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Mono or stereo tube amp ?

Judde2

Judde2

tube is best
I read previously some interesting thoughts about why a mono amplifier ( tube ) is loved by so many. They say they would NOT change thier mono amp for anything. I cannot find that thread now so can anybody try to convince me ?
What is the reason that some stay with it, even though there are several Stereo amps that are also more expensive and should have better quality in sound ?
What is it that makes a mono amp so intereting ?

i am asking because I just got my hands on a little nice mono amp from beginning of 60:ties, made by Knight ( american company ) It uses 6V6 output tubes. It is fully serviced and should work well.
Am I forced to use 1x loudspeaker or can I drive 2x loudspeakers in parrallel from the mono amp ?

Bengt

Will send a photo on it soon
 
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Yes you can run to speakers in parrallel most tube amps arnt picky on the load they see.

Do you have a mono source to feed into it? If not you will only be hearing one half of the stereo recording.

Two speakers will creat a very centered sound stage right between the speakers. sounds nice but no stereo imaging

Jason
 
I always assumed that the benefit of running dual mono amps was to truly separate the two stereo channels. I'm very new to tube amplification, though (well, at least since the world went solid-state in the late 60's).

I'd think the biggest challenge you'll face is finding a second identical model Knight mono amp in comparable condition. You could use another 6V6 mono amp and have similar power output, but each of your stereo channels may have their own distinct sound. Since most older amps will need recapping, you could re-cap & re-tube both at the same time & help that somewhat. Hey, it's the fiddling & experimenting that draws up into the Hi-Fi world, right?
 
mono sound

THX for your replies. If I would consider listening to my LP´s and CD`s through a monoamplifier, like the Knight tube amplifier that I just got: How do I convert the STEREO signals from the sources into the monoamplifier ?
I was searching and askng around a little but it looks that the cheapest way, at the end, would be yo buy another similiar monoamp and run LP`s or CD´s through both of them !!???
Or is there another way ?
 
You add them using a simple resistor network. Select a resistance value that somewhat higher than the output impedance of the source. For a solid-state source, 2000 ohm
resistors should be adequate. Take two of those resistors, tie them together at
one end. This common node goes to the input of the mono amplifier, while the
free ends of the resistors go to each channel of the stereo source. You need to
provide a short ground connection too. Good luck!
 
Judde2 said:
How do I convert the STEREO signals from the sources into the mono amplifier ?
Click to expand...
I have a collection of mono amps and several nice mono speakers so I listen in mono frequently as back ground music. The conversion is very simple if you have a soldering iron. Buy an Alps 100k ohm stereo volume control at Radio Shack and install it in place of the mono volume control in the amp. Connect two of the RCA jacks on the amp to the "top" of the volume controls and connect the wipers together. Connect the two wipers to the wire that was going to the mono vc wiper. The "bottom" of the volume control goes to ground. Each channel of the CD player will have a 100k ohm load which will make them happy. You can't use a Y connector on the back of the CD player as the two channels will interact in unpredictable ways.
 
Not really sure what you're after via your OP?

Most people enjoy stereo sound reproduction. More recently the joys of monophonic have been re-discovered by some. (not so recently by others as they've been aware for awhile) Some claim better sound quality, less distortion with mono than stereo. But understand they don't play their stereo discs through mono amps. Nothing to be gained there.

The benefit of mono sound reproduction is really acquired through the use of a true mono cartridge.

Bottom line, of the people I know, they have stereo systems, then separate mono systems. Alternately they'll have a turntable with two tonearms. One stereo arm/cartridge, and one wired for mono with a true mono cartridge.
 
Knight 6v6 tubeamp mono

I will use this amp ( mono ) for my FM-tuner only, I think. I have a tube FM-tuner from beginning of 60:ties, the time when radios were on development stage from Mono to Stereo. This tuner has two channels outputs to amplifier and also another single one for MPX. It is not real Stereo even if connected through left and right input on my other Stereo amplifier.
Now, if I connect the Knight amplifier together with the tuner, using the MPX only-would it be fine ?

My plan is to have pure mono tube FM-tuner with one loudspeaker. Rest of my stuff will be the same as is now, LP and CD will go through my other stereo amplifier together with my two hornloudspeakers. ( yes, I have three loudspeakers at home -all with very nice sound )
 
You would have to get a better description of the actual outputs on the tuner. The MPX
is an unfiltered output to feed a stereo adapter, probably not the one you want to
use. It might be that the two remaining outputs are both mono, one with adjustable
level and the other not. If you have pictures of model number for the tuner that will
help get you set up. Regards.
 
Mono is great for early pre-stereo recordings, and frankly I think FM tends to sound better in mono. Its got a much better signal to noise ratio, so you don't get all that hiss and trash on a slightly imperfect signal that you might hear in stereo. its also good if you want just general purpose music. No imaging to worry about, so you can move around the room or the house without things sounding strange because you are out of the "sweet spot" between the speakers. Someone on here has a signature that says "good mono is better than bad stereo", and I completely agree with that statement.
 
I have a few mono amps and use them exactly as mentioned ... non-critical listening while working around the house. However, I do have to add that my mono Sherwood S-3000 II FM tuner sounds fantastic in my mono system.

The main reason I actually started listening in mono was for outdoor listening in summer when the A/C is on. I use a bookshelf speaker placed on a (fancy plant) stand and slightly toad in! LOL pun intended. All kidding aside, that is really what happened: I had a rebuilt Heathkit AA-13 int amp that I was trying different speakers with. I settled on a single Monitor Audio MA4 I have. It was summer and hot, hazy, and humid ... just perfect for a few cocktails outside. The AC was on and I needed to listen to music so I dragged the MA4 outside and placed it on an empty plant stand and voila! mono tube audio outdoors that sounded very nice. Now the speaker stays near the back sliding door permanently, and the plant stand comes indoors in winter too.
 
FM radio sounds fine in mono. I think just a tuner and a single mono amplifier will be a nice simple arrangement. I live in New Orleans and listen to the radio a great deal, frequently through a tube powered '59 Zenith table radio. Henry Kloss designed the famous Model 8 as a dedicated mono FM receiver even as stereo was becoming the industry standard.

Yes, you could say that what you're getting into is a half a stereo. I think you will be getting a whole tube sound system that is best for radio and some older recordings.

Make sure it has been serviced or prepare yourself to have it done. Listen to a bunch of different speakers with it.

Also is this an integrated amp or will it require a pre amp?
 
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