Odyssey Audio Kismet Mono Blocks

@soix 

That is always a great question isn't it.  I enjoy imaging and soundstaging overall I think.  Instrument separation and air/space always puts a smile on my face.  That's probably why I prefer tubes.  My Rogue tube amp/pre combo is the best at it in my room.  My room treatments really helped in this respect also. A smooth presentation a must for me as well.  Can't handle etched or overly detailed systems.  If I could afford some high powered tube amps I'd probably go that route.  

But, the 100 watt Rogue does run out of steam just a bit early with the Maggies. So, I'm thinking some ss monos with good power and a tube pre.  Plus, I've been in this game off and on for a long time but don't have a lot of experience with different configurations.  So, why not try mono amplification?  

As an aside from an earlier McCormack thread of yours, I put my DNA .5 in the system a couple of months back and it's still going strong.  Sounds great!  Fingers crossed!   

Got it, and thanks for adding more meat to the bone here — very helpful. I had two amps in my system that were outstanding in terms of imaging, image separation, and the ability to throw a large and transparent 3D soundstage. One was the Rogue Medusa that I don’t think is available in mono configuration, and the other was the Liberty Audio B2B-100 that most definitely is, and is much preferred by its maker, in monoblock form. I reviewed the stereo version several years back and it was so good it’s still stuck in my memory, which is why I’m bringing it up here. If you’re not familiar, Liberty Audio is the direct sales site for products designed by Peter Noerbaeck (of PBN fame) whose outstanding and formidable Olympia amps along with having designed the vaunted Sierra Denali amp attest to his amp design chops. Anyway, after my review of the B2B stereo amp Peter really wanted to send me the amp in mono form as he was adamant the amp scaled up significantly on many levels in this configuration, but although I was more than willing the powers that be at Soundstage! wouldn’t go for it. If Peter is right, and I’m sure he is as the amp was designed from the get go to be a mono amp, this amp in monoblock form should be something really special. Here’s the review FWIW, and if anything piques your interest I’d highly recommend giving Peter a call as he’s truly one of the truly good guys in audio much like Mark O’Brian at Rogue who I was also fortunate enough to converse with while reviewing the Medusa. Perhaps Peter might even be willing to work out a demo because I know he’s very proud and enthusiastic about this amp, and if so I highly recommend you take advantage of it if they’re in your budget.

https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/520-liberty-audio-b2b-100-stereo-amplifier#:~:text=The%20B2B%2D100%2C%20while%20not,amp%20by%20a%20good%20margin.

Here’s another review in Positive Feedack just FYI…

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue70/liberty_audio.htm

That said, I’m sure the Kismets are no slouches either, and if you’re getting a good deal on them used I could see them being hard to pass up. But, always good to have choices so just thought I’d throw another option your way. Best of luck, and if you could please keep us posted on what direction you ultimately go along with your thoughts and impressions it’d be much appreciated.

@soix 

Thanks for the info.  I will look into Liberty.

Kind of an old thread but will jump in here. In December I got a pair of Magneplanar 2.7Xs. The monoblock amps I had at the time just could not handle the Maggie load, and just about melted. I didn't have an unlimited budget so felt I had a choice between something big and used, or talk to Klaus, since I had a very positive experience with a Kismet stereo amp a few years previously. I didn't want a 10 or 20 year old design, and I felt that the current Class D maps, though they have come a long way weren't quite ready for high current duty. 

Contact Klaus, get set up with the latest Kismets with larger transformers and caps and all the goodies that Klaus could throw at it. I liked the 20 year warranty and I wanted something as up to date as possible. Klaus said it would sound "awesome!"

It's been a bit of a struggle with the Maggies. They needed some break in, the Kismets needed some break in, new cables were required, lots of positioning.

I recently picked up a pair of Ref KF92 subwoofers crossed over at 90 hz and everything opened up. Dimensionality, dynamics, and tonality are off the charts. 80% of the time they sound like fantastic speakers, and 20% of the time (depending upon the recordings) my head spins and I am thinking "WTF was that??!!"

I have all the volume I could want and no signs of any stress on the parts of the Kismets. There is more than enough current to properly drive the 2.7Xs and I would imagine any of the smaller Maggies. Klaus said "awesome!" and he was right.

I am still kicking myself for selling Klaus’s top of the line Kismets a couple of years ago. They absolutely destroyed a pair of AGD Tempos. I moved on to a Coda Csib but took me a long time to get the Coda to come within 90 percent of the Kismets. 
Klaus’s latest are his greatest!!