The separates vs the uber integrated arguement an age old question.
The Gryphon Diablo is one of a class of uber integrated amplifiers the others being products from Vitus, T+A, Dartzheel, D'agastino and a few others.
We do not sell the Gryphon but have heard it before and it is excellent, it tends to sound a little dark for our tastes, but any of the uber integrated amplifiers can generally outperform most separates from lesser companies.
If this is helpful our top intergrated a T+A PA 3100 HV has been compared by other members on this board to Pass Labs separates and the general consensus was the T+A gear was better so this is comparing an uber integrated amplifier to a separate power amp and preamp.
Many of the uber integrated amplifiers are based on their corresponding separates put into one chassis which saves on expensive case work.
Our PA 3100HV integrated is nearly identical to the companies $19k separate amplifier plus their separate preamplifier which is $16k, the underhood differences are a reduced preamplifier stage which has been simplified so you are talking about a 20% reduction in sound quality for 40% less cost.
For this reason many of the uber integrated amplifiers represent excellent value for this kind of purchase.
In the case of a Gryphon vs Mcintosh, most Mcintosh gear tends to be warm and punchy but most auto transformer based amplifiers lack the ultimate clarity of those which do not employ such a technique to load match.
Gear like the MC 452 will still give you greater dyanmic swings and increased volume, the Mc B&W pairing is a good one as the B&W Diamond tweeter tends to be a bit on the hot side and Mc gear tends to be on the warm side.
So it will all come down to a number of factors:
1: Sound quality
2: Upgradability separates are more flexible
3: Space an high end integrated amplifier takes up much less space
4: Cost remember a good set of separates will also require a good interconnect which will run $1k-? depending on the results you want to accheive.
Your best bet would be to try to get a demo of any of the products you are considering.
In summation the uber integrated market has evolved to where these types of products may outperform separates from other companies.
There are tons of good separates too consider as well from other brands then Mcintosh. The Antem STR amp and preamp are awesome for $10k we just got in the new Krell gear their 300 watt per channel amp plus preamp dac is $18,500.00 and the sound is exceptional even compared to our reference T+A separates which are $35k without the power supply and $48k with and that is not including the very decent built in dac the Illusion 2 preamp can come with.
So you may want to broaden your search either way you could not go wrong with either the Gryphon or the Mcintosh pairings with the B&W.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
The Gryphon Diablo is one of a class of uber integrated amplifiers the others being products from Vitus, T+A, Dartzheel, D'agastino and a few others.
We do not sell the Gryphon but have heard it before and it is excellent, it tends to sound a little dark for our tastes, but any of the uber integrated amplifiers can generally outperform most separates from lesser companies.
If this is helpful our top intergrated a T+A PA 3100 HV has been compared by other members on this board to Pass Labs separates and the general consensus was the T+A gear was better so this is comparing an uber integrated amplifier to a separate power amp and preamp.
Many of the uber integrated amplifiers are based on their corresponding separates put into one chassis which saves on expensive case work.
Our PA 3100HV integrated is nearly identical to the companies $19k separate amplifier plus their separate preamplifier which is $16k, the underhood differences are a reduced preamplifier stage which has been simplified so you are talking about a 20% reduction in sound quality for 40% less cost.
For this reason many of the uber integrated amplifiers represent excellent value for this kind of purchase.
In the case of a Gryphon vs Mcintosh, most Mcintosh gear tends to be warm and punchy but most auto transformer based amplifiers lack the ultimate clarity of those which do not employ such a technique to load match.
Gear like the MC 452 will still give you greater dyanmic swings and increased volume, the Mc B&W pairing is a good one as the B&W Diamond tweeter tends to be a bit on the hot side and Mc gear tends to be on the warm side.
So it will all come down to a number of factors:
1: Sound quality
2: Upgradability separates are more flexible
3: Space an high end integrated amplifier takes up much less space
4: Cost remember a good set of separates will also require a good interconnect which will run $1k-? depending on the results you want to accheive.
Your best bet would be to try to get a demo of any of the products you are considering.
In summation the uber integrated market has evolved to where these types of products may outperform separates from other companies.
There are tons of good separates too consider as well from other brands then Mcintosh. The Antem STR amp and preamp are awesome for $10k we just got in the new Krell gear their 300 watt per channel amp plus preamp dac is $18,500.00 and the sound is exceptional even compared to our reference T+A separates which are $35k without the power supply and $48k with and that is not including the very decent built in dac the Illusion 2 preamp can come with.
So you may want to broaden your search either way you could not go wrong with either the Gryphon or the Mcintosh pairings with the B&W.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ