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I listened to the Gryphon Diablo today , what an experience !

I just had an opportunity to audition  the Gryphon Diablo 300 at Evolution Home Theater. They have recently become the authorized Gryphon Dealer in Atlanta. First a little background.  I normally listen to my Sonus Faber Amati Tradition powered by a Plinius 9200. My music is from Tidal, played through a Cambridge  Audio Azur 851N network player or via my network hard drive. I thought that this combination sounded great and was very happy with my system until today when I heard the Gryphon.Although I expected some  improvement with Gryphon, I did not expect to be blown away by the amplifier, However after hearing the amplifier for the first time,  that is exactly what happened!The Gryphon 300 was set up to use the internal DAC with Tidal via a music server.  The speakers were the Sonus Faber Serafina’s. I had previous heard both the Amati’s and the Serafina’s  on MAC equipment and thought the Amati’s sounded significantly better on the MAC gear,When I listened today  and compared the music with my own system, I heard significant improvement with the Gryphon. The first thing I noticed was the pinpoint control the amplifier exerted on the speakers.  This was manifested by an extended frequency range with both improved  bass and treble. It seemed as though a veil or haze had been removed from the music with a marked increase in clarity, detail, and analytics.  Yet the amplifier showed no coolness or harshness and after listening for several hours to a variety of music (mostly jazz, classical, and rock) there was no evidence of fatigue. The soundstage was large, three dimensional and detailed.  It was an improvement over my Plinius in every way.It also changed the way that I look at my music system.  I used to think that it was all in the speakers and with great speakers all that was needed was a good amplifier.  I learned today that a great amplifier with very good speakers, can sound better than a good amplifier with excellent speakers.I can hardly wait until I can make the time to be able to demo the Gryphon in my own music room with my Amati speakers.
hemoncdoc
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I've heard a Gryphon Antilleon Evo Signature in high bias mode, drive the "undrive'able"  0.9ohm!!! in the bass Wilson Alexia 1's and 2's, that amp drove them as if they were a pair of Klipsch-horns, and the mids and highs were so detailed yet floating in air as if the speakers weren't in the room.
I can only hope one day that Class-D with new GaN technology can get up to this standard of reproduction in the mids and highs, and be able to drive into hard loads like the Alexia has.

Cheers George    
rel
221 posts
 
Good grief, George.  No one has uttered a word about Class D, yet you are unable to pen two sentences without subjecting us to your compulsory anti-Class D crusade!  I think it might be time to consider seeking professional help.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

No grief about it sunshine.
Just saying it, because all these inefficient, heavy, hot and expensive linear amps like the Gryphon, even though I love them now, will be dinosaur’s one day

Cheers George
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"I think it might be time to consider seeking professional help."

I'm afraid the window for that closed long time ago...RIP
hemoncdoc OP
71 posts
 
Jafant- I purchased my first Plinius, an 8200, from the current HiFi Buys in the 1990’s before they changed their name.  I believe they were in Lilburn at the time.  I still have this unit in my mountain home connected to my Thiel’s and it works flawlessly. I have been to their new store in Atlanta and listened to the Vandersteen Quattro Wood CT which I thought were very good sounding speakers. However, I thought the SF Amati’s sounded better and their appearance fit in better with the decor in our house. Also, My wife had some input into the speaker decision. While at the new HiFi Buys I briefly listened to the intergrated D’Agostino amp through some larger Vandersteen speakers. To be fair, I only listened for a few minutes to the music of the salesman’s choice.  To my ears (very subjective), I was not blown away by the overall sound as I was listening to the Diablo 300 connected to the SF Serafina’s.  I thought the combination sounded excellent, but lacked the “wow” factor I heard in the Gryphon and SF combination. I have not been to The Audio Company in Marietta.
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