[rl_jazz]

Hello dear Odysseyphiles,
So I got the upgraded Stratos in the Khartago body. Loving it so far (in fact, I borrowed an Audio Research 300.2 from a friend which costs X4 and the Odyssey was quite competitive!). It's powering my Eminent Technology LFT-8b which are push-pull planar hybrids. Quite inefficient. Before getting the Khartago, I used my old Arcam alpha7 int' amp so now I'm using it as a preamp. So far, I think that my weakest links in my system are the Arcam and my source - SB3 (SqueezeBox3). When I connected the SB3 directly to the amp, I felt I'm getting better results in most cases.
So now I'm thinking why not get a kick-ass DAC with a volume control and ditch the Arcam all-together. Thus connecting it directly to the Khartago using the lovely Groneberg Quatro I bought with the Khartago. I can always get a nice preamp at a later stage (it's all about the money).
As with the Odyssey and the ET speakers, I'm always looking for the best bang for the buck giant killers.
The alleged two giant killer DAC candidates that I was zooming on so far are the Benchmark DAC1 and the Monarchy MN24. Apparently they quite different in sound (the MN24 has both SS and tube DACs + built-in line tube preamp). Both are around the $1K. I can't see a way to audition them both without loosing money.
So what do you think guys? Any idea? Any other giant killers that I have missed? Am I heading the wrong direction altogether?

Any feedback would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Ronen.
 

[denjo]

Ronen
Welcome to AudioCircle!
I am not a "Odysseyphile" but I was very impressed listening to a Stratos some years back! I hope I am not trespassing when I suggest that you might want to start with the "heart" of your system, the preamp. The preamp section of the Arcam integrated will still be much in the way even if you upgrade your digital source to something better. Since you already have a good Odyssey amplifier, you might want to consider the Odyssey tubed preamp first and see how it sounds. Don't underestimate the importance of the preamplifier! When I was into the pre and power phase of my audio hobby, I was surprised how much difference the preamplifier made to the music!

Best Regards
Dennis

[TomS]

I agree with Dennis that the Stratos benefits from a good preamp, particularly the Candela.  The SB3, Candela, and Stratos make a very nice foundation system with lots of room to grow incrementally with the source and/or to mono amps as budget allows.  I'd definitely take a few moments to chat with Klaus on the phone on system synergy before making big changes.

[opaqueice]

For a while I had an SB3 going directly into an Odyssey Cyclops (a Khartago/Stratos with a passive volume control added).  Later I added a Benchmark DAC1, so I had the SB going digitally into the Benchmark, and then the Benchmark into the Cyclops.  I was very happy with the sound of both systems.  (Since then I've moved to a more complex system with active speakers powered by a total of 8 channels of amplification, so I had to sell the Odyssey.)

Personally I avoid preamps.  I think they color the sound more than any other component upstream of the speakers.  They are another source of noise, they require another set of interconnects and connections which could pick up interference and degrade the signal, and they put more active components in the audio chain.  If you only use digital sources a preamp is unnecessary - in my opinion a DAC with an analogue volume control is superior.

[zapper7]

I have the Camelot Uther IV ($1,500) and like it alot. I had the III a couple years back, which is also great and can be had for the $1,000 amount. The IV has the Anagram chip, which raises the cost and which you may not really like anyway.
I has all the digs inputs, a much larger screen and better remote than most other high-end companies (I had a Wadia that required me to be 10' away max for the remote to work,  ). It has a separate power supply and if asked what is the signature adjective to use, I would say "refined" or "resolving". Not heavy in bass, warm, edgy, just natural.
Others out there are Bel Canto Dac 3 ($1650) which is a hot item now (sounded great in the Bel Canto room at CES), and the Wadia 25, 27 which are more $$, but better when I had them.
I haven't had a pre-amp for 4.5 years now and don't miss it, even with the other changes that I've made to my system. I use the SB3 directly to the Uther, then amps.

I had a pair of Stratos Monos when Klaus was still using the old cooling fins, mine were gold in color and real nice to listen to.

Good luck   Z

[mcullinan]

Yes preamp... Candela plus RCA cleartops.. ooh sweet top end!
SB3 output is nice warm and liveable. I say Bryston BDA-1 DAC --> The uber bomb of DACs. 2K.
Mike

[golfugh]

Yes preamp... Candela plus RCA cleartops.. ooh sweet top end!
SB3 output is nice warm and liveable. I say Bryston BDA-1 DAC --> The uber bomb of DACs. 2K.
Mike

Agree with Mike, but CBS Hytrons and a PS Audio Digital Link III w/Cullen level 4 mods.

[Eduardo AAVM]

Two DAC's I have tried with Stratos/Khartago and I can recommend:

Benchmark (highly rated)
PS Audio (even higherly rated in german magazine Stereoplay or Audio)

The MOnarchy is also an awesome unit with the convenience of a tube line stage preamplifier.


In some days I will try a Cary CDP-1 or CD 303/300 coupled directly to Stratos or Khartago, those Cary players have a good  remote controlled output with higher volt output and if you use the XLR output and a RCA adpator you can get as much as 6V.

So options are there.


You will have a greta time testing which one is better for you.

[rl_jazz]

Thank you all!
It definitely seems that there are two camps here - the preamp fans vs. the no preamp...
I'll have to decide in which camp I reside sometime...

Thanks again,
Ronen.