Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Odyssey mono's extreme Amplifier (SS) by loki1957

Model:	mono's extreme
Category:	Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$not free
Description:	mono blocks with klaus's extreme upgrade
Manufacturer URL:	Odyssey

Review by loki1957 on November 09, 2007 at 07:08:17
IP Address: 69.210.122.128 Add Your Review
for the mono's extreme

Let me say first I'm no reviewer. I'm not good with the written word and those who know me would say the spoken word as well. But, I'm so impressed with these amps I had to write a short synopses of my initial impressions.Well I Got the amps yesterday. No problems with UPS. They were well packaged, double boxed. I purchased them off Audiogon from Underwoodwally. So I eagerly unpacked them and hooked them up. I couldn't wait for them to come up to room temp(I live in WI, very cool yesterday). Anyway cool as they were they sounded excellent. They replaced a set of 160 watt pure class A tubed monos. They sure hold their own against them on first listening. They main thing I always notice that SS amps lack when compared to tubes is a lack of texture.
Later in the evening when they came up to temp(which isn't much to the touch) I put on Rickie Lee Jones Naked Songs. A real torture disk. I've found it to be harsh on many systems including tubes especially on underpowered amps. Too much volume can send you scurrying for the volume fast. No such problems with the Odyssey amps. These are just my first impressions. It usually takes me several weeks to really tell the differences between gear.The Odyssey amps have lots of drive and rhythm. Great dynamics. Great bass control as well as depth.
They will be with me a very long time. I'm not a flavor of the month clubber. Most of my gear I've had for many years(much to my wife chagrin).
I should say I'm using them to drive a pair of Hales Concept 5 speakers. I'm also using a tubed pre, transport and SS dac.
More as I listen.

Product Weakness:	none so far
Product Strengths:	read the review

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Odyssey
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Jadis JP S2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Jadis JD3 Electrocompiaent ECD1
Speakers: Hales Concept 5
Cables/Interconnects: Jena Labs
Music Used (Genre/Selections): all
Room Size (LxWxH): 23 ft x 18ft x 10ft
Room Comments/Treatments: MGD PZC's
Time Period/Length of Audition: read review
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Odyssey
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Jadis JP S2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Jadis JD3 Electrocompiaent ECD1
Speakers:	Hales Concept 5
Cables/Interconnects:	Jena Labs
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all
Room Size (LxWxH):	23 ft x 18ft x 10ft
Room Comments/Treatments:	MGD PZC's
Time Period/Length of Audition:	read review
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner