Gryphon Diablo
There are few audio manufactures that owns pedigree like Denmark Gryphon audio. There are people with taste of things that costs a bit more money than ordinary commercial audio gear. I wouldn't put those people in a box with the label "boutique". Specially cos i could easily fall in one of those boxes :).
Like with great watches, cars, clothing etc. You pay extra bucks and you know what you get for that "bucks". It's kind of rip off to buy a jacket sewed in China that is sold as unique and designer cloth. But it's worth to pay for products that are done in house and hold real value, functionality and feeling. There are Vertu phones and there are audio gear that represent a noble line in reproduction of music. Not exactly true, right? You don't pay only for luxurious naming and looks but also for technology, know how, specially musicality and pedigree with charm. It is easy to use industrial enclosures with the tight budget, but it's very expensive to manufacture non ordinary and great looking design.
I offer my respect to those that bothers to do so. English SAS's got a saying "who dares wins".
Gryphon Diablo is very well designed audio machine. Both sonically and esthetically. Some say it remind them on great building at the beginning of cult Ridley Scott's movie Blade Runner, but for me it resemble the great spirits of Japan mythical giants. It's front page is shaped in very unusual way. Kind of like mythological warrior helmet. Sturdy, minimal, elegant and striking. Flemming told me that it was actually Dart Warder from Star wars, that inspired the front plate. It's got a dark name to; "El" Diablo...
Gryphon is well known for their well thought combination of plastic and black anodized aluminum designs. I found Callisto design a bit out of my phase, but Diablo strikes me right in my weak (designer) spot. It simply sits there on its own with pride and mojo. Don't spoil it's curves but putting it into a closed audio shelf. This is a sole stander. Diablo definitely needs space round itself to breath in your living space.
Gryphon Diablo holds more than enough power to drive most of the speakers on the market. Well it's not 1000 w power house but there is plenty of power on reserve. But with 500 watts at 4 ohms he'a no shy guy. It can be gentle and sharp when needed.
His dark guts hides a true dual mono design and incorporate microprocessor controlled 50 step volume attenuator that by Gryphon claims hold a title for a most natural sounding volume control. You'll be judge of that, but i can asure you it wokrs like a charm wit
I can go into naming all the music that i listened during the review, but i wont :). This is one of the most interesting integrated amps on the outhere along with some from Burmester. If you are in a market for one and your budget alow you, don't think twice. If you're not... don't think twice :)
I would like thank Igor Kante from Ubiq for providing goods as usually.
Technical Specs
- True Dual Mono configuration
- Zero negative feedback
- Microprocessor-controlled 50-step relay volume attenuator
- for best sonic performance featuring Welwyn ultra precision resistors
- Ultra-short signal path
- Minimal internal wiring
- Military spec. double-sided up to 105my copper printed circuit boards
- Dual Mono Holmgren toroidal transformer
- PCB-mounted sockets eliminate wiring and shorten signal path
- Gold-plated Swiss Neutric XLR sockets for one balanced source
- Gold-plated phono sockets with Teflon insulation
- for 4 inputs and two outputs
- Fixed-level AV throughput for uncompromising
- integration with surround preamplifier
- Vacuum Fluorescent Display with 2 lines and 50 characters
- Adjustable display lighting (High, Medium, Low, Off)
- Optional MM/MC phonostage module
- 12Vdc link input and output
- Flash memory upgrades via PC
- Non-invasive protection system
- Infrared remote control
- EU CE approval
- Designed and built in Denmark
Matej Isak
matejisak at gmail.com
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