New to Gryphon - Diablo 333

[tt33rd]

Hi everybody!

I just registered to this forum as I bought the Diablo 333 integrated and wanted to join some Gryphon owners community.
This is my first Gryphon product and Diablo 333 replaced the Naim New Classic 300 series with NAC332/NPX300/NAP350s. Due to challenges with improving on the Naim (many boxes, unit stacking, cable dressing, racks etc.), I decided to reduce the box count.

I auditioned Dagostino Progression Integrated, Aavik U-588 and Diablo 333.
U-588 was so hard and clinical at bass that I'm not sure what were they thinking.
Progression was a nice step up from Naim, but Diablo 333 was on another level.
In the end, by lowering the box count I improved the SQ considerably. And the unit is still braking in, so I expect even better performance.

Cheers!

 

[Elberoth]

Congrats - a GREAT company and great amp!

 

[tt33rd]

Congrats - a GREAT company and great amp!

Thanks Adam!
You have an impressive system.

 

[Laurusri]

Welcome to the Gryphon club, give us more impressions.

 

[Solartiger]

Congratulations! Nice system, how does the Rockna Wavedream sound?

 

[tt33rd]

Congratulations! Nice system, how does the Rockna Wavedream sound?

Thank you!
For someone who values textures and holographic presentation but without losing any resolution, it is incredible.
I auditioned dCS Rossini Apex and Rockna WaveDream Signature side by side and for me and my system, Rockna is in another league.

Btw just going through your system post, very nice!

 

[tt33rd]

Hey guys, happy Friday!
Just to share with you that I'm over the moon with Diablo 333! The performance is fantastic, and the sound is addictive.
I just want to listen to more music.

To experience such an improvement over the same costing Naim 300 series is unbelievable.
Diablo is a much better value.

Cheers!

 

[LarryK]

What stand is that?

I’m looking for a similar setup when I go to build a minimal Gryphon setup of the Diablo 333, EOS-2 speakers, Mac Mini streaming to an Aqua Formula DAC, and the Accuphase T-1000 tuner.

I’ll also stack a DN-900R SSD recorder, which is pretty light.

What speakers are you using?

 

[tt33rd]

What stand is that?

I’m looking for a similar setup when I go to build a minimal Gryphon setup of the Diablo 333, EOS-2 speakers, Mac Mini streaming to an Aqua Formula DAC, and the Accuphase T-1000 tuner.

I’ll also stack a DN-900R SSD recorder, which is pretty light.

What speakers are you using?

It's Bassocontinuo Accordeon XL4 2.1 MC Edition Audio Rack.
The speakers are Borresen C1.

I love Eos 2 and I almost bought them, but they were a bit boomy when I auditioned them. I think it was my room, they were not getting along. It also might be I didn't set them up properly.

I recommend you try a streamer transport and leave the Mac as a server, you should see an improvement in SQ. Especially with Aqua proprietary I2S, that should be a killer.

This is my latest setup, I changed Rockna WaveLight Server for a Rockna WaveDream NET. NET is in another class. I'm using it just as an HQPlayer NAA endpoint, with the HQP server running on a separate NUC.

 

[LarryK]

It's Bassocontinuo Accordeon XL4 2.1 MC Edition Audio Rack.
The speakers are Borresen C1.

I love Eos 2 and I almost bought them, but they were a bit boomy when I auditioned them. I think it was my room, they were not getting along. It also might be I didn't set them up properly.

I recommend you try a streamer transport and leave the Mac as a server, you should see an improvement in SQ. Especially with Aqua proprietary I2S, that should be a killer.

This is my latest setup, I changed Rockna WaveLight Server for a Rockna WaveDream NET. NET is in another class. I'm using it just as an HQPlayer NAA endpoint, with the HQP server running on a separate NUC.
View attachment 162820

Thanks for the reply.

That's not a cheap rack but I like that it is from Italy. Did they wrap glass with leather?

Are your speakers ported or not ported?

I am moving from the Gryphon Cantatas, which are sealed, to the EOS-2s because the EOS-2s are ported and allow the user to close the rear port and open the front port so the speakers can be closer to the rear wall. My wife insists on the speakers being closer to the wall at whatever apartment we happen to buy in Dublin. I'm surprised you found them boomy. What size is your room?

Which streamer transport do you recommend?

I run Roon on the MacMini.

I'm hesitant to add another box.

I am reducing the number of components in my system, from the current components, a Gryphon Colosseum, Gryphon Pandora, Accuphase CD player, Accuphase T-1000 FM tuner, Aqua Formula, Niagara 5000, and a Michell Gyrodec turntable to just the T-1000 FM tuner, for I have always loved FM radio, and the Aqua Formula DAC.

Out goes all the physical media. I'm a bit sad about it but I cannot let a stereo system run my life.

 

[tt33rd]

That's not a cheap rack but I like that it is from Italy. Did they wrap glass with leather?

I got it 2nd hand. The glass is inserted into the wood and it's only deep to half of the profile. The wood is wrapped in leather.

Are your speakers ported or not ported?

Ported on the back.

I am moving from the Gryphon Cantatas, which are sealed, to the EOS-2s because the EOS-2s are ported and allow the user to close the rear port and open the front port so the speakers can be closer to the rear wall. My wife insists on the speakers being closer to the wall at whatever apartment we happen to buy in Dublin. I'm surprised you found them boomy. What size is your room?

Yes, Eos2 is specifically a near wall speaker and I think it's a great choice.
At the time of the demo I didn't play around with front/back port. If I remember they had the back port opened. The main issue for me is that they generally need space between them and I'm limited to 2.2m max. Room is 20sqm (4x5) and the bass was bloated and slow. Big difference compared to what I heard at my dealer, even though the bass slowness (subjectively speaking) was obvious there as well.

Which streamer transport do you recommend?

I run Roon on the MacMini.

I'm hesitant to add another box.

I understand. Without question, I'd try Aqua LinQ which should be a natural choice given the proprietary I2S connection. I also like LinQ for its flexibility with software. You use Roon and that's fine, but if you'd try Jplay/Upnp or HQP NAA, you'd see how much Roon sucks in SQ compared. It's a great software and I sometimes use it for convenience (my wife) but for anything more serious I stream with Jplay/minimserver/HQPlayer.

I am reducing the number of components in my system, from the current components, a Gryphon Colosseum, Gryphon Pandora, Accuphase CD player, Accuphase T-1000 FM tuner, Aqua Formula, Niagara 5000, and a Michell Gyrodec turntable to just the T-1000 FM tuner, for I have always loved FM radio, and the Aqua Formula DAC.

Out goes all the physical media. I'm a bit sad about it but I cannot let a stereo system run my life.

Out with the CD, TT and FM!
Seriously, you then only need a server (which can be your Mac) and a streamer. Or you can get a top server/streamer combo like Antipodes.

 

[LarryK]

I got it 2nd hand. The glass is inserted into the wood and it's only deep to half of the profile. The wood is wrapped in leather.

Ported on the back.

Yes, Eos2 is specifically a near wall speaker and I think it's a great choice.
At the time of the demo I didn't play around with front/back port. If I remember they had the back port opened. The main issue for me is that they generally need space between them and I'm limited to 2.2m max. Room is 20sqm (4x5) and the bass was bloated and slow. Big difference compared to what I heard at my dealer, even though the bass slowness (subjectively speaking) was obvious there as well.

I understand. Without question, I'd try Aqua LinQ which should be a natural choice given the proprietary I2S connection. I also like LinQ for its flexibility with software. You use Roon and that's fine, but if you'd try Jplay/Upnp or HQP NAA, you'd see how much Roon sucks in SQ compared. It's a great software and I sometimes use it for convenience (my wife) but for anything more serious I stream with Jplay/minimserver/HQPlayer.

Out with the CD, TT and FM!
Seriously, you then only need a server (which can be your Mac) and a streamer. Or you can get a top server/streamer combo like Antipodes.

Thanks for all the advice.

I had contemplated the LinQ but maybe I will give it more thought now that I will be significantly shrinking my system.

Adding the LinQ will require another shelf.

I am giving careful thought to the room dimensions you mentioned because we will wind up in around 80 square meters in Dublin, with a small living room. It’s going to be tough to find a decent place.

I also have an upright piano, lol, a Yamaha DYUS5. We are thinking of a modern apartment building but need one that has a lift that accommodates the piano. Note, pianos can be put on end for short rides in an elevator.

I agree about getting rid of the CD player and turntable. I simply cannot get rid of my FM tuner because, I like to listen to humans tell me about music and the local area.

For a while, I dated a classical DJ. I loved hanging out in the studio. Before that, I had listened to her in my car, for years.

My T-1000 is about the best tuner Accuphase ever made,

6moons audioreviews: Accuphase T-1000

 

[tt33rd]

Thanks for all the advice.

I had contemplated the LinQ but maybe I will give it more thought now that I will be significantly shrinking my system.

Adding the LinQ will require another shelf.

I am giving careful thought to the room dimensions you mentioned because we will wind up in around 80 square meters in Dublin, with a small living room. It’s going to be tough to find a decent place.

I also have an upright piano, lol, a Yamaha DYUS5. We are thinking of a modern apartment building but need one that has a lift that accommodates the piano. Note, pianos can be put on end for short rides in an elevator.

I agree about getting rid of the CD player and turntable. I simply cannot get rid of my FM tuner because, I like to listen to humans tell me about music and the local area.

For a while, I dated a classical DJ. I loved hanging out in the studio. Before that, I had listened to her in my car, for years.

My T-1000 is about the best tuner Accuphase ever made,

6moons audioreviews: Accuphase T-1000

Couldn't you get away with internet radio instead of the tuner? Not sure if tuner has anything else special to it apart from playing local FM stations?

I live in an even smaller apartment and for my 20sqm living room, I learned that bookshelf speakers do sound best due to bass bloat and room modes.