Kops says:
if you can find a good deal with Emm Labs stick to it IMHO
I second that. Good as the Gryphon is, the other one is better.
2) Problem is, with the EMM you're also buying switching and pre capabilities which you don't need...
3) You'll always have people introducing new products -- they need to live:)! Don't worry about it.
4) "Synergy": don't worry about it. Unless yr amp has input irregularities (unlikely) or gross non-linearities (most unlikely), the only thing you need is a cdp that has a healthy output -- and you're in business.
5) Esoteric: unfortunately, never directly compared the two box thing or the dvd-60 (I think it's called that -- I mean the multiplayer) vs. the Gryphon, vs EMM.
Therefore, I will arbitrarily declare that I was suitably impressed by the Esoterics, also by the EMM (which drives an amplifier directly) and less by the Gryphon.
6) A more personal note: euro: ~+10k is a lot of money for decoding 44.1 digital and I would very strongly urge you to ALSO consider teac's reasonably priced esoterics, products fm the usual suspects: say Wadia, Audio Aero, Yba, some germans (Symphonic line sound similar to the gryphon but are less expensive asaik). IF EMM ultimately attracts yr attention, get a deal on a Gryphon stereo power amp exchanging yr own -- since you like their products -- and use the Switchman as pre. Use a shielded IC (usually horrible) in the beginning before you go for unshielded, if you ever do so.
Cheers