Gryphon Audio Kalliope DAC

LL21

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Hyperion

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rnsa2000

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Marcus,

good information.
 

Hyperion

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Oct 3, 2011
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Another $30k dac. I think I will buy a car instead.

You will not get a high-end car for $30... Sorry, I couldn't resist.

There's a lot of knowledge and technology going into the Kalliope DAC. It's also one of the most future proof on the market.
 

isquirrel

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Sep 23, 2014
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My first post on these forums!

I am enjoying reading them.

I have owned several high end DAC's including the dCS (not the latest stack) and the Audio Note DAC 5 signature. I am in the market for an end game DAC and have been auditioning some including the latest Chord's, I have decided to give the Kalliope a try, I have owned Gryphon gear in the past and was impressed by its build quality.

The Kalliope will be here next week for evaulation, its a demo until so will not require any running in.
 

Hyperion

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
441
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Stockholm/Sweden
I'm very much looking forward to your impressions and findings squirrel :)

My first post on these forums!

I am enjoying reading them.

I have owned several high end DAC's including the dCS (not the latest stack) and the Audio Note DAC 5 signature. I am in the market for an end game DAC and have been auditioning some including the latest Chord's, I have decided to give the Kalliope a try, I have owned Gryphon gear in the past and was impressed by its build quality.

The Kalliope will be here next week for evaulation, its a demo until so will not require any running in.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,376
2,497
1,398
My first post on these forums!

I am enjoying reading them.

I have owned several high end DAC's including the dCS (not the latest stack) and the Audio Note DAC 5 signature. I am in the market for an end game DAC and have been auditioning some including the latest Chord's, I have decided to give the Kalliope a try, I have owned Gryphon gear in the past and was impressed by its build quality.

The Kalliope will be here next week for evaulation, its a demo until so will not require any running in.

Definitely look forward to hearing your thoughts on this...have heard very good things about it. Big fan of Gryphon amps here having owned the Antileon and now fortunate to have the Colosseum.
 

isquirrel

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Sep 23, 2014
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I deviated off course and bought a Light Harmonic DaVinci Dual DAC and also a Computer Audio Design DAC built using the legendary Philips 1543 chips in a R2R configuration. I have just sold the DaVinci and have decided to go with the Kalliope, should be picking it tomorrow and will have it in my system on Tuesday. I have the Shunyata Sigma Digital cable that worked wonders with the DaVinci and a custom built music server by Computer Audio Designs.

I had a choice to upgrade the DaVinci to the MK2 specs but decided against that. I have feeling that the Kalliope will be better than them all, at least I have had the experience of different DAC's now, also my system is now fully tweaked and settled down so I will be getting the best out of the Kalliope.

I will post my findings this week, can't wait.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
14,376
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I deviated off course and bought a Light Harmonic DaVinci Dual DAC and also a Computer Audio Design DAC built using the legendary Philips 1543 chips in a R2R configuration. I have just sold the DaVinci and have decided to go with the Kalliope, should be picking it tomorrow and will have it in my system on Tuesday. I have the Shunyata Sigma Digital cable that worked wonders with the DaVinci and a custom built music server by Computer Audio Designs.

I had a choice to upgrade the DaVinci to the MK2 specs but decided against that. I have feeling that the Kalliope will be better than them all, at least I have had the experience of different DAC's now, also my system is now fully tweaked and settled down so I will be getting the best out of the Kalliope.

I will post my findings this week, can't wait.

Sounds exciting! As a big fan of Zanden which uses the TDA1541A Double Crown, I have not felt the need to move to latest digital though I am very impressed with some. I have read great things about Kalliope and obviously am a big fan of Gryphon. Will be now even more interesting to hear your thoughts after owning TDA1543.
Good luck.
 
Last edited:

isquirrel

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Sep 23, 2014
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Decision made, heard the Kalliope along with the other big name DAC's, don't want to name names, but the difference was astonishing, I thought something must have been wrong with one of the other mega DAC's we checked it thoroughly nope, the Kalliope just destroyed it for not only me but the 3 of us. I realise though that at this level it is a matter of personal taste. Some prefer a more analytical sound, I owned a number of high end DAC's and I much prefer an immersive emotional sound. I was more stunned by what I heard from the Kalliope when compared to others than I was the rest of the day comparing different amps etc. Luckily there was a new one in its box that jumped on the plane home with us. Listening at home confirmed it.

The 1543 based DAC sounds good for its price point but its not in the same league. Hooking the Kalliope up to the Shunyata Sigma digital PC and Shunyata power setup took it to a whole other level. I haven't been able to stop listening, getting up at 4am this morning.

End up choosing to run a full Gryphon system, suits my sonic preferences well. The system will be Kalliope, Pandora, Legato Legacy and Power supply into a Mephisto and Wilson Alexia's. Can't see any reason to buy 2 Mephisto's ;)
 
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wisnon

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Dec 12, 2011
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Happy for your iSquirrel.

Do you have a picture of your latest setup? I recall you posted one of a system you had long ago and it was indeed beautiful to look at!
 

isquirrel

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Sep 23, 2014
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Thank you ! I have a headphone system ATM (albeit its quite large) I am very fortunate to be ablet to look forward to putting together a 2 channel system now. System should together in 8 weeks time. :)

I have become a refugee from Head-Fi as they don't get high end audio so this is my new home. I am having trouble uploading photos, not sure what is going on as I have been able to in the past. Maybe I have exceeded my quota here?
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,376
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Decision made, heard the Kalliope along with the other big name DAC's, don't want to name names, but the difference was astonishing, I thought something must have been wrong with one of the other mega DAC's we checked it thoroughly nope, the Kalliope just destroyed it for not only me but the 3 of us. I realise though that at this level it is a matter of personal taste. Some prefer a more analytical sound, I owned a number of high end DAC's and I much prefer an immersive emotional sound. I was more stunned by what I heard from the Kalliope when compared to others than I was the rest of the day comparing different amps etc. Luckily there was a new one in its box that jumped on the plane home with us. Listening at home confirmed it.

The 1543 based DAC sounds good for its price point but its not in the same league. Hooking the Kalliope up to the Shunyata Sigma digital PC and Shunyata power setup took it to a whole other level. I haven't been able to stop listening, getting up at 4am this morning.

End up choosing to run a full Gryphon system, suits my sonic preferences well. The system will be Kalliope, Pandora, Legato Legacy and Power supply into a Mephisto and Wilson Alexia's. Can't see any reason to buy 2 Mephisto's ;)

Big news! And GOOD news! That is fanastic...congrats. AS someone who likes your description of your tastes in digital, as well as your tastes in amplification and speakers!...i can only imagine how it must sound. Look forward to reading about your adventures when its all setup. Enjoy.
 

isquirrel

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Sep 23, 2014
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Had a good listen to the Colosseum, I used to have one, compared it to the Antileon, found the Antileon to be warmer tonally but I preferred the clarity and speed of the Colosseum. I am told that the Mephisto combines both attributes? Have you had a chance to listen tot he Mephisto? If so what were your impressions vs your Colosseum?
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Had a good listen to the Colosseum, I used to have one, compared it to the Antileon, found the Antileon to be warmer tonally but I preferred the clarity and speed of the Colosseum. I am told that the Mephisto combines both attributes? Have you had a chance to listen tot he Mephisto? If so what were your impressions vs your Colosseum?

I found that the Antileon seemed tonally warmer in part because of its different approach to the treble...by virtue of having a darker/slightly recessed treble the mids naturally were a bigger part of the presentation. However, dissecting the sound in a shoot-out, i realized it was the more even balance between bass, mids and treble of the Colosseum gave its mids a lesser 'weight' in the overall presentation...but when listening to music with almost ONLY mids, the presentation of both mids was very very similar. Except, as you say, the Colosseum was quieter, clearer and less 'smudge' around the ends of notes.

That said, i did sense a teeny, tiny bit of the Antileon warmth thing WAS in fact due to a slightly greater (as in 3%-5% greater) intensity in the sweetness of the mids at the extremes (solo violin note soaring on a recording)...a very, very beautiful thing which i do not quite get (again 95%-97% of it) with the Colosseum.

As for Mephisto, i have not heard it myself, but yes, i am told by owners and Gryphon-philes it is the best of both...plus an even lower noise floor.
 

isquirrel

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Sep 23, 2014
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Thank you for your help, appreciate it, I have spoken to a friend of mine who has the mono Mephisto's with his X2's (Bigpond) I have trying to find out if anyone has compared the stereo Mephisto to the Solo's. I am seriously thinking of going for the Solo's. Knowing my disease of Audiophile nervosa that I suffer from its inevitabvlke that one day I think hmm wonder how much better this would sound if.....

However I have recently heard some mono amps (D'Agostino's) and thought the stereo sounded sweeter, my gut feeling is to go for the Solo's however there are zero comparisons between the Stereo's and the Solo's.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,376
2,497
1,398
Thank you for your help, appreciate it, I have spoken to a friend of mine who has the mono Mephisto's with his X2's (Bigpond) I have trying to find out if anyone has compared the stereo Mephisto to the Solo's. I am seriously thinking of going for the Solo's. Knowing my disease of Audiophile nervosa that I suffer from its inevitabvlke that one day I think hmm wonder how much better this would sound if.....

However I have recently heard some mono amps (D'Agostino's) and thought the stereo sounded sweeter, my gut feeling is to go for the Solo's however there are zero comparisons between the Stereo's and the Solo's.

Yes! I have spoken online and offline with Bigpond in the past...he has a great system. Clearaudio Statement, ARC Anniversary, AN DAC 5 Special...quite a remarkable system he has set up! And he is a big fan of the mighty Gryphons...i suspect it will come down to taste more than anything electrical. Either amp will drive your speakers without even a struggle. As you found, i also agree the Stereo D'Ag was a touch sweeter, which is something our dealer and distributor here suggested as well.
 

isquirrel

VIP/Donor
Sep 23, 2014
79
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Brisbane, Australia
Hmm interesting, I was led to believe that a stern could bot be converted to a mono later. I will have to ask for clarification from the distributor.
 

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