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Gryphon Colosseum vs. Karan M2000 monoblocks

I've been on the search for desert island amplification to partner with my Sonus Faber Futuras for a while now. The contenders has been narrowed down to either the Gryphon Colosseum (Stereo) or the new Karan M2000 monoblocks. The price offered are more or less the same.

Preamp will probably be Gryphon Mirage or Pandora if going for the Colosseum, or the KA L Ref.MK3 if going for the Karan M2000. I'm also considering a tube preamp as an alternative - especially the Conrad Johnson GAT.

I would truly appreciate ANY feedback regarding these poweramps and brands. If anyone has experience with both, that would be most valuable.

Source will be Brinkmann Bardo/10.5 tonearm/Pi cartridge for analog playback. Digital playback is yet to be decided, but I'm using an Audio Aero Prestige SE at the moment.

My room is approx. 6x5 square meters. I'm mostly listening to small scale rock/pop/acoustic, classical and electronical music. The system will be used for music mainly, but also film.

Thanks!
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lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Hi Hamburger,

Have you heard either? Pls post your impressions if you can. i know the colosseum well, and also the Antileon. unfortunately, have not heard Karan.

I am always curious to listen to other amps (like the new D'Agostino monos). My limited experience in amps includes ARC, Krell, MBL monos, Boulder 2060, ML33H, D'Agostino monos, CJ, (as well as older Aragon, Forte)...Gryphon is my personal favorite after finding it delivers the signal from source/pre with extension and detail, and endless reserves of power. If there is any flavor to Gryphon, it has a natural tonality such that violin strings, etc take on a natural burnished quality in the mids and the requisite pierce in the treble. My fav amp.

Good luck and pls post any impressions!
hamburger
132 posts
 
Hi Lloydelee21,
I have heard both but in very different set ups and rooms, so I can't describe side-by-side differences. But if you ask me to pick one, I will go with the Gryphon too. It sounded more live than the Karan to me, at least in the set ups I heard.
Cheers
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Hamburger,

I would support that vote. Obviously that is not based on comparing Gryphon to Karan...but i have compared heard ML33H, Krell Evo 402/600/900 monos, Boulder 2060, ARC Ref 210, Dartzeel, Tidal over the years. Gryphon is the one that remains my personal favorite. If you go for it, pls post! Good luck!
himiguel's avatar
himiguel
152 posts
 
After owning the Gryphon Antileon Signature stereo amp for 5 years and later acquiring the KARAN KAM1200 monos, my vote goes to the KARAN. I will take more power over class A in the correct environment. Correct power solution and grounding scheme will change your perspective of class A versus high powered A/B amps. Higher power gives me much more control and openess.
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Himiguel has a good point which i have heard from many people who start going towards the kilobuck power level. That is in particular i think why many have said the Bryston 16BSST2 monos are incredible value for money amps that play in the SOTA arena...the first generation of Bryston where more than a few have said it has a 'sweet' touch in the treble...combined with 1000watts of power which make for effortless delivery of nuance, transparency and again a sweet(er) treble.
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