Odyssey Stratos Extreme Monoblocks . . .

[SolidSqual]

. . . I just pulled the trigger after an hour long phone call with Klaus. His Customer service is as impeccable as people say, but has to be experienced to be believed. I got all the new boards with upgraded wiring and all the other goodies he could throw at it!

January 26th is the delivery date. He's going to drop them off at my apartment himself! This is sick.

Sorry Mark, I know you don't like what I've done, but at least I'm not trading my Adagios for Tylers!

http://www.odysseyaudiosg.com/Graphics/stratos-title.jpg

[Sherardp]

Its a gorgeous piece of gear for sure. Congrats on your new toy. Whats the specs on that bad boy?

[dorokusai]

He's an absolute pleasure to talk with on the phone and he makes a good product....no shame in that.

[pearsall001]

Congrats!!! Many hours of musical bliss await!

[TroyD]

If you dig 'em...rock on.

BDT

[beardog03]

Good on ya...

enjoy !!

[SolidSqual]

Klaus likes to keep many of his modifications proprietary, but i do know I am getting upgraded wiring, his new boards that cam in last week, his new power supply which won't arrive until January 18th and some other board or something he attempted to explain to me. At any rate, Klaus strikes me as being incredibly honest and indicated the upgrade to Mono Extremes from my Modded Khartago would be like going from a Chevy Cavalier with Racing Stripes and Buzz Mufflers to a Dodge Viper that's no longer street legal. Whatever all that means the improvement is suposed to be exponential. With the mods I am supposed to have a 50% improvement over the previous Stratos Extreme Standard.

The base specs are as follows:

Model Stratos Mono
Extreme

Input: RCA & XLR
Power @ 8 ohm: 1 X 300W (Mono)
Output Class: Class A/AB
Frequency range: 2 - 500,000 Hz
Memory: 180,000 uF per channel
Current: >60 Amps per channel
Delivery
Distortion %: Not audible <0.04
Damping Factor: >800 Continuous
DC Offset: <1 mV
Weight: >66 lbs. each

Dimension (inches) 19 X 18 X 7

[treitz3]

SS, you are in for a treat. I have been impressed with two amps [Stratos extreme/no upgrades and the mono's w/upgrades] I have had the pleasure to audition that Klaus has built. Solid build for sure. I'll have one parked in my rig w/ upgrades very soon.

[SolidSqual]

I'm pumped. My whole system will be together in a month. I can't wait to update showroom for you guys to see all the good stuff you've helped put together.

[lightman1]

I heard Treys(VR3) a couple weeks ago on his Tylers. Damn nice! Looking at 'em myself as soon as I win the lottery!
Great snag, SS!

[Zero]

Heh, the least you know - the better. Enjoy the amps when they finally arrive...

[SolidSqual]

Heh, the least you know - the better. Enjoy the amps when they finally arrive...

What's that supposed to mean? I don't follow?

[treitz3]

nevermind.

[SolidSqual]

Hmmmmm . . . does Klaus have a problem with deadlines? Fortunately for me, he's a 5 minute drive away and I already own Trey's modded Khartago. If I have to wait, I have to wait.

[Zero]

Don't worry 'bout it. Just had to have my fun. Nothing to see here. :)

[treitz3]

Well, I have mine installed and operational. Not dialed in yet, but impressive. Makes the Tyler's rock like they never have. First impressions are good. Lots of power, lots of [quick] punch. When I get the rig all dialed in I will offer a review.

SS, as I said before, I think you are in for a treat. The spec's I have on the amps I have used prior to this amp [not mono block, the amp pictured above] "should" perform better. So far, not the case. The bass control "Q" is pretty damn impressive and I understand why Trey is considering not using his subs anymore.

Troy, I'm not confronting whatsoever, but I am curious as to why you made the comment "If you dig 'em...rock on". Am I reading you incorrectly? There's just a slight hint that you may not be, let's say impressed. Am I wrong? Just trying to feel where you are coming from......

[SolidSqual]

I just found out I'm getting the new blue boards as opposed to the previously new red boards . . . the blue boards appear to be much thicker. I hope Klaus knows what he's doing with the upgrade. I would have been fine with the red boards but he gave me blue for the same price.

[treitz3]

Good deal. I have the red. Silver faceplate. Heavy and big SOB. Be prepared for them to take up some depth in your stand. Add another three to four inches on to the back for hookups and PC upgrades. I had a new PC waiting for it for when it got here, but had to go w/ the stock because if I put the cord in [center, back], the front of the amp would hang off the edge of my previously large shelf. :eek:

[SolidSqual]

I got two 8' Signal Magic Power Cords waiting for when they arrive. I hope I don't run into any issues with placement. I have two VTI amp stands for each amp on either side of my speakers.

[SolidSqual]

Good deal. I have the red. Silver faceplate. Heavy and big SOB. Be prepared for them to take up some depth in your stand. Add another three to four inches on to the back for hookups and PC upgrades. I had a new PC waiting for it for when it got here, but had to go w/ the stock because if I put the cord in [center, back], the front of the amp would hang off the edge of my previously large shelf. :eek:

For my 840C, I took a metal coat hangar and fashioned it into a cradle to hold the weight of the cable so it wouldn't fall out of the slot. I don't think it would have fallen out, but at least this way there was no strain.

[hearingimpared]

I've heard a lot of good things about them, I would love to get my ears on them.

[treitz3]

If you don't get sick in March, you will.

[Early B.]

Well, I have mine installed and operational. Not dialed in yet, but impressive. Makes the Tyler's rock like they never have. First impressions are good. Lots of power, lots of [quick] punch. When I get the rig all dialed in I will offer a review.

Glad to hear that your first impressions are positive. I look forward to your full review.

[SolidSqual]

yeah in 400 hours plus!

[SolidSqual]

Would it be bad to leave my system on for 16.66666666667 days straight to break in the amps?

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

My amps have been on for approx...

MONTHS!

The mono extremes take FOREVER to fully charge, youd have to be a crazy man to turn those things off when done

[SolidSqual]

No no no. . . I'm not suggesting turning them, I am wondering if it would be ok to keep my entire system on for about 17 days to break the amps in.

[Early B.]

My amps have been on for approx...

MONTHS!

The mono extremes take FOREVER to fully charge, youd have to be a crazy man to turn those things off when done

Treitz --

Just in case you weren't aware of it, Sid's right. The Odyssey needs to be kept "on" all the time, and it takes a while before it sounds optimal. Since your amp has been dormant for the past few weeks, the sound may actually improve in a day or two.

[SolidSqual]

This should put us all on the same wavelength:



The following and it's related pages are intended as a general referance to the proper setup and operation of audio equipment. Every single audio and video system, Odyssey or other brands, benefit from these simple steps, some of which are actually free and very effective. A little attention and work can go a very long way as far as your system's performance is concerned

Even though most high-end audio equipment such as Odyssey products have been burned-in at the factory for a minimum of 48 hours, there is still considerable operational time needed for your unit to perform at its best. For enhanced sonic performance, we highly recommend you leave your unit on at all times until break-in is complete. The length of the break-in period is highly variable and dependent upon the specific product. There are specially-designed CDs, such as Reference Recording's Test and Burn-In CD (RX1000) or the Sheffield and Purist Audio Designs PAD burn-in CD's that contain special tracks that help with break-in. As a general rule, most equipment requires several hundred hours of playing to fully break-in. There are several factors that determine the extensive length of "break-in", such as charging of capacitors, establishing the electron flow on the PC board, cables, soldering joints, etc. External conditions, such as the power quality and stability of your power in your listening room, the kind of music you are listening to (more or less dynamics), and many more factors will contribute to the break-in process. It is important to note, that the more a given electronic unit has been played, the smaller the audible differences get.

Even though we generalize improvements across the board, the typical phases of break-in below are more valid for solid state equipment, such as the Odyssey..

Within the break-in process, we distinguish four distinct phases of performance:

First Period: After turning on your amplifier or preamplifier for the first time, the units will require a few minutes to stabilize. The sound will be rather harsh on the higher frequencies, and the dynamic range is rather restricted with a flat overall presentation. This sonic signature will always be apparent when you turn on "cold" components.

Second Period: This stage will be reached after approximately 1-2 hours of playing time and lasts about 3-4 days. This stage is all about the charging of the power supply, and during this time, the dynamics, soundstaging, focus, and transients will improve noticeably. Essentially, your unit will start "opening up and relaxing." However, please also note that the amplifiers do a "Jeckyl and Hyde" during this time to some degree. Meaning that one day you might not have any bass whatsoever while the next day you might have too much of it, for example. Overall, the presentation might be very unstabile.

Third Period: After approximately 10-14 days of playing and being charged, the upper midrange and highs will "smoothen out". The bass will improve in speed and articulation with less overhang. The result is more even and natural tone balance.

Fourth Period: After about 6 weeks + of operation when left on continuously, your unit should be very close to being fully broken in. The sound and performance has progressively improved and your unit will perform to it's full sonic potential.

Even after the initial break-in period, the internal components lose their charge each time the unit is turned off. The full re-charging can take hours (and sometimes days!). Therefore, the best sonic performance is achieved when the components are kept fully charged at all times. This essentially means leaving your equipment on at all times--if you are comfortable with that arrangement. If not, at least be aware that it will take some time for your unit to warm up and fully charge each time you power up. These charged-based performance issues are applicable to most electronic equipment, and are especially critical in high-end solid-state gear such as Odyssey amplifiers and preamplifiers.

To realize ultimate performance of your audio system, fine-tuned adjustments or "tweaking" should be considered. This can involve everything from simply setting up the equipment properly to using expensive system-enhancing products and acoustical room treatments. We will attempt to categorize by cost the various options and provide some basic advice on optimizing system performance.

In reviewing the following sections, it is important to understand that the suggested techniques and products are system-specific. Therefore, we strongly advise you to audition the products before purchasing them. Please feel free to call us and we will try to guide you through the veritable jungle of tweak and enhancement products. Even though for the last 14 years we have accumulated an extensive database of such tweak products with the emphasis of synergy with our products. We strongly recommend to purchase any tweaks only after an in-home trial with your own system.

http://www.odysseyaudio.com/setup_tweak.html

This info. usually comes with Odyssey owner's manuals as well.

[WilliamM2]

Even after the initial break-in period, the internal components lose their charge each time the unit is turned off. The full re-charging can take hours (and sometimes days!).

Is there something wrong with the capacitors he uses?

[SolidSqual]

From the way they sound, I would say no.

[treitz3]

Absolutely not.

[madmax]

Is there something wrong with the capacitors he uses?

Most designers put a resistor across each of the storage capacitors. These resistors are a very high resistance value so they take very little current while the unit is powered up and can be a low wattage part. What they do is drain the voltage off when the unit is powered down. As far as I know they are there for safety purposes only.
madmax

[WilliamM2]

Caps charge in milliseconds. In the case of an amp, they are constantly charging and dis-charging while playing music. So the idea that it can take hours (or even days) to fully charge is ridiculous.

I can't think of anything else in an amp that needs to "charge".

[SolidSqual]

I humbly disagree. Something charges up or breaks in after the unit has been on for a while. There is a distinct change. Klaus says its the capacitors charging. I don't really care what black magic he's finessed into these things, either way they sound amazing.

[treitz3]

Caps charge in milliseconds. In the case of an amp, they are constantly charging and dis-charging while playing music. So the idea that it can take hours (or even days) to fully charge is ridiculous.
Please allow me to say that this statement is ridiculous WilliamM2. I am experiencing sonic changes with each passing hour. Have you any experience with this amp?

Please keep comments to things you actually have experience with.

I've experienced this with the Rega CDP [over two weeks], certain amps [days to weeks] and many folks have experienced this with tubes, CDP's, amps, certain IC's and PC's. Though you may not hear it, we do. As I've said before, everybody can't be wrong.

[george daniel]

Please allow me to say that this statement is ridiculous WilliamM2. I am experiencing sonic changes with each passing hour. Have you any experience with this amp?

Please keep comments to things you actually have experience with.

I've experienced this with the Rega CDP [over two weeks], certain amps [days to weeks] and many folks have experienced this with tubes, CDP's, amps, certain IC's and PC's. Though you may not hear it, we do. As I've said before, everybody can't be wrong.

Bingo,, Klaus told me that they would sound like "shit" out of the box,and there are many threads on another forum that will attest to this.Case in point,my brother just bought a pair,,left em on,played them for 24/7.I went over to see him last night,,and I thought that he had something else in the mix,,nope just had a few hundred hours on the odysseys,,Klaus must know his amps pretty well,as he pretty much told my brother the same as me,,they do,in fact change for the better(sonically) after breaki\ in,for lack of a better term.YMMV. --george

[WilliamM2]

Calm down treitz,
I have experienced equipment that sounds better after warming up as well. Probably due to the fact that the values of some components will change with temperature.

I was specifically refering to his claim that caps can take hours, or even days to charge fully. It's bullshit, plain and simple. If it were true, every time the cap discharged, which they do constantly, it would be days before the sound returned to normal.

You guys all tend to think there is some kind of "magic" in electronics. There isn't.

[Zero]

I'm not gunna get into this; but caps CAN take many hours to discharge.

[WilliamM2]

I'm not gunna get into this; but caps CAN take many hours to discharge.

Actually, caps can hold a charge for months, or longer. But the question is, how long do they take to charge?

[Early B.]

Calm down treitz,
I have experienced equipment that sounds better after warming up as well. Probably due to the fact that the values of some components will change with temperature.

I was specifically refering to his claim that caps can take hours, or even days to charge fully. It's bullshit, plain and simple. If it were true, every time the cap discharged, which they do constantly, it would be days before the sound returned to normal.

You guys all tend to think there is some kind of "magic" in electronics. There isn't.

We don't need to get hung up on the terms, "charge" and "discharge," but what I hear folks saying is caps (and perhaps other parts of the amp) need time to break in and remain so. With the Odyssey, it appears to take longer than most other amps for reasons unknown.

I made the mistake of being too hasty when I bought a Stratos from George Daniel and didn't wait long enough for the amp to break in before making a judgment about its sound quality.

Patience is rewarded with this amp.

[george daniel]

We don't need to get hung up on the terms, "charge" and "discharge," but what I hear folks saying is caps (and perhaps other parts of the amp) need time to break in and remain so. With the Odyssey, it appears to take longer than most other amps for reasons unknown.

I made the mistake of being too hasty when I bought a Stratos from George Daniel and didn't wait long enough for the amp to break in before making a judgment about its sound quality.

Patience is rewarded with this amp.

So true.:)

[WilliamM2]

We don't need to get hung up on the terms, "charge" and "discharge," but what I hear folks saying is caps (and perhaps other parts of the amp) need time to break in and remain so. With the Odyssey, it appears to take longer than most other amps for reasons unknown.


I wasn't talking about break in. This is the original text I quoted:

Even after the initial break-in period, the internal components lose their charge each time the unit is turned off. The full re-charging can take hours (and sometimes days!).

After break in.

[treitz3]

Actually, caps can hold a charge for months, or longer. But the question is, how long do they take to charge?
Please make your own thread about this. Can you say "thread hi-jack?"

Here, I'll help you out. I have created your own thread for this discussion.....

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=770900#post770900

[treitz3]

. . . I just pulled the trigger after an hour long phone call with Klaus. His Customer service is as impeccable as people say, but has to be experienced to be believed. I got all the new boards with upgraded wiring and all the other goodies he could throw at it!

January 26th is the delivery date. He's going to drop them off at my apartment himself! This is sick.

Sorry Mark, I know you don't like what I've done, but at least I'm not trading my Adagios for Tylers!

http://www.odysseyaudiosg.com/Graphics/stratos-title.jpg
Back to the topic.........

[WilliamM2]

Please make your own thread about this. Can you say "thread hi-jack?"

Here, I'll help you out. I have created your own thread for this discussion.....

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=770900#post770900

Thread-jack? I pulled the quote from this very thread. You jacked the thread, apparently just because you have a problem with me. Grow up.

But enjoy your new thread. Do a little reading on caps while your at it. Learn how they work, and what they do.

[treitz3]

William, currently I am enjoying crap for sound. It was better yesterday. This is for real. I have no problem with you, however this is a thread about Odyssey amps, not caps and how they change the sound or how they charge.

Hence the "tread Hi-jack" comment.

Now, can we stay on topic?

[hoosier21]

you need a beer :)

[treitz3]

....drinking one as we speak. Thanks! :D

[madmax]

Please make your own thread about this. Can you say "thread hi-jack?"
[/url]


That is a little unfair. A question about caps was asked. WM2 posted a totally logical fact. He said nothing about break-in time. Lets all have a beer... :)
madmax

[ninerbj]

+1
Take a pill treitz3

[SolidSqual]

That is a little unfair. A question about caps was asked. WM2 posted a totally logical fact. He said nothing about break-in time. Lets all have a beer... :)
madmax

They're both grown adults. The argument was settled. Let's not go through the regular negotiations of picking sides and pointing fingers. I respect the opinions of both these guys as both are quite intelligent when it comes to audio.

Let's focus on the topic and try not to get another one of my threads closed. For some reason a number of my favorite threads that I started have been closed for one reason or the other.

Ok. . . Odyssey. I'm giving Klaus a call to find out what exactly gets charged up when the amps been unplugged for a while.

[Ricardo]

Ok. . . Odyssey. I'm giving Klaus a call to find out what exactly gets charged up when the amps been unplugged for a while.

Nothing gets charged when the amps are unplugged....;)

[madmax]

For some reason a number of my favorite threads that I started have been closed for one reason or the other.


You get extra points for that. ;)
madmax

[SolidSqual]

Yeah I have to say I enjoy the excitement and debate. I guess my gripe is more with the moderators. At any rate, no word from Klaus yet. My Khartago has been unplugged for 3 weeks now. I plan on plugging it in tomorrow after my preamp arrives and doing some testing to see how the sound changes as it recharges. The biggest change last time was the bass. It's so crazy I wish I could understand why.

[madmax]

I have yet to find any equipment that takes more than 3 days to sound consistant. I can understand that amount of time too. At some point all the internal temperatures remain fairly constant, at least so long as all the other conditions are the same. Other than that I am at a loss.

I have had times where the bass was very full and other times it was fairly weak. After replacing most of my gear over time it just seemed to not happen any more. Who knows...

Edit: One thing you could actually monitor is line voltage. Might be a worthwhile thing to keep an eye on, since you can.

[SolidSqual]

If I had something like a PS Audio Premier Power Plant, that would keep my voltage steady correct? Or would I require a direct power line?

[madmax]

Not sure if that one keeps it the same or not. It may be constant depending on where you live. If you have a volt meter you could just measure it whenever you hear something different.
madmax

[treitz3]

Do a little reading on caps while your at it. Learn how they work, and what they do.
Thanks for the links there William, but I'm quite sure that I'm well versed on caps as I have maintained and verified their effectiveness and capabilities both in the professional portrait photography studios you have probably had your pictures taken at and in the micrographics / storage data industry.

What they teach you in school and what you read is one thing. Reality is another. This is very measurable concerning performance and could yield a certain component -or- a 75' long, 3/4 of a million dollar machine inoperable because the end result does not meet the requirements.

Caps can be weird beasts and sometimes, believe it or not can have there own personality. Age, temperature, build, and usage [draining and recharging] all can have it's way with a particular cap....not all caps, but most certainly with the larger caps. Especially the ones that can kill you with one slip. This has and can be measurable when put under an actual load and not just the test bench.

That said, I tried to RE-rail this subject off of WilliamM2's statements of "bullshit" and "magic" [Trolling] so that we could talk about the thread subject, which is Odyssey amps.

My Odyssey is starting to sound sweeeeeeeet, much better than the first day and nothing like last night. Last night there was an over-ponderance of the upper lows and lower mids that was driving me crazy. The highest frequencies are starting to sound wonderful and it seems as if the entire spectrum is smoothing out. So, day 1= one sound. Day 2= another sound. Day 3, yet another sound. Hmmm, just like the Rega Apollo....just quicker on the Odyssey with sonic changes.

[SolidSqual]

My Odyssey is starting to sound sweeeeeeeet, much better than the first day and nothing like last night. Last night there was an over-ponderance of the upper lows and lower mids that was driving me crazy. The highest frequencies are starting to sound wonderful and it seems as if the entire spectrum is smoothing out. So, day 1= one sound. Day 2= another sound. Day 3, yet another sound. Hmmm, just like the Rega Apollo....just quicker on the Odyssey with sonic changes.

God, you have me so pumped. I get mine in a couple weeks. Have they been listenable despite not sounding great?

[treitz3]

Eh, certain songs and genre. Others get taken out quickly. Right now, KT Tunstall, "Eye to the Telescope" sounds schweeet.

[SolidSqual]

Klaus just gave me call. He's finished with my amps and wants to come over Saturday to help me set them up! He's two weeks ahead of schedule! HaHa to all you naysayers who thought he might be late.

[steveinaz]

Man, you're getting all kinds of new goodies!

[SolidSqual]

Just trying to bring my system up to par.

[Early B.]

treitz3 -- we've been waiting patiently for an extended review and pics of your Odyssey.

[treitz3]

Oh crap. I was searching for Ben's thread on his interconnects and ran across this. I don't have time tonight but I will offer a review this weekend. EDIT: That was obviously a lie. :D Preliminary one word review?

Impressive.

While I'm at it, I still can't find the thread you sold me the amp [via Ken]. I still need to leave feedback....positive, that is for everything I got.

[wingnut4772]

Oh crap. I was searching for Ben's thread on his interconnects and ran across this. I don't have time tonight but I will offer a review this weekend. Preliminary one word review?

Impressive.

I would prefer a review in Haiku when you have time please.

[treitz3]

How about sign language? I wouldn't be sure how to post it though. :D

[Early B.]

I would prefer a review in Haiku when you have time please.

Here's a special haiku for you:

Wingnut Audio
Her melody makes me weep
No gear required.


Here's another one:

Lend me your wings, nut
And let me soar in your sky
So wondrous the flight.

[treitz3]

You guys and gal's still want the review? Do you care?

[wingnut4772]

Sock it to us!

[treitz3]

Damn you are quick. Review tomorrow unless I grab another beer or twelve. :D

[wingnut4772]

Damn you are quick. Review tomorrow unless I grab another beer or twelve.

Tease.

[treitz3]

Tomorrow is in 23 minutes. It's been this long, I think you can wait. BTW Darla, it's great to see you back in the swing of things and our discussion last week has made a 180 degree turnaround. All is well in the house of treitz3. Thanks. You rock!

[wingnut4772]

So good to hear.:)

[dorokusai]

You guys and gal's still want the review? Do you care?

Nope.

[treitz3]

I figured you wouldn't for some odd reason.....:D

[treitz3]

OK, the first thing that needs to be understood is that this amp will sound like absolute shit when you power her down and turn it back on after it sits for some time. Why? Don't know, don't care. It does sound like ass until it's ready to rock. I have not had experience yet with a new unit and with that said, a new unit [not broken in properly] may differ with the time associated with this amp to be at optimal sound performance.

Now, once the unit is ready to rock, the sound is VERY impressive. Mo' better bass than many amps I have tried in all my years of swapping gear. "Tight" would be an understatement. Klaus does a great job with the sound, aesthetics, build quality and he does know his amplifiers well.

To the nitty gritty....when the amp is warmed up and ready to go which IME takes about 3 days in my rig, this amp delivers. The frequencies that it offers and the level that it delivers it in is simply outstanding. It adds a new dimension to the music. Tracks that I have listened to many a time with a variety of amps sound like I replaced the speakers and a couple of components as well. Things that were always in the recording that I never heard before bring a new listening enjoyment to the table. This amp brings it all to the table.

Over time I have discovered that some albums that I previously did not particularly want to listen to now seem to have a sound that I want to listen to. The bass region is the most noticeable of the areas of improvement. The slam with precision makes the drum beats sound accurate for reproduction. One of the most noticeable differences in the bass region is that it has enough reserve that when a guitar riff is going on, you can distinguish between that and the big drum at the drummer's feet AND the drum at the drummer's knee height all at the same time which improves the sound stage considerably.

The top end is definitely not like a tube amp, but doesn't have the shrill factor I have heard in many an SS amp. Mids are fluid and very, very nice to listen too with no listening fatigue presented after 8-10 hours of listening [with my speak's] at low or high volume levels. The amp seems to have a endless supply of power to give the listener what they want, regardless of the volume wanted. It's almost as if the amp laughs at you when you want to find out how much it can give you. The more you feed it, the more it coasts through transients and the more it laughs until you turn it up so much, your daggum ears just can't take it anymore.

Aesthetically pleasing to the eye, this amp is very plain on the front panel. All you see is a peice of aluminum that has been brushed with a "Stratos" label approx. 2" below the "Odyssey" cutout that [if you do cut it off] glows in the dark in the color of blue which is actually a pretty cool effect if you ask me, though I rarely see it.

One thing you must consider when getting this amp is that the weight and dimensions of the unit are something that you must consider when planning a system. The length of the unit IIRCC is 19", but you must factor in the PC upgrade if interested. This brings the total length necessary to close to 22" or more, depending on the flexibility of the PC. I don't know off the top of my head what the actual weight is anymore, but I do know that it is quite heavy. If you have a low quality stand, you might want to reconsider getting a stand that can handle this kind of weight. She's not light. That much I can tell you.

The heat sinks of this unit are on the sidewalls running the depth of the unit itself. From what I have noticed, the heat output of this unit are close to what a tube amp would be. Meaning that when the room temperature gets to be about 7-8 degrees hotter than the rest of the house, it's ready to rock. That may be a result of my entire rig, but that's just what I have noticed. YMMV.

Impressive build quality on the back of the amp as well. An IEC connector is provided for a PC upgrade and the SC posts are rather impressive themselves. It reaks of quality. The power switch is located on the back so if you do want to turn it off [not recommended], you can.

That's it for now, more later.

[treitz3]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=733558&postcount=61

Here are the pic's of the actual amp I got from one of EarlyB's buddies. Thanks again EarlyB!

[wingnut4772]

Thanks for the review. I don't know if I would want to plan my music listening 3 days ahead of time though.

[Early B.]

I don't know if I would want to plan my music listening 3 days ahead of time though.

No need to. The amp is designed to always remain "on." That's why Klaus placed the power button on the rear.

[george daniel]

IIRC the binding posts are WBT's and the last time I looked they were $90.00/pr,,I leave mine on 24/7,,plugged into huge APC's.There are some interesting threads at another forum regarding Odyssey amps,burn in,warmup,etc,,and Klaus will tell you that "they sound like crap" outta' the box. I think the general consensus is about 240 hours of burn in.And no,, I'm not trying to start another capacitor burn in debacle,,for Odyssey amps,,you have to decide for yourself.:cool:

[wingnut4772]

No need to. The amp is designed to always remain "on." That's why Klaus placed the power button on the rear.

Ahhhh. Ok. I thought tube amps had to be shut off. In that case, it sounds like a good deal.

[Early B.]

Ahhhh. Ok. I thought tube amps had to be shut off.

It's a SS amp.

[wingnut4772]

It's a SS amp.

Oh well. I am just batting 1000 today. I am pulling the blonde card. I will just leave now.:o *backs out of room slowly*

[engtaz]

Nice review. That sure is a long warm up. Sound like what you have to do to speakers to break them in. LOL

engtaz

[treitz3]

The most noticeable quality that this amp has to offer is the ability to control the woofers. The speed in which it delivers and the punch it throws at you is refreshing. There have been many an occasion that I have ducked thinking that something just came through the wall. It's ability to separate the instruments while many instruments are going off at the same time is something that brings a new level of sound to the table because it's able to reproduce all of the sounds with the same "umpff" as if there were no other sounds that it had to amplify. For such a low rated power amp, it seems to never run out of steam and it can deliver whatever, whenever it's called for.

The thing with this amp, is I have a new hatred for lightning. Last year Mother Nature sent me a message via a lightning bolt and wiped out some components within the rig at the time. Now, whenever a lightning storm comes my way I'll be sitting at the 'puter constantly checking up on lightning strikes and whether or not I need to turn off the rig. I minimize turning it off as much as possible.

I don't know whether or not the general public would notice the sonic change over the three day warm up, but it drives me Nuckin' Futz!

[Face]

If lightning strikes while your gear is off, it can still cause damage. Unplug it if you have a nasty storm on the way.

Thanks for the review.

[treitz3]

Oh, sorry. That's how I turn it off. The two cords that power the rig are unplugged and moved as far away from the outlet as possible.

[Early B.]

Treitz -- just leave it the amp plugged in and don't worry about the lightening. Besides, lightening never strikes twice :). Seriously, I believe you when you talk about the three day warm-up and unplugging the amp periodically would drive me insane, too. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, so don't.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

The mono extremes make my speakers sweat...

They even make speakers sweat in my TV, and they arnt even on.

The beasts run hot and boy do they have power!

Im glad you like em Tom -- wait till you get some Mono Extremes, get 24 capacitors and 4 power supplies. Your room will be 45 degrees hotter

I purchased a second fan for my room this summer with the Monos in there --

Ceiling fan and two fans... still to hot for comfort at times

[treitz3]

Well bub, I made an order yesterday for some new toys from Klaus. I won't disclose as to what because I told the fellas over at the CF that it would be a surprise for our get-together in Sept. but if you are curious, just give me a jingle.

By then, I will have had everything ordered completely broken in and will offer another review of the new gear. I'm stoked!