Hey Ernest, no offense taken. I know that you're a digital guy through and through, and as far as the Ear is concerned, and "crushing" everything else, well, I'm reminded of last years Marblefest, where about 1/2 ( 5 out of 10-12 ???) preferred a 5 days old !!! Dual Mono over the Ear 2 at much less than half the cost. No matter what, the EAR is still digital, but having said that, it's the best digital I've ever heard. Still digital, but the best. Makes me wonder, because the digital amps are so absolutely dirtcheap to produce, maybe I should get into that market too, as there seems to be as much a die-hard following here as there is with tubes. Speaking of which, in my opinion, and my taste and experience, if I want to get even more "magic" than in the Odyssey, I'd go with the higher Sl gear or with the right speakers and system, probably SET. That's where I'd put the word "magic", but that's me.
Anyway, I really don't want to get into the EAR and Peter thing here on my forum, and I wish that you would take that somewhere else, as I'm proud of the fact that we keep this Odyssey forum clean. And that also means decency, and thus the absence of Peter's well documented ramblings. Of course, over the past years I've dealt with realatively few "customers from hell" or real a..holes, only about 5-6, fortunatley, but I'm crious as to whether or not I'll be hearing from one hear.(no, not you Ernest, of course not. We're cool)
Anyway, as to the PS Audio, well, listen to yourself if you'll have a chance. As with any component, always look at the three major issues at hand, 1. room interaction with the system as such, 2. synergy, synergy, synergy. There's no silver bullet or magic wand that makes any component universally perfect in each and every system. As always, synergy rules !!!, and 3. Personal taste. Try to get into the middle of a p...ing contest of tubes vs. digital guys. Done that, been there, not interested in doing it again. Man, some people need a life.
Anyway, with the personal taste it's obviously the subjective importance on certain musical areas that you can brand as "magical". Sound staging ?? Smoothness and natural top end ??? Bass foundation ?? Clarity and detail ??? Overwhelming musical texture in the midrange ??? What's the importance to you??? What's the music ?? Rock, metal, blues, classical, single acoustical ??? All this makes a huge difference.
Ever heard the imposing Infinity references or Genesis ref., all 4 tower pieces ??? Unbelievable big orchestral definition. Unbelievable with a wide variety of amps. First heard a pair of Infinity 4's (or 5's ??) at TAS's Harry Pearson's house with a couple of different amps, Krell and Rowland's. Same with the big Genesis towers. Unfreaking real orchestral and weight. BUT, try to play Rock or metal, and a $ 300. Cerwin Vega will be more satisfying. What a dog.
To get back to the issue with PS, try it and decide for yourself. I'll definitely encourage it if I think that your system is a good match with the Stratos amps. If not, then what's the point? Last month I have heard the Stratos DM and the PS side by side one time here in Indiana, with 2 speakers, Maggie 1.6's and SF Extremas. Nice combination (and another 3 different, VERY interesting amps about which I won't get into here). Anyway, important also to note that the DM was a past mid 2002 model, when we did serious changes to the amps. (Ernest's Stratos that he listened to, which belongs to Ron G. is a bit older model). Nevermind my own impression and taste. Of course I'm partial, duh !!! BUT nevertheless, it still sounded digital, which, again, in some systems and for some tastes can be the x-factor.
In the past year or so I know of about half a dozen + people who've tried teh 2 side by side. How do I know, well, for one, I received 2 amps back because these 2 guys liked the PS better. However, I also know of at least 4 people who discussed the compo with me and who preferred the Stratos x2, 1 x DM, and 1 x monos, I think.
Trying to be as objective as I can, and also feeding from the feedback of these customers, the basicdifferences are that the digital amp simply is cleaner and has more detail and clarity. However, the Stratos in turn has better sound staging speaker disappearence and better bass foundation. I also think that the cable matching becomes increasingly important with digital amps. You can probably much more dial in a better or sh...tier overall tonality with digital amps than with other designs. But like I said, if you like them, and you have the right components, then by all means it should be killer.
Just my thoughts, and like I said, please don't get into s spin contest with the EAR amps on our forum here. Thanks.
On the other hand, hmmmm, an ICE powered digital Odyssey amp for a fraction of that of the over priced units ??? Food for thought.
Late,
Klaus