So You Want To Join the 'Monoblock Club'?

[leonski]

Here is the latest from Dan A. founder of Krell, many years ago.

This might be 'the ultimate expression'.

The specs alone will earn it a place in the hall of fame.   And it needs 220.    

dandagostino.com/products/relentless-monoblock.php

I doubt many of these will be in 'upstairs' installations and fewer downstairs.    
In any event?  You'll need a forklift to get 'em off the delivery truck, than a couple
buddies to move 'em near where you intend to install.

Cost will Melt EVERY CREDIT CARD in your possession.....

[AudioHTIT]

Shows it will actually run on a 120V 15A circuit, and even at 240V only draws 7.5A, not sure how the wattage numbers work out there (those must be minimums). Amazing specs, and beautiful, but I don’t know if any of my friends are that strong, or my floor for that matter (they’re sure not going to fit in La Credenza!)

... besides, I couldn’t find the “Buy it now” button

[Loop 7]

Here is Dan D’Agostino talking about it when he sort of premiered the product (Munich HiFi 2018)

[405x5]

Jun 2, 2019 2:04:45 GMT -5 leonski said:

Here is the latest from Dan A. founder of Krell, many years ago.

This might be 'the ultimate expression'.

The specs alone will earn it a place in the hall of fame.   And it needs 220.    

dandagostino.com/products/relentless-monoblock.php

I doubt many of these will be in 'upstairs' installations and fewer downstairs.    
In any event?  You'll need a forklift to get 'em off the delivery truck, than a couple
buddies to move 'em near where you intend to install.

Cost will Melt EVERY CREDIT CARD in your possession.....

When I see something like this, it always goes back to what kind of a loudspeaker could realistically take advantage of such a thing.
Still, it’s a relatively small field out there of no outboard sub. Needed full range systems that get into 15Hz. territory.
If and when you get there, those speakers will be more then an equal challenge to schlep around. (Making them a perfect 👌 match).

Bill

[Raven]

Jun 2, 2019 9:29:30 GMT -5 405x5 said:

Jun 2, 2019 2:04:45 GMT -5 leonski said:

Here is the latest from Dan A. founder of Krell, many years ago.

This might be 'the ultimate expression'.

The specs alone will earn it a place in the hall of fame.   And it needs 220.    

dandagostino.com/products/relentless-monoblock.php

I doubt many of these will be in 'upstairs' installations and fewer downstairs.    
In any event?  You'll need a forklift to get 'em off the delivery truck, than a couple
buddies to move 'em near where you intend to install.

Cost will Melt EVERY CREDIT CARD in your possession.....

When I see something like this, it always goes back to what kind of a loudspeaker could realistically take advantage of such a thing.
Still, it’s a relatively small field out there of no outboard sub. Needed full range systems that get into 15Hz. territory.
If and when you get there, those speakers will be more then an equal challenge to schlep around. (Making them a perfect 👌 match).

Bill

Probably something like this:

[Raven]

Or even bigger this one:

[Boomzilla]

Having had the experience over the past few years of evaluating a wide variety of audio products in my own home as a part of the review process, I have been thoroughly disabused of a belief that I've subscribed to for decades. That belief is that there is a strong positive correlation between audio equipment price and audio equipment performance.

Yes, I've heard some expensive audio equipment that probably did justify its cost, but I've heard far more that could be bested (in terms of sheer audio performance, and ignoring fit and finish) by products that sold for less than the TAX on the more expensive component.

So before assuming that any audio component must sound great because its cost is hight, DO actually hear the component for yourself.

All that said, some will want to ask what budget components I think are dragon-slayers - and although I could tell you the ones that I like, they may well not be to your taste. In matters of taste, there is no dispute. I like what I like and you like what you like. So a budget audio component that I consider a world class performer may not give you enjoyment at all. Conversely, an expensive audio component that I believe justifies its cost may be a yawn for you.

So - Happy shopping!

Boom

[pedrocols]

Aluminum is typically expensive...🤦‍♂️🤣

[405x5]

Jun 2, 2019 10:54:22 GMT -5 Raven said:

Or even bigger this one:

At least this shot illustrates far more consideration, to the impact those puppies will have on the listening room, (acoustic treatments and space particularly, for the audio to stretch out.) 
Your other photo is a perfect example of a bottomless wallet, and not much else.

Bill

[leonski]

Jun 2, 2019 11:09:34 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Having had the experience over the past few years of evaluating a wide variety of audio products in my own home as a part of the review process, I have been thoroughly disabused of a belief that I've subscribed to for decades. That belief is that there is a strong positive correlation between audio equipment price and audio equipment performance.

Yes, I've heard some expensive audio equipment that probably did justify its cost, but I've heard far more that could be bested (in terms of sheer audio performance, and ignoring fit and finish) by products that sold for less than the TAX on the more expensive component.

So before assuming that any audio component must sound great because its cost is hight, DO actually hear the component for yourself.

All that said, some will want to ask what budget components I think are dragon-slayers - and although I could tell you the ones that I like, they may well not be to your taste. In matters of taste, there is no dispute. I like what I like and you like what you like. So a budget audio component that I consider a world class performer may not give you enjoyment at all. Conversely, an expensive audio component that I believe justifies its cost may be a yawn for you.

So - Happy shopping!

Boom

'Giant Slayer' is one of the most persistent myths of audio.   But will agree with the idea that 'value is in the ear of the listener'.    For most regular people, going into huge debt is also a bad idea when it comes to audio.   Unless you get one of the few pieces in history that DO appreciate in value, you are already behind the curve.    Some use this as a very good reason to buy Used in the first place.    The new D'Agonstino amps used?   Sure. 

Those speakers in the above photos LOOK to be fairly high sensitivity.  If so, a really good 100 a side would be MORE than adequate.

As for running one of these on 120?   If possible DON'T do it.    I see someone parsed thru the specs which say 7.5amps 220.    That means you will FULL STRESS a 20amp 120 circuit @15 amps continuous.  And please don't forget that someone who can afford these will ALSO have access to an electrician to run a dedicated 100 amp panel to the play room.      I tend to take a similar approach in talking about the largest EMO mono blocks.    

[Bonzo]

Here's what will say, if I were a millionaire with cash to blow, I would buy these amps for reputation, build quality, and looks alone. Like buying a La Ferrari. These are the most kick ass best looking amps I've ever seen.

And I'd probably pair them with the $685k Wilsons, the ugliest but most awesome sounding speakers on the planet.

Although, I would have to hear it all before keeping it all.

[Bonzo]

Jun 2, 2019 10:50:42 GMT -5 Raven said:

Jun 2, 2019 9:29:30 GMT -5 405x5 said:

When I see something like this, it always goes back to what kind of a loudspeaker could realistically take advantage of such a thing.
Still, it’s a relatively small field out there of no outboard sub. Needed full range systems that get into 15Hz. territory.
If and when you get there, those speakers will be more then an equal challenge to schlep around. (Making them a perfect 👌 match).

Bill

Probably something like this:

Hard to tell on my phone, but are those not Emotiva XPA-1 amps?

[Loop 7]

The Relentless blocks are $250,000 per pair.

I wonder what it would be like to make that purchase and, as their pallets arrive, thinking to myself "I just spent 1/4 million dollars on stereo gear" but I assume those who buy these amps likely have million dollar pieces of art in their house.

Weight: 570 pounds each

[Bonzo]

Jun 2, 2019 12:41:13 GMT -5 Loop 7 said:

The Relentless blocks are $250,000 per pair.

I wonder what it would be like to make that purchase and, as their pallets arrive, thinking to myself "I just spent 1/4 million dollars on stereo gear" but I assume those who buy these amps likely have million dollar pieces of art in their house.

Weight: 570 pounds each

¼ million on amps, 2/3 million on speakers, and I'm just getting started. 😀 Need a source, wires, power cords, the room, and accoustic treatments.

Where these would fit awesome is in my multi million dollar theater room, which would be swanked out to look like the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Seriously, that is my dream home theater.

[Raven]

Jun 2, 2019 12:40:24 GMT -5 Bonzo said:

Jun 2, 2019 10:50:42 GMT -5 Raven said:

Probably something like this:

Hard to tell on my phone, but are those not Emotiva XPA-1 amps?

Those mono blocks seems ta have analog VU meters.
So I think it's not an Emo amps.

[AudioHTIT]

So if someone has lots of money, and is an audiophile / enthusiast / hobbiest / engineer -- should they not be able to explore and enjoy these all out efforts at high end? I know leonski wasn't posting the link to the Relentless to promote the idea of buying one, but rather to show what one man (and a legend in the audio industry at that) created as an all out assault at amplification. I doubt most if not all of us would ever be interested in having something like this (surely not paying for it), but an amp that can probably be stable producing 6000 Watts into 2 ohms with virtually no distortion is pretty impressive (and it looks cool doing it).

Now I doubt the Relentless was designed to be used with the horns above which look pretty efficient, they would probably be better paired with some exotic low powered SET tube amp, but hey, some here would pair an XPA-1 with Klipsch Cornerhorns (a duo that could probably produce peaks above 130 dB). I'd think an amp like this might work well with some esoteric electrostatic impedance nightmare, whatever someone who can afford it wants to try. I do think you probably need a slab floor for a pair of these, oh, how about a dozen or more for an Atmos system?

I'm happy some of the richest men in the world are having a space race, we will all benefit from their research and services, even if we can't afford to take a one hour ride toward the stars. I also don't mind that there are some who want to explore the far reaches of audio, some of us may benefit from that too.

[rogersch]

And what if you want to have Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 setup?

[rbk123]

Probably cost well under $1k to make.

[petew]

Jun 2, 2019 14:17:03 GMT -5 rbk123 said:

Probably cost well under $1k to make.

No way <$1k

The metal work alone is probably north of $25,000

[DavidR]

My Monoblock is bigger than yours.

  Krell MRA_03

Class A amplifier, exceeding 1,000 W into 8 Ohms, 2,000 W into 4 Ohms, 4,000 W into 2 Ohms, 8,000 W into 1 Ohm, and 16,000 W into 0 .5 Ohm