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Old 06-10-2018, 11:18 AM
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GreginNH1 GreginNH1 is offline
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Default Gryphon Diablo 300 - Initial Impressions

I have been intrigued by this integrated since it was first released but as many others have stated in the past, the absence of a US importer and US-based warranty service was a non-starter for me. With the announcement of a US distributor made last year, the OCD kicked in. My hobby turned into an obsession a few years ago and the constant search for something a bit better has led me in a few directions – especially over the last two years.

I am very happy with my source components, cables, wires, racks and speakers. I have also spent a fair amount time with room acoustics.
Last month, I decided to give the Gryphon a try based on some recommendations from a selling dealer who is familiar with and sells the gear I had prior to ordering the Gryphon.

The Wait – These units are not sitting on a shelf in Los Angeles so I had to wait for the incoming allotment. The Diablo 300 was supposed to ship the week after I ordered it but the logistics related to the Munch Hi-End audio show somehow impacted the timeline. The good news was that I still could listen to my Ayre AX-5 Twenty (which I would be trading in) until the Gryphon arrived. I received notification and a tracking number a couple of weeks later.

The Arrival – The Gryphon was sent to my office on a pallet. It was shipped in a nifty wooden box with clips that keep sides, bottom and top together. Two of the clips were missing though – apparently scraped off in transit from Denmark to Los Angeles.

Setting Up - Of course, I was too stubborn to wait for some help to unload my new toy. It weighs about 120 pounds in the crate and I didn’t want to take a chance taking it out and bringing it upstairs by hand – I already tore a meniscus last year doing that with my Esoteric K-01X! So, I strap it on the hand truck and lug it up the stairs. Unboxing was so easy with the clip system and I simply slid it out – no heaving awkward lifting out of the box! The white gloves supplied with the amp were a nice touch but I decided to keep them in the plastic bag. The remote is a work of art and the owner’s manual is a very well prepared binder.

Since I had a little concern with the heat generation as well as ease of installation, I chose to put the amp on the top of the rack. I connected the Gryphon to the Esoteric K-01X and KEF Blade 2s. The moment of truth was finally here! There is a small toggle switch under the front panel to energize the unit– it’s hard to find initially but it stays in the “On” position anyway once found. The On/Off touch screen or the remote turns the amp on and the message “Initializing” scrolls across the screen. Default volume level at start up is always 00 however it can be programmed to start at any volume level. You can also assign names to the sources – something I have not yet done.

The Sound – Oh my! The most significant and immediate improvement was the level of authoritative bass. It was clean and thunderous. The soundstage created by the Diablo 300 was much, much wider and deeper than that of my Ayre AX-5 Twenty. It was actually quite shocking to hear what the Gryphon had brought to the table in just the first 5 minutes of listening. I was expecting a slight improvement (having learned painfully about the diminishing returns at this level) but I got way more than what I expected. I continued to listen to the Diablo 300 well into the wee hours of the night. I was amazed with the detail, finesse and thunder that this amp produced. New sounds and detail from my Reference Tracks magically appeared. It seemed as if I was part of the live audience. On certain tracks, my Bengal Cat actually looked around, thinking there were other people in the room – he is always up in my Audio room and it’s always amusing to see how he reacts to my new gear!

100 Hour Mark – The fun thing about the Diablo 300 is that I have been hearing incremental improvements during the first 100 hours. Unlike other components I have owned, there were never any times where it sounded bright, edgy or awkward during the break in. The sonic signature is difficult to describe. It is neither dark nor bright. It has a tremendous amount of detail and reveals the minute aspects of a recording. The soundstage and imaging is the best I have heard with my room configuration and the KEF Blade 2s. I have been told that the amp will continue to mature and improve. I am looking forward to that.

Negatives – I really can’t think of anything negative. I know some people on this forum don’t like the looks of this integrated. It certainly can’t be mistaken for anything else! I have always been partial to silver colored gear but I figured that the aesthetic compromise was worth the sonic improvement. Also, a slight negative – it does put out some heat. I have not measured it yet but after 8 hours, I can keep my hand on the heat sinks for no more than 3 seconds. This will be a positive when I do most of my listening in the cold New Hampshire winters! I think it puts out slightly more heat that my Luxman L590 AX and Accuphase E-600 amps (both Class A) but not much more.

I know that my “journey” has provided great amusement and financial enrichment for some on this forum. Undoubtedly certain forum members will already speculate as to the longevity of this most recent addition to my rig.

Synergy is of course, a major factor in any set up and I can honestly say that all pieces are playing well together. This latest leap has provided me with the most impactful rewards. I may provide an update as the Gryphon Diablo 300 logs some more hours on the clock - only if I can pull myself away from the music to do so!

Greg
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Office: Luxman L-595A SE, Diapason Neos speakers, HiFi Rose RS150B, Nordost Frey 2 Interconnects, Tellurium Q Silver speaker cables,

Last edited by GreginNH1; 06-10-2018 at 11:51 AM.
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Old 06-10-2018, 11:28 AM
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Greg... Congrats!

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Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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Old 06-10-2018, 11:35 AM
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Very glad to hear you are so pleased with your latest acquisition!
Congrats!
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Old 06-10-2018, 11:49 AM
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Greg.......A most enjoyable review. It is clear from your post that you are quite pleased. I am happy for you.

I have had an interest in the Gryphon Diablo 300 since I first read about it. Every report from new owners seems to parallel your impressions. More than once I have fostered the notion of replacing my McIntosh C2300 and MC452 in the living room system with the Diablo 300. Having been a dyed in the wool McIntosh enthusiast for over 50 years it is difficult to make the move, but I still think about it.
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STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
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VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
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Old 06-10-2018, 11:49 AM
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Congrats. Awesome amp - not my cup of tea aesthetically, but they sound great.
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:14 PM
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Congratulations with the new amplifier.
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:22 PM
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Glad to hear you are enjoying the Gryphon Greg. Outstanding piece of audio art.
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:24 PM
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Greg, congrats!
Gryphon is great gear and designed by a very enthusiastic team.
Enjoy!
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:56 PM
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Gryphon Diablo 300. 950w into 2 ohms!

https://youtu.be/oeQXNimsvqk
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:59 PM
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Gryphon also makes speakers. The Mojo S and Diablo 300 making music together.

https://youtu.be/SZ-AEODtADk
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