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Are Monoblock s worth it?

Would like your collective Wisdom on the subject of Monoblocks. I have a single Odyssey Stratos and the cost to convert to Mono's are not that much additional. However, I do not play my existing system at very high levels and almost never turn the volume beyond half-way (normally around 11:00). Is this an advisable upgrade? I know that I theoretically should have more dynamic headroom, but I do not know how this translates into real world listening.

System:

Maggie SMGa (soon to be Newform R645's in next week or so)
Morrison Elad pre-amp
Cambridge Audio CD500-SE

Musical taste - 50% Classical Symphonic, 30% Classical instrumental and 20% rock/pop
sibelius
musicslug
403 posts
 
One advantage as yet unmentioned is shorter speaker cable lengths which can have a dramatic effect!
tom_nice
387 posts
 
Now that I've experienced monoblocks, I'll never use anything else. I changed from 7' cables to 18" cables, same brand, and credit that with much of the improvement. Without trying to "talk the talk" about dynamic headroom and so on, I simply felt that the music was a lot closer to me. I could sort out instruments and focus on the ones on one side if I wanted to, even when they were playing quietly. Maybe that's a "no congestion" improvement. If there's any way for you to try it out, I bet you won't want to go back.
sedond
1,314 posts
 
yes, shortened speaker cables is important - i *gnu* i forgot someting.... ;~)

doug s.

pls1
432 posts
 
From your "handle" listen to the finale of the Sibelius symphonies 2 and 5 with monoblocks and you will not go back.
gregm
3,021 posts
 
How about adding Sibelius' 3rd? Try Barbirolli.
Cheers!
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