The Absolute Sound Issue#195: Odyssey Audio Khartago Stereo Amplifier

 

For the past six months I’ve been using the superb $40k Soulution 710 stereo and $115k 700 monoblock solid-state amplifiers from Switzerland in my system—the latter the same amp with which Magico triumphantly debuted its M5 speakers at CES this past January. I’ll be reviewing the Soulution electronics in an upcoming issue, but I can already tell you they’ll get a rave. I’ve never heard any amplifier, tube or solid-state, as low in noise and high in transparency as these Swiss numbers. With a suitably transparent speaker like the MartinLogan CLX or the Magico M5 and a suitably transparent front end like the Walker Black Diamond or the AAS Gabriel/Da Vinci (both fitted out with the Da Vinci Grandezza cartridge), it’s as if the electronics aren’t in the system. And their disappearing act makes the disappearing act of the front end and the back end that much more complete. That’s what transparency of this order buys you in an amplifier or preamplifier—less of the physical and electronic presence of all of your gear, more of the presence of the music, the musicians, and (sigh) the recording and mastering engineers. 

Why am I talking about the Soulution amplifiers in a review of Odyssey gear? Because I heard about both from solid-state-amp connoisseur Alon Wolf of Magico. I wasn’t a bit surprised when he recommended the Soulution 700s—they cost a fortune and had a helluva reputation for excellence. But I was surprised when he suggested that I also give a listen to a little amp called the Odyssey Khartago. First of all, I’d never heard of Odyssey, though, as it turns out, the company’s been around for a decade, and second…well, I’ll get to that in a moment. 

For the full review: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-195-odyssey-audio-khartago-stereo-amplifier/
 
Power: 110Wpc RMS @ 8 ohms
Current: 40 amps
Damping factor: >500 continuous damping factor
Inputs: One pair RCA
Weight: 30 lbs.
Dimensions: 18" x 18.5" x 4"
Price: RM6,500