How Do Odyssey Amps Stack Up To McCormack Amps.

before I purchased my odyssey monoblock amps, I compared them to the classe stereo and monoblock amps, mcintosh seperates and integrated amps, sim audio, plinius, McCormack, and bryston. i would not nor did I look at NAD or Rotel amps. whole different league of amps. i would compare rotel and nad to onkyo, integra, marantz, denon, etc...
I liked the odyssey monoblocks equal to if not more so than the amps i auditioned above (in my own setup). If I wouldn't have purchased the odyssey's, i would have purchased the classe monoblocks, which are very nice amps themselves.

I here allot of B.S. being thrown around from individuals who obviously have not tested the amps side by side. Being that they are fairly cheep I have been through the dual mono Odyssey with 120,000uf and the McCormack 125.
My digital source is a Cary CD-303/200. Phono is Herron Audio VTPH-1 hooked up to a nice custom table. Interconects are Valhalla and wire is Tara. I like tube pre amps so I own 3 (so I am a bozo some times) Audible illusions 3A, Herron Audio VTSP and Lamm LL2. The amps I use the most are a pair of DeHavilland Aries. Just so you know I gave the Odyssey away to a great friend. I played and tweeked it for about a year. Real nice amp for the $$, but out of it class when compared to more serious equipment. Listen - its a great amp for under $2,500. It has serious competition within that price range - but not allot. Once you go into the 3K and a little more range a large bulk of amplifiers outclass it in 'every' area. Granted, even in the very high price arena there are dogs as in the cheeper arena there are some stars. As for the Odyssey comparing to the McCormacks -you need a 'decent' system to hear the differences. If you dont have a system that will really resolve music for you - then buy what ever you can get cheepest and buy used. If you have something that resolves music in a more refined manner you will find that the McCormacks are easyer to listen to. In the right system they both have enough slam to scare you - really, but thats volume not refinement. The McCormacks go a couple of steps deeper into he music, but you need the ancillary equipment to hear it - and that how one should make decissions. I think that the Odyssey amp can balance real nice with a 5K to 6K well picked system. McCormacks will balance well in a 7K to 12K well picked system. In a 6K and less - both amps seem to sound very much alike in all areas.
I hope this info helps -

Haven't heard the Odyssey's. But I recently modded my DNA .5 to near-Rev A status (myself). It was a dramatic difference over the stock DNA .5 Deluxe. I also upgraded my speaker crossover components (to Sonicraft caps) earlier this year. These 2 mods improved my system tremendously. I really can't imagine it getting any better than this.

Enjoy,
Bob

In my system I like the extreme oddyssey monoblock, than
krell fpb 300, than x250 pass lab, than plinius sa 100,
I compare this three amps side by side,To my ears the
extreme are more musical, more natural,bass is more
natural, the pianos are beautiful, voices are like live.
By the way I am using Andra eggleston speakers, sony 9000
es modwright signature ref,with output stage.using siltech
LS 120 gold and silver sp cable,direct to amp the cd has
built in volume control,The extreme are really really
musical, even with the thiel CS 6.My system is capable
telling the diferences mention above,I own the plinius,
Dont forget maybe the oddyssey did match my system well.
Beilieve me this amps can outperform expensive amps.

I found the McCormack 125 to be too cold for my tastes. I was comparing it to my McIntosh MC7100. The McI has great body and soul that the McC can't match. However the McC was a little more forward which was nice and the dynamics seemed a little faster. I kept the McIntosh however and am happy I did. I want to hear the Odessey but haven't in my system yet. I auditioned them and found they sounded great but I don't trust it until I have it in my system. Good luck! Arthur