Gryphon Diablo 300 - what is the real value of the incorporated DAC (optional)

[MikeJazz]

Hi Guys!

 

I recently heard the new Gryphon Diablo 300.

It marked me in a very positive way. Effortless presentation, on the warm side of neutral, engaging, big and precise soundstage.

It must be on the top 5 of integrated amps.

 

I also like the simple integrated solution and I think they had a very good idea in creating an optional integrated DAC. So, what I would like to have feedback is what kind of performance I can expect from the DAC front, and how it compares to other DAC's.

 

Anyone with a feedback about this dac, please post here.

[Al Jones]

The Diablo 300 DAC module is based on the Gryphon Kalliope DAC.

 

You can read all about the module here.

 

D/A Converters

[reverendo]

actually pretty interested in this, too. I have the original Diablo, but am starting to look around for a one-box system. anyone with real-life experiences yet?

[Hyperion]

actually pretty interested in this, too. I have the original Diablo, but am starting to look around for a one-box system. anyone with real-life experiences yet?

 

We've got the Diablo 300 side by side with the original Diablo in our showroom here in Stockholm. The very short version is that the new 300 will give you everything that the original Diablo has to offer elevated to the next level. Effortless power and control combined with a high degree of neutrality and musicality. The internal DAC is probably one of the most ambitious (and future proof) on the market. You could easily compare it to a stand alone unit in the $8.000-$12.000 price range.

 

/ Marcus

[MikeJazz]

We've got the Diablo 300 side by side with the original Diablo in our showroom here in Stockholm. The very short version is that the new 300 will give you everything that the original Diablo has to offer elevated to the next level. Effortless power and control combined with a high degree of neutrality and musicality. The internal DAC is probably one of the most ambitious (and future proof) on the market. You could easily compare it to a stand alone unit in the $8.000-$12.000 price range.

 

/ Marcus

 

That's great feedback Marcus!

 

By the way, I loved your selection of products, especially Raidhos and kii, that I am so interested in hear. It's seems Bruno is not a specialist in moving products fast, so I guess it will take some time for the kii arrival in these lands.

 

About the diablo 300. Still a bit over the price I am allowed...so I am looking at alternatives now and at the moment having some fun with a home trial of a ASR Emitter...

[reverendo]

We've got the Diablo 300 side by side with the original Diablo in our showroom here in Stockholm. The very short version is that the new 300 will give you everything that the original Diablo has to offer elevated to the next level. Effortless power and control combined with a high degree of neutrality and musicality. The internal DAC is probably one of the most ambitious (and future proof) on the market. You could easily compare it to a stand alone unit in the $8.000-$12.000 price range.

 

/ Marcus

 

that's definitely interesting, Marcus. thanks for you feedback. did you ever have the chance to compare the Kalliope with the optional DAC in the Diablo 300? I know that the latter is based on the former, but I would be interested in the differences.

btw, absolutely fantastic selection of brands that you guys carry.

a little off topic: Since you carry both Rockport and Raidho would you by any chance know of a brand that would have the LFs and mids of the former (which has wonderfully real timbres, textures and colours) and the HFs of the latter (which create a fantastic spatiality and very refined HF decay)?

thanks in advance

[Hyperion]

that's definitely interesting, Marcus. thanks for you feedback. did you ever have the chance to compare the Kalliope with the optional DAC in the Diablo 300? I know that the latter is based on the former, but I would be interested in the differences.

 

This is a natural and rather common question - but in reality hard to answer due to the simple fact you can't really judge the integrated DAC by itself. You could compare both DAC's in relation to the Diablo 300 amplifier specifically though, which I haven't done unfortunately. I believe Gryphon claims that the integrated DAC-option for the Diablo 300 will give you approx. 80% of the performance from the Kalliope.

 

btw, absolutely fantastic selection of brands that you guys carry.

a little off topic: Since you carry both Rockport and Raidho would you by any chance know of a brand that would have the LFs and mids of the former (which has wonderfully real timbres, textures and colours) and the HFs of the latter (which create a fantastic spatiality and very refined HF decay)?

thanks in advance

 

Thank you - appreciate it! The answer to your question could be Kaiser which excels with beautiful timbre and tone colors combined with the most extended and natural tweeter on the market (RAAL). That said, Rockport, Raidho and Kaiser are all different speakers with their own specific characteristics and demands.

[Hyperion]

That's great feedback Marcus!

 

By the way, I loved your selection of products, especially Raidhos and kii, that I am so interested in hear. It's seems Bruno is not a specialist in moving products fast, so I guess it will take some time for the kii arrival in these lands.

 

Thank you - I'm almost blushing over here We're still waiting for the first pair of Kii's. The demand has been more than overwhelming since the introduction last year. But, they're picking up speed and things will balance up during the upcoming months.

 

About the diablo 300. Still a bit over the price I am allowed...so I am looking at alternatives now and at the moment having some fun with a home trial of a ASR Emitter...

 

Not a bad option at all

[reverendo]

This is a natural and rather common question - but in reality hard to answer due to the simple fact you can't really judge the integrated DAC by itself. You could compare both DAC's in relation to the Diablo 300 amplifier specifically though, which I haven't done unfortunately. I believe Gryphon claims that the integrated DAC-option for the Diablo 300 will give you approx. 80% of the performance from the Kalliope.

 

 

 

Thank you - appreciate it! The answer to your question could be Kaiser which excels with beautiful timbre and tone colors combined with the most extended and natural tweeter on the market (RAAL). That said, Rockport, Raidho and Kaiser are all different speakers with their own specific characteristics and demands.

Thanks for your input, Marcus. Will see if I can listen to Kaiser some day, although it seems that they're hard to come by here in the States. Maybe when I visit my brother, but even in Germany I can only find two dealers on their site.

Best regards

[Hyperion]

Thanks for your input, Marcus. Will see if I can listen to Kaiser some day, although it seems that they're hard to come by here in the States. Maybe when I visit my brother, but even in Germany I can only find two dealers on their site.

Best regards

 

Bob at Rhapsody in NYC has both the Kaiser Chiara and Classic on display and demonstration. Please say HI from me if you get the chance

 

Other than that, a visit to the Kaiser facilities in Germany would certainly be a roadtrip worth taking.

 

/ Marcus

[mordante]

A nice alternative for the Gryphon Diablo 300 might be the Aavik U-300. Not sure bit it might be a bit more affordable.

[Hyperion]

A nice alternative for the Gryphon Diablo 300 might be the Aavik U-300. Not sure bit it might be a bit more affordable.

 

The Aavik A-300 is actually about $10.000 more expensive than the Gryphon Diablo (incl. DAC and RIAA) in Europe.

 

/ Marcus

[mordante]

The Aavik A-300 is actually about $10.000 more expensive than the Gryphon Diablo (incl. DAC and RIAA) in Europe.

 

/ Marcus

 

I'm surprised that. Last pricing I saw was 25k euro for the Aavik and 30K euro for the Diablo 300 with the DAC and phono.

[Hyperion]

I'm surprised that. Last pricing I saw was 25k euro for the Aavik and 30K euro for the Diablo 300 with the DAC and phono.

 

I can only give you the equivalent to the EU-prices where the Aavik A-300 is about $35.000 and the Gryphon Diablo 300 (incl. DAC and Phono) is about $25.000. Local differences do occur in relation to distribution, taxes etc. of course.

 

Edit: It seems like the A-300 is $30.000 in the US. Good for you

[DanielNg]

actually pretty interested in this, too. I have the original Diablo, but am starting to look around for a one-box system. anyone with real-life experiences yet?

actually pretty interested in this, too. I have the original Diablo, but am starting to look around for a one-box system. anyone with real-life experiences yet?

 

 

I have tried this amazing amplifier with DAC at home with PC/Jriver Input: Sound quality is magnificent; however, the stability of the DAC when interacting with PC is trouble some. The DAC is not really in sync with the computer after power recycling, it will be disappeared from PC totally when turning Diablo 300 off but will be hard to re-handshake with PC again. Another issue is when playing high res music format and down to low res like MP3...the DAC locks the frequency and does not change accordingly, it will intermittently stop then full stop after about half of track (1.5 min) time. Very frustrated! Hope a firmware update can fix.

[MikeJazz]

Thank you - I'm almost blushing over here We're still waiting for the first pair of Kii's. The demand has been more than overwhelming since the introduction last year. But, they're picking up speed and things will balance up during the upcoming months.

 

 

 

Not a bad option at all

For the moment I could not keep the emitter as it had not good synergy with the sneaky ds as dac and I did not want to decide before receiving the new dac lh pulse infinity... But the emitter leaved a good impression on me. Feeling the quads breathing so easily is wonderful..

 

 

Enviado do meu D6633 através de Tapatalk

[kerisabe]

On 3/18/2016 at 3:20 PM, Hyperion said:

If what youve said regarding the diablo 300 optional dac is true i would go that route! Cause alot of people has been saying differently regarding that specific ess chip. Now im running the chord qutest via toslink from my macbook pro. Id love my diablo 300 w less cables etc. Pls elaborate thanks!

 

 

On 3/18/2016 at 3:20 PM, Hyperion said:

We've got the Diablo 300 side by side with the original Diablo in our showroom here in Stockholm. The very short version is that the new 300 will give you everything that the original Diablo has to offer elevated to the next level. Effortless power and control combined with a high degree of neutrality and musicality. The internal DAC is probably one of the most ambitious (and future proof) on the market. You could easily compare it to a stand alone unit in the $8.000-$12.000 price range.

 

/ Marcus