Odyssey monoblock thoughts.

It’s been a long time coming for you.  Enjoy them. 

Odyssey kismet monos paid for, just waiting to find time to meet halfway to pick them up.  took me a lot of time saving for these!

 Klaus was so helpful with all my questions, (a lot of them)

 he says he upgraded them, and they are superb! 
I trust his assessment, and am looking forward to them!

I bought a Odyssey Stratos Exreem, along with a matching Candela preamp, and all of Odyssey best Cables (IC’s and Speaker)..
I believe Odyssey amps to be a nice entry level Hi-end component..
I bought a Decware preamp/headphone amp (CSP3) , and tried it in place of the Candela preamp.. It sounded so good that the Candela went up for sale, to help fund a Decware Amp... Eventually I replaced the Stratos with a Decware (ZMA)..
Even though the Decware amp’s sound stage is “better” , it is not as strong and will only work with high sensitivity speakers..
The Odyssey amp will play louder, stronger, and it sounds great with my Decware Tube preamp in front of it..

Sorry on my last post I hit send on accident. Like I said I didn't fully understand the relationship between output impedance of a preamp vs input I impedance of amps. In retrospect I kinda gave them a bad rap and started some poop on Audio Circle. You live and learn. I am currently extremely happy with my Pass Labs 260.8 monoblocks.
Happy Listening
Mark

About two years ago I purchased a used pair of Kismets that had all.upgrades.I immediately disliked them  as compared to my Rogue Audio M180's. At that time I didn't fully understand the the relationship between output impedance of preamp

I feel the need to defend my comments on Odyssey Audio.

stereo5 wrote-
“I had a Stratos extreme and Kismet mono blocks. I am now running all McIntosh. I heard a Magtech on another persons system and I thought it was lean sounding. I loved both the Kismet Mono blocks and Stratos Extreme amps. I had the Stratos and the Kismets almost 2 years. In that time I also had a Conrad Johnson MF2550 250wpc amp and found it to be thick and syrupy slow sounding. I never ever had a problem with any of my Odyssey equipment and they are built to last. Klaus is one of the nicest guys in all of audio and takes care of his customers as best he can. 2psyop has complained in every Odyssey thread that he lost money and had faulty equipment both here and on Audio Circle. Klaus went the extra mile for this guy but somehow things didn’t work out. I have never heard of one other person who had a bad experience with Odyssey. It is a lot of Audio for the money.“

If anyone had or had Odyssey Equipment and has positive experiences, great I am happy for you. But one cannot speak to my experience and I would not attemp to speak for someone else’s. Should I say that stereo5’s comments on Conrad Johnson amps to be thick and syrupy are not valid? They are to him, so therefore he is sharing his comments on this open forum. Also I don’t how stereonut would know whether Klaus went the extra mile for me or not??? He was not involved in those transactions so how would he know? Two more things to note. I have made both positive comments on Odyssey equipment and negative ones in an open forum, not as stereo5 has stated that “I complained in every audio thread in audiocircle”. Certainly not the case. Lastly, even though stereo5 does not know if anyone with any problems with Odyssey equipment, anyone digging into Odyssey audio’s own thread will find the same problems I had complained about that others have had too. I hope Klaus has fixed those problems and hope all his customers are happy...like stereo5 or arctikdeath. Just don’t drag me through the mud for sharing my experience on an open audio forum.

arctikdeth
Odyssey monoblock thoughts.

Of the ones I’ve seen, the mono blocks are just bridged stereo amps.

The stereo one will perform better at all measurable parameters, save for one, wattage output.

Cheers George

I had a Stratos extreme and Kismet mono blocks.  I am now running all McIntosh.  I heard a Magtech on another persons system and I thought it was lean sounding.  I loved both the Kismet Mono blocks and Stratos Extreme amps.  I had the Stratos and the Kismets almost 2 years.  In that time I also had a Conrad Johnson MF2550 250wpc amp and found it to be thick and syrupy slow sounding.  I never ever had a problem with any of my Odyssey equipment and they are built to last.  Klaus is one of the nicest guys in all of audio and takes care of his customers  as best he can.  2psyop has complained in every Odyssey thread that he lost money and had faulty equipment both here and on Audio Circle.  Klaus went the extra mile for this guy but somehow things didn't work out.  I have never heard of one other person who had a bad experience with Odyssey.  It is a  lot of Audio for the money.

I just had a pair of Kismets delivered by Klaus a few weeks ago. These were a used pair that he upgraded to the best he could do. They sound awesome. Klaus has a sterling reputation and works hard to give the best product. I cannot speak to anyone's negative experience. I do know from my life experience that every manufacturer no matter how hard they try will have customers with negative experiences. Nevertheless Klaus has thousands of happy customers all  over the world who will attest to his business integrity.
As for the person who prefers the Sanders amplifiers...that is why there is competition. Buying an amp is a personal choice based on our audio biases and preferences. Thank goodness we have choices. Just because one prefers a Sanders Magtech does not invalidate the essential excellence of the design and build quality of a Kismet.

I think I had responded to you on audiocircle. I had a dreadful experience with Odyssey. I lost lots of money on the Tempest, Candela and Stratos amp. There was spurious noise issues and hum that was inherent in the equipment (documented on Odyssey forum from many users but not all) Over a period of many, many months, I could not get it fixed and Klaus refused to admit the problem. I have found the McCormack and Parasound gear to be much, much better and DEAD QUIET. Glad you have not had problems, but I would not own monoblocks from Odyssey.I just don't have the money to lose..... again.

Not a different direction, I auditioned the Magtech, finally,
loved it, can’t afford it.
trying to sell my sunfire 600 to fund the Magtech!

arctikdeth….
"Sanders Magtech, and never look back.
warranty best in business, clear, gobs of power, not too Heavy.
stable to 1 ohm or lower. Drive magnetic drivers, or transmission line if you ever switch.  It’s the do all of amps.

win, win!"

You had me looking at them, why the different direction?
 Report this

Read my post above, I had to redo it as some of it didn't post.

Will be going to audiocircle tonight to mention I’ll finally be getting a pair.  

Trying to get different perspective from different people.

 I’m in the process of finally getting a pair of Odyssey monos.
it has taken me 8-10 years to finally get a pair, and I’m nervous
im not used to spending this kind of money on audio.

 Im nervous, im buying time he best ic an get.
googled odyssey, read every thing I think I am read about them..
  I think I’ll be golden, but still nervous.

please understand.

@arctikdeth...………………………………………

I am confused. A couple of years ago/few years ago in The Audio Circle, you posted many questions about the Kismet amps in the Odyssey forum. You were also told by Klaus at Odyssey who hand builds these amps that the amp puts out between 180 and 200 watts per channel. There were quite a few conversations on all your Odyssey threads between the various members, myself included.

Now, a few years later, you are asking the same questions on an Audio Forum that most likely has very few Kismet owners. I ask why?   Let me recap what I told you about the Kismet amps:

I had a pair of Stratos Extreme mono blocks with the Kismet black boards,  The mono blocks used a 400 volt transformers.  I had my Stratos Extreme updated to Kismet status in 2016.  The Kismet is the same black board with an 800 volt transformer in each mono block.  The caps are all made by Symphonic Line and they are extremely expensive.  Most of the parts in my Stratos circuit boards were upgraded to much more expensive ones.  The Groneberg wiring was upgraded to Gronebergs best.  Every aspect of the amps were upgraded.
The sound is like the Stratos Extreme on steroids.  A much fuller sound, the notes are more fleshed out, the bass goes deeper midrange is quite neutral and the highs are clear without being bright.  The amps were dead silent and they were left on 24/7.  Regarding break in, cold out of the box they sounded nice but nothing special.  After the first day the sound started opening up and for the next month it was up and down until the sound settled in to what I described above.  In all I logged about 400 hours before I found the amps to sound their best.   Klaus states all of this in the owners manual.

Anyone know the output of these. I keep hearing 180-200W @8 ohm.
for monoblocks it seems low power, but they are known for having an amazingly high current delivery?

what is the difference from having a high current delivery, vs. a 200W @ 8 ohm.

stable to 1 ohm??. I have heard, too good to be true, or the real deal?

need facts about these amps, I’ve nary heard a bad word about the Odyssey amps!

what you say,,,,,,,