My amps . . . naked.

SolidSqual
SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
edited November 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
After a long jam session, I busted out the old voltage meter to do some tweaking to the amps. Anyone familiar with Odyssey gear knows they have a ridiculously long break in. As they mature, some adjustments to the bias are a must to make sure they are running at their best.

I snapped a few pictures of the amps with their faceplates and topcovers off. The top amps are Klaus's new Kismet line in Khartago cases. The bottom amps are the classic Stratos Extremes.

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Post edited by SolidSqual on
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited November 2008
    Lasareath wrote: »
    Very Nice!!!

    What are those stands that you are using?, I like the way they look. I need new stands when I move into my house.

    Thanks,

    Sal

    VTI Stands.

    http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/VTI-BL503-Audio-Video-rack.htm

    Affordable and effective. You can get various combinations. The caps also come off. SO if you are real nuts you can fill them with sand like me. ;)
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2008
    Very nice Mike. Yes those VTI stands are great. I filled mine with lead shot and they are solid.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2008
    Very clean look Sal. I purchased the cherry finish, black tubes and silver caps. Looks good with my gear.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited November 2008
    I love the blue color faceplates.
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,654
    edited November 2008
    So thats the new black boards huh? cool.

    Thats not a Stratos Extreme arrangements - just an upgraded 120,000 uF version. The Stratos Extreme Monos have dual transformers and a few more capacitors...

    amp-stratos-mono-xt.jpg

    ^^ Good Example...

    Notice it is 6 capacitors per side, instead of 4

    Have you compared the black boards to the green for the high end/mids?

    Also, are your faceplates blue?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited November 2008
    Ahh your right. Evidently you can't get the extra capacitance into the Khartago case. Otherwise all the other upgrades are there.

    I haven't compared the sound of the amps with the reds and the amps with the black boards.

    The faceplates are blue.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2008
    Are the "blackboards" part of/native to the "glass ceiling upgrade"
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2008
    Very Nice system, I think the Odyssey amps are Awesome.
    My Odyssey Mono-SE with the red-boards sound great.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited November 2008
    I like the blue face plates more than I thought I would....








    Nick
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2008
    Guys/girls,, heres some pic's of my Mono Extremes SE,that were built in 1/07

    Where are my shoes???? What was I thinking :D
    Can anyone comment on the "glass ceiling" version,,it's my understanding that a different board is used,,people seem to rave about it,,but I'm not sure about the price to performance cost/ratio.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited November 2008
    Looks to me the design hasn't changed much. Klaus says his upgrades are more of an evolution than complete change. I went with the Khartago instead of the Stratos because if you consider two amps per speaker with 120,000 uf in each. The total uf in my system is 480,000, which is just overkill. Can't imagine 720,000 even all out extremes.

    Also, opted to go Khartago case because the new Kismet cases are a grand a piece.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2008
    Yep,, if I had it to do over,I would have gone with the Khartago cases like you did,, more "rack" friendly.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2008
    Hey Guys,

    Whats the different between the Red-board and the New Black boards?
    Whats the cost to upgrade?
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2008
    I'm not sure,, but I think that the newer boards are thicker,and there may be some other component options(caps?). There is a thread in the Odyssey circle at AC.According to those who have the other/newer boards, a big sonic difference can be heard,,but IIRC,there have nor been any posted specifics as to the exact parts upgrade,and if memory serves me correct,I think that the cost is about 1K.I'll poke around and see what I can come up with,, Trey, and Solid,, any info?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited November 2008
    Blackboards are much thicker. They take about 8 hours to complete. The overall design is similar but the new amps have better quality parts with more synergy. That's about all I know.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Blackboards are much thicker. They take about 8 hours to complete. The overall design is similar but the new amps have better quality parts with more synergy. That's about all I know.


    nevermind,, I just re-read your original post,,if I understand you,, you have a pair of the new amps in a Khartago case,,yes? Boy,, do I feel like a dumba$$,,, eh,,, not the first,, nor will it be the last, I'm sure. :D:rolleyes:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,654
    edited November 2008
    The blackboards are double traced (top and bottom) if I remember correctly

    Or something along those lines and have much better contact and signal transfer than the previous boards. Also, as noted labor is much more intensive.

    Not sure of any of the other advances.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2008
    Very nice rig !!

    Very Nice !
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited November 2008
    mmadden28 wrote: »
    I love the blue color faceplates.

    SS, if you ever want to get rid of those hideous blue Khartago faceplates ;), I'll trade you a black one for a blue one out of the goodness of my heart. :D Of course I only have one :o.
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2008
    How do those amp stack up against Parasound ?


    They do seem rather sexy !!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited November 2008
    beardog03 wrote: »
    How do those amp stack up against Parasound ?


    They do seem rather sexy !!

    I used to own the Halo A23. These are better, but four JC1s would probably blow these away.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2008
    I have all but decided that my next SS amp purchase will be JC1`s, or possibly another 3500 to bi-amp with

    As for the tube gear, I think I will keep the Cary gear, and just roll some new tubes....unless I go in a totally different direction......which I have been known to do !!

    Those are very nice amps though....

    I know Trey loves his !!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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