Unbelievable attention to detail in every way....Centaur Stereo...

Toga said:
Also, the front panel switch on Centaur felt very flimsy, one push also made front panel ring like a bell.
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May I correct my statement above, one push at front panel button didn't make front panel to ring like a bell,
actually all cosmetic metal are rather thick and well damped, but the feel and noise when push that long front panel button was cheap.
Sure John, I will respond to your PM.
Allen, I ve tried Accuphase A200, Pass XA160.5, Vitus SS101 so far, was also considered Jeff 855,925, Dan's, but these are not available to audition.
 
AudioSalon said:
Hi Toga, I sent you a PM with the email of a friend who owns the system below. Perhaps you guys could compare your experiences and gain some insight, Regards John.


attachment.php
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Dr. L is really nice and pleasant guy..
 
Hello,
interesting story to tell. I was almost fire the trigger to purchase Gryphon Memphisto due to sweet and friendly sound, more so than Centaur, until yesterday. Constellation dealers came to visit me, they wanted to hear their amp driving a rare Q7, so I let them come to spent some time.
They switched amps twice, both properly warmed up. They mind tricked me. They explain the difference between the two. They said Memphisto
is way too soft and way too rich, they pointed out that Constellation separated instrument better and has truer leading edge. lower level inner details was also much better with Constellation. I agreed with them. I think I have been mind tricked. But now I am leaning toward Centaurs.
But in real world, things is tougher.. 50% of recorded music were not that good in quality, so we will hear much more of that roughness thru Centaur. But for the perfectly recorded ones, Centaur will sure make we hear much more of everything. In this situation I think I will have to back off a bit, return them and listen to old Moon W7M and let see what I feel. It happened once last week that after a day of honeymoon with Memphisto, the next day I felt bored by that sweetness imposed on every disc I played, all discs sound the same.. warm.. rich.. smooth.
with Centaur some time music feel uninteresting.. some time absolutely outstanding. very confusing..
Toga
 
Toga said:
Hello,
interesting story to tell. I was almost fire the trigger to purchase Gryphon Memphisto due to sweet and friendly sound, more so than Centaur, until yesterday. Constellation dealers came to visit me, they wanted to hear their amp driving a rare Q7, so I let them come to spent some time.
They switched amps twice, both properly warmed up. They mind tricked me. They explain the difference between the two. They said Memphisto
is way too soft and way too rich, they pointed out that Constellation separated instrument better and has truer leading edge. lower level inner details was also much better with Constellation. I agreed with them. I think I have been mind tricked. But now I am leaning toward Centaurs.
But in real world, things is tougher.. 50% of recorded music were not that good in quality, so we will hear much more of that roughness thru Centaur. But for the perfectly recorded ones, Centaur will sure make we hear much more of everything. In this situation I think I will have to back off a bit, return them and listen to old Moon W7M and let see what I feel. It happened once last week that after a day of honeymoon with Memphisto, the next day I felt bored by that sweetness imposed on every disc I played, all discs sound the same.. warm.. rich.. smooth.
with Centaur some time music feel uninteresting.. some time absolutely outstanding. very confusing..
Toga
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Toga - this is an interesting an observation regarding poorly recorded music. Would the Centaur limit you to just listening to excellent recordings, rather than all recordings? Some of our favorites are not really well recorded, but we love then none the less.

I would strongly encourage you to try the D'Agostino stereo or mono amps before you make any decision. I really feel the sonic characteristics of the D'Agostino amps would be a perfect balance to the Q7. I have heard the Centaurs on Magico and I would definitely give the D'Agostino amps a listen.

If they aren't the most liquid, musical amps you've ever heard, I would be shocked.

Just my two cents....
 
Thanks Bob, it s like a lab rather than a proper living room actually.
Mike, unfortunately, D'Agostino amp is not readily available for audition, dealer not stock any, they will order when we pay deposit.. that's too bad. Ok, compare to a car, Memphisto is more like a suspension setting of Merc S-Class, comfy most of the time until you go to race track, that is where a more precise suspension of RS3 GT will give you much better feel of the track surface. Again on rough road, we don't want to get that much feel.. So yes, Constellation will make use hear more rough sound from rough sounding music. but will sound more rewarding with well recorded musics.
Ok on 1 October I expect Boulder 2060 to the living room. more headache I would guess.
 
Wow, interesting dilemma.

Toga, what amp are you currently using?

I would have suggested Rowland as an alternative but you say no demos available. Think Rowland woud be in the middle of those two amps, closer to neutrality, resolving but maybe not to the same extent as the Constellation gear.

Also, what didn't the Pass and Vitus amps do for you in your system? (just trying to understand the sound you are after).

Cheers
 
Vitus with Magico was one of the best synergies I've ever heard. Definitely try Vitus if you can.
 
Toga said:
Hello,
interesting story to tell. I was almost fire the trigger to purchase Gryphon Memphisto due to sweet and friendly sound, more so than Centaur, until yesterday. Constellation dealers came to visit me, they wanted to hear their amp driving a rare Q7, so I let them come to spent some time.
They switched amps twice, both properly warmed up. They mind tricked me. They explain the difference between the two. They said Memphisto
is way too soft and way too rich, they pointed out that Constellation separated instrument better and has truer leading edge. lower level inner details was also much better with Constellation. I agreed with them. I think I have been mind tricked. But now I am leaning toward Centaurs.
But in real world, things is tougher.. 50% of recorded music were not that good in quality, so we will hear much more of that roughness thru Centaur. But for the perfectly recorded ones, Centaur will sure make we hear much more of everything. In this situation I think I will have to back off a bit, return them and listen to old Moon W7M and let see what I feel. It happened once last week that after a day of honeymoon with Memphisto, the next day I felt bored by that sweetness imposed on every disc I played, all discs sound the same.. warm.. rich.. smooth.
with Centaur some time music feel uninteresting.. some time absolutely outstanding. very confusing..
Toga
Click to expand...

Hi Toga, Both excellent choices. You are a winner either way. Looking at your photo reminded me of something in my own system...you MAY find that after spiking the Q7 which may well produce an even more exacting sound with great precision, snap...that the Mephisto works well. Ultimately, it is about both high quality products and high quality synergy (that work for you and your ears of course). If you get exacting detail from Centaur and the Q7 spikes go on...could it possibly be too much? Gryphon is quite an amp...and you may find that the Q7 brings to a beautiful point the intense sweetness it can provide in treble. Just a thought...having just discovered that my favourite isolation might be Ultra 5s with HRS nimbus/coupers on top of the Ultra 5s (and directly under my CJ)...I have to admit I have just gone thru the 'exceedingly great detail' vs 'is it also nuanced, beautiful that makes music of my own collection of CDs'? I ended up fighting for both...a shoot-out between HRS and Stillpoints ensued...and I ended up with this combination. I had decided nimbus/couper + HRS M3 was less detailed than Ultra 5...but so even across the spectrum and so listenable, that nimbus/coupler + HRS M3 was by far my favorite. So I was about to choose HRS M3...But in the end I had to have that extra detail from Ultra v without the troubles it brought...and ended up so far with this hybrid combination of HRS Nimbus/couplers on top of Ultra 5s...which I am now just letting settle in. Good luck and pls keep us posted!
 
Today I felt too stressed. Trying to find the right amp, I must back off and calm down, otherwise it is not a relaxing hobby as it should be. But between razor sharp and musically soft, I think softer sounds will be better option in a long run. I tried Vitus with Q3 I liked the sweetness, but felt top treble not airy. For Pass Labs I felt it work great with XP20 , but lost much power when driven by ARC. Now I returned Centaur to dealer already. Only Grypgon left. My own amp are Moon W7M. I liked their speed, open and also transparent, bass is tight and well controlled. They just a bit lean and cool tone, i want something richer, warmer, but not lost that powerful sound the moon provided. Both Centaur Mono and Memphisto proved very powerful. Centaur ounched hard during movie, explosive power.. That s great.

toga
 
Toga said:
Today I felt too stressed. Trying to find the right amp, I must back off and calm down, otherwise it is a relaxing hobby as it should be. But between razor sharp and musically soft, I think softer sounds will be better option in a long run. I tried Vitus with Q3 I liked the sweetness, but felt top treble not airy. For Pass Labs I felt it work great with XP20 , but lost much power when driven by ARC. Now I returned Centaur to dealer already. Only Grypgon left. My own amp are Moon W7M. I liked their speed, open and also transparent, bass is tight and well controlled. They just a bit lean and cool tone, i want something richer, warmer, but not lost that powerful sound the moon provided. Both Centaur Mono and Memphisto proved very powerful. Centaur ounched hard during movie, explosive power.. That s great.

toga
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Sounds exactly like D'Agostino to me,
 
I found that when I had the ARC Ref 40 that it was amazing when I used it with the ARC amps but not the best when using SS. Not bad but not the best. And let's face it the Q7s will let you hear every last detail of what you have in front of them.



Toga said:
Today I felt too stressed. Trying to find the right amp, I must back off and calm down, otherwise it is a relaxing hobby as it should be. But between razor sharp and musically soft, I think softer sounds will be better option in a long run. I tried Vitus with Q3 I liked the sweetness, but felt top treble not airy. For Pass Labs I felt it work great with XP20 , but lost much power when driven by ARC. Now I returned Centaur to dealer already. Only Grypgon left. My own amp are Moon W7M. I liked their speed, open and also transparent, bass is tight and well controlled. They just a bit lean and cool tone, i want something richer, warmer, but not lost that powerful sound the moon provided. Both Centaur Mono and Memphisto proved very powerful. Centaur ounched hard during movie, explosive power.. That s great.

toga
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Toda - did you try to put the Mephisto amp on your FE platforms ? It is too big to fit one, but you place one behind the other, it may fit.

I'm asking, since in my experience, putting stuff on FE platforms vs carpet, almost always makes the sound more airy, layered and with much improved microdynamics.
 
Adam, no I didnt try, it s too heavy , dont wanna risk damaging demo unit. But it s on HRS nimbus coupler.

for those with experience with Constellation, do you feel the tonality is somewhat light in the midbass ? Less of a wood, more of a string sound. Something like that.

pity Dan ' s amp is like needle in haystack here.

Toga
 
Adam, I meant I didnt want to damage the Memphisto by trying to move it. One scratch means big trouble for me. Thanks for spec.Actually HD10 max weight is 200 KG .
Toga
 
Toga said:
Adam, no I didnt try, it s too heavy , dont wanna risk damaging demo unit. But it s on HRS nimbus coupler.

for those with experience with Constellation, do you feel the tonality is somewhat light in the midbass ? Less of a wood, more of a string sound. Something like that.

pity Dan ' s amp is like needle in haystack here.

Toga
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Toga - I found the Constellation lacking in the bass period.

You should email Petra (Dan's wife) and see if she can help you find a demo unit. I will PM you her email address. Given this amount of money, you really need to hear it before you buy anything.

I am on a similar "find the ultimate amp" mission you are. I've auditioned Constellation, Soulution 501, Soulution 710, Audionet Amp/Max, D'Agostino Monos, Bolder, Vitus, Spectral, the big Sim monoblocks, Accuphase and many others.

Mike
 
Toga said:
Adam, no I didnt try, it s too heavy , dont wanna risk damaging demo unit. But it s on HRS nimbus coupler.

for those with experience with Constellation, do you feel the tonality is somewhat light in the midbass ? Less of a wood, more of a string sound. Something like that.

pity Dan ' s amp is like needle in haystack here.

Toga
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Yes, I found the Constellation amp to be weak at the extremes, both HF and LF.
It certainly doesn't sound as powerful as it looks :)


alexandre
 
That s why Centaur sounds good with some kinds of music, and so good with some. It certainly too cool and lean in the mid bass for classical. For jazz , I didn t feel this much, regarding power, I think they are powerful, I watched movie with them and stunned by dynamic impact. By the way, a bit embarrassing, but the Gryphon here is Mephisto, not Memphisto as I misunderstood for a year..

toga
PS I think I don t wanna steal the thread, but I believe I have done it, where else shall I continue to discuss further without stealing the Centaur thread?
 
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