General Asylum: REVIEW: Odyssey Dual Mono Stratos Amplifier (SS) by Tyson

Model:	Dual Mono Stratos
Category:	Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1795
Description:	2 monoblock Stratos amps occupying the same chassis
Manufacturer URL:	Odyssey
Model Picture:	View

Review by Tyson ( A ) on August 06, 2002 at 01:02:45
IP Address: 66.245.25.122

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Well the time has come for me to put down my impressions of the Odyssey Stratos dual mono. First, let me say that this is the 3rd Odyssey amp that I have owned, the other 2 being the stereo stratos with the cap upgrade, and the 3 channel stratos, with all 3 channels having the cap upgrade as well. Those 2 amps I still own, and use in my Home Theater system. In fact, it was my satisfaction with the performance of those amps (and reading the reviews of the mono block stratos amps) that convinced me to give the new dual monoblock design a try.
First, a little background - I have 2 systems, a 2 channel setup in my living room, and a home theater setup in a dedicate HT room. The 2 channel setup has morphed from an all nOrh setup (2 nOrh subs, a pair of 9.0's, a pair of nOrh multiamps to bi-amp the 9.0's, a nOrh ACA, and a nOrh cd-1 cd player, with pure silver sound wiring used for all interconnects and speaker wire). Recently my 2 channel setup has been transformed. I sold the subs, moved the 9.0's to marble enclosures and moved them to the HT setup, sold the multiamps and the ACA preamp. In their place I got a pair of VMPS RM-40's, the dual mono stratos, an Audible Illusions Modulus 3a tubed preamp (with Siemens NOS tubes in the driver stage), upgraded all my wiring from PSS silver wire to Bolder Cables Type 2 interconnects and speaker wire. In addition, I got a Bolder modded smArt DIO D/A converter, an ACME power outlet, and a Jon Risch based power filter strip with bybee purifiers installed (all from Bolder Cables as well). I feel I have gone from a very good setup to one that is (dare I say) world class.
So, now that that is out of the way, a bit more background is in order. I've owned and/or extensively demo'd many, many amps, including Brystons, Aragons, Ayres (less time with this one than I would have liked), Counterpoints, nOrh's (multiamps and LeAmps), Mark Levinson (mostly lengthy in-store demo's), Audio Research (VT-100), Classe (again, in store demo's). I've also done a few direct amp "shootouts" with some audio friends (most pertinently the Stereo Stratos against the Aragon 8008ST). Mostly this review will reference the 8008ST, the Stereo Stratos, and the Bryston 3b-ST (which I owned for several years).
Let me first dispatch with the 3b-ST - it is not in the same class as either the 8008st or the Odyssey stereo stratos. In fact, I sold it and bought the stereo stratos. It was just a better amp in just about every regard, except bass, where the 2 amps were about equal. In every other area I could tell, the stereo stratos bested the Bryston. Now, when it came to the 8008st, it was a different story. Comparing the 2 on a good friend's very revealing system (Apogee "The Apogee" speakers with a Lexicon DC-12 pre/pro), the 8008st had more detail and transparency, about equal bass, slightly better "control" of the tough load of the apogees, but was a touch dry in comparison. The Stratos, in comparison, I thought was more musical, but lacked that last bit of control and detail compared to the 8008st.
Well, fast forward about 6 months, and I've sold my nOrh gear, the Modulus 3a is here, the RM-40's are here, but the dual mono (or DM for short) stratos is still several days away. Not a problem - I just pull my stereo stratos out of my HT room and hook it up to the 40's as a stopgap measure. Well, to keep this short, suffice to say I was a bit dissapointed in the sound. When the stereo stratos was hooked up to my 9.0's, the absolutely grip the speakers with an iron fist type of control, but manage to remain smooth and musical. With the 40's, that just wasn't happening. They just didn't seem to have the same ability to control the 40's like they did the 9.0's. Lucky for me, the DM stratos was just a few days away. . .
A quick word on construction - the Dual Mono Stratos has superb build quality, and is truly dual-mono in build, right down to having seperate on/off switches, and seperate power cords. The only difference between the MonoBlock Stratos and the Dual Mono stratos is that the monoblocks occupy 2 chassis' and the dual mono occupies one.
OK, so it finally gets here (after a few anxious days), and I hook it up not expecting too much (I've been through the loooonnngg break in process w/Odyssey amps previously, and it's true, they don't start sounding anywhere near their best until after a couple of hundred hours of use). But, the grip and control that were missing with the stereo stratos was there in spades with the dual mono stratos. I remember when I was comparing the stereo stratos and the Aragon 8008st, I thought that if an amp were to combine the musicallity of the stereo stratos with the control and transparency and detail of the 8008st, it would truly be one hell of an amp. Well, the Dual Mono Stratos is just such a musical beast. This amp just flat gets out of the way and lets the music through. If I can ascribe a "sound" to the amp at all, it is ever so slightly on the warm side of neutral, but even that is mainly centered around the midrange. Bass is tight, but not overdamped, it resonates, just as it does in real life, but also has a visceral impact and snap that most "audiophile" amps don't deliver. And the highs are clean and extended, not rolled off at all or "euphonic". Simply there. But not harsh or strident, in fact, nothing about this amp's sound can be called harsh, strident, or bright.
After having had the amp in my system for about 2 months of constant usage, I can comment on two more areas that are a real strength - imaging and palpability. Singers and instruments are placed around a "stage" with plenty of air and seperation, and more than enough detail to distinguish amongst even similar sounding instruments in complex musical pieces. I've listened to tons of music in the months that I've had the new system assembled, and it is among the very best sound I have ever heard re-produced in a home setup. I can sit here an analyze every strand that goes in to a musical performance, if I so choose, or I can simply let the music wash over me in a visceral wave. The DM Stratos combined with the other components are detailed enough and musical enough to let me do either. I guess you can have your cake and eat it, too.
To start tidying up here, I want to observe that if you check out other reviews of the Stereo Stratos, it is universally praised as being a superb amp, especially for the money. With the dual mono Stratos, you can drop that "especially for the money" phrase. It's a superb amp, period. Where the stereo stratos easily bests amps from Adcom, Acurus, Bryston, Marantz, Parasound, and competes very well with amps on the level of the Aragon, the dual mono deserves to be mention in the same breath as the upper end Classe, and Levinson amps. Yes, it is that good. As much of a bargain as the stereo stratos is, I think the DM Stratos is even MORE of a bargain, considering how much more performance one gets for a small increment more in price.
Is it the "best" solid state amp I've heard? No, that would still have to be the Ayre v-5 that my friend has paired to his apogees. To do a really accurate comparison I'd have to do a head to head with the 2 amps, but I don't think the DM stratos would be embarased, even in such lofty company. If I could easily afford the Ayre, would I buy it? Yes I would. But since I can't, I'm very glad that a product like the Dual Mono Stratos exists, which competes with the likes of the V-5, but probably would "only" be a close 2nd. I can live with that :-) So I don't have the "best", but I've got close to it, for a lot less $$. I probably could afford to get the Ayre (barely), but I think I'd rather keep the DM stratos and buy a WHOLE lot of music instead.
One last observation and then I'm done. The dual mono stratos I have has the blue face plate and the Stratos name is back lit in blue. IMO, this is MUCH nicer looking than the black faceplate and white light back lit name on my stereo and 3 channel stratos amps. Its a little more $$ for the colored faceplate, but completely worth it in my opinion.

Product Weakness: The wait!
Product Strengths: See above

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Dual Mono Stratos
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	AI Modulus 3A
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	nOrh CD-1/Bolder smArt DIO
Speakers:	VMPS rm-40's (with Auricap upgrade)
Cables/Interconnects:	Bolder Type 2 IC's and Bolder Speaker wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Tons. Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Mahler, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Schuman, etc. . . Solo piano, string quartets/quintets, piano trios, piano concerto's, violin concertos, symphonies, tone poems, ballet music. Also, Blues, female vocals, Trip Hop, Trance, Rap, Country, Pop, Classic Rock, etc. . .
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 12 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Just over 2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Bolder Power Filter
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	The wait!
Product Strengths:	See above