Zena vs Pandora

[Philip O Hanlon]

Zena vs Pandora.
Music used for comparison purposes:
1. Melody Gardot & Cayetano Velosa - Se Voce Me Ama from The Absence
2. Leonard Cohen - Got a Little Secret from Souvenir Of The Grand Tour
3. Depeche Mode - Welcome To My World from Delta Machine

The Portuguese duet was used to show a nice natural vocal timbre, while the Leonard Cohen displayed his wonderful husky voice with a wonderful Hammond B3 accompaniment. While the Depeche Mode track grew steadily more complex after each chorus and is a terrific demo track for showing how tight, articulate & well defined a system might play. This track grows increasingly more complex as the song progresses and a great system should be able to keep all the instruments identifiable as individual entities.

It was easily apparent that Gryphon have a winner on their hands with the Zena, it was my first time hearing the new preamp and I came away mightily impressed. Zena delivers about 80-90% of the Pandora’s performance for a little over 50% of the cost. Not at all surprised to hear that the first production run is fully sold out.

ZENA
The new guy has a larger, easier to read display.
Zena can accommodate either a DAC or phono stage.
Zena takes the same PS2 internal phono stage as the Diablos.
Zena takes the same DAC as the Diablo 300, just with shorter stand-off pins.
One box preamp, needs one less rack space than the two box Pandora
For those who want to use both a DAC and a phono stage. Then we recommend getting the internal DAC and the stand alone Sonett phono stage.
Zena will ship in Oct / Nov.

PANDORA
Pandora still has state of the art performance even against considerably more expensive competitors.
Pandora will accommodate one pair of Legato phono stage boards internally.
Pandora's power supply will also drive a stand alone Legato phono stage. No need to buy the additional power supply.
Legato = Gryphon's state of the art, no compromise phono stage

 

[DaveyF]

View attachment 42863

Zena vs Pandora.
Music used for comparison purposes:
1. Melody Gardot & Cayetano Velosa - Se Voce Me Ama from The Absence
2. Leonard Cohen - Got a Little Secret from Souvenir Of The Grand Tour
3. Depeche Mode - Welcome To My World from Delta Machine

The Portuguese duet was used to show a nice natural vocal timbre, while the Leonard Cohen displayed his wonderful husky voice with a wonderful Hammond B3 accompaniment. While the Depeche Mode track grew steadily more complex after each chorus and is a terrific demo track for showing how tight, articulate & well defined a system might play. This track grows increasingly more complex as the song progresses and a great system should be able to keep all the instruments identifiable as individual entities.

It was easily apparent that Gryphon have a winner on their hands with the Zena, it was my first time hearing the new preamp and I came away mightily impressed. Zena delivers about 80-90% of the Pandora’s performance for a little over 50% of the cost. Not at all surprised to hear that the first production run is fully sold out.

ZENA
The new guy has a larger, easier to read display.
Zena can accommodate either a DAC or phono stage.
Zena takes the same PS2 internal phono stage as the Diablos.
Zena takes the same DAC as the Diablo 300, just with shorter stand-off pins.
One box preamp, needs one less rack space than the two box Pandora
For those who want to use both a DAC and a phono stage. Then we recommend getting the internal DAC and the stand alone Sonett phono stage.
Zena will ship in Oct / Nov.

PANDORA
Pandora still has state of the art performance even against considerably more expensive competitors.
Pandora will accommodate one pair of Legato phono stage boards internally.
Pandora's power supply will also drive a stand alone Legato phono stage. No need to buy the additional power supply.
Legato = Gryphon's state of the art, no compromise phono stage

Philip, Depeche Mode are a very curious group, they have the ability to mimic numerous sounds and instruments, yet none of them are anything more than electronica. No real drums, no real guitars and usually no real bass either...all of it from a synth. I witnessed this first hand on several occasions when I saw them live.

 

[NorthStar]

But some of their albums are well produced/recorded. This is hi end electronica music, for audiophiles.

 

[DaveyF]

But some of their albums are well produced/recorded. This is hi end electronica music, for audiophiles.

Bob, Im not saying their albums may not be well recorded, what I am saying is that one is listening to a digital reproduction of an instrument in all their music. I used to be a big fan of this group's music, that is until I went to their concerts. All of their music is canned, even to the vocals at a couple of their shows! While I occasionally utilize digital modeling when I play live, i don't think it really has anything to do with great sound. If purity of sound is the goal, i always utilize a real instrument with as little between it and the recording device as possible. Question is whether any of the guys in Depeche Mode can actually play any instruments, besides a synth?? Either way, their albums are all synth based...and nothing else~

 

[NorthStar]

I agree 100% with what you just said. A long time ago I was a fan, I bought few of their albums...yes vinyls, LPs, hi-fi stereo.
I have few CDs too. But I don't listen anymore to Depeche Mode. I've checked where they are @ now, but it didn't turn me on.
It's normal, I am not 30 anymore, I'm in my sixties.

The music we love is who we are. I like Melody Gardot, I have all her CDs. I like Leonard Cohen, I have his best.
Leonard Cohen I always love, since his very first album (1967) and till the end (2016). So, a 49 years love music affair, and still today...RIP Leonard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=mLPtvdvb-xk
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=167&v=yRx75Ifr5kY
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=9Y5eqpVQ1p8
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=2BcBOtLSvEw
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=38&v=b29Munw4ZIU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=VsYCKm9xLEU
_____

From their last album...'Spirit' (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=40&v=F4bE49jZ0ms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=B5oO0PT_-Ao

Some tunes I like, too many I lesser like.
And to demo/test a super ultra hi-end class caliber sound system rig/loudspeakers, all the tunes above I would use as an audio music lover and as an audio dealer with hi-end relationships between I, the audio customers, the music and the audio gear, the complete package. ...And always on the very best terms...with the best smiles on both ends, outside on our faces and inside in our guts near the heart, everything that truly counts in life, Depeche Mode included.

 

[DaveyF]

Here's the oddest thing. Usually, I am not much of a fan of all digital recordings, or of all digital reproductions of instruments. Tonight, i am listening to a definite exception. That exception is the unbelievable recording on MFSL of Alison Kraus and Union Station Live. This LP was actually recorded live to DSD and then transferred to analog by Stan Ricker. The album has some of the best SQ of any LP that I own!!! --including some of the best D2D's! I do think that this Lp is the exception and not the rule, but again it is outstanding. OTOH, all of the instruments that were recorded were 'live' and all were real instruments on a stage with great players playing them. Makes a big difference.

 

[JackD201]

Bob, Im not saying their albums may not be well recorded, what I am saying is that one is listening to a digital reproduction of an instrument in all their music. I used to be a big fan of this group's music, that is until I went to their concerts. All of their music is canned, even to the vocals at a couple of their shows! While I occasionally utilize digital modeling when I play live, i don't think it really has anything to do with great sound. If purity of sound is the goal, i always utilize a real instrument with as little between it and the recording device as possible. Question is whether any of the guys in Depeche Mode can actually play any instruments, besides a synth?? Either way, their albums are all synth based...and nothing else~

We've come a long way from Moogs and Hammonds Davey. Today's synths use polyphony and hi-rez samples of real instruments. The synths are basically just triggers.

In any case, Welcome to my World is a song that can make many systems cough up fur balls. I think it is a great choice by Philip. No sense evaluating a system using tracks that pose no challenges.

 

[Steve williams]

I agree 100% with what you just said. A long time ago I was a fan, I bought few of their albums...yes vinyls, LPs, hi-fi stereo.
I have few CDs too. But I don't listen anymore to Depeche Mode. I've checked where they are @ now, but it didn't turn me on.
It's normal, I am not 30 anymore, I'm in my sixties.

The music we love is who we are. I like Melody Gardot, I have all her CDs. I like Leonard Cohen, I have his best.
Leonard Cohen I always love, since his very first album (1967) and till the end (2016). So, a 49 years love music affair, and still today...RIP Leonard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=mLPtvdvb-xk
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=167&v=yRx75Ifr5kY
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=9Y5eqpVQ1p8
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=2BcBOtLSvEw
_____

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=38&v=b29Munw4ZIU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=VsYCKm9xLEU
_____

From their last album...'Spirit' (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=40&v=F4bE49jZ0ms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=B5oO0PT_-Ao

Some tunes I like, too many I lesser like.
And to demo/test a super ultra hi-end class caliber sound system rig/loudspeakers, all the tunes above I would use as an audio music lover and as an audio dealer with hi-end relationships between I, the audio customers, the music and the audio gear, the complete package. ...And always on the very best terms...with the best smiles on both ends, outside on our faces and inside in our guts near the heart, everything that truly counts in life, Depeche Mode included.

Bob

once again you have found a way to take this thread off topic

Can you see the title of the OP????

 

[DaveyF]

We've come a long way from Moogs and Hammonds Davey. Today's synths use polyphony and hi-rez samples of real instruments. The synths are basically just triggers.

In any case, Welcome to my World is a song that can make many systems cough up fur balls. I think it is a great choice by Philip. No sense evaluating a system using tracks that pose no challenges.

Jack, sure we have come a long way from Moogs and Hammonds...but today's synths with their high rez samples are still just a mere shadow of what the real instrument sounds like, IMHO. YMMV.
As to whether the track tests a system, that's is not what I am discussing, the old MFSL Lp The Power and the Majesty will test a system...but who really wants to listen to it??

 

[NorthStar]

Philip is a super cool guy, I don't need a drawing to know that.
If the music selections mentioned in his first post, and me and Davey having couple posts talking about our experience with these artists regarding the quality music recordings and choices is any way offending Philip or any one else please accept my deepest apologies.

I simply replied to Davey's comment regarding the music band Depeche Mode and the tunes (artists) selected by Gryphon in demonstrating their audio equipment. It is my belief that learning more about the music selected in high end audio is positive for our community. It is certainly on topic, and neither I and Davey were wrong.

But this is not my home, and because of that I will abide by the wishes of the homeowner.
Sorry Philip if I was a little off by few extra music videos of the artists mentioned in your first post.
Your input is of great value, and I respect to the highest level.

I see good because in my heart I know. If someone sees different, I listen extra carefully.

* Zena vs Pandora

Music (artists) selections for the comparison:
- Melody Gardot
- Leonard Cohen
- Depeche Mode

This, was in Philip's post...its content. And Davey was right on topic commenting on Depeche Mode, and I was also right on topic replying to him with further thoughts.
The music matters. And it's a great touch from Philip to include the songs selected in the comparison.

That is all.

My best audio experience in all my life is . . . the music. The selections that my good friends audio dealers and I were listening to with various gear and setups and comparisons. And of course some unforgettable live music concerts by some of the top best international artists. ...Music performances @ the highest plateau of human emotions.

 

[DaveyF]

To be clear...I don't think in any way that what Philip said about the music selection is in any way problematical. I own a couple of Philip's excellent CD sampler's--and the music he chose for those totally sounds great and is a great test for the system. Some of it may not be what I personally would listen to for any amount of time, but that in no way takes away from the sampler's overall ability. Depeche Mode happen to be a group that many people get fooled into thinking employ numerous instruments and players to make great sound. That is not the case...and Depeche Mode themselves have never stated that they are in fact playing 'live' instruments, but it becomes obvious once one actually witnesses them live that all of it is 'canned'. Synth and Auto tune is big with these guys.

 

[JackD201]

Awe c'mon man. Don't dis Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Gahan and Gore are two of the more recognizable voices of their generation. Been so before computers entered the studios. What they don't have is a drummer.

 

[llsaw]

I absolutely love Depeche Mode!!!