Gryphon Essence

B

Bob82

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Joined
May 4, 2019
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155
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Malaysia
Hi all,

Maybe it is a bit to early to ask if anyone heard them yet, would 50w stereo Class A amp would be sufficient to drive 87dB sensitivity speakers i.e. Rockport Atria II or YG Carmel 2. 50w Class A amp are said to be comparable to 100w Class ABs but 50w is 50w regardless.


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In a past life I ran Mirage M5si’s (86db, 8ohm) with a Forte Model 4 (50W class A) to great effect. It really shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. Has caused me to actually demo any combination I am interested in regardless of specifications.
 
A speaker's sensitivity specification (not always accurately stated by the manufacturer) doesn't tell the whole story of how easy/difficult a particular model will be to drive. There's the impedance and how it varies throughout the frequency range (impedance curve and phase angle). Listening level, types of music, and room size also have an impact. For example, jazz at moderate levels in a small room will not often tax an amp. Large scale classical music (significantly more dynamic) played at higher levels in a large room will be significantly more taxing.
 
GSOphile said:
A speaker's sensitivity specification (not always accurately stated by the manufacturer) doesn't tell the whole story of how easy/difficult a particular model will be to drive. There's the impedance and how it varies throughout the frequency range (impedance curve and phase angle). Listening level, types of music, and room size also have an impact. For example, jazz at moderate levels in a small room will not often tax an amp. Large scale classical music (significantly more dynamic) played at higher levels in a large room will be significantly more taxing.
Click to expand...

I listen mostly at lower to almost 88dB to rock, heavy metal to jazz. I am tempted to look at the Gryphon Essence or the Diablo 300 as I am moving to an apartment soon. So far I have listened to the YG Carmel 2 that I like but might require a bit more volume to really make it really shine.


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Bob82 said:
Currently it is 20ft x 12ft x 8ft. I am moving my gear to a smaller space in an apartment.



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Click to expand...


My room is somewhat similar to yours...27' x 12'. I'm putting together a new system. I just purchased Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary speakers. Will be auditioning amps at Suncoast Audio in October. Not sure what I'll end up with? Likely an integrated of some kind. Lots of top notch stuff to choose from.

Tom
 
Bob82 said:
I listen mostly at lower to almost 88dB to rock, heavy metal to jazz. I am tempted to look at the Gryphon Essence or the Diablo 300 as I am moving to an apartment soon. So far I have listened to the YG Carmel 2 that I like but might require a bit more volume to really make it really shine.


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Click to expand...

i d spend the cash for the yg hailey2 and keep the briston4b3
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
Bob 82,

Best to sort your choice of speakers (Rockport Atria II or YG Carmel 2 or something else) before considering the amplification. Get the speakers home and try them with your existing amplification. For example, you may find the VAC pre and Byston 4B³ power amplifier are actually a great pairing for the Rockports.
Click to expand...

Can’t agree more with your statement. Problem with Rockports is I can’t audition them locally and will have to drive to a neighbouring country to audition.


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Bob

What brands can you buy "locally?" Also your room now is not large now and you say you are moving to a smaller room yet you seem to be concentrating on speakers even larger than what you have now.
 
Jack said:
Bob

What brands can you buy "locally?" Also your room now is not large now and you say you are moving to a smaller room yet you seem to be concentrating on speakers even larger than what you have now.
Click to expand...

Jack

The YG Acoustics Carmel 2 is one of the brands mentioned that I can audition and buy locally. I will be moving from a Neat Acoustics SX1.


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I am super curious to know how the Essence performs. I used to own the Diablo 300 (which I still love) and upgraded to the Pandora pre-amp and the Antileon Evo. The upgrade made a big difference. A bigger and deeper soundstage was the difference. The Antileon Evo is 300 Class A watts into 4ohms (Diablo with its Class A/B is 600W). The AE is 670,000 microfarads of power capacitance (which is insane). My gut feel about the Essence is that it seems under-powered COMPARED to the Diablo 300, especially taking price into account. Can’t wait to hear reports
 
..on the question of 'under-powered compared to the Diablo 300..' If the power and grip attributes of the 300 could be likened to a 16-wheel truck, I can tell you the Essence pre/stereo power is nothing short of an Australian-style, 62-wheel, three-trailer colossus. The weight and bass power coming out of my Mojo S' is eclipsing what came out of my Dyn' Contour 60's on the 300; and they had 2 x 9" woofers in addition to mid range and tweeter, compared to Mojo's 2 x 5.5" mid range units. It's astonishing and means I no longer need to to shoehorn Pantheons into my space. I had no idea how much the Mojo's could do until now. (There's nothing 'boxy' [a reference I found elsewhere] about them at all). As for the rest - detail, resolution, speed, dynamics, soundstage, air, imaging - they're all quantum leaps above and beyond the wonderful 300.

I had the same initial concern, AJR. It's proven utterly unfounded. My 12' x 24' room couldn't handle any more bass without issues and I have no need for any more power. Gryphon's decision to offer a more widely affordable entry to Class A is a home run IMO. I can't imagine how the Antileon Evo must sound; but I don't need to because I have everything I want that I can accommodate.
 
..on the question of 'under-powered compared to the Diablo 300..' If the power and grip attributes of the 300 could be likened to a 16-wheel truck, I can tell you the Essence pre/stereo power is nothing short of an Australian-style, 62-wheel, three-trailer colossus. The weight and bass power coming out of my Mojo S' is eclipsing what came out of my Dyn' Contour 60's on the 300; and they had 2 x 9" woofers in addition to mid range and tweeter compared to Mojo's 2 x 5.5" mid range units. It's astonishing and means I no longer need to to shoehorn Pantheons into my space. I had no idea how much the Mojo's could do until now. (There's nothing 'boxy' [a reference I found elsewhere] about them at all. As for the rest - detail, resolution, speed, dynamics, soundstage, air, imaging - they're all quantum leaps above and beyond the wonderful 300.

I had the same initial concern, AJR. It's proven utterly unfounded. My 12' x 24' room couldn't handle any more bass without issues and I have no need for any more power. Gryphon's decision to offer a more widely affordable entry to Class A is a home run IMO. I can't imagine how the Antileon Evo must sound; but I don't need to because I have everything I want that I can accommodate.
 
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