[JasonL]

I'm having a heck of a time breaking in the Mono Extremes.  I'm begining to think it's never going to break in.  

Right now, it sounds like someone turned the treble all the way up so it sounds bright and harsh.  I've left it on 24 hours a day for weeks and play music on it about 12 hours a day.  I just don't know what else to do?  I just don't know why I'm having a heck of a time with break-in.  It was also almost no bass when I first got it but it's just starting to put some bass out now.  It has me so frustrated with it's hard break-in.  Is this normal or has anyone else had such a horrible long break-in, or does it just stay this way?   I don't know what to think anymore.

Jason

[Musky_Don]

Hey Jason - I have a pr of the Mono Extremes and the standard Monos.  The sounds you describe are not 'normal'.  Is the "harsh" sound coming from both channels or just one?  Every now and then it seems one of Klaus's amps has a fuse knocked loose during shipping.  This may be the problem.  For future reference - regardless of what you think by reading on-line reviews - the break-in is long but it is not at all painful - it is kind of a sweet romance.  Have you called Klaus?  Don.

[audiojerry]

not sure what you were listening to before that the Odyssey's sound as bad as you describe, but that definitely is not characteristic. I have extensive experience with the Odyssey's, and while they may not be the most transparent, they certainly are not harsh, and the the bass and sense of effortless power was always there. Better discuss with Klaus.

[Eduardo AAVM]

It is maybe a blown/loose fuse...

But Do both amps sound like that ?

[W.C.]

How long have you had the amps?  What does the rest of your system consist of?

[amartincool]

I am break in actually my mono xtremes, is the 4th week.
Not problem, just alittle bit hard the first day, and now smoother and every three days more datails.

Bass never was a problem.

I do not what but I guess your amplifiers are not corrects.

thanks

[mgalusha]

As always, call Klaus. He's at the RMAF this weekend but I woulnd't be suprised if he takes time to help you out. The sound you are describing is almost certainly not a break in issue.

[speedcenter]

what's odd is that I suppose BOTH amps are doing the same thing, so it is unlikely that there is something wrong with the amps. Did you go through the test CD Klaus includes? It may let you check if there's any bass coming from both speakers and narrow down the issues with the treble. If you can isolate one amp being much worse than the other, you probably have a unit that needs to be looked at.

However, what's the rest of you system? What kind of amps are you upgrading from? Could it be that you are now suddenly hearing what was not audible on your old amps?  Just a hunch, because a lot of upgrades reveal problems in other areas of a system.

Peter

[Marbles]

Are they plugged directly into the wall, or are they plugged into a power conditioner/strip?

If into a strip, try directly into the wall.

[JasonL]

Hi, thanks for all the help!  I checked and all the fuses are good
and in place.  Both right and left sound the same.  I just came across
some reviews on www.audioreview.com and some people there said that
their Odyssey Stratos was bright and harsh at first before break-in
so I'm wondering if it's my speakers, the Sensitivity on them are 100db
so maybe it isn't giving the Stratos enough work out?  Tomorrow I am
going to try my brothers new speakers that are 87db sensitivity and
break the speakers in for him..... and maybe it will get the Stratos
to break-in?  The amp I used to use before this pretty much had all
the detail the Stratos is giving but more warmer sounding than the
Stratos is doing so far.  It's a McIntosh my brother let me use for
a few years now but he was ready for it back.

The system is:

Tempest pre amp
Stratos Mono Extreme pair
Rotel 1072 CD-Player
all with good quality IC and Speaker cables.

Yes, directly plugged into the wall.

I'm hoping I hear the magic soon that I hear about.  The Stratos don't
even get warm when playing at loud volumes so I think the 100db sensitivity
of the speakers might be pro-longing the break-in, so I'll give see what
happens with the other speakers and if that doesn't help it, I will call
Klaus when he gets back home and see what he says.

Thanks to every one!!!  I'll let you know what happens.   Jason.

[W.C.]

What  kind of good quality I/C's and speaker cable?  What brand of speakers are you running?

[djbnh]

IMHO, if you are past 175-200 hours of burn-in and the monos don't sound pretty much right, you need to talk with Klaus. FYI - the amps won't get overly warm regardless of how you're running them, it's part of the design.

[rosconey]

piss off any voodoo women  you might have a curse.


is the tempest new also? might be to many new pieces -none are broken in yet.

the tempest amd ex monos are a sweet match

wait till you hear the control they have with the 87db speakers

[klaus@odyssey]

Jason,

Don't exactly know how long you have had the amp, /  hours / but it simply takes a couple of months,  period.
However,  it's not normal what you're describing.  Call me,  317 299 5578,

Klaus

[JasonL]

I ran my brothers new speakers over the weekend and the combo goes great with the Odyssey Amp and speakers.  For some reason the Odyssey doesn't like my 10 year old speakers, they just don't go well together.  So it was the speakers making it sound so horrible.

Now I have to look into buying the same speakers my brother did since it sounds great with it.  I'm finally hearing the magic the Amp can do plus the bass is there now, tight, strong, and good thump.  It is sounding more warm than before too, not as warm as my other Amp I was using but I think I will have to get used to it since the other Amp leans more on the warmer side than the Odyssey's just ever so slightly.

Anyway, I'm just happy I finally got it figured out and that it's nothing wrong with the Odyssey Amps.   Thanks all for all the help!!!

Jason.