in) yet as compared to the well used MC452? And, by chance did in addition to the different amp platforms did you upgrade/change interconnects or maybe something such as going with different type upgrades inside the amps perhaps different type coupling caps inside during the new amp acquisition process? i.e. really wondering if your former amp was upgraded, etc.

Different brand, and probably not a related situation - but I just went through something (not exactly the same) but similar after upgrading my last two amps, caps, hexfreds, diodes. At first was sorta bummed, and kept being reminded to give the first 100-200 hours of break in time on the big new Silver/Gold caps, and other bits. Sure enough, at 100, 200hrs, definitely noticed improvements closer to where I wanted to be overall; even so was "still not the same or better as I'd hoped". Then, by accident, figured it out swapping back in one pair of interconnects DAC to Pre-amp, back the old interconnects and "wallah", there it was, found the rest of the open sound stage and tone I'd been missing or wondering where it went. Thought I'd ask just for grins anyhow, good luck.

[Levitator]

Originally Posted by decooney

just curious, are the 1.2kw amps brand new (not broken in) yet as compared to the well used MC452? And, by chance did in addition to the different amp platforms did you upgrade/change interconnects or maybe something such as going with different type upgrades inside the amps perhaps different type coupling caps inside during the new amp acquisition process? i.e. really wondering if your former amp was upgraded, etc.

Different brand, and probably not a related situation - but I just went through something (not exactly the same) but similar after upgrading my last two amps, caps, hexfreds, diodes. At first was sorta bummed, and kept being reminded to give the first 100-200 hours of break in time on the big new Silver/Gold caps, and other bits. Sure enough, at 100, 200hrs, definitely noticed improvements closer to where I wanted to be overall; even so was "still not the same or better as I'd hoped". Then, by accident, figured it out swapping back in one pair of interconnects DAC to Pre-amp, back the old interconnects and "wallah", there it was, found the rest of the open sound stage and tone I'd been missing or wondering where it went. Thought I'd ask just for grins anyhow, good luck.

From what I know the dealer has had them for six months using them on and off - it's possible they aren't completely run in...

When we auditioned them we did compare them against the 601's and preferred the 1.2kw's - the audition was however with different speakers being Sonus Faber Homage Amati's but same source and pre-amp as mine.

[For The Love of Music]

Considerations towards:

* Additional power cable
* Length of interconnect, power and speaker - you may be to short or long depending
* Outlet placements if not centralized
* Floor real estate
* Exposed cables
* Potential need for platforms situation depending, and I don’t recommend setting on carpet.