I have spent 3-4 hours by myself with a full Gryphon system (i.e. Mirage pre-
amp, Colosseum stereo power amp, and the Trident speakers) in a room with
which I am rather familiar. The sound was good, but certainly not worth the
asking price, i.e. I have heard a few systems (some significantly cheaper
some similarly priced) sounding better in that room.
Gryphon tries to project the impression of a very pretentious company.
However, IMO they are trying too hard to get attention. Plus, there is a lot of
controversy around them. We have the story about the USA dealer/reviewer,
and we also have the story about the Tabu integrated which was sold also as a
NAD Silver line integrated (at half the price if not less than half). Furthermore,
as other have hinted already, the fact that they are "active" here on Audiogon
(i.e. an American forum for selling 2nd hand hi-fi) and talk here about their
Croatian dealers while they do not have a USA distributor is also not helping.
I find some of their products quite beautiful (e.g. the Colosseum amps).
However, some of their products are really silly (e.g. the remote of the Mirage
pre which instead of being design to be held in ones hand has feet .).
Overall, I do not think it is a bad company, certainly not, but it would not be
my first choice.
Paul
amp, Colosseum stereo power amp, and the Trident speakers) in a room with
which I am rather familiar. The sound was good, but certainly not worth the
asking price, i.e. I have heard a few systems (some significantly cheaper
some similarly priced) sounding better in that room.
Gryphon tries to project the impression of a very pretentious company.
However, IMO they are trying too hard to get attention. Plus, there is a lot of
controversy around them. We have the story about the USA dealer/reviewer,
and we also have the story about the Tabu integrated which was sold also as a
NAD Silver line integrated (at half the price if not less than half). Furthermore,
as other have hinted already, the fact that they are "active" here on Audiogon
(i.e. an American forum for selling 2nd hand hi-fi) and talk here about their
Croatian dealers while they do not have a USA distributor is also not helping.
I find some of their products quite beautiful (e.g. the Colosseum amps).
However, some of their products are really silly (e.g. the remote of the Mirage
pre which instead of being design to be held in ones hand has feet .).
Overall, I do not think it is a bad company, certainly not, but it would not be
my first choice.
Paul