B&K ST2140 or Odyssey Stratos 150?

Consider buying used B&K amps, especially mono blocks. For example M200 Sonatas. They have a warm tuble like sound, can drive anything, very high current 150 amp peak and are very inexpensive. I've seen them sold for as little as $550. IMHO your quality of sound per $ is extaordinarily high.

I don't own an Odyssey product, but I hang out on boards where Odyssey owners are.

I don't think there's a vendor or designer or manufacturer anywhere in the world who is held in higher regard by his customers than Klaus Bunge. You don't have to worry about getting screwed on an Odyssey product - and the resale value is phenomenal.

If it's in your budget, I don't see how you can go wrong with a Stratos.

I concur with everybody on this thread. If you like a warm sound and the money is tight, B&K is wonderful for the money. I have a ST140 (precursor of the 2140) and have used it in my system for 9 years. I just replaced it this spring with a used B&K, EX4420 (225/channel) for $600 used (money is tight for me). The sound is a little less warm but is still sweet and certainly slightly more transparent. I am happy with my choice.

You might want to give Klaus a call, from what I've heard and read, if he does not think the rest of your system, he actually may recommend another product. It should be noted that the Stratos is supposed to have an entirely different sound, being very transparent and quick. It really is about what you might prefer. The Stratos is also supposed to have a very long burn in period. YMMV. I have never heard the Stratos, so I cannot speak from personal experience.

Good luck.

Go B&K if you like mid-fi.

Go Odyssey Stratos if you want one of the best sounding solid state amps at any price. Powerful to drive most speakers and very fast.

Check out the reviews on the stratos. TAS golden ear award, IAR second best solid state amp in 1998, etc., etc..

No I have not heard the stratos nor the B&K, but I did come this ----><---- to purchasing a pair of Stratos monoblocks so I did some homework on them.

Whether preamp or amp, B&K is always surrounded by and compared to other mid-fi mfg'er's components i.e. yamaha, pioneer, denon, etc., and don't always win those contests.

Nothing wrong with that except the Stratos (from all that I know) simply is in a different league.

$1000 for one Stratos or $2000 for monoblock pair. Plus 20 year warranty.

-IMO

Stehno hasn't heard the ST140, or the M200s, so his quick use of the mid-fi tag seems fairly liberal to me. These are super amps, and as Upstateaudio pointed out, they do differ (in my opinion, significantly) from the newer B&K's. If someone believes B&K to sound like Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer, especially without an audition (not a unique opinion), I suggest they form an opinion on something other than price or hearsay. Especially with respect to the older amps.

My one point of caution is that the (current) ST2140 has low current and low damping factor. I second the recommendation that you consider a McCormack, just for comparables - I've owned both B&K and McCormack, and couldn't recommend one over the other for you, as they are different, but both can provide great sound with huge value.