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Gryphon gets no press, but is great.

Gryphon, a product I sold back in the early '90's is magical sounding gear. But according to the Owner Principal designer, he can't get arrested in the U. S. Press. I have emailed an acquaintence (Robert Harley) from my days as Director of Sales for THIEL Audio, about this and he was vaguely aware of some of this, even to the point of saying that he had a memory a negative review. That seems impossible if you read the Worldwide rave press they receive. Plus as an owner of the Callisto integrated, I can verifiy that it runs away from virtually all things (even some separates costing multiples) comparable. Why is it that a product that is so good, from their integrateds, to their separates, doesn't get a better shake in the our country? Marketing has been, in my evaluation poor, and I have shared this with Mr. Rasmussen, but even so, sometimes ground swells of interest have overcome this. Flemming Rasmussen, who is the owner, says, that the U.S. is not a large enough market for "his kind of product", and that Americans may lack the "sophistocation" to appreciate it. He was not being condescendig or vitriolic, just sadly stating his perspective. Of course, seeing all the two channel (brother) audiophiles out there, I can't believe that. What is up, other than poor marketing choices?
Any ideas and thoughts from current or previous owners would be good input. Frankly, while traveling all over the U. S. I never saw it in stores. That is sad given its performance.
lrsky
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
Elgordo, LOL. Sadly, you are absolutely correct. I told the story of my days with a Loudspeaker manufacturer, who I won't mention due to political consequences. A reviewer had two pairs of our $12K Loudspeakers. He was the most respected, (by some), reviewer, in a time not so long ago. Anyway, I reported directly to the two owners, as Director of Sales, and I was involved in them trying to get these two pairs back from him. He balked, and (apparently out of spite) put both pairs on his porch, allowing them to go to ruin!! They had to be cut apart when finally returned! This is a sad, but true commentary, on the palm greasing that unfortunately sometimes has to take place. Before everyone goes nuts, no, not all reviewers are crooks or wrong, that is silly! But it does seem odd that the biggest advertisers are the most reviewed, which are the biggest advertiseres which...
Even more sadly, the great reviewers, such as Robert Harley, don't seem to get the full amount of respect that their exceptional work should receive. Also, I used to really love to read equipment reviews. I would wait for Stereophile and Absolute Sound to arrive each month. Now, I am a little cynical about some of the magazines. Everyone out there, ultimately should find a trusted friend or great dealer, (hard to find) for recommendations, and make decisions based on their own ears. In the meantime, I hope Grypon makes a comeback, in spite of their lack of marketing.
Good listening,
Larry
south_park
103 posts
 
I have been waiting for this thread for about 5 years. Gryphon is a great brand but is at the very highest price point along with the likes of Halcro, Burmester, Goldmund. I do recall a negative review of one of their older amps in Stereophile many years ago which killed the brand in the US and I think caused them to recede back to Europe. I have heard the new amps and they are excellent, the CD players are great, and they just intro'd a speaker. You have to go out of your way to try these out, but that's also true of the competition. I think that this is a very legitimate brand with staying power and should be seriously considered if you have the cash, but the above posts are right, lack of entry level components may be hurting them.
inna
7,296 posts
 
First,what makes you think that Gryphon needs American market badly? They are doing very well without it.Second,they don't have an "entry-level" piece because in their minds $7000 Callisto 2100 is the entry-level,and I tend to agree.Third, with the look of Borg ship building blocks Gryphon has no chances in this country where most of the very expensive equipment is bought by idiots who make a lot of money without really earning it.And finally, they don't care about surround sound.Great approach but not here,Europe and Asia only.
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
"Idiots who make a lot of money without earning it?"
HMMM.... Well according to Rasmussen the owner of Gryphon, they don't really miss or need the American market. I guess the European and Asian markets where the people who earn lots of money, and aren't idiots, and so are therefore deserving of lots of money can, and will buy it.
Sounds a little angry to me.
Borg ship building? FYI Dan DiAgastino, Krell's owner, not only embraces high tech looks,(which I personally don't like) but his entire line is named after the Krell, a fictional, advanced race of people, wipped out by their collective Id, fomerly of the planet Altair; from the 1954, I think was the year, movie Forbidden Planet, starring Leslie Nielson, Walter Pidgeon et al.
My comments were only that such a terrific product could do well if marketed correctly. Not that they "needed" it.
Lrsky
84audio
175 posts
 
I don't get it. The Gryphon doesn't sell in this country, so the response from some Gryphon fans is to Bash the US? Is something wrong with this picture? Gryphon is a great product, and Americans will cough up the money if they perceive it to be worth the dead presidents. I guess it's easy for Flemming to blow off the US market because he seems to be doing well elsewhere. That's fine--but let's not pretend people are stupid, or that no market can be created. Blaming customers doesn't get anything sold. The integrateds sound spectacular! If this great product ever has great marketing, I have no doubt Flemming would sell a ton right here.
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