I’m sure the 333 is a bit better/different than the 300, but how much better can it be without being better than the Essence pre/amp…….
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There is now a 20min dealer recording posted of the Diablo 333 playing with Audisi Estelon XB Diamond speakers. I think this is the second recording of the 333 to be posted online (first was from a show and with background noise). For what it’s worth, it’s well recorded - Diana Krall’s Temptation 13min in is probably the best part to listen to, again, for what it’s worth. I’d post a link but my post would probably be deleted. Search and you will find it.
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If the 333 is as much a step up as the 300 was from the 250 then I guess I’ll be upgrading too, damn it! McIntosh is good but not at the level of Gryphon, however lol the blue meter cult does continue on unabashedly. On the Gryphon website the 333 is specified at 112 lbs so its added 22 lbs - if that’s not just ’fat’ but real muscle we might be in for a serious upgrade! |
@kairosman , good question, TBH I’m interested in the 333 but if it’s more than a bit better I will probably go for it - but only if it has that dark tone as I said. But I have to say I’m very happy with the 300 in my current system, especially with Audiovector R6 Arrete’s which apparently were designed and voiced using Gryphon amps. So it would be a nice to have upgrade, as opposed to a need to have to fix something I’m unhappy with. Funny story that might offend McIntosh owners but I’ll tell it. My dealer once cold-called me asking if I was interested in upgrading my amp with a tradein program and said no I love my Diablo. He replied, “sheesh we really don’t like you set-for-life Gryphon customers. We prefer our McIntosh customers who upgrade every year.” Followed by “Oh I really shouldn’t have bashed the other brands we carry…” I’m sure he said it just to make me feel good but it was funny. Prior to the Diablo 300 I read accounts that said it was a pretty big leap over the 250 which I’ve not heard. So I wonder if they have advanced it by that degree again.
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Gryphon's brand ambassador Rune says the 333 will have more in Class A, how much more isn't clear yet. - so will it run hotter as it already runs pretty warm? Also he said there's new transistors, the Sankens in the 300 have a warmish character (see Rega's Aethos) hopefully the new ones won't change the tonal character of the amp because I agree the 300 imparts a bit of gravy that makes poor turkey recordings palatable. Regardless, curious how much better the 333 would have to be to get 300 owners to upgrade, how about you?
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@kairosman , agreed the 300 is fantastic. Love mine, which is really why I’m curious about how Gryphon could have improved it. I see @jays_audio_lab mentioned Gryphon is sending a 333 for him to try; I am looking forward to that. Will be interesting to see if we get some community/owner accounts first. Beyond the one account in the other forum, who said that his was the first shipped to a consumer in Europe. I agree that I don’t know of any integrated, or separates for that matter, that at an equivalent price would out perform the Diablo 300. That said, I’ve not heard the Vitus, D’Agostino, Dartzeel, and other uber-integrateds so I can’t compare. But, part of why I love the 300 is that slightly dark chocolatey tone (it’s not neutral and for me at least, better for it). It tames recordings I love that sound like trash on more neutral amps I’ve tried, giving me a far broader library of material to play in a musically engaging way. I’ve never accepted the notion that a revealing system will make poor recordings unlistenable, and the Diablo’s tone is PART of the equation that has helped me avoid compromising on this front. This is why I am so interested in whether the 333 maintains this character. |
I have a 300 and unless the performance were substantially better, which is hard to do given how good the 300 is, I can't see myself upgrading. I got my 300 for $18K CAD new in 2022 just before the last price increase. A new 333 in my neck of the woods is around $30K CAD. I imagine used 300s will soon pop up for sale as some owners upgrade, if some can be had for under $15K, they'd be a no brainer as there is no integrated you can buy new for that money that comes close IME. |
Yeah as I mentioned, I really can’t wait to see how Gryphon voiced it, as they are a somewhat unique brand that has a couple of different “house sounds”. I expect it will be great performance wise and better the Diablo 300 which is what I currently have, but if they voice it slightly dark, then the chances one will end up on my rack are quite high…. I’ve just learned that Gryphon no longer has any Diablo 300’s and is not making any more. Demand for the remaining Diablo 300’s skyrocketed when they announced the 333 earlier in the year. I expect Diablo 300’s will be sold and bought like hotcakes on the second hand market over the coming year.
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@nyev Interesting, thank you for sharing. Do you mind sharing which forum that is so I can also follow?
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@kgturner, two weeks ago one person in another forum said they had received theirs (they said they were the first). They noted it sounded good but was verging towards slightly harsh up top with their KEF Blade 2’s. But that was fresh out of the box. They have not responded to follow up questions from others or made any comment since then…. |