2. amps-preamps
  3. 132108-1570

Upgrading form Pass integrated amplifier to a better one

Hello,

Currently I have a PASS INT-250 integrated amplifier . The Pass INT-250 is a very good integrated (in my system it was overall better than Plinius Hiato, Gamut D150se, Mark Levinson 535, Vitus RI-100,  Accuphase E-470 and some others) but I can't get rid of the feeling that I miss some explosiveness (drum kicks for example) and micro details.

I know that its not the speakers. The new Sonus faber tradition I have are much more open, dynamic and airy than previous Guarneri Evos, Elipasas SE and Amati Anniversarious I used to own. And before buying them I auditioned the Serafinos with Audio Research separates and it was the amazing combo. But I really prefer not to go the separates road ( ICs, power cords and space contribute to financial constrains also) and even so I like the combo of Pass and Serafinos overall but from time to time looking for some better integrated on the market.

Currently I presented with a good opportunity to buy latest Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated or latest just released Accuphase E-650.  No possiblilty to demo them, so I am asking here on the forum if anybody can comment if Gryphon Diablo 300 or Accuphase E-650 will be better integrated than Pass INT250 overall and especially in terms of dynamics, micro details and harmonics.

Any advise and opinion would be very appreciated.

My system: Esoteric K-05x, Pass INT-250, Sonus Faber Serafinos, all cabling are the Shunyata Sigmas.

Room is 12" wide by 17" long. Listen mostly acoustic jazz and chamber classical on low to moderate levels.


Thank you.


denon1
inna
7,235 posts
 
If I had to do it only one cable at a time I would first try power cord for Gryphon, not interconnects and not speaker cables.
pokey77
1,261 posts
 
@inna 

A DAC shoot-out would be interesting - internal vs external. It may be closer that one might think; the Gryphon with internal DAC needs no extra interconnect and may also greatly benefit from the synergy that has been engineered into the product.

This integrated looks to be very good, double-downing from 8 ohms on down. And pricing wise is competitive at its' "retail" price. I hope to hear it in 2018; the distributor is within 30-40 miles of me and I hope to find a dealer nearby, hopefully with speakers I'm familiar with.
inna
7,235 posts
 
pokey77, be careful. If you listen to Gryphon you are likely to want one. Definitely steer clear of Flemming's separates especially power amps. As he put it in one interview pointing to some monster amp of his - This will wake up dead Eskimo - . Danish humor, I love it.
pokey77
1,261 posts
 
@inna 

Well, I just looked up dealers in the US and according to the website, there are no dealers; just a distributor. Again, they are close to me so I may give them a call. 

It would be great to not only hear the 300, but to hear a full Gryphon system at the lower-end of the price range. I know that is funny, but you also know their gear is quite expensive.

I want/hope to build one more system and so I am looking at the best integrateds, with a great speaker, and a DAC or possibly reference quality CD player as my last system. I've had my current system a little over ten years now and having heard so much really good gear in the last four or five years, I have the itch to build one more system. We shall see.
inna
7,235 posts
 
pokey77, yes there are dealers, you have to ask the distributor.
Gryphon separates are very expensive, so is the dac. The least expensive stand mounted speakers are $30k, I think.
Also, if you really consider Gryphon integrated listen to Ypsilon Phaethon integrated as well. More expensive, less powerful, no dac or phono option but.. It's hybrid design and a quite unique one.
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