Odyssey Audio Khartago vs Emotiva XPA-2?

[Padeiro]

I currently have the Khartago in my 2 ch. setup but was wondering if anyone has been able to compare these 2 amps and what their opinions are? I am driving a pair of Meadowlark Audio Kestrel 2.

[Lord Vader]

nnnnnnNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[dkg999]

Hang on! I need to go get more popcorn and a comfy chair.

[nooshinjohn]

Odessey specs...


2 x 110 Watts RMS @ 8 Ohms
2 Ohm load stable
Class A/AB
2 - 400,000 Hz frequency range
60,000µF memory
40 amps current delivery
<0.04% THD (not audible)
>500 continuous damping factor
Input impedance 22K ohms
DC offset <1 mV
RCA inputs
400 VA Plitron transformer
Sanken Epitaxial Planar Transistors 2SA1216 & 2SC2922
Anti vibration dual thickness PCB
Power consumption when idle ±30Watts
4 internal fuses 250V/6.3A, 5x20mm, fast blow
Additional electrical protection fuse

Emotiva specs

•Number of channels: 2
•Amplifier Class: Short signal path A/B
•Output design: Triple Darlington with Toshiba output stages
•Differential Drive: Dual Differential input
•Types of inputs: Both Balanced (XLR) and Un-balanced (RCA)
•Type of outputs: Audiophile quality 5 way binding post
•Power output: 250 watts RMS/ channel into 8 ohms, 500 watts RMS/ channel into 4 ohms and 1000 watts RMS bridged.
•THD+N at rated power output: 0.007%
•S/N ratio: >100db
•Frequency response: 10 to 120Khz (-3db) and 20 to 20 (with less than .15db deviation)
•Gain structure: 32db
•Transformer size: 1600va mounted in a super structure
•Secondary capacitance: 120,000uF
•Weight: Approximately 75 pounds

I will refrain from making any additional comments. I thought perhaps offering specs would perhaps help lead to a better discussion.

[coolsax]

no need for a board war.. just state your preference :) i don't have one as I haven't heard either amp.

[Cpyder]

I currently have the Khartago in my 2 ch. setup but was wondering if anyone has been able to compare these 2 amps and what their opinions are? I am driving a pair of Meadowlark Audio Kestrel 2.

I hope you get some honest reviews. Sadly however, I don't think you will here. Most people here are extremely biased against Emotiva. It'd be better to take this to another forum if you're a member anywhere else. Sorry! I'd offer a hand but I haven't heard the XPA-2.

(You'll notice that I have been honest but this message will be quoted and I will be attacked for trying to help you. Just wait.)

[Hilbert]

I did a quick search for specs on the speakers and found a lot of rave reveiws but no numbers. Might be useful to know how efficient they are, given the disparity in output between the two amps.

[concealer404]

I'd prefer the Odyssey.

I've heard the Emotiva. I haven't heard the Odyssey.

[heiney9]

Odyssey by a wide margin. Very nice speaks. What will you be running for a preamp? Klause is excellent to work with and you can upgrade later if you want, either by having him rework the guts or buying a new model and he will give you a very generous credit for you previous unit if you decide to upgrade.

IIRC, you get a 20 year warranty and the man himself build and works on your stuff.

H9

[SolidSqual]

I've owned both. The Odyssey is a much more laid back amp with an overall more natural and musical sound. The XPA-2 is a balls to the walls killer. The bass is deep and powerful and made rock music sound visceral and exciting. I love it for rock. But, sometimes with other genres I felt the XPA-2 added too much of its own sound to make the music enjoyable. For example, the extra bass definition should not make artists like Keb Mo sound like they got a bass synthesizer in the background slammin' hip hop beats. The XPA-2 sounds a little more detailed than the Odyssey, but sometimes that translates to being too forward. You'll have to decide whether you want in your face here's the fuckin' tunes son al la the XPA-2 or chill out, grab a beer, it's been a tough bay hasn't bub, "let me get into your mind nice and slow?" (Khartago).

Now, I know it may seem like I'm bashing the XPA-2 quite a bit, but in the end if I had a choice, I'd choose the XPA-2 in a heart beat. The extra power and dynamics is amazing for both movies and music. It may not make every tune sound as it should like the Odyssey, but it makes most music a freakin party and more fun than ever to listen to . . . despite being far from neutral.

[heiney9]

I hope you get some honest reviews. Sadly however, I don't think you will here. Most people here are extremely biased against Emotiva. It'd be better to take this to another forum if you're a member anywhere else. Sorry! I'd offer a hand but I haven't heard the XPA-2.

(You'll notice that I have been honest but this message will be quoted and I will be attacked for trying to help you. Just wait.)

The reason you percieve a bias is because in many of the threads whatever the OP asks about usually puts the Emo at the bottom. IMO, strictly IMO, for the speaks he has (which is all we know so far, so I am making an assumption) I am assuming he is trying to build a mid/high end 2ch system. It's not even a contest comparing Odyssey to Emo...........Odyssey hands down.

Now for HT applications or a more entry level set-up with a lower budget and someone wanting to get into seperate amplification on the cheaper $$$ end then Emo might fit the bill.

I'm sure you and all your minions will take the above post and twist it around and say I'm bashing Emo, yadda, yadda, yadda. Well I'm not. I'm laying out an intelligent POV and rational, even though you may not be capable of an intelligent POV; please try.

H9

[SolidSqual]

Heiney9 has it right. If a strict neutral audiophile 2 channel system is what you are looking for, then go Odyssey. If you want something a little more wild then go with the Emo. I would recommend trying both, but be careful. Odyssey gear has a long breakin before you can get a showing of the amps real sound, so buying used is a major plus here. With respect to Emo, for some including me when I was more into a very neutral and revealing 2 channel rig, the Emo sounded excellent out of the box (because it was so different and dynamic), but after a while I realized the Emo was altering the music too much and not giving me exactly what I expected to be on the disc.

[heiney9]

I've owned both. The Odyssey is a much more laid back amp with an overall more natural and musical sound. The XPA-2 is a balls to the walls killer. The bass is deep and powerful and made rock music sound visceral and exciting. I love it for rock. But, sometimes with other genres I felt the XPA-2 added too much of its own sound to make the music enjoyable. For example, the extra bass definition should not make artists like Keb Mo sound like they got a bass synthesizer in the background slammin' hip hop beats. The XPA-2 sounds a little more detailed than the Odyssey, but sometimes that translates to being too forward. You'll have to decide whether you want in your face here's the fuckin' tunes son al la the XPA-2 or chill out, grab a beer, it's been a tough bay hasn't bub, "let me get into your mind nice and slow?" (Khartago).

Now, I know it may seem like I'm bashing the XPA-2 quite a bit, but in the end if I had a choice, I'd choose the XPA-2 in a heart beat. The extra power and dynamics is amazing for both movies and music. It may not make every tune sound as it should like the Odyssey, but it makes most music a freakin party and more fun than ever to listen to . . . despite being far from neutral.

Well there you go.

I prefer neutral and natural over bloated and in your face, hence why I figured the Odyssey to be MY choice, IMO.

H9

[reeltrouble1]

The Khartago received a qutie favorable review in TAS wherein it was compared to some Solution amplifiers in a demo rig. The reviewer reported the Khartago as a best buy in audio and TAS again recognized Odyssey as one of the budget components of the year.

Two different amp designs between these two you mention as the Khartago is initially biased into class A, generally held to be better sounding than A/B.

The current rating on the Khartago is good.

of course the Mantra at CP has been that you cannot hear specs. are you unhappy with something in your system? changing for the sake of change?

RT1