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Bel Canto verrsus Odyssey Stratos

I am currently using a Odyssey Audio Stratus 3HT 3 channel amp for my Center and Surround channels. I use the top of the line Odyssey Kismet monos for front R/L. I will soon be upgrading my L/R amps to some real high end pure class A monos. Logic dicates I should upgrading my 3 channel amp to keep the system balanced. There are a two considerations. First, I am mainly concerned with my center channel. Second, I do not have space for two separate big ass amps.

One option is to get the center board of my Stratos upgraded. However, there is a 2nd option I am considering.

Get the Bel Canto Ref 1000MKII for center, and get the 300S for my surround channels. This would fit nicely on a single shelf in my rack. The strenght of the Bel Cantos is in the midrange I understand, which would work real well for my center channel. Before doing this, i want to understand two things.

A - Is there any risk of the "sonic signature" of the Bel Cantos being so fundamentally different from what I am planning to get for Fronn L/R that this setup will screw up the balance of my system (I will be using pure class A amp for R/L)
B- How do the Bel Cantos compare to the Stratos? Has anyone ever compared the two. The stratos 3 channel version is the same as the standard 2 channel (with the extra channel), so a comparison in 2 channel setup sufficse.

Before I forget, I am using Revel Studios for R/L and a Kef 204c for center channel.

Thanks for any input on this.
edorr
soniqmike
140 posts
 
A few things about the Bel Canto REF 1000. I owned a pair once.

They are not without a sonic signature of course, two things from memory:

a) Emphasis on midrange at least in my system.
b) Low end maybe not as defined as with more traditional amps.

c) Absolutely NO WAY that these sound as powerfull as their 500 WATTS claimed ratings.

Still, they are cute, make no heat, and are very silent. They are a classy find for any system.

I would give them another chance personnaly as I have changed preamps.

Good luck !
soniqmike
140 posts
 
Ok, make that 3 things from memory!
magnumpi205
504 posts
 
Wyred 5 channel amp
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
"Low end maybe not as defined as with more traditional amps."

Sonicmike, that surprises me. The ref1000 mkiis in my system seem to deliver exceptionally well defined bass.

Curious were they ref1000 or ref 1000 mkii and what pre-amp and speakers used with?
jax2
3,031 posts
 
"Low end maybe not as defined as with more traditional amps."

For the record, and FWIW, my memory would support this as well. As I said, I thought the Odyssey was better at controlling the low end, and, as I recall, had more impact there. I did not feel the midrange was bumped up on my system as one person opined, but that could be a system-dependent response. My memory of them was that they were quite linear. This was the original versions though.
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