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Pathos Kratos
Kratos’ name directly comes from its most important feature: power. In Greek mythology, indeed, Kratos was the god of strength, might and power.
Kratos is based on Pathos’ hybrid circuit, with tubes pre-stage and Mosfet final stage; it has 200W for each channel.
But that’s not all. Kratos’ pre-stage and final stage are clearly separated, with a prestigious pre-out and direct input to final stage; both pre-out and final stages are balanced XLR .
Warm, deep, dynamic sound
Its preamplification circuit is in pure class A; it uses Tung-Sol ECC803s tubes: sound is warm, deep, dynamic.
Final Mosfet stage in class AB is strongly polarized in class A; its great power both at 8 and 4 Ohms makes Kratos able to drive any loudspeaker.
Kratos is also headphone amplifier with a dedicated circuitry (2 W @ 32 Ω).
Design is inspired by Logos, the great Pathos’ historic product. But this is a simple aesthetic affinity: similarities stops here. Kratos hides new technical solutions which make it the leading-edge-product between non-InPol amplifiers.
Kratos’ basic features (5 RCA, 2 balanced XLR, digital display, remote-controlled functions) could be improved by a DAC (optional).
Thanks to the optional DAC module featuring the HiDac Mk2 board, Kratos will be able to receive all your music from your PC by USB or from a digital source by S/PDIF.
Dealers selling Pathos near you
Authorized dealers for Pathos Kratos
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Art & Voice — online (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Solutions — online and in-store — Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (website)
- Audio Zaal — online and in-store — Binnenstad, Utrecht, Netherlands (website)
- Auditorium — in-store — Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg, Germany (website)
- COMMERCIAL ELECTRONICS — online and in-store — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (website)
- George Meyer AV — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
and 25 more verified dealers
Pathos Kratos — muscular, musical hybrid integrated amplifier
The Pathos Kratos blends a tube-class-A preamp with a high-current MOSFET power stage to offer both warmth and authority. Its hybrid design yields a detailed midrange, a lively treble with natural top-end presence, and focused transient impact that easily drives demanding speakers. Imaging is expansive and three-dimensional, revealing fine microdynamics and clear separation of vocals and instruments. The chassis and heatsink treatment project premium craftsmanship, while extensive I/O — including balanced XLRs, multiple RCAs, preouts and a powerful headphone stage — make the Kratos a versatile hub for serious systems. As noted by Alan Sircom at hi-fi+, this amplifier pairs brute strength with musical refinement, suiting listeners who want big-room dynamics without sacrificing tonal fidelity. Its combination of features and performance positions it as a compelling high-end choice.
Pros
- Exceptionally musical hybrid sound: tube preamp warmth with solid-state transparency, delivering detailed mids and natural highs.
- High dynamic authority and transient control — enough power and headroom to drive difficult loudspeakers with ease.
- Wide, three-dimensional soundstage and precise imaging that preserves microdynamic cues and instrumental separation.
- Comprehensive connectivity and a robust headphone amplifier make it a versatile centerpiece for varied systems.
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Cons
- Front-panel ergonomics and remote control are not intuitive — several unlabelled buttons complicate everyday use.
- Headphone socket is awkwardly placed and lacks a balanced output option preferred by upscale headphone users.
- Some finish/handling roughness on the heatsinks when physically moved or tapped, revealing minor fit-and-finish caveats.
Sound Quality
91/100
Dynamics
92/100
With 200Wpc class-AB power and MOSFET outputs, the Kratos shows exceptional transient performance and authority—reviewer comments like 'this thing could arm-wrestle a tree!' and 'outstanding transient performance' back its strong dynamic control. It handles difficult speakers and delivers impactful slam and headroom relative to its high-power class.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
The Kratos projects a convincing three-dimensional soundstage with good depth, height and instrument/singer separation ('each singer...has his own three-dimensional space'). Review notes emphasize precise microdynamic cues and a wide, stable presentation that stays engaging and focused.
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Build Quality
87/100
Construction is solid and substantial (35kg chassis) with attractive heatsinks and a premium aesthetic, but the reviewer notes some roughness if you handle the heatsinks and minor user-friendliness issues (remote and unlabeled buttons). Overall craftsmanship and component choices appear high-quality, though there are small ergonomic/finish caveats.
Features Connectivity
92/100
Features are comprehensive: five RCA inputs, two balanced XLR line inputs, balanced XLR preouts, and a capable headphone amp (3.3W @16Ω). Optional HiDac Mk2 module adds USB and SPDIF/optical digital inputs/DAC capability; presence of balanced I/O, preouts and the headphone stage plus an included remote justify a high features score.
Value for Money
90/100
Despite a premium price (~€10,995), the review explicitly states the Kratos often out-performs considerably more expensive designs and praises its combination of refinement and power, implying the asking price is justified. Review language supports a 'worth it' / justified premium assessment in its competitive segment.
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