Hotmailjbc: Yes, I think Odyssey would be the smart middle road here and I think one or two of them are in my future. I'd like something with very wide bandwidth, fast risetime, and a very low noise floor, and that's where I felt that the Emotiva would strike me as "just another amp."
However, for now I have to keep some money back for house repairs, and I couldn't stand to go without an amp, so I auditioned and picked up a 1980s Perreaux PMF-1150B for much less than even a used Stratos.
I must say I really like this Perreaux. It has that wide bandwidth and speed, but none of the in-your-face symptoms of hyper-detailed components. It simply sounds clear and natural with a very low noise floor and fast risetime, resulting in a very clear musical picture.
When I'm ready, I'll probably consign this one at very little loss (I'll think of it as a rental) and pick up a Stratos Plus or Khartago mono's if I can find the rack space.
However, for now I have to keep some money back for house repairs, and I couldn't stand to go without an amp, so I auditioned and picked up a 1980s Perreaux PMF-1150B for much less than even a used Stratos.
I must say I really like this Perreaux. It has that wide bandwidth and speed, but none of the in-your-face symptoms of hyper-detailed components. It simply sounds clear and natural with a very low noise floor and fast risetime, resulting in a very clear musical picture.
When I'm ready, I'll probably consign this one at very little loss (I'll think of it as a rental) and pick up a Stratos Plus or Khartago mono's if I can find the rack space.