Best match for Gershman Black Swans


Hello to all my fellow music lovers,

Just managed to buy a pair of Gershman Black Swans (upgraded from Gershman Avant Gardes) and am currently driving them with Odyssey Audio Stratos mono blocks (180 wpc Class A/AB).  While the speakers sound good, I am wondering if I am doing full justice to them.  Hence, I am seeking some input on possible good matches for the Black Swans.  Currently considering Pass Labs mono blocks (160.8) or the PS Audio BHK 300 mono blocks.  Open to other suggestions (Parasound, Mark Levinson, Classe, etc.).  Thanks in advance for your suggestions.  Happy listening!
mrajan
Changing from the Odyssey amps to something else is a sideways move! The Odyssey amps are the same circuit design as the expensive made-in-Germany Symphonic Line amps. I have a single Odyssey stereo amp, which does sound quite excellent! 
VAC and darTZeel are great pairings with Gershman Acoustics. Your speakers will absolutely scale with electronics; improvements over Odyssey exist if you want them.

Cheers,
Colin

Gershman Acoustics dealer
https://gestalt.audio
Odyssey amps are excellent amps. What you need to research are what amps have AMAZING synergy with your speakers.
I agree gochurchgo but the key is how to determine synergy without actually listening.  I called the Gershmans and they said any of the amps I am considering should be a good fit with the Black Swans! They also told me that I should just stick with the Stratos mono blocks if they sounded good!!
Changing from the Odyssey amps to something else is a sideways move! The Odyssey amps are the same circuit design as the expensive made-in-Germany Symphonic Line amps.
A much different conclusion here. In the early 2000’s, I read hints/rumors of the incredible Symphonic Line products. A few years ago, I saw an SL amp for sale. It was the bottom of the SL amp product line, the model RG-11, an early version from the late 1990’s. The price was impossible for me to pass up. I bought this amp to be used to drive surround HT channels as I was hunting for a "budget" amp with the focus on detail. This was the one quality I read about the SL product line. I put it in the HT setup and never moved it after. Until .......

A year later, two years ago, I tried a current Odyssey stereo amp, not the top model, in the main music system in the basement. The result with the Odyssey was surprisingly dimensionally flat and closed-in. How could this be? It was supposed to be a "Symphonic Line clone". Wow, was the SL product line not so good after all? Did I make a mistake on the RG-11 purchase? It made me think that I should have evaluated the RG-11 in the music system rather than just throw it in the HT setup and not think about it again. That was one of the rare times that I had not done a serious audio product evaluation following a purchase.

My test was ruthless with the very hard to drive Sonus Faber Amati Futura and Sound Lab A1 speakers. I have run many amps through my systems to see how they handle such demanding speakers. I pulled the RG-11 out of the HT setup and put it in the music system. I was pleasantly surprised. The SL amp’s tonal coherency was impressive. It did a fairly good job with portrayal of space. And it was driving the SF speakers quite well to a moderate sound level, but the bass output was clearly lacking. The Odyssey drove the speakers to the same moderate level before the speakers’ demands kicked in, but sonically it was not remotely close to the RG-11’s performance. I truly expected quite the opposite. So much for using "the same circuit", even 15 + years!

Why do so many amps, often much more power output, fail miserably while this baby of the family RG-11 does so well? Rolf G. of SL clearly does something magical in his designs. His design specs show some serious current output. But this can only be part of the magic. I still owe the RG-11 seller a steak dinner. What an awesome find!

I have since purchased a new version SL RG-1 amp and this takes the performance of the older RG-11 up a notch or two. The degree of improved "openness" brought on by the RG-1 was truly impressive; this level of improvement/refinement was not expected. The biggest take away was the clarity. No doubt the added current drive allowed it to bring out more of the potential of both speakers. The SF’s bass performance was much much better. The RG-1 does not have a big and bold presentation of the larger BAT amps I use, nor the explosive dynamic contrasts of the CAT amps, but the clarity was a noticeable strength of this new RG-1. And the RG-1 is only the next model up in the SL amp line. Oh my, to hear the RG-4 or Kraft amps! I can only dream for now. Sadly the Odyssey just didn’t come close here....I don’t care what any reviewer writes.

Mrajan, you are looking to spend a lot on new amps. I am not convinced that is necessary. I live in the twin cities metro. If you were near, you could come over and pick up the two SL amps and try them out for yourself. This would allow you to hear what you are missing in the lower-priced amps class. Otherwise, keep your eyes out for killer deals on the SL amps. Contact Klaus at Odyssey as he is the SL importer. He might have a great deal on a used/demo SL amp. Try it out!

John
I didn't catch what preamp you are using.  Upgrading a preamp can bring huge benefits to the overall quality of a system.  I learned this many years ago when I was in my Naim phase.  I went to the dealer asking about an amp upgrade and he suggested listening to an upgraded preamp and I was amazed.  Everything i previously associated with a better amp was manifested in the preamp upgrade.  So don't overlook it as all I'm saying.  A good preamp is more than just inputs and a volume control.  
Thank you jafox and chayro.  I did speak with Klaus and he asked me to send my Stratos mono blocks after the Christmas season; he promised to look them over, recap them and do whatever additional modifications he sees fit.  So, I might go that route.  Had a one-on-one consultation with Jay (whitecamaross) and he recommended the Parasound JC1+.  So, considering that as well.  My preamp is BAT Vk5i (quite happy with it but may consider replacing that component at some later point in time).  Thanks again for your comments🙏