Hi,
I am trying to decide between a parasound Classic 2250 and a Odyssey Stratos Plus. They will be behind a NAD t785 and will power Dynaudio Audience 82 which is a notoriously hard to drive 3 way speaker. My NAD receiver is rated at 120 wpc. However it does not drive the fronts well enough. Most of the forum members tend to prefer Odyssey and I'm wondering if the extra 100 watts of power coming from the parasound 2250 will make a noticeable difference over the 150 wpc that the Odyssey is rated at. Will the Odyssey be a significant improvement from a similar reated top of the line NAD receiver? I understand that in the case of these speakers current delivery is more important than the wattage but both amps seem to have the same current delivery as per the specs given below (45 amps). I tend to listen to electronic music mostly so drive and punch are important. However I am generally opposed to bright amps and prefer warm sound with detailed mids. Please see the specs below and help me understand what they mean in a real world sense. Ultimately which of the two amps would you recommend for my setup? Unfortunately demos of both are not possible side by side. On paper it makes more sense to upgrade to a 250 watt per channel amp but paper seems to be very different that listening in the world of audio.
Thanks a ton for all your help.
For the Parasound 2250
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Both Channels Driven
250 watts x 2, 8 ?
385 watts x 2, 4 ?
250 watts x 2, 2 ?
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Bridged Mono
600 watts, 8 ?
600 watts, 4 ?
Current Capacity
45 amps peak per channel
Frequency Response
20 Hz - 50 kHz, +0/-3 dB, 1 watt
Dynamic Headroom
1.6 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.02% at full rated output
0.015% at average listening levels
IM Distortion
0.05 %
Transient IM Distortion
Not measurable
S/N Ratio
114 dB at rated output, IHF A-weighted
106 dB at rated output, unweighted
93 dB at 2.828 V output, IHF A-weighted
84 dB at 2.828 V output, unweighted
Input Impedance
33 k ?
Input Sensitivity
1 V for 28.28 V out, THX standard
Inter-Channel Crosstalk
85 dB, 1 kHz
73 dB, 10 kHz
67 dB, 20 kHz
Damping Factor
Over 150 at 20 Hz
Auto Turn On - DC
9 - 12V, 15 mA
Auto Turn On - Audio
1.2 mV - 12 V, adjustable
15 minute turn off delay
AC Power Requirement
110 - 120 V / 220 -240 V, 50 - 60 Hz
3 watts standby; 1000 watts full output
Dimensions
17-1/4" Wide
18.5" Deep
6" High with feet, 5.25" without feet
Net Weight
43 lbs, 19.6 kg
Rack Mount Accessory
May be Purchased Separately
RMK33
For the Odyssey Stratos Plus
Stratos Stereo:
base model specifications:
$1,195 USD
2 x 150 Watts RMS @ 8 Ohms
2 Ohm load stable
Class A/AB
2 - 400,000 Hz frequency range
60,000F memory
45 amps current delivery
<0.04% THD (not audible)
>500 continuous damping factor
Input impedance 22K ohms
DC offset <1 mV
RCA & XLR (bridged) inputs
400 VA Plitron transformer
Sanken Epitaxial Planar Transistors 2SA1216 & 2SC2922
Anti vibration 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:
improvements over base model:
$ 1,400 USD
Additional 60,000F memory bank for 120,000F total
55 lbs / 25 kg weight
For the existing NAD
SPECIFICATIONS
POWER AMPLIFIER SECTION
Minimum continuous Power (FTC) Power output, Stereo Mode
Simultaneous Full Disclosure Power
IHF dynamic power, 8? IHF dynamic power, 4? IHF dynamic power, 2? Rated THD
IM distortion, rated power Damping factor, 8? Input sensitivity and impedance Frequency response Signal/Noise ratio
PREAMPLIFIER SECTION
Input sensitivity and impedance Frequency response Signal/Noise ratio
AM BAND Frequency range
Usable sensitivity Signal/Noise ratio Total Harmonic Distortion Loop sensitivity 20dB S/N
FM BAND Usable sensitivity, Mono Signal/Noise ratio, Mono Signal/Noise ratio, Stereo
200W
170W (ref. 4/8?, both channels driven at rated distortion)
7 x 120W (ref. 4/8?, all channels driven at rated distortion)
250W 400W 600W <0.08% (ref. 20Hz 20kHz) <0.08%
>60 330mV / 50k? 0.8dB (ref. 20Hz 20kHz) >92dB (ref. rated power, 8?, A-weighted) >82dB (ref. 1W, 8?, A-weighted)
350mV / 50k? 0.5dB (ref. 20Hz 20kHz) >88dB (ref. 2V, A-weighted)
530kHz - 1710kHz (120V version only, 10kHz steps)
531kHz - 1602kHz (230V version only, 9kHz steps)
30dBu >38dB <3% 66dBu
<16.1dBf 60dB 55dB
Total Harmonic Distortion, Mono Total Harmonic Distortion, Stereo Channel Separation, 1 kHz Frequency response
RDS decode sensitivity
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Dimensions (W x H x D) Net Weight Shipping Weight
0.25% 0.5% 40dB
1.5dB (ref. 30Hz 15kHz) 28dBu
435 x 190 x 431mm (Gross*) 20.8kg 25.7kg
* Gross dimensions include feet, extended buttons and rear panel terminals. Note: Installers should allow a minimum clearance of 55mm for wire/cable management.
I am trying to decide between a parasound Classic 2250 and a Odyssey Stratos Plus. They will be behind a NAD t785 and will power Dynaudio Audience 82 which is a notoriously hard to drive 3 way speaker. My NAD receiver is rated at 120 wpc. However it does not drive the fronts well enough. Most of the forum members tend to prefer Odyssey and I'm wondering if the extra 100 watts of power coming from the parasound 2250 will make a noticeable difference over the 150 wpc that the Odyssey is rated at. Will the Odyssey be a significant improvement from a similar reated top of the line NAD receiver? I understand that in the case of these speakers current delivery is more important than the wattage but both amps seem to have the same current delivery as per the specs given below (45 amps). I tend to listen to electronic music mostly so drive and punch are important. However I am generally opposed to bright amps and prefer warm sound with detailed mids. Please see the specs below and help me understand what they mean in a real world sense. Ultimately which of the two amps would you recommend for my setup? Unfortunately demos of both are not possible side by side. On paper it makes more sense to upgrade to a 250 watt per channel amp but paper seems to be very different that listening in the world of audio.
Thanks a ton for all your help.
For the Parasound 2250
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Both Channels Driven
250 watts x 2, 8 ?
385 watts x 2, 4 ?
250 watts x 2, 2 ?
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Bridged Mono
600 watts, 8 ?
600 watts, 4 ?
Current Capacity
45 amps peak per channel
Frequency Response
20 Hz - 50 kHz, +0/-3 dB, 1 watt
Dynamic Headroom
1.6 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.02% at full rated output
0.015% at average listening levels
IM Distortion
0.05 %
Transient IM Distortion
Not measurable
S/N Ratio
114 dB at rated output, IHF A-weighted
106 dB at rated output, unweighted
93 dB at 2.828 V output, IHF A-weighted
84 dB at 2.828 V output, unweighted
Input Impedance
33 k ?
Input Sensitivity
1 V for 28.28 V out, THX standard
Inter-Channel Crosstalk
85 dB, 1 kHz
73 dB, 10 kHz
67 dB, 20 kHz
Damping Factor
Over 150 at 20 Hz
Auto Turn On - DC
9 - 12V, 15 mA
Auto Turn On - Audio
1.2 mV - 12 V, adjustable
15 minute turn off delay
AC Power Requirement
110 - 120 V / 220 -240 V, 50 - 60 Hz
3 watts standby; 1000 watts full output
Dimensions
17-1/4" Wide
18.5" Deep
6" High with feet, 5.25" without feet
Net Weight
43 lbs, 19.6 kg
Rack Mount Accessory
May be Purchased Separately
RMK33
For the Odyssey Stratos Plus
Stratos Stereo:
base model specifications:
$1,195 USD
2 x 150 Watts RMS @ 8 Ohms
2 Ohm load stable
Class A/AB
2 - 400,000 Hz frequency range
60,000F memory
45 amps current delivery
<0.04% THD (not audible)
>500 continuous damping factor
Input impedance 22K ohms
DC offset <1 mV
RCA & XLR (bridged) inputs
400 VA Plitron transformer
Sanken Epitaxial Planar Transistors 2SA1216 & 2SC2922
Anti vibration 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:
improvements over base model:
$ 1,400 USD
Additional 60,000F memory bank for 120,000F total
55 lbs / 25 kg weight
For the existing NAD
SPECIFICATIONS
POWER AMPLIFIER SECTION
Minimum continuous Power (FTC) Power output, Stereo Mode
Simultaneous Full Disclosure Power
IHF dynamic power, 8? IHF dynamic power, 4? IHF dynamic power, 2? Rated THD
IM distortion, rated power Damping factor, 8? Input sensitivity and impedance Frequency response Signal/Noise ratio
PREAMPLIFIER SECTION
Input sensitivity and impedance Frequency response Signal/Noise ratio
AM BAND Frequency range
Usable sensitivity Signal/Noise ratio Total Harmonic Distortion Loop sensitivity 20dB S/N
FM BAND Usable sensitivity, Mono Signal/Noise ratio, Mono Signal/Noise ratio, Stereo
200W
170W (ref. 4/8?, both channels driven at rated distortion)
7 x 120W (ref. 4/8?, all channels driven at rated distortion)
250W 400W 600W <0.08% (ref. 20Hz 20kHz) <0.08%
>60 330mV / 50k? 0.8dB (ref. 20Hz 20kHz) >92dB (ref. rated power, 8?, A-weighted) >82dB (ref. 1W, 8?, A-weighted)
350mV / 50k? 0.5dB (ref. 20Hz 20kHz) >88dB (ref. 2V, A-weighted)
530kHz - 1710kHz (120V version only, 10kHz steps)
531kHz - 1602kHz (230V version only, 9kHz steps)
30dBu >38dB <3% 66dBu
<16.1dBf 60dB 55dB
Total Harmonic Distortion, Mono Total Harmonic Distortion, Stereo Channel Separation, 1 kHz Frequency response
RDS decode sensitivity
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Dimensions (W x H x D) Net Weight Shipping Weight
0.25% 0.5% 40dB
1.5dB (ref. 30Hz 15kHz) 28dBu
435 x 190 x 431mm (Gross*) 20.8kg 25.7kg
* Gross dimensions include feet, extended buttons and rear panel terminals. Note: Installers should allow a minimum clearance of 55mm for wire/cable management.