Diablo 300 or D'Agostino Progression Integrated for B&W 802D3's

Remi

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Greetings All,

I need some input as to the above choices. My only listening experience is via YouTube. Interestingly, the Progression always sounds warmer/fuller which I can't understand because of the rave reviews of the Diablo. I do prefer a warmer sound and absolutely love my bass. I do not care too much about the highs. More likely than not, I would stream utilizing a tube DAC (possibly an Audio Note). I have a dealer within reason for Gryphon, but no chance at all for the Progression. Your advice on your listening experiences would help me greatly in understanding the differences between my choices.

Thanks!!
 
I am a Diablo 300 owner. Its bass will not disappoint. IMO comparative YouTube auditions may be misleading, especially if not done in a controlled environment (e.g., same room, speakers, music, etc). At a minimum I would advise visiting a dealer who can at least demo the product.
 
What speakers are you planning on using with your amp choice?
 
Ha!

Sorry, I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention.
 
Just my opinion, Gryphon no contest for me, my taste.

D'Ag to me sounds like old Krell but better, but that iron grip and just the facts presentation is still there. When reading reviews I have to ask, are you hearing the same amp I did, where did you hear"warmth" & "tube like", recognizing converting sound to language is difficult. Nothing wrong with the sound if that's yourpreference, Dan is one of the best.

Gryphon to me is able to still deliver dynamics while being to the warm side and I find it more engaging. One of the few solids state brands I've herd that is able to lean warm but not boring or overly polite.

I'd say no better/best, it's more which presentation would you enjoy, both are different from one another in sonic character.
 
Thanks, Mr. Peabody

My only listening is via YouTube with earbuds. To this extent, I have never been wowed by the Diablo (with the exception of its incredible bass response), but I know it is a stellar integrated! Many of the recordings of the Progression integrated sound wonderful, warm, and very real. Another example is the posts of the new McIntosh MA 12000. That thing sounds glorious (albeit, they are using good mics). I know it sounds crazy, but put a pair of earbuds on and you do hear the flavors of each. Unfortunately, I have no dealer even remotely close for D'Agostino. Gryphon is definitely a possibility though. Thank you for your insight!
 
Thanks, Mr. Peabody

My only listening is via YouTube with earbuds. To this extent, I have never been wowed by the Diablo (with the exception of its incredible bass response), but I know it is a stellar integrated! Many of the recordings of the Progression integrated sound wonderful, warm, and very real. Another example is the posts of the new McIntosh MA 12000. That thing sounds glorious (albeit, they are using good mics). I know it sounds crazy, but put a pair of earbuds on and you do hear the flavors of each. Unfortunately, I have no dealer even remotely close for D'Agostino. Gryphon is definitely a possibility though. Thank you for your insight!

Earbuds? [emoji15]
 
For the money you’re intending to spend I’d make a trip to a dealer who can give you a demo.

Agreed. But finding a single dealer who just happens to have both integrated's in house at the same time, powering speakers that would be a similar match to one's own?

Still, though...better than earbuds. :)
 
For what its worth, i had components from the same house but totally different models…. A Diablo 120 and b&w 702s2. Still had the 702s2 after I acquired a pair of TAD ME-1 but left the 702s in the closet till it was time to sell. I moved from a Hegel to the Gryphon. When I found a buyer for my 702s, I hooked them up to the Diablo and i recall my face being, like wtf? Not good synergy in my opinion. Granted, and again, the components were at the lower end of each house…so take it for a grain of salt and do find a way to demo if possible.

The Diablo 120 and the TAD ME-1 was such a home run combo though. Was hoping one day I could mate the TADs to a Gryphon Essence, and call it a day — says no one ever in audio...!!
 
Low325,

You bring up an interesting point that I also may consider. The Gryphon Essence Stereo would be an endgame amp. I have heard good things about it. Because of budget, I would have to power directly with a DAC/Preamp. Not sure how it would sound in that configuration. Maybe someone could chime in with experience comparing the Diablo 300 to the new Essence? However, if I enter the class A realm, the Pass Labs XA 60.8 comes to mind which are almost $10K cheaper than the Essence. As you stated, "call it a day doesn't happen often!"
 
TAWW provided a little note to Diablo sound compared to Essence. And I would have to agree, the ‘new’ sound of the Essence would be something more to my liking. Unfortunately moved away from my Diablo 120, but from what I learned, if I come full circle again to find a new synergy with different speakers, I would build it around an Essence.

Gryphon built in DAC's
 
TAWW provided a little note to Diablo sound compared to Essence.
Gryphon built in DAC's

Read through that thread and not sure I agree with all the conclusions. I've had a PS Audio DSD with Bridge and some nice upgrades, fed by a Lumin U1, and while I really liked that combination, I prefer the X1. Which sort of implies I might prefer the X1 to the Gryphon DAC module, I think.

Sure would like to try an Essence (or Diablo) fed direct from the X1. That's on the radar (although have to say I am extremely happy with the Enleum right now).
 
I liked my Diablo 120 when fed by my X1 better than streaming into the DAC module in the Diablo. That isn’t a surprise…

At one point, when I had a U1 going into my 120 w/Dac, I really enjoyed that synergy. But I had different speakers so that’s an important part of the puzzle.
I thought the Diablo dac modules were pretty down good if one were to go that way for an almost all in one less a source option.

Lots of great speakers that mate well to Gryphons power amps/ints. Impossible to listen to all of them and no where near enough funds to merry go round.
 
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