Passlabs or Gryphon Diablo 300 ?

A

aRui

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Hello, my current system is Sonus Faber Venere S, Mcintosh MA6700, Schiit Yggdrasil/Chord Qutest. After a year be with this system I found that the Mcintosh MA6700 was lack of punch/impact on the bass and the stage was somehow "flat", I said this because I have recently went to Mcintosh local dealer and listened to the new model of the Mc's integrated amps and separate (C2600, MC275, MC452) and encountered the same problem as my current system. However, when the guy at the store switched to Passlabs XP10 and X350.8 the impact/punch and the soundstage was at a different level (I meant better in both soundstage, punch/impact, micro and macro details in same room, same speaker, same dac). I decided that I would keep my speakers and change the amps and maybe my DAC too. I would like to ask what I should pick for these combos:
1. Passlabs XP10 + X260.8/XA60.8 (If I pick this combo I wont buy a new Dac within this year)
2. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Passlabs X260.8/XA60.8
3. Gryphon Diablo 300 + Chord Dave
4. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Accuphase A47
I prefer a little more warm on my new Pre/Pow + Dac or Integrated. Home demo is not available in my country. My budget is around $25,000, I would prefer to buy Integrated/Pre-Pow before the Dac and I do search for other combos and opinions. Thank you.
 
If you like the Pass, that would seem to be the way to go ensurance wise. I'd go with the Pass pre & power.

With that being said, the Diablo with DAC option would be outstanding, I feel it would give even more control and slam without being at all offensive. My audition of Gryphon is limited, heard Pass quite a bit, I'd personally prefer the Gryphon, especially with your speakers. The Diablo DAC option may save some shelf space and money, I'm not able to compare it to Chord since not hearing Chord.
 
As a Diablo 300 owner, I second the Gryphon recommendation. Regarding sound stage depth, how far out from the wall are your speakers?
 
I feel you can’t go really wrong with all options you listed. Even using DAVE as a pre, which you can add a pre later if you want more in that area. Pass probably a safe bet since you’ve heard them and liked them. Diablo 300 is outstanding but different than Pass tonally. I went from Pass separates to Diablo 300 and feel I could live with both long term. One thing though is do make sure the speakers are what you really like first. I feel they might be bottleneck for the gears you’re currently considering.
 
I already owned Sonus Faber for ten years. Not all SFs seduce me. And I almost can say that they are the most expensive models I least enjoy. In my opinion they won´t fit with valve amplifiers.
I really like the Venere series. A friend of mine has the Venere 2.5 playing wonderfully with Devialet, so that's my suggestion to you.
From what I've heard to this day, I do not advise the Gryphon. About PassLabs I have no opinion.
 
Mike knows both the 300 and the Pass gear as good as most of us do. I have done extensive listening to many DAC's using the pre out and none have sounded as good as a decent pre. you loose soundstage, slam etc... Many make claims about how great it sounds, but I've yet to speak with anyone I trust who has done the same as I and could live with it. JMHO...

I wish I had been able to hear the Gryphon, but when I had the chance, I was listing to the MSB Select gear. I have known a few folks who have the 300 and LOVE it. One nice thing about the internal DAC board is that when things get better in a few years, you just switch out a DAC board for the new one. I really like upgradable digital.
 
aRui said:
Hello, my current system is Sonus Faber Venere S, Mcintosh MA6700, Schiit Yggdrasil/Chord Qutest. After a year be with this system I found that the Mcintosh MA6700 was lack of punch/impact on the bass and the stage was somehow "flat", I said this because I have recently went to Mcintosh local dealer and listened to the new model of the Mc's integrated amps and separate (C2600, MC275, MC452) and encountered the same problem as my current system. However, when the guy at the store switched to Passlabs XP10 and X350.8 the impact/punch and the soundstage was at a different level (I meant better in both soundstage, punch/impact, micro and macro details in same room, same speaker, same dac). I decided that I would keep my speakers and change the amps and maybe my DAC too. I would like to ask what I should pick for these combos:
1. Passlabs XP10 + X260.8/XA60.8 (If I pick this combo I wont buy a new Dac within this year)
2. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Passlabs X260.8/XA60.8
3. Gryphon Diablo 300 + Chord Dave
4. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Accuphase A47
I prefer a little more warm on my new Pre/Pow + Dac or Integrated. Home demo is not available in my country. My budget is around $25,000, I would prefer to buy Integrated/Pre-Pow before the Dac and I do search for other combos and opinions. Thank you.
Click to expand...

I spent last evening with a friend a/b testing , my pre+ power amp against gryphon300.
Source was qutest+ n10.
Cables full loom sablon top of the range.
Gryphon 300 all the way!
This amp sing like any other amp i know.
Just incredible!warm, cohesiveness, dynamic,details,soundstage,decay.
Everything is there plenty.
The day before we tried dave, honestly qutest give 90% of dave.
If you buy gryphon , go with chord dacs , amazing synergy( i guess you know why)
I think it s no brainer integrated.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I play at a much lower level than you do, so please take anything I say with a grain of salt. I was very into audio back in the day but dropped out when raising family and building career. A few years ago I jumped back into this crazy hobby and had to relearn. I have tried a lot of different pieces trying to settle on what I truly love.

Sound stage is very high on my list of what I enjoy. I have tried many SS amps (McIntosh, T+A, SST, W4S, PS Audio, Job (Goldmund), First Watt (Pass), and a few tube amps, ARC, Quicksilver, etc. I have recently switch to Audio Mirror SET mono amps. What you are describing as your preferences sounds very much like tubes to me.

I am currently using my DAC as a preamp. I have tried some options and prefer having a preamp in my system. The inexpensive Audio Mirror pre will be arriving next week.

I have tried over a dozen different DACs (since digital is my main music source) and believe that unless you are going to the super high end.... i.e. MSB, dCS, Lampi, etc., that software and a DAC that can handle it makes a huge difference. After trying Roon/HQPlayer combo upsampling all my music to DSD512 I can never go back. This is why I choose the T+A DAC.
 
Just to clarify my point.
In my opinion, Sonus Faber and Gryphon, they are, as someone says, in the dark side of neutrality.
So I will never put them together.
 
In case you go the Pass route, you might want to check out their newer preamps. I’ve understood they better the XP10.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Spock said:
Just to clarify my point.
In my opinion, Sonus Faber and Gryphon, they are, as someone says, in the dark side of neutrality.
So I will never put them together.
Click to expand...

I concur.
I will put gryphon with very neutral speaker and beyond to the bright side


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I am not the SF fan. I used to be, but they have changed. That said, I have plenty of friends who love their new gear. One great pairing is their sister company, Audio Research. Also, the Ayre gear is a great match with them. Plenty of other fast and detailed integrated amps out there for them.

I know some will question me when I say an Audio Research of Aesthetix amps as they are tubes, but tubes are faster than SS devices. It's all in how they are voiced that give them a 'tube' sound or not. The newer tube gear is just very detailed, fast and neutral. Possibly on the warmer side, but not so much that they don't sound great on anything. I have yet to hear either of these brands not sound great in any system I've heard them in. JMHO
 
aRui said:
Hello, my current system is Sonus Faber Venere S, Mcintosh MA6700, Schiit Yggdrasil/Chord Qutest. After a year be with this system I found that the Mcintosh MA6700 was lack of punch/impact on the bass and the stage was somehow "flat", I said this because I have recently went to Mcintosh local dealer and listened to the new model of the Mc's integrated amps and separate (C2600, MC275, MC452) and encountered the same problem as my current system. However, when the guy at the store switched to Passlabs XP10 and X350.8 the impact/punch and the soundstage was at a different level (I meant better in both soundstage, punch/impact, micro and macro details in same room, same speaker, same dac). I decided that I would keep my speakers and change the amps and maybe my DAC too. I would like to ask what I should pick for these combos:
1. Passlabs XP10 + X260.8/XA60.8 (If I pick this combo I wont buy a new Dac within this year)
2. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Passlabs X260.8/XA60.8
3. Gryphon Diablo 300 + Chord Dave
4. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Accuphase A47
I prefer a little more warm on my new Pre/Pow + Dac or Integrated. Home demo is not available in my country. My budget is around $25,000, I would prefer to buy Integrated/Pre-Pow before the Dac and I do search for other combos and opinions. Thank you.
Click to expand...

I signed just to replay :)

I thinks you should keep the qutest DAC and get Chord M scaler to pair with qutest which should outperform DAVE alone in musicality as per what the designer Rob watt said.

For the amp I think you should get Luxman m900 for around 15K $ which can operate easly under 1 ohm with 1200 watt

And If you asked my why Luxamn, there is a guy who owned many amps and he shared his tries in Audiogon
 
aRui said:
Hello, my current system is Sonus Faber Venere S, Mcintosh MA6700, Schiit Yggdrasil/Chord Qutest. After a year be with this system I found that the Mcintosh MA6700 was lack of punch/impact on the bass and the stage was somehow "flat", I said this because I have recently went to Mcintosh local dealer and listened to the new model of the Mc's integrated amps and separate (C2600, MC275, MC452) and encountered the same problem as my current system. However, when the guy at the store switched to Passlabs XP10 and X350.8 the impact/punch and the soundstage was at a different level (I meant better in both soundstage, punch/impact, micro and macro details in same room, same speaker, same dac). I decided that I would keep my speakers and change the amps and maybe my DAC too. I would like to ask what I should pick for these combos:
1. Passlabs XP10 + X260.8/XA60.8 (If I pick this combo I wont buy a new Dac within this year)
2. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Passlabs X260.8/XA60.8
3. Gryphon Diablo 300 + Chord Dave
4. Chord Dave (as Dac and Pre-amp) + Accuphase A47
I prefer a little more warm on my new Pre/Pow + Dac or Integrated. Home demo is not available in my country. My budget is around $25,000, I would prefer to buy Integrated/Pre-Pow before the Dac and I do search for other combos and opinions. Thank you.
Click to expand...

I signed just to replay :)

I thinks you should keep the qutest DAC and get Chord M scaler to pair with qutest which should outperform DAVE alone in musicality as per what the designer Rob watt said.

For the amp I think you should get Luxman m900 for around 15K $ which can operate easly under 1 ohm with 1200 watt

And If you asked my why Luxamn, there is a guy who owned many amps and he shared his tries in audiogon
 
As a Chord Dave and Diablo-300 fan/owner I must say they elevate several times over with the Hugo M-Scaler added to Mix.
My old Pass Int-60 had its own defined house sound while the Diablo has a more neutral, faster resolving sound. Could have been partially due to the much higher horse power of the Diablo though.
 
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