As I mentioned in my Friday Highlights for the 2019 Capital Audiofest, Odyssey Audio had an absolutely beautiful room. I’m not just talking about the sound, which was indeed beautiful, but the room itself–it was dark, romantic and literally candlelit. I kept checking the back row to see if any couples were making out–if Colleen had come with me, I would have definitely pulled the old yawn-stretch-out-and-put-my-arm-around-her move. I’m only obsessing over this because as a former exhibitor I kept asking myself, “Why didn’t we ever do a room like this? This is awesome! I’m going to steal some of those candles before I head home!”
This was my first time visiting an Odyssey Audio room at a high-end audio show. Many from Part-Time Audiophile have covered Klaus Bunge’s rooms before in the same way–the sultry atmosphere, as well as the incredible value of his amplifiers and speakers. Here at CAF Klaus was showing his Liquid speakers ($5900/pair), Candela preamp ($1600) and Stratos monoblocks ($2700/pair). That’s right–around $10K for speakers, preamp and monoblock power amplifiers. I’m shocked to type those prices–I would have guessed from the sound that this system, which also included Magnan cables, Symphonic Line CD player and a VPI turntable, that this was a big, costly set-up. I’m not sure how Klaus Bunge does it.
Remember how I mentioned Jennifer Warnes’ Famous Blue Raincoat in the McGary Audio/Salk Sound room, and how I had never heard this audiophile standard before? Well, in the Odyssey Audio room Klaus played a live track, folk music performed in front of a live audience, a delicate and detailed sound that gave me goose bumps, the widest soundstage I’ve heard at the show…and it slowly dawned on me that I was listening to The Weavers’ 1963 Reunion at Carnegie Hall, another audiophile treasure. Now I have to run out and buy this too. It sounded incredible.
Klaus was dealing with some trade show bugs in the Odyssey Audio room at kept apologizing for this and that. I found that amusing since I was so mesmerized by the sound in his room, that incredible warmth and clarity and that immense soundstage width. I can’t wait to visit the Odyssey Audio room at the next high-end audio show–and I’ll be sure to bring Colleen and a nice Italian red this time.
