Odyssey "Khartago" Stereo Extreme" amp compared to Schitt's "Vidar" amp
I am downgrading my amp to a smaller size and considering either Odyssey Khartago Stereo Extreme or the Schitt Audio "Vidar" Therefore, I need some feedback about which amp might sound better and more compatible with a Conrad Johnson PV-14L SE pre-amp. Also, which one would be more compatible with a variety of speakers
My current speakers are Golden Ear Technology model 7's which might possibly be replaced by Magneplanar .7 speakers, or something better than the GET 7's.
Under the amplifier specification section on the Odyssey site, it states that the amplifiers ( all of them ), indicate : Class A / AB. Who am I to question the validity of the claim. It might be a sliding bias circuit, because what George is saying, I believe, is that if it was a true, common class A circuit, the idle current, with no signal, would be higher than 35 watts, also indicated in the specification section. A $ 200. Technics receiver I see on the Bay, claims class A output, and it seems to be a flimsy chassis. Having owned, and being familiar with, many " true " class A amplifiers, I will say, they all had extremely large power supplies, huge amounts of heat sink area ( some with a fan ), and ran extremely warm, to very hot. And, the electrical draw, at idle, was always, at least 200 plus watts, in most cases much more. I have heard Odyssey amplifiers, and find them to be musical. Enjoy ! MrD.
@georgehifi has a bias against Odyssey. It’s obvious and he’s made this clear in more than a few threads.
Beside the BS calls by a couple of members here trying to con the gullible, that they are 35w Class-A per channel.
The one thing I've always stated is that was not made totally clear to potential purchasers in their advertising, is that the far more expensive Monoblock are just the Stereo version bridged. And if you have any knowledge of amplifier electronic design, you'll know that all you gain by bridging a stereo amp is extra watts! Every other parameter that makes the same amp in stereo a good amp, takes quite a large hit when it's bridged.
And if you need proof once again here are the internals of the stereo v monoblock, if you have a modicum of EE knowledge you'll see that it's just a stereo amp bridged into mono, your actually getting a lesser sound quality amp in monoblock but with more watts than in stereo.
And yes as I mentioned the chassis are the same (no biggie) just with blanked holes for
the other input and speaker terminals for stereo.
Anyone interested in returning to the subject of this thread(WITHOUT the spin)? ie: ’Odyssey "Khartago" Stereo Extreme" amp compared to Schitt’s "Vidar" amp’. NOT amps strapped/bridged mono or a chassis with extra holes, but- a stereo amp, with a plethora of upgrades, from it’s base model. I never intimated the amp of interest to the OP, had 35W of Class A, either. That was PURPORTEDLY the base model, 150W, Stratus, which(again) I never should have mentioned, without personal confirmation. Has anyone actually compared(LISTENED TO) the pieces, mentioned by the OP? Nothing against Schitt's gear here, either. Happy listening!
Anyone interested in returning to the subject of this thread(WITHOUT the spin)
You started and repeated the propaganda "spin", with the false claims of 35w Class-A on the Odyssey (lucky to be 5w) your not doing Odyssey any favours.
To those here, I have nothing against Odyssey they have always had good affordable reliable "low bias" Class-A/B "stereo" amps, in the same vein as Bryston's are. The "bridged" monoblocks are in my view are a big step backwards for the extra cost, Class-D even a cheaper option.
sunnyjim OP what I said said to you, you’d get better sound, bi-amping with Class-A mids and highs using a "real" Class-A 20w Schiit Aegir, and maybe a Vidar on the bass, or even as mrdecibel said an even cheaper Class-D on the bass. Cheers George
FYI, the Nuforce STA 200 is not a class D amp ( it is A/B, using a Goldmund circuit design ), as I believe it to be the only non class D amp they make. George, I do not think that was me, as I spoke about passive, vertical biamping with a pair of STA 200s,.....enough with the arguing already. Music touches our hearts, our souls, and it is for enjoyment.
Just out of curiosity as to your supposed "friend" who had the Odyssey amps in for evaluation in Australia what specific amps were those and more importantly what year exactly was that?
To those here: I have nothing against anyone’s equipment. I just take issue with the sort that make unsubstantiated claims, like, "....you’d get better sound...", never having heard, or compared, the pertinent components. Again: class of operation isn’t all that’s involved, as regards final sound quality. Grind on, George!
Whatever, you’ve already shown your knowledge with the BS statements you presented on Class-A that you have no technical experience whatsoever on at all, which explains why your a "fuser" as well someone pointed out below.
Replacing the fuses with HI-FI Tuning or Synergistic Research will make a difference too(if you haven’t already).
Just out of curiosity as to your supposed "friend" who had the Odyssey amps in for evaluation in Australia what specific amps were those and more importantly what year exactly was that?
He imported the samples which look like they are still current models, a few years ago, two stereo's and two pairs monoblocks, I believe Khartago and Stratos. We, 8 of us (6 potential customers), listened over a few hours to the Stereo's and thought well of them both, even into a hard to drive pair of Infinity Epsilon. Then we listened to their bridged monoblock versions.
We thought to a "reasonable level" the stereo's were far better, if you wanted to party the bridged mono's were the way to go. Then we opened them up to see what the story was, and I pointed out the mono's were just bridged stereo's.
The two stereo's sold that day, the monos he sold off later. needless to say he never became an importer. Cheers George
Why would I not like your answer George as long as it is honest and not full of your usual hype. The Stratos has been in constant production since the mid 90's and is the original amp. The Khartago came about five years later and again has been in constant production up to now so it does matter how long ago the amps were brought in. The amps have changed somewhat over the years but the names have remained. As to me being a fan I have owned four different Odyssey amps over the years including a Stratos, Stratos Monos, a Khartago and a Kismet. All amps have been trouble free for me and there second owners. The Kismet I still own. Your arguments about the amps in question in this thread are along the same lines as your ones in the Class D amp threads and the Benchmark amps. Mostly your opinion stated as loudly and often as you can with just enough hints of technical knowledge mixed in to sound believable but in the end just opinions. In this thread like the others you don't or never have owned the products in question and many times have never seen them relying strictly on the internet for the basis of your arguments. I on the other hand only talk about products I have actually owned or had in my house in my systems.
Why would I not like your answer George as long as it is honest
Which it always has been and I’ve never put down the Stereo amps that Odyssey makes. Just claims ****** make about them to get the gullible to buy them, anyone would think they are "shilling" for Odyssey???? Only issues I have are the bridged monos that are never advertised as being bridged, also Class-A claims made by so called "experts" that think an amps "current consumption" is the amount of Class-A bias an amp has. Just calling it as it is Jack, nothing added, nothing taken away and nothing embellished. And if you wish to get get on the BS merry-go round, I’ll call it too, as there’s way too much of it on these pages.
I have had Odyssey equipment too, as stated earlier. Yes I had a Stratos, Tempest and Candela and not the Khartago. I had hum and spurious noise issues over many many months. When I spoke to Klaus...(when I could get ahold of him) he was at first courteous, but as time went on he was very condescending. As I returned equipment to him, he took months to repair items, and returned them to me, only to find they were not fixed. I spent thousands of dollars of what I considered later pure audio junk and bought from a guy who really did not take the time to fix the various problems. In fact on his forum on audiocircle.com anyone with a simple search one can find all the problems I had mentioned as experienced by other buyers. I would have thought after all these years since then he would treat his customers better (I know he has adoring fans) but I just got a message from a customer a month back who had the very same issues with a new piece and he stated Klaus DID NOT want to give him a full refund on new gear. He had to fight to get his refund. Anyone is free to purchase gear from Odyssey, but I think it is fair to give balanced opinions with both positive and negative experience for all potential audiophiles to look over before they make a purchase.
This will be the third time, that I’ve mentioned my regrets, for having repeated what two articles mentioned, regarding the Stratus' output specs(NOT CURRENT CONSUMPTION), without having substantiated the claims(whether correct or not). AND- I was probably reading spec sheets, before you were in diapers, though I’m not the least bit concerned, with anyone’s opinion of my credentials. Especially; not one with the limited comprehension, that you’ve exhibited, regarding the above. Once again: anyone out there, that has actually compared/listened to the two amplifiers, that had the OP’s interest? It would be refreshing, to have a valid(rather than vapid) opinion!
You’ve still got to have the last say, which doesn’t make it right sunshine, because it was your insistence with your lack of tech knowledge skills that turned this into a **** fight thread not helping the OP or Odyssey one iota.
"Anyone is free to purchase gear from Odyssey, but I think it is fair to give balanced opinions with both positive and negative EXPERIENCE for all potential audiophiles to look over before they make a purchase." That type of discourse in an absolute necessity, for the survival of the species. I’ve never owned an Odyssey amp. While considering a move from tubes to SS, to run my new Magnepans(then), I had a pair of Klaus’ amps, in the home, briefly. Ended up buying more efficient speakers and staying with tubes, after almost three decades of planars. I thought Klaus pleasant and knowledgeable, but then- we never had an issue, either.
This thread is about a comparison between the Odyssey Khartago SE and the Schiit Vidar. Nothing else. Not about Odyssey's different model monoblocks and the internals. That is 100 percent irrelevant. Yet you just keep parroting and harping about it. I own the exact Khartago the op asks about. That is relevant. Not your opinion of what he's better off getting when you have made no such comparisons with the equipment you state. But by all means, parrot away....
Back to the original poster’s questions. Depending on your room size, the vidar may or may not be powerful enough for the Magnepan .7. For my 5000cu foot room and 3.5s, it was not enough, but good sounding. For many Maggie users it is, including Schiit which runs a set of 1.7s off a Vidar at the Schiiter.
About the engineering d**k measuring contest. Mike Moffat is a digital guy, just like he has always done going back to Theta. Jason does the analog designs, just as he used to when he designed amps and preamps for Sumo. The Vidar was designed by Jason.
I would like to follow up to this old, ridiculous thread and add to @mcreyn courteous post here and correct the grossly inaccurate comment made earlier by someone saying the Schiit Vidar weighs 13 lbs when in fact, even at it's near half-size stature, it weighs 22 lbs.
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