I agee Inna, that’s why I say it’s something that is a consideration but not something that will stop my from purchasing. Shipping to Denmark is expensive but doable, especially with Gryphon’s wooden crate for the unit. I think this is just part of what you get when you leave the more “mainstream” companies like McIntosh and Bryston and move up a level to a bespoke company like Gryphon. I don’t think their refusal to deal with customer directly is arrogance, rather I think it is likely necessity due to their size. Just like their tentative re-entry into N.A. distribution - it’s likely they are not set up to scale for larger volume sales and subsequent support. Gryphon have never appeared to be interested in really pushing geographic expansion or targeting wider market segments, but again this may be simply because they never focused on positioning company to scale while still maintaining their no-compromise approach to design and (sub-contract) manufacturing. I think if the N.A. distribution were to stop they would very likely provide direct service. To me the biggest concern is what their future will be like without Flemming, this is what is different about Gryphon vs most other bespoke companies. I saw an interview with their current CEO and it didn’t exactly inspire conference, especially what he said about some of the reasons that influenced Fleming’s retirement. Regardless, I am now fairly confident that to beat the Gryphon Diablo’s sound quality I’d need to spend double the cash (for say a D’Agostino or Luxman system). And since I’m not prepared to spend that much, the Diablo just makes sense, and it’s a great value. I don’t know too much about D’Agostino or Luxman but similar concerns could exist with them.
My dad still has an Accuphase pre-amp/amp and a Nakamici tape deck that he bought in the seventies. The first brand is still around in its mostly original incarnation, but not the second. When I was a kid there were multiple local shops that provided repair services, which I recall my dad relying on from time to time. These shops were authorized by the brands to provide service and surely had training. All of these service options no longer exist. Changing times.
My dad still has an Accuphase pre-amp/amp and a Nakamici tape deck that he bought in the seventies. The first brand is still around in its mostly original incarnation, but not the second. When I was a kid there were multiple local shops that provided repair services, which I recall my dad relying on from time to time. These shops were authorized by the brands to provide service and surely had training. All of these service options no longer exist. Changing times.