Opinions on best integrated under 10k?
The Gryphon Diablo 120 doesn’t get nearly as much play as the 300. Here is a review (including the DAC module). Author: Uday Reddy // SoundStage!HI-FI https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1175-gryphon-audio-designs-diablo-120-int... |
Luxman L509X if you can live with an external DAC. 220 watts in 4ohms. I'd buy L509X used for 7500 and get their DA-06 DAC used for another 2500 and be done for a while. It's a sublime combination. Mark levinson ml585 if you cannot live with an external DAC. I would not touch MCINTOSH. Just look at the internals as compared to the above amps. MCINTOSH is all about the looks anymore. |
The review is as senseless as most, I am not even sure he burned it in before listening for at least 100 hours. The most important thing he said was that Flemming Rasmussen had retired. That's bad, who knows what is going to happen with Gryphon. Diablo 300 is $5k more. If buying new I would not even think about Diablo 120, the difference is not just power. Also, you can have both phono and dac in Diablo 300. If you can afford $11k for 120 you can afford $16k for 300. Just sell a few records that you will never listen if this difference matters. Go people, go. |
I am afraid I do not agree on what one can afford. If one has a budget of 10k, they MIGHT be able to stretch another grand, might. Very doubtful they could go to 16k though. If I say I have 10k to spend then that is what it means,not 14, 15,16, 17k etc. I do not think it at all reasonable to think someone who can spend 11k can spend 16k. If so we would all have absolute top flight amps and drive Aston Martin's and all the Chevy Sonics would be sitting on dealers lots unsold. Or preferably just crushed. ☺☺ |
