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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
hemoncdoc OP
71 posts
 
Pgaulke60- I am sorry to hear you are caught up in this government fiasco.  All of our elected federal politicians should be ashamed at how they are treating the people who elected them.  It is as though they look at it as a game of chicken, but they are not the ones suffering the consequences.  I think this country would be better off if we throw them all out of office and started all over again. However, I still believe we have the best politicians money can buy!Audio Doctor- I interpreted your initial post  as nothing but constructive.  I was sorry when you removed it because it was quite informative.  Right now, I am looking for an integrated SS amplifier that will make my Sonus Faber Amati’s sing.  My Plinius 9200 does a very good job of driving these speakers, but I am now looking for better sound.  I was able to listen to the slight smaller SF Serafina’s with the Gryphon Diablo 300 and was blown away by how much better it sounded then my Plinius/Amati combination. I do understand that cost wise it is an apples to oranges comparison.    I am certainly open to any and all suggestions for SS integrated.  I am somewhat limited living in Metro Atlanta to what I will be able to hear. I did briefly listen to the D’Agostino (different dealer, room, source, speakers, cables, etc..). Not a fair comparison for the amps alone, but I did prefer the sound of the Gryphon/SF system.  However, your expertise and experience far exceeds mine in the audio world and I have not taken your recommendations lightly.  It is obvious that you have had the opportunity to evaluate many more brands then I have. Now, if I can only find a dealer to listen to these amps locally.  Prior to purchase I will need to listen to the amp in my home on my system.  By the way,  I am a BMW fan.  I own several of them.
denon1
329 posts
 

Hemoncdoc, I currently have SF Amati Tradition. Great speaker for sure, to my surprise it disappears better than Serafino that I also had in my home for almost a year. And guess what drove Serafino - Gryphon Diablo 300. Yes great integrated, in different league from plinius 9200. I had all pliniuses with exception of latest Ref. A-300. Great amps for a money, but lacking air and refinement  in compare with other like latest pass, Sim audio, GAmut monos. I had to sell Gryphon about 8 months ago for financial reasons. Since that I had luxman 509x - good integrated but no match to gryhpon or pass int-250 that I currently have.Pass int-250 is great integrated, but Gryphon was  better with better micro details, dynamics and articulation, pass has bigger soundstage and midrange is more bloomy.

Keep in mind that Gryphon Diablo 300 is a little on dark side ( like very good dark chocolate) not warm so, but a little dark, so even it will greatly drive Sonus Faber but,I personally think that the even greater match for Amati will be high current /high power, low noise  fast and refined amplification like Dagostino progression, or Sim audio 870A, or class A/B Rowland (may be 625 S2) or T+A (may be).  I am not mentioning ultra high end brands or tubes since I don't have any expose with them. Couple dealers I know swear by T+A 31000HV integrated and I considering it strongly, but I will not proceed (at this level is a requirement) without home demo that so far I can't arrange. So for now I'm staying with pass.

hemoncdoc OP
71 posts
 
Denon1- thank you for sharing your experience.  It is very helpful.  Especially since I am following a similar path to one you have already traveled.  Have you actually heard any of your recommended amps with the Amati’s?  Just curious. There is a dealer listed for T+A in Atlanta. However, when I called they had no T+A integrated in stock (3100HV). Unfortunately, I do not have the space to consider separates in my listening space.  I really do appreciate your input.
denon1
329 posts
 
Hemoncdoc, always glad to share. From those I mentioned I only heard the progression and not in my system, but also with Amati.
I also really prefer integrated path. But the Momento integrated out of my reach. Another one that you may to consider is Vitus integrated. I heard it driving rockport speakers and think it will be sideway move from Pass. Yes Gryphon  should be good, but based on my own hands on with Diablo and Sonus Faber I don’t think it’s the best match. Gryphon is a great match for speakers like Magico.
So if we exclude separates and tubes it’s leaves the pass int-250 that much better than what you have now and T+A. Btw I had Plinius Hiato also, pass int-250 is better and it also better ( to my ears) than gamut 150le that I also had.
Bass with Amati and pass is tight, deep and multilayered-great.
The area I see for improvement is top end should be more airy, and dynamics little  more articulated. The midrange is great so.
One thing l’m very happy with are the Sonus Faber Amati Tradition speakers They are not going anywhere for a long time.
nyev
1,022 posts
 
Denon1,

Would you be able to expand on what you mean when you say the Diablo is a bit “dark”?  Others have said this and yet others have said they wouldn’t characterize it as such.  By dark do you mean warm-ish, but not quite warm?

The Diablo is on the top of my candidate list to pair with my B&W 803’s and I will be auditioning shortly.

thanks
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