Gryphon Diablo 120


I’ve been running tube amps in my primary system in my living room for the past few years. When I first heard a tube amp, I was hooked, and thought they were going to be with me for life. 


However, a few months ago something shifted and I found myself not feeling engaged with the music in the same way. The music was feeling slow, distant, and lacking emotion. A voice inside told me to look into a solid state amp for a change of pace. 
 

I was fortunate to find a used (store demo) Gryphon Diablo 120, which arrived today. I’ve only been listening for a few hours, but over the moon happy with the sound of this integrated. It delivers a rich, detailed, nuanced and incredibly musical presentation. The sound stage is wide and engrossing. Imaging is wonderful too. I’ll continue to make observations over the next few days and report back. I think I might finally be close to getting off this audio equipment merry-go-around with this Gryphon integrated. 

For reference, I do also have a Luxman 590axii in my office and this Gryphon easily out performs it in my opinion. 
 

Other components in my system with the Gryphon Diablo 120: 

Innuous Zenith mkiii 
Merason DAC1 mki
Cardas Clear rca interconnect 

 

Speakers - QLN Prestige 3 


Power cables: 

Kimber Kable Palladian PK-10 connected to amp 
Lessloss connected to Dac 
Cardas clear connected to innuos 
Puritan 156 Conditioner with their Ultimate Cable 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

 

 


 

 

128x128bluethinker

@bluethinker In what way is the D120 different from the Luxman? I have a D300 but have never heard the 120.

Not to derail, but we think alike as I have a Zenith and a Merason and I am thinking about the QLN 3’s, interested in your impressions of these speakers. 

I'm wondering if the reason your not engaged anymore with your tube amp was due to tube starting to ware out. This is typical of tubes that are getting old and are in need of replacing.