I know, but Odyssey's amps are extremely good, despite their marketspeak.

Basically, Klaus Bunge obtained the U.S. distribution rights to a well-regarded German design, and has added his own, er, creative descriptions. Apparently, this *helps* sales more than hurts them.

They *do* have a slightly different sonic signature when left on continuously in standby mode, than if they are constantly power-cycled, though the effect is not nearly as extreme as described.

I've seen other companies guilty of such non-technical gobbledygook despite making a sound product. In fact, it appears to be du regeur in the "high end" -- look at any review of a high end component when it comes to subjective opinion. This may be pure garbage, to sway, a purchaser of somehting as "high end", and therefore esoterically described, but a piece of garbage nevertheless. Or, it may be there to *help* sell a decent product with high-end aspirations but a mid-fi price (the Stratos Plus sells for around US$1200).

Klaus claims he wants to sell high-quality equipment on a mid-fi budget, IIRC, so I suspect he includes some "high end voodoo speak". He also sells expensive interconnect cables. That doesn't mean I'd buy them, but if the profits on cables help keep the amp prices down, I'm all for it.

I can state however, unequivically, that the Stratos Plus is an overbuilt Class A/AB design, that performs excellently in my system, and is a steal at $1200.

The six week break in market speak does work against the 30 day return policy, but if, like me , you see the market speak for what it is, you'll try one and send it back if you don't like it within a weak or two, knowing that it doesn't really take six weeks to settle down. The only real downside to auditioning one is that it is heavy at 54 lbs. and ground shipping both ways (at least to Monroe, WA) is around $120 by UPS.

Upgrades are, by the way, *free*, in the sense that the cost of the upgrade is equal to the difference in price. There is the nagging shipping cost to deal with.

Bottom line: if the Odyssey were as poor or over-hyped as the market speak might suggest, it would not carry a 20 year warranty. I'm as fond of mine as I am of my 990.