[mech]

I have been really interested in getting a used stratos and possibly having it upgraded, I have a musical fidelity a3cr(120w@8ohm, 210w@4ohm) and Thiel 1.6 speakers(dips to 3ohm) and a sonic frontiers tube pre(300 ohms balanced output, this is according to the pdf, seems weird), I am curious if the stratos would be a good match for my setup, the goal is a noticable step up in power and some added warmth...any users with simlar amps who switch to the stratos care to share any thoughts?

thanks!

[klaus@odyssey]

YES.  Absolutely. 

[lazydays]

I have been really interested in getting a used stratos and possibly having it upgraded, I have a musical fidelity a3cr(120w@8ohm, 210w@4ohm) and Thiel 1.6 speakers(dips to 3ohm) and a sonic frontiers tube pre(300 ohms balanced output, this is according to the pdf, seems weird), I am curious if the stratos would be a good match for my setup, the goal is a noticable step up in power and some added warmth...any users with simlar amps who switch to the stratos care to share any thoughts?

thanks!

I've ran my amps behind four tube preamps, and three SS preamps. I hear a lot of these impedence will not match with this amp and this one wont either. But I've yet to find one my mono blocs didn't work well. The Candella is a killer for live music, and has texture that's extremely friendly to acoustic recordings. The SF preamp is a good one, and will delight you in many ways. So once you have the system up and running be prepaired to become a "shutin." The new found music is somewhat addictive (if not very). Somewhat like a leggy redhead and a bottle of a good small batch sour mash!!
gary

[Randy]

mech - I went from the same MF amp you have to a pair of Extreme monos. While the MF was a very good amp, the Odysseys were a gigantic upgrade for my system, and I'm sure any Odyssey amp would be fabulous with your speakers.

[Lkdog]

Mech-

I had a well regarded MF A300 integrated amp that was then highly modified by Paul Weitzel of TRL fame. Much better than the stock MF A300 which was already a well regarded dual mono unit by all pro reviews.
One thing to note was it was shocking how noisy the stock MF unit really was by comparison.
Used the modded MF A300  to drive my ACI Jaquar monitors which really like some power. Not as challenging a load as the Thiel 1.6, but inefficient as it is a big monitor.
The MF A300 was rated at 150X2 but was easily more powerful according to bench testing - more like 185.

I then went to a tube preamp (Audio Mirror) and a pair of the Odyssey Mono Extremes.
Night and day in every aspect and the modified MF A300 was quite good.
I recently upgraded to the Special Edition Mono Extremes-absolutely fantastic monoblock amps.

Here is my advice to you-get a nice clean newer used Stratos for around $725-750 and call Klaus and work with him on using that amp case as a start on an upgrade to a pair of Mono Extremes.
Do not screw around with anything else as you are going to get them anyway.-trust me.
These amps will drive your Thiels and not break a sweat.
They are neutral, but slightly warm.Total low end control, excellent highs and sweet mids.
Great sound stage, air, and depth. Not the last word in transparency, but very good.

About as good as you are going to get unless you opt for the SE version which are my last amps.
I know people say that all of the time in this crazy hobby-but I cannot find fault in any way with the SE version of the Mono Extremes.
Huge power and finesse. Better than Parasound JC 1's at a fraction of the cost.

If you did have more efficient speakers- I might not suggest the Mono Extremes, but the Thiel load is not easy and you need fast powerful amps to really make them sing.

Good luck.

[lazydays]

Mech-

I had a well regarded MF A300 integrated amp that was then highly modified by Paul Weitzel of TRL fame. Much better than the stock MF A300 which was already a well regarded dual mono unit by all pro reviews.
One thing to note was it was shocking how noisy the stock MF unit really was by comparison.
Used the modded MF A300  to drive my ACI Jaquar monitors which really like some power. Not as challenging a load as the Thiel 1.6, but inefficient as it is a big monitor.
The MF A300 was rated at 150X2 but was easily more powerful according to bench testing - more like 185.

I then went to a tube preamp (Audio Mirror) and a pair of the Odyssey Mono Extremes.
Night and day in every aspect and the modified MF A300 was quite good.
I recently upgraded to the Special Edition Mono Extremes-absolutely fantastic monoblock amps.

Here is my advice to you-get a nice clean newer used Stratos for around $725-750 and call Klaus and work with him on using that amp case as a start on an upgrade to a pair of Mono Extremes.
Do not screw around with anything else as you are going to get them anyway.-trust me.
These amps will drive your Thiels and not break a sweat.
They are neutral, but slightly warm.Total low end control, excellent highs and sweet mids.
Great sound stage, air, and depth. Not the last word in transparency, but very good.

About as good as you are going to get unless you opt for the SE version which are my last amps.
I know people say that all of the time in this crazy hobby-but I cannot find fault in any way with the SE version of the Mono Extremes.
Huge power and finesse. Better than Parasound JC 1's at a fraction of the cost.

If you did have more efficient speakers- I might not suggest the Mono Extremes, but the Thiel load is not easy and you need fast powerful amps to really make them sing.

Good luck.

I first drove a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel hotrods with my Mono SE's. These are very efficent speakers are really designed for tubes. You'd have sworn I had tube amps driving them! If it were not for my new speakers (about 12 1/2 hours away), I'd still be using them. Those mono SE's have a very tube like sound, but much faster. Never run out of steam. They just plain kill Krells & PS Audios in everyway while still leaving me enough money to buy beer. Mine are being delivered tomorrow afternoon after complete rebuilds to the newest and greatest current spec (whatever that is). They'll have the double sided boards and a new kind of wire inside. (ask me in a month what they are sounding like).
gary

[Lkdog]

Gary-

You probably saw my initial comments on the new SE Mono Extremes with the double sided boards here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=48911.0


They actually continued to break in noticeably for 750 hours or so as crazy at that sounds (bass kept increasing especially).

Could not be happier with them-you will love them.

Klaus did a great job with this design.

[mech]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am ready to try it out at home.  I'll post an update when I get some gear in.

-v

[BobC]

If it's used then it should already be broken in.  If not, common thought is 300 - 400 hours of break in on a new amp.

Please share your observations.

Enjoy!   

[rydenfan]

Better than Parasound JC 1's at a fraction of the cost.

I am curious if you have done any A/B comparisons? The JC1's and the Mono Extreme SE's are on a short list for a friend of mine and I would be THRILLED to hear some feedback from somebody who has auditioned both. Thanks so much!

[Lkdog]

Better than Parasound JC 1's at a fraction of the cost.

I am curious if you have done any A/B comparisons? The JC1's and the Mono Extreme SE's are on a short list for a friend of mine and I would be THRILLED to hear some feedback from somebody who has auditioned both. Thanks so much!

Both wonderful monoblock amps.
I could live with either one as my last amps.

JC 1's are a bit brighter on top IMO.
Odysseys are smoother.

I think if you had especially bright speakers-the JC 1's might be a bit too hot.
If you had especially rolled off speakers-the Odysseys might be a bit soft for you.

The Odysseys have more of a tube sound. The JC 1's have more of a soild state sound-but these are not pronounced differences.
Biggest difference is top end. The JC 1's can be ever so slightly hot IMO or a bit tizzy.

Cannot go wrong on either. I obviously like the Odysseys better for my tastes.
A friend just got a pair of regular Mono Extremes and he had the JC 1's I am talking about. His statement was they were "jaw dropping". 

The JC 1's are around mid to high $ 3000 for used ones I think, and about $7000 new.

The SE version of the Odyssey Mono Extremes are at a price that one can get a quote on from Klaus, but it is a very reasonable price.


Both can handle anything you throw at them.

[lazydays]

Better than Parasound JC 1's at a fraction of the cost.

I am curious if you have done any A/B comparisons? The JC1's and the Mono Extreme SE's are on a short list for a friend of mine and I would be THRILLED to hear some feedback from somebody who has auditioned both. Thanks so much!

Both wonderful monoblock amps.
I could live with either one as my last amps.

JC 1's are a bit brighter on top IMO.
Odysseys are smoother.

I think if you had especially bright speakers-the JC 1's might be a bit too hot.
If you had especially rolled off speakers-the Odysseys might be a bit soft for you.

The Odysseys have more of a tube sound. The JC 1's have more of a soild state sound-but these are not pronounced differences.
Biggest difference is top end. The JC 1's can be ever so slightly hot IMO or a bit tizzy.

Cannot go wrong on either. I obviously like the Odysseys better for my tastes.
A friend just got a pair of regular Mono Extremes and he had the JC 1's I am talking about. His statement was they were "jaw dropping". 

The JC 1's are around mid to high $ 3000 for used ones I think, and about $7000 new.

The SE version of the Odyssey Mono Extremes are at a price that one can get a quote on from Klaus, but it is a very reasonable price.


Both can handle anything you throw at them.

I used to own Accuphase equipment many moons ago. The first time I sat down and seriously listened to my mono SE's (post break in) I felt they had somewhat of an Accuphase sound quality, but with a stronger upper end. It was possible to over drive the Accuphase amp, but I doubt that you tax the monos all that much. I've never heard (or read) the specs on these amps, but from the way they act I'd say they have a fantastic slew rate, or maybe they are so fast that they can't be made to "slew". They're also noticably faster than the Accuphase equipment without being bright or have a "glare" about them. Much more musical without being bright.
    Those mono SE's will easilly compair well with amps that cost twice as much, and more often than not three time the price. I finally got to look inside mine a couple weeks ago, and was stunned with the build quality (I ain't sticking my fingers in there!).
It more than rivals the $10K amps in everyway. Reminds me of the $240K controls I used to be around at work. My only complaint is that I wish they'd made them out of titanium to give my back a rest!! Those things are heavy.
gary