Odyssey Stratos User manual

Users Manual
For Odyssey
Stratos, Khartago, Cyclops, Tempest, Candela product families.
Lorelei and Epiphony II speakers

A brief history and a short philosophical take:
Rolf Gemein can easily be described as one of the true high end audio pioneers. As early as the
mid – 70’s, he experimented with then re olutionary design aspects such as different internal
cables, different types of solders, the influence of resonance control in the amplifier chassis, etc.
In 1979, Rolf started Symphonic Line with the intention of being solely responsible for the quest of
the perfect musical “illusion “. In the years since, his incredible ear and most importantly, his
tweaking and tuning abilities and complete de otion to music, produced phenomenal international
successes as born out by dozens of product - of- the-year, consumer, and best - at - show awards.
A common practice of many high end manufacturer, due mainly to increased profitability, is to
change their products e ery year. Unfortunately, too many fellow manufacturer are using this
marketing and sales technique, which is inherently unfair to the consumers. On the other hand,
Rolf Gemein’s relentless pursuit of excellence and his philosophical approach of “e olutionary
maturing processes” of his designs produced truly world - class products such as the classic RG 1
and the Kraft Reference series of amplifiers, Die Erleuchtung tube preamplifier, and the RG 8 Gold
Cartridge, all being hailed as the ery best in the US, Europe, and Asia alike.
Odyssey Design Group, the US importer / distributor of Symphonic Line works ery closely
together with Germany in design and production. Together, we created the Odyssey Project 2
Series, a new line of products designed by Symphonic Line in Germany, and build here in the US.
When we created Odyssey, we knew that we had something ery special. After all, the Odyssey
designs were pure Symphonic Line’s, to be seen as the “little brothers” of the RG’s or Kraft
Reference’s. hi listening to the Odyssey products, you will immediately notice the familiar
smoothness, quickness, and tonality, that ha e become the hallmark sound signatures of
Symphonic Line.
What was really different, howe er, was the fact that due to se eral factors such as extremely
compact production designs, US based manufacturing, ery reasonable profit margins, and pure
luck in finding some incredibly reasonable and at the same time enthusiastic suppliers, we were
able to achie e an unbelie able price / performance factor of our products.
We achie ed all of our goals, which are:
- to become the alue leader in the true high end market
- to offer one of the ery best ser ice and upgrade policies in the business
- to share our passion for music instead of audiophile and spectacular effects
- exclusi e use of top - quality parts of high reliability
- being able to offer the same alue in our next products.
Especially on the quality and alue issues, we’ll be able to offer:
- the measuring, selecting, and matching of all output de ices
- hea y machining throughout, use of metals only, and no plastics
- no silk screening, but only engra ing
- hand - soldering of all contacts, with best a ailable sil er solder
- in - house metal finishing, and the exclusi e use of anodizing processes
- three - le el quality control at test points at 24 hrs /48 hrs burn - in, and small indi idual
listening tests before shipping on all electronics
We are very confident that the phenomenal performance, dedication, value, craftsmanship,
and service of Symphonic Line and Odyssey will create new standards in the hi h end
industry. We truly believe that ultimately Rolf Gemein’s lifelon obsession and work created
somethin that your soul will love very much. Happy listenin , and enjoy.

Before operating your Odyssey unit,
please take the time and carefully
read all safety instructions and the
entire owner's manual.
You'll be given not only information
about safety concerns and technical
specifications, but also advice as how
to optimize your system sonically, as
well as information of our efforts to
create the single best value in the
high end audio market today.

Welcome
Thank you for purchasing a product from Odyssey Designs.
Your Odyssey unit has been designed by Symphonic Line in Germany. In 1979, Rolf Gemein
started Symphonic Line with the intention of creating the perfect musical “illusion”. In the years
since, his incredible talents and complete de otion to music produced phenomenal international
successes as borne out by dozens of product - of- the - year, consumer, and best - at - show
awards.
Countless hours were spent in de eloping an extremely sophisticated circuitry that is a “world class
high end performer”, and due to its compact design, ery inexpensi e to manufacture. Your
Odyssey product is ery unique in this regard, and it pro ides the best possible alue in audio
today.
We are confident that the performance, dedication, alue, craftsmanship, and ser ice support
gi en to Odyssey products will create new standards in the high end industry. We truly belie e that
Rolf’ Gemein’s lifelong obsession and work has created something that your soul will lo e ery
much.
Happy listening, and enjoy.

Safety Instructions
1. Casework: Do not operate the unit without the outer casework, internal electrical oltages
of the unit may cause serious injuries
2. Fuses: Do not bypass any fuse in the unit. Only replace the fuses with the same type and
ratings.
3. Power Requirements: An audiophile quality power cord with a three - prong plug is
included with your Odyssey unit. To pre ent shock hazards, do not defeat the grounding plug. If
you ha e to use extension cords, make sure that cord / or outlets ha e a sufficient current of at
least 10 amps.
4. Ventilation and Temperature: Due to extensi e measures in selecting the best possible
cooling de ices, your Odyssey’s case temperature at full loads is extremely low for a high biased
solid state unit. The temperature is only slightly abo e room temperature, and thus, not too much
entilation space is needed. The unit can be positioned e en in small spaces.
5. Repairs: If a problem occurs with your Odyssey unit, do not attempt to repair it yourself.
Instead, contact Odyssey Designs your Odyssey distributor for repair ser ices.

Quality Information
The trademark of Odyssey and Symphonic Line products is uncompromising ultra – high end
performance. Manual assembly and exclusi e hand - soldering on all contacts surely enhances the
performance aspect. Your Odyssey product has been mostly hand -made. This aspect of the
manufacturing process is ery expensi e and time consuming, but ultimately, yields the best
possible returns in high performance sound qualities.
Howe er, with manual labor comes the added danger of human errors. Together with the possibility
that electrical parts can always fail at any moment, regardless of parts model, quality, or
manufacturer “this is simply the nature of the (electrical) beast”, one can easily see why quality
control becomes e en more important.
This is why we at Odyssey Designs see the quality control aspect as being so important. From the
ery beginning, we made sure that all of our designs and parts are pro en and reliable.
Lastly, we implemented a “three stage” quality control program. Nearly all problems related to
either faulty contacts or parts will become ob ious within the first hours of operation. Thus, after
completion, each unit is mo ed into a “bum-in” room, where the electronics idle for at least 48 hrs.
Within this time span, all units are measured and biased twice. Finally, after 48 hrs, e ery piece
undergoes an indi idual distortion listening check. Throughout this “QC” process, each unit is
tracked according to its serial #.
Furthermore, each step of quality control is signed - off by the technician within this owner’s
manual.

Unpackin
Please inspect your unit immediately for any possible shipping damages. Pay special attention to
the glass inserts within the front plate. They should inspected for any cracks. Immediately report
any damage to your authorized Odyssey dealer, the shipping company, or Odyssey Design Group.
Please keep the shipping materials in a safe place for possible future reuse.
Location
1. Your Odyssey unit can be installed on a shelf, table, or equipment stand. Since the Tempest
weighs in at around 35 lbs. and the Stratos at around 50 lbs, please check the strength of
your surface material. The more stable and sturdier your surface is, the better resonances
and ibrations are controlled, which also results in better performance of your stereo
system. If preferred, you can also locate the amplifier on the floor. Due to the ery effecti e
Audio Selection damping feet, pretty much all surfaces, wood, tile, carpet, etc. are
acceptable.
2. Due to the efficient design of the heatsinks of the amplifier, there is no need for a large
entilation area around your Odyssey unit. Both, the Tempest and the Stratos can be
situated in tight areas.
3. DO NOT install your Odyssey product in an excessi ely hot or humid place.
4. This product is for indoor use only.
Set-Up
1. After positioning your Odyssey unit in the desired location, connect the supplied AC power
cord into the AC receptacle. Make sure, that the AC cord is properly grounded. DO NOT
defeat the grounding pin on the AC plug.
2. Caution: Make sure that your unit is turned off before connectin input and and
output wires. Always remember to turn off your unit whenever you connect or
disconnect any cables within your system. Dependin on connected electronics and
cables, there is always a chance that your unit could be dama ed if these
precautions aren’t taken.
3. Next, connect the RCA interconnect cables into the matching RCA input connectors. For
the amplifier, connect the cables from the loudspeakers into the speaker - binding posts on
the back of the amplifier. These solid and hea y, gold-plated connectors are designed to
accomodate either bare wires, spades, or banana plugs.

Tempest preamplifier connection to Stratos Stereo power amplifier
Stratos Stereo power amplifier connection to Tempest preamplifier

Tempest preamplifier connection to Stratos Mono power amplifier
Stratos Mono power amplifier connection to Tempest preamplifier

Tempest preamplifier connection to Kharta o Stereo power amplifier
Kharta o Stereo power amplifier connection to Tempest preamplifier

Tempest preamplifier connection to Kharta o Mono power amplifier
Kharta o Mono power amplifier connection to Tempest preamplifier

Cyclops inte rated amplifier source connection

Tempest preamplifier: Basic hook up and operation:
●Tempest front panel: Big knob at left is turn on/off switch. Do not force it to go beyond when
a soft click takes place. Then unit is on (approximately a 9:00 position) or backwards is in
off position (approximately a 7:00 position). Big knob at right is olume control. Small
central knobs are for input source control: Select and Monitor. A small squared window cut
at extreme right is the IR sensor for remote olume operation if you ordered this option.
●Line inputs: Tempest has 3 line inputs plus a Monitor Loop.
●Monitor loop has two positions: Select and Tape. Select allows to listen to the source
selected by amplifier's (source) Select knob, this signal is sent to Tape Sel. Output so you
can record it or process it separately. When in Tape position it is the signal coming from a
tape deck, CD recorder or maybe another auxiliary de ice that will be heard.
●Phono inputs: Tempest has a reference grade phono preamplifier MC/MM capable. On the
back panel a switch aside phono inputs selects MM cartridge in up position and MC in
down position. Inputs at left are for MM cartridge, the pair of inputs at right are for MC
cartridge. Big screw terminal at extreme left is for connecting turntable's ground line to
preamplifier's chassis.
●Line outputs: There is a stereo output set at left extreme on preamplifier's back panel, if you
ordered a second output stereo set will be aside the main outputs.
●Connections: Always keep channels order, this is: white to white (left channel) and red to
red (right channel).
Stratos and Kharta o (stereo and mono amplifiers): Basic hook up and operation:
●Power on rocker switch is on back panel.
●If you ha e a Stratos Stereo (Basic, Plus, Extreme) or a Khartago Stereo (Basic, Plus,
Extreme) plug to it's Left and Right input jacks the cables from preamplifier or recei er's
main output or pre out or check the user manual to find how the manufacturer labeled the
ouput jacks from preamplifier or recei er.
●For Stratos and Khartago families in mono ersions follow the abo e procedure and be
careful to keep channel order. Mono amplifiers only accept one channel signal, Left or
Right.
●In all cases remember to always keep channels order, this is: white to white (left channel)
and red to red (right channel).
Cyclops inte rated amplifier: Basic hook up and operation:
●Power on rocker switch is on back panel.
●Big knob at front is control olume.
●A small squared window cut at extreme right on front panel is the IR sensor for remote
olume operation if you ordered this option.
●Cyclops integrated amplifier only has one line input stereo set, you can connect to these
inputs a stereo signal from a source component like a CD, music ser er, etc.. Remember to
always keep channels order, this is: white to white (left channel) and red to red (right
channel).
(Specifications subject to chance without previous notice)

Warm - up Operation
The following and it's related pages are intended as a general reference to the proper setup and
operation of audio equipment. E ery single audio and ideo system, Odyssey or other brands,
benefit from these simple steps, some of which are actually free and ery effecti e. A little attention
and work can go a ery long way as far as your system's performance is concerned
E en though most high-end audio equipment such as Odyssey products ha e been burned-in at
the factory for a minimum of 48 hours, there is still considerable operational time needed for your
unit to perform at its best. For enhanced sonic performance, we highly recommend you lea e your
unit on at all times until break-in is complete. The length of the break-in period is highly ariable
and dependent upon the specific product. There are specially-designed CDs, such as Reference
Recording's Test and Burn-In CD (RX1000) or the Sheffield and Purist Audio Designs PAD burn-in
CD's that contain special tracks that help with break-in. As a general rule, most equipment requires
se eral hundred hours of playing to fully break-in. There are se eral factors that determine the
extensi e length of "break-in", such as charging of capacitors, establishing the electron flow on the
PC board, cables, soldering joints, etc. External conditions, such as the power quality and stability
of your power in your listening room, the kind of music you are listening to (more or less dynamics),
and many more factors will contribute to the break-in process. It is important to note, that the more
a gi en electronic unit has been played, the smaller the audible differences get.
E en though we generalize impro ements across the board, the typical phases of break-in below
are more alid for solid state equipment, such as the Odyssey..
Within the break-in process, we distinguish four distinct phases of performance:
First eriod: After turning on your amplifier or preamplifier for the first time, the units will require a
few minutes to stabilize. The sound will be rather harsh on the higher frequencies, and the dynamic
range is rather restricted with a flat o erall presentation. This sonic signature will always be
apparent when you turn on "cold" components.
Second eriod: This stage will be reached after approximately 1-2 hours of playing time and lasts
about 3-4 days. This stage is all about the charging of the power supply, and during this time, the
dynamics, soundstaging, focus, and transients will impro e noticeably. Essentially, your unit will
start "opening up and relaxing." Howe er, please also note that the amplifiers do a "Jeckyl and
Hyde" during this time to some degree. Meaning that one day you might not ha e any bass
whatsoe er while the next day you might ha e too much of it, for example. O erall, the
presentation might be ery unstable.
Third eriod: After approximately 10-14 days of playing and being charged, the upper midrange
and highs will "smoothen out". The bass will impro e in speed and articulation with less o erhang.
The result is more e en and natural tone balance.
Fourth eriod: After about 6 weeks + of operation when left on continuously, your unit should be
ery close to being fully broken in. The sound and performance has progressi ely impro ed and
your unit will perform to it's full sonic potential.
E en after the initial break-in period, the internal components lose their charge each time the unit is
turned off. The full re-charging can take hours (and sometimes days!). Therefore, the best sonic
performance is achie ed when the components are kept fully charged at all times. This essentially
means lea ing your equipment on at all times--if you are comfortable with that arrangement. If not,
at least be aware that it will take some time for your unit to warm up and fully charge each time you
power up. These charged-based performance issues are applicable to most electronic equipment,
and are especially critical in high-end solid-state gear such as Odyssey amplifiers and
preamplifiers.

To realize ultimate performance of your audio system, fine-tuned adjustments or "tweaking" should
be considered. This can in ol e e erything from simply setting up the equipment properly to using
expensi e system-enhancing products and acoustical room treatments. We will attempt to
categorize by cost the arious options and pro ide some basic ad ice on optimizing system
performance.
In re iewing the following sections, it is important to understand that the suggested techniques and
products are system-specific. Therefore, we strongly ad ise you to audition the products before
purchasing them. Please feel free to call us and we will try to guide you through the eritable jungle
of tweak and enhancement products. E en though for the last 14 years we ha e accumulated an
extensi e database of such tweak products with the emphasis of synergy with our products. We
strongly recommend to purchase any tweaks only after an in-home trial with your own system.

No cost tweaks
The simplest, most cost-effecti e measure to the most out of your audio system is to set up the
system properly. The following offers some ad ice on set-up:
a. Component Placement: Place all of your components on as solid a surface as possible. The
hea ier and sturdier the foundation, the better. This usually means a solid equipment rack that is
spiked into the carpet or that sits squarely on the floor with no wobble. If preferred, you can also
locate the amplifier on the floor. Due to the extremely efficient design of our heat sinks, there is no
need to be concerned about any large entilation areas around the units. Both, the arious Stratos
models and the Tempest Pre-Amplifier can be situated in tight areas, but should be kept away from
excessi ely humid areas, as in the case with all audio / ideo components.
b. Power Cords: Where possible, make sure that the power cords of your components do not
o erlap anywhere. These cables carry electromagnetic fields that could interfere with each other,
and thus o erlapping could lead to "grainier" sound and other audible effects. Where cords must
cross each other, separate the cords by se eral inches using a small block of Styrofoam or wood.
c. Interconnects and Speaker Cables: The same logic used for the power cord layout applies to
interconnects and speaker cables, although to a lesser degree. E en though it is more difficult to
separate these cables without o erlapping, try to lay them out as parallel as possible. Again, the
use of Styrofoam or similar material to separate the cables is recommended. It is especially
important to make sure power cords are separated from the interconnects and speaker cables.
d. Loudspeaker Placement: Placement of speakers in your listening room is probably the single
most important aspect of proper system set-up. First, set up your speakers by following the
recommendations in your manufacturer's owners manual as close as possible. Secondly, try to
a oid ha ing your loudspeakers' dri ers "look at" reflecti e surfaces such as windows or mirrors,
especially at short distances. It is also important to try to minimize the effect of sound reflection
from the side walls to your listening position. Left unchecked, this strong reflection (technically
referred to as the first reflection point) will result in less precise imaging and "smearing" of the
soundstage. This is due to the fact that the sound reaches your ear from the reflected path slightly
later than the sound originating directly from the speaker.
If the owner's manual for your speakers does not pro ide you with any specific procedures
for speaker placement, we would like to offer a basic rule of thumb. First, measure your
room in the direction that the speakers will face (usually this is the length of the room as
opposed to the width). Di ide this distance by odd integers-- 3, 5, 7, and so on. This will
pro ide the theoretical distances that the front of the speakers should be positioned from
the back wall to minimize the effect of standing wa es that de elop within the room.
Indi idual room configurations, furniture, and other factors cause the ideal speaker
location to ary a bit from these theoretical positions, but these are usually the best points
to begin listening tests. A typical example is pro ided below:
Example: Suppose your listening room measures 15 ft. long x 12 ft. wide, and the
speakers will face the room's length-wise direction. Theoretically, the front of the speakers
should be positioned at 5 ft., 4 ft., 3 ft., etc. from the rear wall. Try a couple of these
distances as starting points and make slight adjustments as needed.

Low cost tweaks
a. De-couplin devices: Cones, spikes, or dampers nearly always help to impro e the
performance of components and the sound of your system. This is why all Odyssey products are
outfitted with $30 Audio Selection™ dampers as standard equipment, instead of cheaper glued-on
rubber feet that are ineffecti e. We can also pro ide se eral different cones and spikes from Audio
Selection™ to you, factory direct, with 50% sa ings.
b. Loudspeakers: Especially your loudspeakers will benefit greatly from cones or spikes. Most
loudspeaker manufacturers supply these de ices as part of their products, and we highly, highly
recommend using them. In the ast majority of systems, be it floorstanding or bookshelf speakers,
cones and spikes help to reduce or e en eliminate o erhang resonances from the woofers, and
thus impro e the tonality, soundstaging, and dynamics of your system.
c. Cables: Cables are important components in any audio system. When properly matched to the
system, e en relati ely inexpensi e audio cables can impro e performance. Again, synergy is the
key. Please feel free to contact us regarding your system, and we will try to gi e you the best
possible ad ice based on our 12 years of experience in the high end electronics industry.
Hi h cost tweaks
a. Cables: The degree of sound impro ement with high-end audio cables will be system-specific.
Therefore, more expensi e does not necessarily mean better performance. This is found to be
especially true when comparing the performance of ery expensi e cables. Howe er, it is
ne ertheless possible that higher price tags could mean that more expensi e design principles and
materials are incorporated in the cable. Again, talk to your dealer or call us.
b. Resonance platforms and power line conditioners: Again as a rule of thumb these products
work well, but they are also system-specific.
c. Acoustical room treatment products: There are a wide ariety of different products with
different materials, surfaces, sizes, and colors a ailable. They are all effecti e, some more and
some less. Howe er, if your budget allows e en modest treatments, you should try them.
Essentially, only your budget and your interior decorating tastes (your spouse's too!) are the limit.

Care and Maintenance
Other than the internal fuses, there are no user ser iceable parts inside your Odyssey amplifier or
preamplifier. Thus, the top co er should only be opened for checking these fuses. Any other check
up and work should be left to authorized ser ice personnel. As for checking and changing internal
fuses, see
Always turn off the unit before openin the top cover.
Your Odyssey case is made of brushed aluminum. Since the finish is anodized instead of painted,
ery minimal care and cleaning is required. Use only mild soap and a damp cloth to clean the case.
Under no circumstance should you use dripping water or fluids, or excessi ely wet cloths, since
drops of fluid can enter the inside of the case and cause serious damage to your unit. This would
also oid your warranty. Don’t use chemical solvents to clean your case.
E en though your case is made of aluminum, the fact is that aluminum is still a ery soft material,
and prone to scratch rather easily. A oid touching your Odyssey case with any sharp or pointy
objects. All ser ice work and possible upgrades are pro ided and performed by either Odyssey
Designs or by authorized ser ice personnel only. We truly stri e to gi e you the best possible
ser ice, since we know the power of a satisfied customer and the resulting “word of mouth”
ad ertising ery well. We also take great pride in pro iding the best ser ice and excellence. Our
fast and reliable ser ice offers you a high degree of peace of mind.
Call us for a cost -free maintenance check -up of your Odyssey unit.

Trouble Shootin
Should your Odyssey unit fail to operate at any time while switched on, please check the following
points carefully:
1. Check for proper power connection.
2. Switch off your Odyssey unit and check for proper connection of all input and output wires.
3. If all cables are connected properly, check the proper power connection on all of your other
components.
4. Turn on your Odyssey unit, and check the on / off switch. If it doesn’t light up, check the
external fuse, and replace this fuse with the correct alue.
5. If the switch lights up, check for the internal fuses. Turn off your unit, disconnect the power
cord, and open the top co er. Check the internal fuses and replace if necessary. (Examine
either by isual check, Volt meter, or simply by replacing all of them).This is optional and
Odyssey can’t be responsible for any damages or injuries once the topco er has been
remo ed. We recommend to ha e a trained technician perform any technical tasks.
6. If the unit still fails to work properly, please contact your authorized Odyssey distributor, or
feel free to contact us directly. More specific troubleshooting can be performed o er the
phone.

Stratos Stereo power amplifiers family
Specifications
Stratos Stereo:
base model specifications:
●2 x 150 Watts RMS @ 8 Ohms
●2 Ohm load stable
●Class A/AB
●2 - 400,000 Hz frequency range
●60,000µF memory
●45 amps current deli ery
●<0.04% THD (not audible)
●>500 continuous damping factor
●Input impedance >10kOhms
●DC offset <1 mV
●RCA & XLR (bridged) inputs
●400 VA Plitron transformer
●Sanken Epitaxial Planar Transistors 2SA1216 & 2SC2922
●Anti ibration dual thickness PCB
●Power consumption when idle ±30Watts
●4 internal fuses 250V/6.3A, 5x20mm, fast blow
●Additional electrical protection fuse
●54 lbs weight / 24.5 kg
●Dimensions: 19 width x 18 deep x 7 height (in) / 48.3 width x 45.7 deep x 17.8 height (cm)
Stratos Stereo Plus:
impro ements o er base model:
●Additional 60,000µF memory bank for 120,000µF total
●55 lbs / 25 kg weight
Stratos Stereo Extreme:
impro ements o er Plus model:
●Additional 60,000µF memory bank for 180,000µF total
●>60 amps current deli ery
●Additional 400 VA Plitron transformer for 800VA total
●Higher performance parts:
●Nichicon Muse capacitors, Vishay/Dale resistors, extra WIMA metal film capacitors
●Power consumption when idle ±35Watts
●70 lbs / 32 kg weight