1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 1269982508

Best Match for Dynaudio Contour S3.4?

Amp Budget $2400. Peachtree Nova Preamp/DAC, Ocos II speaker cables, and a short list of amps as follows; Odyssey Stratos Mono Extremes, Spectron Musician III MkII Se, Plinius P8 (modified), Mark Levinson 331.

I loved the sound of the Plinius 9200 paired with the Dyns, but I was not using the preamp section so I sold it. Might be regretting this... But now I am seeing if I can do the same or better for under $2400.

Who has some experience with any of these combinations that could opine here about their preferences and why. I listen to a lot of soft rock and blues mostly (Steely Dan, John Mayer, Buddy Guy, SRV, etc) as well as female vocalists (from Patricia Barber to Joss Stone and Sarah Vaughan). Well recorded jazz is cool, but classical is not my thing.

Thanks!
fredorama
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Fredorama, I see on your AC thread that you're having doubts about the Odyssey amps.

Bail now.

You're going to bail on them eventually anyway.

Skip the middle step and set your sights on a Plinius or Pass Labs amps for the Dynaudio Contour S3.4 speakers. You'll be happy in the long run after the sticker shock has worn off.
fredorama OP
46 posts
 
Tvad you are right. I am calling it a day with the Odyssey experiment. I don't know at this point exactly what I am going to replace them with, but I find the Odyesseys tinny on top, a bit too fat and loose on the bottom, and the tonal balance was off for me. To get the bass where I liked it, the mids and highs were too intense at that volume. I am done tinkering. It's been three weeks. Yes the amps have gotten better, but they probably are just not a good match for my system.
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
433 posts
 
it's all fun right? Try the Pass X150.5 I think you might have a winner.
knownothing
1,298 posts
 
Fredorama,

Were the Odyssey's new? I have read they take "FOREVER" to break in fully, as much as 250 hours of use and several months, not just being turned on for a few weeks... YMMV

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/odysseyaudio_stratos.htm
bobgates
535 posts
 
Believe it or not my little Qinpu A-1.0X sounds extremely good driving my Dynaudio Contour S3.4 speakers. Also have a Musical Fidelity A3.5 and Onkyo A-9555 which both sound quite nice with this speaker.
More to discover