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  • New Integrated Amplifier from Gryphon

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    Product features
    • True Dual Mono configuration
    • Zero negative feedback
    • Microprocessor-controlled 46-step relay volume attenuator for best sonic performance featuring only up to 6 resistors in series with signal at all levels
    • Optional phonostage MM/MC module
    • Optional DAC PCM/DSD module with one USB, 1 BNC S/PDIF, 1 AES/EBU and 1 optical input
    • Digital formats. USB: PCM: 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 9 6kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz and 384 kHz up to 32-bit.
    • USB: DSD (DoP); DSD64 (2.822 MHz, 3.072 MHz), DSD128 (5.644 MHz, 6.144 MHz).
    • USB Native DSD: DSD256* (11.2896 MHz) and DSD512* (22.5792 MHz) (currently, DSD256 and DSD512 only on Windows OS)
    • BNC S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital inputs: up to192 kHz/32-bit
    • TOSLink: up to 96 kHz/24-bit
    • One optional module can be installed at time of purchase or later, either phonostage or DAC
    • Ultra-short signal path
    • Minimal internal wiring
    • Two to four-layer printed circuit boards up to 70µm copper
    • 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 four inputs and one Tape output
    • Fixed-level AV throughput for uncompromising integration with surround preamplifier
    • Graphical Vacuum Fluorescent Display with larger font for improved legibility
    • Adjustable display intensity (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, Off)
    • 12VDC link input and output
    • Flash memory upgrades via Key-Fob
    • Non-invasive protection system
    • Infrared remote control
    • EU CE approval
    • Standby power consumption < 0.5 W
    • Designed and built in Denmark



    Gryphon Diablo 120 Integrated Amplifier

    The concept of an integrated amplifier that embodies the same ethos, musical and sonic qualities as Gryphon Audio Designs’ most esoteric offerings, but at a fraction of the cost, is clearly an attractive proposition and through the single-minded dedication of the Gryphon team, the integrated amplifier has come of age as a serious, respected High End component, bringing legendary Gryphon performance and styling to a new level of affordable cost and ease of use.

    As far back as April, 2009, Gryphon introduced the original Atilla, building on the brand’s impressive reputation as a pioneer in the design of unapologetic integrated amplifiers that can stand their ground against the competition’s finest separate components.
    French Haute Fidelité magazine called it a “Best Buy.” Australian Hi-Fi magazine placed it “Easily up there with the very best” and UK magazine Hi-Fi Choice simply called the Gryphon Atilla “one of the very finest integrated amplifiers available.”
    In continuous production until 2016, the Atilla had a long run that is exceptional in High End audio. (Sadly, longevity is generally an overlooked and seriously undervalued attribute.)

    In the interim period, Gryphon has made great advances in the critical fields of circuit topology and parts design and selection with the evolution of the state of the art, cost no object Pandora preamplifier and Mephisto power amplifier.
    Now, drawing heavily on our experience with these uncompromising, reference level components, Gryphon Audio Designs proudly presents the next generation Atilla, the Gryphon Diablo 120.

    Gryphon Diablo 120 exudes timeless elegance and beauty, informed by the unique vision of Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E. Rasmussen.

    Integrated Greatness

    The understated styling and forceful lines of the satin black, brushed aluminium chassis and gleaming black acrylic faceplate represent a superb level of fit and finish, exceptional audio finesse and a sense of unlimited power all on a single chassis.
    The casework, consisting of interlocking blocks of flawless acrylic and deeply brushed and anodized aluminium, is true to the acclaimed Gryphon house style, a complex construct of contrasting angles and planes that is both reassuringly intricate and impressively solid.

    Built entirely at Gryphon’s Danish research and development and manufacturing facility, the Diablo 120 inherits the dual-mono circuitry, ultra-short signal path, heavily gold-plated printed circuit boards, minimal internal wiring, high-quality gold-plated and PTFE-insulated sockets and proprietary binding posts employed in our flagship models. Only the finest audiophile grade components have been selected based on strenuous, extended auditioning for sound quality, thermal stability and long-term reliability. The wire-wound emitter resistors in the original Atilla output stage have been upgraded to non-inductive types for Diablo 120.

    The meticulous attention to electrical and mechanical grounding, typical of our top of the line designs, is also equally in evidence here. The Diablo 120 integrated amplifier is essentially two independent mono devices for reduced crosstalk and minimal interchannel interaction. The only things shared electrically between channels are the famed Holmgren toroidal transformer and AC power cable. The custom made 1,200 VA transformer adds substantial heft with discrete secondary windings for left and right channels. Each channel is fed by its own 60,000 µF capacitor bank.

    The output power of the Diablo 120 is 20% greater than that of the original Atilla: 2 x 120 W (8W), 2 x 240 W (4W), 2 x 440 W (2W). Consistent increases of output power as impedance is halved is a reliable indicator of exceptional high current capability, just as the extraordinary wide audio bandwidth, 0.1Hz to 250 kHz (-3 dB), is a sign of extreme stability. Heatsink surface area has also been increased to match the increase in output power.

    With two pairs of Sanken transistors, Diablo 120 can easily drive difficult loudspeaker loads without the faintest hint of strain.
    The Diablo 120 circuit employs zero global negative feedback and a unique microprocessor controlled passive attenuator for the most transparent volume control ever conceived. Regardless of the selected level, the 46-step relay attenuator places maximum six resistors in the signal path for ultimate sonic purity.

    A large, graphical vacuum fluorescent display is employed instead of a more conventional LED character display to provide space for more information and a larger, more easily legible font. The lavish display and extensive control circuits are powered independently via a separate, isolated transformer in order to eliminate any risk of noise contamination. All front panel controls are touch sensitive (capacitive actuation.)

    The Diablo 120 offers one balanced and four single-ended inputs, a comprehensive menu of configuration options (four levels of display brightness, user-defined start and maximum volume settings, individual source labelling with eight-character names and a dedicated and electrically isolated A/V bypass function for uncompromising integration with a multi-channel audio system.

    Options - Digital or Analogue

    At the time of original purchase or as the need arises at a later date, Gryphon Diablo 120 can be fitted with a specially designed Gryphon DAC PCM/DSD module based on the innovative, award-winning Gryphon Kalliope digital-to- analogue converter.
    The module adds four digital inputs (USB, balanced AES/EBU 115 Ω, TOSLink optical and BNC S/PDIF 75 Ω). Via USB, the Diablo 120 DAC module can process PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz as well as DSD (on Windows OS up to DSD512, on Mac OS up to DSD128, on Linux OS up to DSD128 DoP); via BNC S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs up to192 kHz/32-bit PCM and via TOSLink up to 96 kHz/24-bit PCM. Format compatibility of the various inputs is subject to change without notice.

    This future-proof digital module is ready for any current or foreseeable high resolution digital format.

    In the finest Gryphon tradition, the Diablo 120 also offers the alternative of an exceptional MM/MC phonostage for the dedicated enthusiasts who continue to enjoy the musical treasures etched in the grooves of the long-playing, black vinyl disc.
    Gryphon Diablo 120 conveys music with unusual poise and exceptional subtlety and definition. Lightning reflexes combine with harmonic richness, articulation and refinement to create a lush whole that is very comfortable to listen to over extended periods even at realistic levels.

    Gryphon Diablo 120 offers a unique level of musical enthusiasm and energy that will satisfy and delight for many years to come.

    Technical Specifications 2 x 120 W @ 8W, 2 x 240 W @ 4W, 2 x 440 W @ 2W
    Output impedance: 0.030W
    Bandwidth (-3 dB): 0.1 Hz to 250 kHz
    Power Supply Capacity: 2 x 60,000 µF
    Gain: +38 dB
    Input Impedance, balanced (20-20,000 Hz): 20 kW
    Input Impedance, single-ended (20-20,000 Hz): 8 kW
    Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
    Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
    ________________________________________

    -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
    -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
    -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
    -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
    -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
    -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
    -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
    -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
    -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
    -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

  • #2
    Thanks Myles but this is just waving a red flag in front of a bull as far as North American buyers are concerned, Rasmusson will not sell into NA on a Direct basis and has no distributor . Sigh.....

    Comment


    • MylesBAstor
      MylesBAstor commented
      Editing a comment
      Thanks wasn't aware that he wouldn't sell direct. Pretty sure last time spoke with Flemming, he was shipping a product for the US and we even discussed a review. Also he was going to begin advertising in the US.

      I've known about a few people interested in distribution but those deals fell through.

  • #3
    I think he has a very particular format in mind for his dealers . No discounting, heavy dealer involvement in demo's, setup, after-sales follow-up and a total focus upon customer service. He appears to dislike the "ship the box" mentality that he sees as pervasive in the North American marketplace and unsurprisingly, seems to find identification of a suitable Distributor/Dealer network..... difficult. He won't ship customer-direct since he cannot provide follow-up service which he feels is critical. While I give Kudos to his lofty thinking , it does leave everyone in NA pretty much out in the cold. Pity.

    Comment


    • #4
      Originally posted by Boblaclune
      I think he has a very particular format in mind for his dealers . No discounting, heavy dealer involvement in demo's, setup, after-sales follow-up and a total focus upon customer service. He appears to dislike the "ship the box" mentality that he sees as pervasive in the North American marketplace and unsurprisingly, seems to find identification of a suitable Distributor/Dealer network..... difficult. He won't ship customer-direct since he cannot provide follow-up service which he feels is critical. While I give Kudos to his lofty thinking , it does leave everyone in NA pretty much out in the cold. Pity.
      Yes you are right on the mark.
      Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
      Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
      ________________________________________

      -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
      -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
      -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
      -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
      -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
      -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
      -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
      -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
      -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
      -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

      Comment


      • #5
        Looks like a nicely thought out piece of hardware and it allows me to wax on (wax off) on the topic of integrated amps. Throughout my pursuit for "audio nirvana" I've never really contemplated a traditional integrated amp (or the more recent incarnations that include phono/digital). As I reincarnate my listening room, the "idea" of an integrated design has a certain appeal if i can overcome my own bias towards thinking that I can optimize and integrate different components from multiple vendors (ability and time). The attributes (+/-) of this approach are well known - for example, design consistency, simplification (or removal) of interface/integration issues, an optimized sonic signature (a design team's Point of View", where you buy into the whole cloth), some reduction in cost, inflexibility to improve, reliance on the vendor to upgrade capabilities and make meaningful improvements within the architectural constraints of the device, etc..

        I thought I'd open this up (again) to the community for comment on the following scenario - customer wants a top flight integrated amp, willing to have integrated DAC and/or phono, but customer focus is on spending money on sources (TT, Digital, Tape) and music. What Integrated amps would you suggest he listen to (let's cap the price of the integrated amp to no more than $10,000) that would be part of a top flight system - tube or SS.

        Comment


        • #6
          Originally posted by Boblaclune
          I think he has a very particular format in mind for his dealers . No discounting, heavy dealer involvement in demo's, setup, after-sales follow-up and a total focus upon customer service. He appears to dislike the "ship the box" mentality that he sees as pervasive in the North American marketplace and unsurprisingly, seems to find identification of a suitable Distributor/Dealer network..... difficult. He won't ship customer-direct since he cannot provide follow-up service which he feels is critical. While I give Kudos to his lofty thinking , it does leave everyone in NA pretty much out in the cold. Pity.
          If that arrangement were in place I wonder if Rasmusson would guarantee total commitment follow-up service for the duration of the product warranty. That is, if the dealer goes under or the distributor bails, the level of service doesn't blink.

          Comment


          • #7
            What's the price and availability date in Europe for the Diablo?

            Comment


            • #8
              Haven't heard this one, and I haven't heard any Gryphon product lately. I definitely like his older designs (looks) better. Always appreciated the quirky to aestetically pleasing components that sounded pretty good from what I remember.
              Fairchild 750 in OMA slate plinth, Miyajima Kansui, AprilSound RIAA, EMIA step-up, Bent Audi TAP-X pre, Ayre C5x SACD, Innuos Zen Mini, CAD 1543 MK II DAC, AntiCable Level 1 loom. AprilSound 50 monoblocs, or Shiit Aegir or Museatax MTR-101 monoblocs.

              Comment

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