System is now fully balanced from the balanced Theta Miles to the BAT vk-3i to the Fosi v3 monos. They don't get overly warm. I am running two 5 amp power supplies instead of one 10 amp one.

A bit more delicate and almost gentler, but as clear as the v3 stereo. I matched levels using tones and a sweep between these and the v3 stereo. The mono's have a sturdier current through the 50-250 hz range? LRS's are happy, not surprised.They were happy before.

The errant and wicked vk-500 is banished to the TV room until I can decide to dismantle it and send it to Delaware, or just use it as an ottoman, for guests.

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My listening conclusions are: Going from the v3 stereo to the v3 mono I am hearing the results, mainly, of no potentiometer. It's a mono power amp from the get go. Using a complete balanced chain also makes sense in this case for once. People who complain of heat might be using the RCA, which adds an extra op-amp to the circuit; the XLR input is the native input, not a make-do.

Yay 21st century. Beethoven (O'Conor) sounds "splendid" in the 7th piano sonata.

I bet some would find this sound too analytic, too clean. There isn't any warmth unless the artist is giving it. (My system includes a powered ML sub, not affected by the power amp choice however.)

It is impossible not to love being able to have at the very least, back-up amps, of this quality and of course, astounding price.

No vk-500 winter heater tho :(.....

/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends

 Try the Sparkos opamps - AudioDwebe 23:14:51 12/14/24 (0)
 update 12/8 - farfetched 11:41:58 12/08/24 (0)
 Think about the power supplies - Ralph 10:58:19 11/25/24 (9)

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Show full thread outline!

 Try the Sparkos opamps - AudioDwebe 23:14:51 12/14/24 (0)
 update 12/8 - farfetched 11:41:58 12/08/24 (0)
 Think about the power supplies - Ralph 10:58:19 11/25/24 (9)
 RE: Think about the power supplies - niws 19:51:39 11/25/24 (6)
 Less "noisy" ? (nt - peppy m. 01:40:28 11/26/24 (5)
 RE: Less "noisy" ? (nt - farfetched 06:41:03 11/26/24 (4)
 Do you have a phono section or AM radio? - Ralph 08:05:32 11/26/24 (3)
 phono at 75 - nothing still - farfetched 08:03:52 11/27/24 (2)
 You can't be playing a record when you have the volume up - Ralph 08:05:54 11/27/24 (1)
 So it is audible? - farfetched 07:25:39 11/29/24 (0)
 Comparable amps with better power supplies ? - peppy m. 16:51:23 11/25/24 (1)
 I was just pointing out that the stock power supply is noisy - Ralph 08:19:49 11/26/24 (0)
 Excellent ! What I really want to know..... - AbeCollins 14:37:54 11/22/24 (4)
 Those BAT amps are very nice... - Cougar 23:19:36 11/23/24 (1)
 BAT + floorstanders.... - farfetched 08:36:07 11/24/24 (0)
 RE: Excellent ! What I really want to know..... - farfetched 06:48:45 11/23/24 (1)
 RE: Excellent ! What I really want to know..... - AbeCollins 16:29:11 11/25/24 (0)

Will the VK-500 be sent out for repair or is it just out of the main system for now ?

P.S. I had the smaller VK-200 which I thought was very robust and rich sounding and definitely the opposite of too analytic or too clean or lean. Some would describe it as 'dark' and would too. Not as much top end but rich mids on down.

It might just be an old audiophiles tale, that such noise matters are intractable and/or inherent.

These amps themselves are an affront to convention.

/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends

An added feature has emerged. More usable power and drive, increased ability to handle complexity/dynamics/volume.

When the music gets garbled, I turn my amp down: either the amp or the room or me, is getting confused. My summer amp, a still-ticking Audiolab 8000a, needs to be played at around 9:30-10:00 to be its best. It's my virtuous amp. It sounds best at modest db's.

The monos are not virtuous amps.

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Conclusion of now: The Fosi v3 stereo requires the same conservative approach to volume my old Audiolab requires. Both are fine amps under their decibel ceiling. The v3 monos are more beefy and allow more fun with the Magnepan LRS's. Paired with the Bat vk-3i as preamp, the v3 monos share this ability to expand if one wishes, with the still penalty-boxed vk-500. The BAT vk-500 can scale. So can the Fosi v3 monos.

I just found I can easily drive the LRS's in my 17x12 room, and easily pull off an 7-foot distance b/w speaker centers w/o losing steam or focus. I'm used to living in an ez 5-foot distance, for practical reasons mostly. I can adapt?

I was not prepared for this but, like the bigger BAT, the monos can deal the juice. I was running the vk-3i into the stereo version, at volume knob at 21. Then I said hmm and went to 25, fine enough. It's at 30 now, and the v3 monos are easily handling things.

Spoiler: Virtue pays. Volume is addictive. Warm months come, I will switch back to the Audiolab which will reimpose discipline and good order among my cilia. For now, it looks like I've moved from the front of the 1st balcony, to Row F.

Finally. Time for Bruckner?
/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends