Powerful Tube Amp for SF Strads?

Hi Tuboo, Downunder and all the many great A'Goners out there who have contributed to this particular forum. After reading, speaking, auditioning a number of great products, I have gone for the Gryphon Antileon. It arrived yesterday and is delivered tomorrow! I am considering matching it with a PAD Dominus PC but will start with the stock cable for now..

Having listened carefully to many great systems and remembering what happened when I replaced my CJ PV14L with the CJ Act2, I realized that there are a number of qualities which the Gryphon delivers that I think will bring me closer to 'where my ear is taking me'. It will be nice to hear my system with the Gryphon for a much longer period than a brief audition...to really understand how my system has changed. Cannot wait! And it's a long weekend!!

Thanks again for all the great advice. Will report in!!

Lloyd

Don't try to lift the Antileon alone!! they are very heavy.

congrat's on your choice.

As a wise man once said -

"There is no best, only best for you "

enjoy and let us know your longer term thoughts, ie do you still need the subs after you have dialled teh system in etc.

cheers

The Gryphon Antileon (signature) as i have experienced and as reviewed by others may very well be the best product of Mr Rasmussen.
personally i do not like the Gryphon preamps very much.
but i know from Antileon owners that with the right speakers and powercords it is one of those amps to die for and inhibits the magic factor.
congrats on your choice, and pls report your findings :-)

that is: if you can find time to withdraw from the music..

pls repeat the mantra with us:
'It's all in the match'

I know were are talking about absolute "reference" level speakers and components here, but I'm surprised that with this many suggestions and responses so far, no one has recommended simply trying Paul Speltz Zero Autoformers to increase the impedance seen by Llyod's amplifiers.

They can be used to double, or even quadruple, the load seen by the amplifiers. As a result, amps that "run out of steam" may often handle previously impossible speakers without breaking a sweat. In many, many, systems, insertion of the Zeros not only remove the impedance issue, they are undetectable from a sonic standpoint. Give the FAQ a read.

Not saying they are guaranteed to work in every situation, or even this particular one, but for $450 in the naked version and $950 in the boxed, it is a far cheaper, and easier, experiment than all the fantastic amps being suggested. And even high-powered tube or solid state amps can still benefit from seeing a higher impedance.

I know this sounds like an ad, but I haze no connection to the company, professional, financial, or otherwise. Just passing on a little suggestion from the world of high-efficiency speakers/low-power SET amps and OTL amps.

Hi Darkmoebius. Thanks for your thoughts! I do not know this product and will look into it. I know that Musical Fidelity has their superchargers which sound like they do the same thing but "supercharging" amps. I do not know the technology but I did see at least two reviews which were both a little mixed on the success. (Basically, more grunt and volume...but a loss of the refinement from the original amp standalone). Your recommendation may well be better solution. Thanks again.