Good morning/Afternoon , I have all Audio Research amplification ... Phono 6 , LS27 Pre Amp and Reference 150 , my speakers are Wilson Sasha Series One , I'm finding as I get older that , although my system sounds excellent , I'm yearning for something simpler , like one box instead of three . I'm contemplating buying a Gryphon Diablo Integrated with the optional phono module and having just one box , this would also save on cabling etc and just generally tidy up the rat's nest behind my system rack . I've heard the Diablo with the Sashas in a friend's system and it sounded good , BUT , I've always been a valve guy , my last solid state amp was a Perreaux 2150B back in the ( very ) early 1980's . Am I wrong to yearn for something simpler ?? My cabling is High Fidelity CT1's , with the exception of the pre to power which is Harmonic Tech Magic Link 2 , the other upside of an integrated is I don't have to yearn for High Fidelity's balanced cable when it eventually arrives . Any thoughts / advice / ???
Ok, Boulder 866 or BAT (tube or hybrid) - BAT and Wilson are a nice combo. The phono card is surprisingly good, but not up to the Phono 6....simpler though and enjoyable. I have a friend (in Boulder oddly enough!) with that combo and a VPI Aries 3/Shelter 7000 and it sounds awfully nice.
@georgehifi , I still have the Diablo , can you believe it actually overheats driving the Sashas for extended periods such as parties ? I need an excuse for the Diablo 300 ....
I had a similar desire last year, I had a Bat 52se and ARC ref 2 phono. I managed to audition several alternatives and ended up with a used Dartzeel NHB 18 with built in phono. I have always liked tubes however the Dart improved on the sound of my ARC BAT combo. It has reduced the box count and I no longer have to fiddle around with tubes.
I think over time, once you get past the visual aspect of several high end pieces sitting in your rack and wonder if one box can deliver a satisfying presentation you are already on the road to simplifying. I have done this myself but I didn't sell off the separates, I stored them in my closet just in case I ever change my mind.
Look at the higher end rogers tube integrated. I know nothing about the particularities of wilson speakers but these were impressive when i heard them and seem to have a lit of power for a tube integrated.
"If "tube magic" is what you're somehow after, without wanting to go with tubes, I'm not so sure bi-polar driven amps is the best solution - generally speaking. I'd probably keep the sonic signature as a main priority, and then consider your grounds from here. Mosfet amps is what I'd look into to begin with, and there are likely many candidates which should face no difficulties in driving your Sasha's."
I agree. A mosfet amp would probably be a better choice. I think Pass does the best job with Mosfet's.
Never having fully understood the lust for tube sound, I will nonetheless suggest the Jeff Rowland Design Group's Continuum S2 integrated amplifier. It is powerful, compact, beautiful and delicious. I was heavily influenced by Roy Gregory's review prior to my purchase and have found no area where I would contradict him during my 10 weeks of constant use. So, while I cannot assert that it would please you, I can confidently insist that you will find it a worthy candidate if you trouble yourself to investigate.
If "tube magic" is what you're somehow after, without wanting to go with tubes, I'm not so sure bi-polar driven amps is the best solution - generally speaking. I'd probably keep the sonic signature as a main priority, and then consider your grounds from here. Mosfet amps is what I'd look into to begin with, and there are likely many candidates which should face no difficulties in driving your Sasha's.
Wanting to simplify ones setup is certainly something I can relate to (as an outset), but in your case I'd be careful no to throw out the baby with the bathwater, so to speak, "just" for the sake of simplicity. Again: I'd hold the sonic signature as a main priority, and then see if there are any integrated solutions that could accommodate your needs.
@Georgelofi , Hi George , thankyou for your informative response , I am going to try and get a home audition so will see how I go , I do agree with Zd542 that perhaps I may miss some of that ' tube magic ' but wether this is actually a quality drop I'm unsure . Regards .
Hi Chris, the MkI Sasha's they are a pig to drive and need current, and the Gryphon Diablo Integrated looks to me as though it will do that job much better that your AR Ref-150 can, this is maybe why you liked it so much.
As the Gryphon can do 250Wrms into 8ohm and 800Wrms into 2 ohms, which says to me it has bi-polar output transistors just what the Sasha's need, it can push good amounts of current into the Sasha's low impedances.
Don't compare it to the Perreaux 2150B as they are Mosfet output transistors and would have a hard time to do any where near those sorts of figures that the Diablo can do.
I think you will hear a big difference in the bass where the Sasha's load is the worst (3 ohms and –43° phase angle) and they dip even further to 2ohms but the phase angle is no so bad at that frequency.
I would stay with what you have. If you downgrade to simplify, you'll end up wanting your old system back. Its hard to accept lesser SQ than what you are used to.
I don't know if it is enough power, but VAC makes an integrated amp with phono inputs. You could also just get the audio research 20 preamp and use the built in phono, but you would still have the amps, so not as tidy.
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