Synergy between gryphon amp and dCS dac

dCS Products
1

I recently got first dCS product (Rossini + clock) upgrade over tambaqui feeding into Luxman 509z → 805D4+rels510.

I am very happy with the dac performance and overall presentation is excellent in every way.
Recently I heard msb select + gryphon essence combo through Wilsons. I was blown miles away …(And needed a train ride to come back to reality…lol…) The body of music (the grunt, thickness) was mind blowing. Imaging was rock solid.

Based on this, I am thinking to upgrade to diablo or gryphon essence from Luxman. And perhaps even speakers at some point…

Any thoughts here from folks here…?

1 Like
2

I am very happy with my Rossini Apex & clock with the Gryphon Essence Pre/Stereo amp combo, feeding my Wilson Alexia V’s.

I concur!

I had a Gryphon 300 prior to upgrading to the Essence combo, and have no regrets with my decision…

2 Likes
3

Did you try removing pre amp and feeding dac directly to power amp ?

4

No, I haven’t…

5

I own Gryphon Commander + Apex stereo with dCS Vivaldi and I’m super happy. Endgame for me.

1 Like
6

Did you move to the Essence because the Diablo 300 was lacking with your Rossini set-up? What impact did the Essence’s much lower power output have, especially when listening with some volume?

I am currently using a Rossini dac/clock through a Diablo 300 to Rockport Cygnus speakers.

7

Wowser! Nice set-up! What speakers and cabling do you use?

1 Like
8

I still have Luxman 509z. I am contemplating b/w Diablo 300 vs essence. I hate too many boxes and pre-amp is sort of needed for essence. Still not decided. But I think in either case, it will be better than Luxman

9

No, I didn’t…

I was happy with my Diablo 300 and Wilson SabrinaX pairing, but…

I had read about, and heard from other owners, about the prowess of the Essence…

So, I arranged to have a side by side demo of the Diablo and the Essence Pre/Stereo amp combo…

Much to my surprise, absolutely none!

The Essence is a much more powerful ‘beast’ than I was expecting, despite the seemingly ‘low’ output wattage…

It is, of course, Class A, which I like the sound of…

To give you an idea, when my Essence Pre’s volume is at 18 (of a 43 step attenuator), it is ‘loud’ to me…

with 80dB to 90dB (depending on the recording gain levels) at my listening position.

Obviously, there are many contributory factors…

Such as;

My listening room
My Wilson Alexia V’s
My relatively ‘near field’ listening position…

I bet that’s a great sounding combination.

If you decide to arrange a demo of the Essence, I would be surprised if you were underwhelmed by the sound that it produces, and the volumes that it is capable of achieving, effortlessly.

PS

The electricity bills, which have increased by some margin, are less welcome…:grinning:

But the Essence doesn’t get overly hot, unlike some Class A designs, so it’s not a room heater…

10

I agree. I was reluctant to have the Pre ‘extra box’, but it does sound ‘better’ to me to have it in the chain…

Also, having the Pre enables me to use the ‘Green Bias’ (Class A/B) function for non-critical listening…

To me, that’s worthwhile.

Luxman make some great equipment, so I wouldn’t necessarily assume that Gryphon is better…

It may be different…

So I suggest that you let your ears (and wallet) decide…

1 Like
11

Wilson Sasha DAW and Transparent Audio Opus (full loom).

2 Likes
12

Perhaps veering away from the topic but listening levels is interesting and maybe deserves its own thread. My own mean level is 55-60dB listening to a Haydn sized orchestra. Incidentally I sneaked an SPL meter into the Royal Festival Hall and from row P ( my favourite) this was roughly correct (Philharmonia in Haydn London symphonies). Note ,mean level not peaks.

Of course other genres may require something different.

13

Good point, Pete.

Would you like to start a new thread?

I’ll soon be off air (in the air) back to Blighty for a visit…

14

I will definitely miss my system whilst I’m away!

The one I have in the UK is positively archaic by comparison…

But, at least, I can still listen to music…:grinning:

1 Like
15

As long as they’re not rioting :worried:. Good luck.

16

Pete, would enjoy a discussion on the topic of listening level. Post here if you start that elsewhere. I have a friend who comes over once a month for stereo night, and I let him have the “hot” seat and the volume remote. We quickly hit rock concert levels…I have started wearing earplugs when the volume rises. My usual volume allows for talking at a slightly increased volume, but not much. I am very curious how others listen.

17

Thanks Mike. I have been turning this over in my mind and it is not easy to formulate how to start a discussion that may produce something useful. Just stating “I listen at XdB” without further information doesn’t seem to add much.

Unfortunately I have had a busy day trying to deal with various issues that have arisen and which will continue into tomorrow. So I haven’t been able to give it the thought it needs. I’ll try and start a new thread next week.

18

I had the same Luxman with Bartok Apex and Rossini clock. Speakers are Focal Diablos with 2 James subs. I upgraded to the Burmester 032 integrated. It’s a huge improvement in every way.

19

Do you simply mean that you prefer it? Improvements need qualification i.e. what and by how much?

20

I certainly do prefer it but much tighter bass and big improvement in sound stage.
I did have the Luxman for a few days after I brought the Burmester home didn’t really do a side by side comparison as the Burmester is a beast to move but I played the Luxman right before I swapped them out and even right out of the box there was a big improvement. Things only got better after break in.

1 Like