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Intg Amps: Hegel 590 vs NAD M33 Masters vs Gryphon Diablo 120

Hi All: I am getting an itch to upgrade my integrated amp from Hegel 190 to something more robust that facilitates future speaker swapping.  And no, I'm not presently interested in separating components that much further (e.g. separate DAC; separate amp; clock; etc. etc).  I mainly interested in the following 3 on a used basis:

Hegel 590 OR NAD Masters 33 OR Gryphon Diablo 120

Max budget is $7500 if I choose to go towards the Gryphon (used), but curious if it's really THAT much better.   I'm particularly interested to hear from people that have had or auditioned at 2 out of 3.  The room correction on NAD is very appealing but I quite like my Hegel and it's tight control, and so something nice about staying true.

 

Current Setup:

* Unideal Brooklyn Apartment living room into Kitchen

* Hegel 190

* Monitor Audio Silver 7G 500

* Pine Tree Audio Cables

* Dual 1216

* Schiit Mani 2 (though I hear the phono preamp on some of above may make this superfluous)

* Spotify/Tidal (main streaming source)

128x128gill_benedek
ivickery
17 posts
 

Have you considered Bel Canto? The E1X integrated is what I’m looking at right now to simplify things. I’ve got the DAC 2.8 and if the DAC in the E1X is as good as the 2.8 then this should tick all the boxes.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,750 posts
 

@gill_benedek 

I have the Hegel H390 and really like it as an integrated amp although now that Hegel is heavily discounted the H590 because of the H600 release, I don’t think you can really do better for for the money. They are both neutral to a tij warm sounding.

All the best.

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 

h590 is sonically vastly superior than the nad (leaving aside the nad’s ability to do dirac, which may benefit some room applications) - top hegel is one of the very best, purest sounding amps out there, regardless of price

can’t speak to how to compares to the small gryphon

dougthebiker
212 posts
 

I’ve had 3 Gryphon amps.  There’s no contest here assuming the Gryphon is in good condition.

inna
7,296 posts
 

There is Gryphon Diablo 120 from Canada on US Audiomart for about $7k, US dollars, plus shipping. I decided not to get it so it's yours if that's what you wish.

Forget Nad. Hegel I know nothing about.

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