Review: Odyssey Audio Stratos Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

Let me begin this review with a caveat: I am in no way trying to start a firestorm of controversy with this review. I am a relative neophyte in high end audio, but my experience aside, I know what I hear. I recently acquired an Odyssey Audio Stratos Plus amplifier from a fellow audiogoner. I had been running a Rogue R88 tube amp, but I felt that I had too much of a good thing going with tubes, as my Raysonic CD128 and ASL Flora are both tubes. I wanted more transparency back in my system. Before the Rogue, my amplifier was a Pass Labs XA30.5, and let me tell you, it is a wonderful amplifier, and I was probably stupid to let it go, but the tube bug bit me. Anyhow, this review is about the Odyssey, not the Pass or the Rogue.

I did extensive review of the Stratos before I pulled the trigger, and I finally found a good deal and acquired the Stratos last weekend. I didn't really know what to expect when I plugged in the amplifier. I mean, how good could a $600.00 amplifier that's 5 years old be compared to a brand new $5000.00 amplifier really be? As it turns out, really, really good.

When I initially turned on the amplifier, I was a bit disappointed. The Stratos sounded a bit thin. The soundstage was incredible wide, and the sound was very transparent and detailed, but the body of the music wasn't there. Hoping that it was just the caps needing to fully charge, I left the amplifier for 1/2 of the day and ran errands. When I came back home and turned the music back on, all I could say was "WOW!" Any thinness that was there before was gone. The soundstage was even wider, the placement of the musicians in the soundstage was incredibly precise, the detail and extension on the top was fabulous, and the transparency was just amazing. Now I realize that I was moving from a tube amp which was less extended and less transparent, but I do have the frame of reference from the Pass. I realize that equipment is system dependent, and I realize that everyone has their own tastes in music. I will not go so far to say that the Stratos is better than the Pass. I would really have to have them in a side by side situation to be able to make that claim, and the Pass probably is a better amp, especially on the top end. However, I can tell you that the Odyssey Stratos Plus is really damn close to the Pass to my ears. It has the detail, extension, imaging, and transparency of way more expensive amplifiers. What I can tell you is that for $600.00, you can't touch this amplifier. I would highly recommend you give this amplifier a try.

Associated gear
Raysonic CD128
Antique Sound Labs Flora

Similar products
Pass Labs XA 30.5