Odyssey Audio Kismet Mono Blocks

Thanks for the replies.  Wow if the Odysseys are a little smoother up top that would be something!  One of the best attributes about the Hegel, IMO, is the smooth presentation.  I would have to sell the Hegel to purchase the Kismets.  Something I've considered doing for a while now but just can't get myself to list it!  

Thanks again.

You may want to look into the Van Alstine monoblocks.

one other thing i would add is that the odyssey amps have pretty high input sensitivity, and they run best via the rca inputs -- sometimes people have trouble with gain matching depending on what they use to feed the odyssey amps in terms of preamp or dac (if direct feed)

FWIW, I had an Odyssey Stratos HT3 3 channel for about 12 years when it required service.  Klaus was surprised I went 12 years with no issues.  While it was in for repairs, I upgraded to full Kismet internals. The first time it was shipped back, FedEx (or UPS) destroyed it, requiring another trip back to Klaus.  This time he send it back air freight, requiring me to pick it up at Newark airport.  It sound pretty good for about 5 months, then failed again.  My back and I discussed it, and we decided to cut our losses.  I purchased an Arion S500 amp, 500 watts x 2, weighing just 22 pounds.  It sounds great, and has been 100% reliable over the last four years.  The biggest surprise was the elimination of a peak around 7kHz that I thought was my speakers or my room.  It was actually the Odyssey amp.  I have only heard Hegel at shows, but between the two, I would go with Hegel.  But I would check out Arion, they make great amps, including monoblocks and tube hybrids.

Phil,

No,  I wasn't surprised at the 12 years...Heck,  we still have several hundred amps running perfectly that were made the last century !!!!!  And we did Newark because of the UPS problems...and as far as my memory and our emails serve me,  the buzz did continue,  albeit at the center channel...even with new boards,  etc.  I cannot recreate any problems in someones system,  I can only do my best trying to rectify it on my side.  That doesn't mean that our amps didn't act up at all...heck,  7500 + amps out there,  shiiit happens.  However,  when you're running it for 12 years +  without a problem,  then a problem arises and you can't get the same level back then maybe there's another underlying issue......

However,  I did try to solve it...again and again .....sorry that it didn't work out,  even though you were singing the highest praise for the Kismets performance...

As for the input sensitivity,  it's 22k,  and tube or passive pres are just fine with it........