[Haoleb]

Havent gotten it yet. But Just sent payment for the used tempest thats up on Agon right now. 4 years old, Black, has remote and extra outputs. Cant wait to see how she compares to my highly modified Bottlehead Foreplay 2. Here's hoping I wont encounter any of the problems that seem to have plagued some early Tempests 

[St_PatGuy]

Wow, great deal on the Tempest!  Let us know what you think of it, Brandon.

[Haoleb]

Got the tempest yesterday so since I havent found many pics of the insides of these online i decided to take the cover off before i hooked it up and in the process i set the preamp on its face and sortof well... broke the selector switch  Well actually first it was the tape monitor switch that i broke then i fixed that (it just poped apart when you apply force to the shaft and a ball bearing came out) so while trying to get the cover back on i broke the selector switch. And one of the wipers that i need for it  . But I was still able to break off the broken wiper and get it back together enough to hear it make some music, for about 30 seconds then i went to bed because it was nearly 1am.

Looks like its time to call Klaus and admit my stupidity 

There is one thing I can tell you though and that is that it is built like some kind of bomb shelter. Everything is all thick metal and machined and professionally put together. Not "shoddy" like some of those reviews have said in the past. I did have to tighten the power switch back down but. eh. so what?

[Eduardo AAVM]

I feel kind of guilty, my web site and a forum have many images of Tempest and other Odyssey products and also Groneberg, maybe I should let more people know about my sites, the images at the bottom may have saved you many problems.

The thing with beautiful sounding Tempest is that judged by the size of it's knobs people may think they are super panzer-like ones, but power swtich is fragil and sensitive.

You will like Tempest, I love Tempest and keep in mind that altough I have had three differente versions I have kept with a Tempest for 7 years now, currently I own the very top of line with (now standard) Symphonic Line board but also the extraordinary Mu Metal transformer.

Delight yourselves:

Odyssey Audio, preamplificador Tempest SLB (Symphonic Line board) con transformador especial Mu Metal.

[Haoleb]

I had seen those pics just a couple of days ago, The one I got isint the extreme and it was built in 03 so of course curiosity got the better of me.

Its ok though, Im not going to bother waiting for a replacement switch board, I have already got some switches at rat shack that will work perfectly. Since its only switching power for the relays sound quality wont be compromised and I think that it will actually be better in the long run. Plus I get to know my new toy inside and out Im going to take a bunch of pics too and will post up but it basically looks like yours minus the transformer and symphonic line caps.

[TjMV3]

Never rest a component on it's face plate,  if it has switches/knobs.

I guess I'm a wee-bit late with this advice, eh?

[Haoleb]

Well, You would think its pretty obvious advice but the massive solid look of the knobs gives it the looks that you could use it as a jack stand.

Problem solved though. I just couldnt wait for new parts to arrive. Had to have it working NOW!  Only disadvantage is that you have 6 selections per knob vs the stock ones which are set to only allows whats needed. Other than that its working perfectly. Was a good opportunity to take the face apart and clean everything and make it shine like brand new again 

Not as pretty as stock Klaus but I didnt botch her! I promise! 

[Haoleb]

well after Ive had a chance to sit down and really give it a listen and finally have it all hooked up i am a bit dissapointed 

Have a slight humm through it which can be heard when I put  my ear next to the drivers but not farther away. And when using phono it has a really loud hum on MM and less loud humm and buzz on MC. Also a pop through the speakers when switching between MM and MC but not MC to MM. The switch pop I can live with since i wouldnt be switching it anyway and my other preamp does the same thing. Tried Shorting plugs on the phono inputs and didnt really help any.

When I first turn it on the relay seems to hesitate for a bit before clicking on which may be part of the soft start circuitry? I turned the preamp off and then maybe 10 seconds later switched it back on and it sent such a loud pop through the speakers it triggered the khartago's relays to kick off. It doesnt seem to do that when i turn it on from being turned off for a bit though which is good otherwise it would already be back on agon.

When I look past the issues i am having though it really does seem to be a keeper. I only had enough time to sit down for a few tracks but I was really drawn into the music and it seems much more intimate than my bottlehead.

Verdict so far? The jury is still out on that one. Gonna have to give Klaus a call about that phono stage after christmas though.

[Eduardo AAVM]

Hi, what you describe are mainly "operational" issues, but focus on sound and it is great Isn't it ?

The hum, check for many causes, even RF antena in the same surge protector strip, some buzz was a situation with some units, but yours hum and doesn't buzz; the phono click is normal with this unit.

[mjosef]

I have that same hum on my MM phono inputs..50% less on the MCs...fwiw, when I contacted Klaus I (the second owner)was informed there is no guaranteed fix, changing out the boards was not a 100% sure thing..plus it would cost 'something' for that route, regardless of the 20yr warranty. Other than that the Tempest is a pretty good pre, nice dynamics and very quiet on all the regular inputs. Just get an outboard phono pre let the sleeping dogs lie. 

[Haoleb]

I have that same hum on my MM phono inputs..50% less on the MCs...fwiw, when I contacted Klaus I (the second owner)was informed there is no guaranteed fix, changing out the boards was not a 100% sure thing..plus it would cost 'something' for that route, regardless of the 20yr warranty. Other than that the Tempest is a pretty good pre, nice dynamics and very quiet on all the regular inputs. Just get an outboard phono pre let the sleeping dogs lie. 

Not sure if its the same loudness as what you had because it makes the phono section completely useless. I think the very slight humm i am getting through the other inputs is probably caused by the loud humm in the phono section. I noticed that the ac for the power switch is routed different in mine than on the extreme pics posted above as well maybe it would help to move it further away from the phono section even though i would imagine its a sheilded cable. So far ive tried different outlets and nothing plugged in and it still hums on phono quite badly.

[mjosef]

Not sure if its the same loudness as what you had because it makes the phono section completely useless

Exactly my situation...my MM phono inputs are useless, the hum is unbearable with the volume knob at the 8clock position and increases as the volume is upped, and this is with nothing plugged in there. The MC inputs has less hum/noise, I have more leeway on the volume...11 o'clock is where it gets too much. Since I have not been playing too much vinyl lately, the outboard solution was my best affordable option.
However, my other regular line inputs are fine...so I simply got myself an outboard phono unit and that has worked for me. SO if you are getting noise(hum etc) on your other line inputs, then you are in a different boat with regard to those.
Don't worry after a while the "shock and disgust" feeling about the phono inputs will pass...and you will be focusing on the music once again. 
YMMV... as always. 

[pfradale]

FWIW I too have "the Tempest hum". I don't listen to vinyl so the phono hum, which is extremely loud, is not an issue, but I get a hum from all the other inputs as well. I contacted Klaus and, typical generosity from him, he very kindly sent me the "extreme" power supply in an effort to kill the damn hum, but that did not work. Since it is not noticeable while playing (well, between songs it can be heard) I chose to live with it rather than send it all the way from Japan to the US in hopes that the hum would a) be reproduced in the shop and b) be fixable. I tried running the components from different power circuits to remove any ground loops but no dice. I leave the Tempest off when not running it to keep the hum from running all day long. Interestingly, my extreme monos also have a very slight buzz to them, even when nothing else is on. My speakers are very sensitive (the horns are greater than 100dB/W/m, the mid-bases are nearly so) and that might have something to do with it; the electrical circuits in Japanese houses SUCK and I suspect that has even more to do with it, but there you go.

Still love my system, and still get goose bumps on a regular basis!

[djbnh]

FWIW I too have "the Tempest hum". I don't listen to vinyl so the phono hum, which is extremely loud, is not an issue, but I get a hum from all the other inputs as well. I contacted Klaus and, typical generosity from him, he very kindly sent me the "extreme" power supply in an effort to kill the damn hum, but that did not work. Since it is not noticeable while playing (well, between songs it can be heard) I chose to live with it rather than send it all the way from Japan to the US in hopes that the hum would a) be reproduced in the shop and b) be fixable. I tried running the components from different power circuits to remove any ground loops but no dice. I leave the Tempest off when not running it to keep the hum from running all day long. Interestingly, my extreme monos also have a very slight buzz to them, even when nothing else is on. My speakers are very sensitive (the horns are greater than 100dB/W/m, the mid-bases are nearly so) and that might have something to do with it; the electrical circuits in Japanese houses SUCK and I suspect that has even more to do with it, but there you go.

Still love my system, and still get goose bumps on a regular basis!

Tempest owner here. I use the MC outputs with a very low output cartridge (Denon DL103R), and I'm not getting the hum issues reported by other users. Curious topic, makes me wonder if my dedicated lines (I keep my Extreme Monos on one circuit, preamp and TT on another, and CDP on a third) has anything to do with my outcome v.  what others reported. Before I went to dedicated lines, I used a MM cartridge and didn't have any hum issues either. As I earlier stated, curious topic.

[mjosef]

20A. dedicated line here for my audio.
I have/or have had several other preamps through my system, never had a 'hum' problem with any of those other unit.
The fellow ACer I bought my Tempest from said he never played vinyl, so he was not aware of the hum  Dunno about 'other' people, but with every preamp I ever owned through the decades, I always click through all the inputs just because...maybe I am weird like that.
Like the sticky "Tempest changes" says...10% (?) of units might experience 'problems'...hence the changes I would imagine.
Old new yes...but it will keep resurfacing as people buy these used units from sellers whom are not exactly forthcoming about the phono 'hum' problem upfront.

Greetings to one and all. 

[Haoleb]

Ive got a 20a dedicated line as well. I have been able to get rid of the slight humm in the rest of the inputs by leaving the phono section on MC since it doesnt humm nearly as loudly. As it seems that residual hum was indeed coming from the phono section. When I give Klaus a call I may ask what I need to remove or disconnect to unplug the phono completely which would at least leave me with a dead quiet preamp. well 3/4 of a preamp i suppose. 

 I have emailed the seller asking if he ever noticed the humm. He had mentioned previously that he didnt use the phono section and seems like a very honest person so Im sure if he had noticed it in his system he would have said something. I am the third owner of this tempest so i am wondering if its the first time this problem has appeared in this unit.

[pfradale]

I have been able to get rid of the slight humm in the rest of the inputs by leaving the phono section on MC since it doesnt humm nearly as loudly.

You are a beautiful person--I'd never thought to try that, just did, and it cut the hum substantially. Cheers! 

When I give Klaus a call I may ask what I need to remove or disconnect to unplug the phono completely which would at least leave me with a dead quiet preamp.

Please let me know what he says; I am quite interested. Slightly off-topic, but have any of you folks replaced the volume pot with a stepped attenuator? Again, the speakers are "to blame" but I never go beyond the 8 O'clock position since it is loud enough to disturb the neighboring houses. I was thinking to change the values to get into a more usable range and further from the noise floor, and if I was going to do that, why not go stepped attenuator...

[Haoleb]

I have been able to get rid of the slight humm in the rest of the inputs by leaving the phono section on MC since it doesnt humm nearly as loudly.

You are a beautiful person--I'd never thought to try that, just did, and it cut the hum substantially. Cheers! 

Glad I could help!

Here's some more pics I thought id share. The last two owners really took good care of this little beauty as shes in nearly perfect condition Ive gotten over the phono stage problems for the time being. Gave klaus a ring today but no answer and voice mail was full (imagine that!)    And you know, those huge knobs really turned me off on the looks of this thing before but i think they are starting to grow on me. 

[pfradale]

I know what you mean about the mondo knobs... I once asked Klaus about putting the power on the rear plate as a switch like the Stratos, putting either a pot, or better yet, a stepped attenuator in the place of the current power knob and replacing the other pot with a matching s/a, and using small knobs like the other selectors to create a custom l/r controlled Tempest but he laughed and flat-out refused.    Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained! 

[Haoleb]

Well a little update, I spent most of the day doing different things trying to find what is causing the phono stage issues. I spoke with Klaus earlier this week and he suggested some more grounding. I am not sure what he has found worked best but Klaus said it was only a 50% chance of fixing it.

So far this is what I have found out... It is definetly something to do with my AC. The big question is what is different about my AC from everyone elses where this preamp works fine. After trying all kinds of different grounding, shields, and so on I found that only when I plugged the preamp into one of those battery backup units did the problem really start getting better. Instead of the loud humm I was getting more of the static type noise through MC and MM. Then as soon as it switched off battery power and back to the AC the humm came back. I turned everything off in our entire house except a single dedicated line that the preamp was plugged into and it was no better. We also have our own transformer from the power company to feed the house. I get a steady 120-121v  the majority of the time so its not overly high or anything. My power has been 60.00 or within a tenth of a hz every time I have measured it. The house is brand new and the electrical is all wired up correctly so its really quite confusing.

I also found out that Grounding the board to the chassis helped a little bit. Although I havent done that permanently yet as I assume there is a reason it was not done. Also tried a sortof cheater plug (ripped off the ground pin on an IEC cord) and also, no difference. Except for the fact that grounding the board to the chassis didnt do anything anymore (duh)

I custom made a couple of sheilds to just try and reduce any RFI and EMI within the chassis but did not notice a bit of difference with either the transformer cover I made or the copper sheetmetal cover I made for the phono area.. I made a peice that would go on the bottom side too but didnt bother attaching it when I noticed the top cover didnt do squat. I also re routed the cable that carries the AC to the switch further away from the PCB which also didnt do anything noticable. It was by far the loudest offender in the chassis when I was sniffing around with my cable toner wand which picks up and amplifies stuff so you can hear it. great for seeing how loud  things like cdp displays and such are!! Also wire tapping if your into that kind of thing Or listening to tubes make music by putting it close to them.





Only when i moved the AC cable very close to the two  black caps on the far left hand side did it induce considerable humm, other than that the circuit seemed unaffected. Trying to put my head around what makes this tempest and the Symphonic line board so different and what is causing this problem is surely a mind boggler. I must have stared at that board for an hour going over every single solder joint and component and I cannot see any flaws. Im stumped  Tomorrow I will have to try disconnecting the CATV feed from our house incase somehow thats inducing some weird phenomenon into our grounding but I doubt that will have an effect. I would like to imagine that I will somehow stumble upon the cure to this ghost in the machine and be the hero of tempest owners around the world but If Klaus couldnt find what was doing this I doubt anyone will.