Greetings,
This is a very old thread. No idea if anyone is still watching.
Not big into posting, which you'll notice if you view my history.
Every 5 or so years, the audio bug bites me, and thus Im compelled...knowingly by a lack of reason...to spend a lot of money on things to pacify an inner child.
Im historically in the mid-fi price range, for the record. I have other, more expensive hobbies, but Im not wealthy...just single and employed.
This thread really embodies a lot of the thoughts I struggle with in dealing with my illnesses. Im a network engineer now, but I studied Industrial Design for 2 years in college (enough to get a minor in it.) I was lucky enough to go to a school setup by a Doctor from the Bauhaus. I ended up changing majors, as I realized I wasnt good enough to be successful (its incredibly competitive and only the best typically succeed.) But it gave me a wealth of experience in both studying and creating "fine" and "industrial" art.
Where am I going with this? Its like this...
As an engineer who deals with complex electromechanical designs all day, my brain is quite confident that my mid-fi system (halo p7 pre-amp, HCA 1500 amp, elite transport/rega DAC and paradigm studio 20 v5's with a small Hsu sub,) if placed in a good room (mine room is not,) would sound >80% as good as a system costing 10x as much. Or to paraphrase the hysterical Anchorman line "80 percent of the time, it sounds perfect."
But, another part of me knows that, in the overall scheme of things, how "good" something sounds has little to do with physical reproduction of the sound waves and pressures. Its ultimately made receivable and "enjoyable" by the intention and artistry of the person making the music, the person recording and producing the music...and...the person designing and creating the equipment reproducing it. This, coupled with your own affinity for receiving this intention, is what drives your experience of it.
Again...where and I going with this?
Ive desired to experience a Gryphon "anything" since I first saw a DM100 in an article back in the 90's, and I read an interview with Flemming about his vision for the company.
Call him what you will, but this is a man with clarity of vision like few Ive seen. And the products he sponsors are some of the most intense...in design, component selection and execution...that you will ever see.
Do you have to like it? No. Do you have to at-least acknowledge its power? Yes.
Of further misfortune, apparently Im on Flemming's wavelength in a lot of his design principles. So maybe that makes me a "jerky" also, but it makes me appreciate his designs even more.
And please be clear on this...whatever people like is great. I dont have to "like" it, and its totally fine. Diversity of experience is what makes this place fun.
On a side note, but to make a point... I remember when I was a little kid listening to Duran Duran on cassette on my Sear's all-in-one record player/radio/cassette deck system. And you know what...I enjoyed that every bit as much as I like listening to that same song on CD on my mid-fi system now. How odd that is ;)
OK, back on track here..
The main point is that my current 5 year stretch is about to end, and I think its time to go ahead and get an Atilla. Ive convinced myself I "need" a nice integrated amp for my bedroom setup, or possibly to downsize my main setup.
The problem is...I cant even find a dealer to buy it from (none the less see one.) As much as I like performance, Im pretty sure that I would enjoy it; so much so that it could probably sound terrible and Id still enjoy owning it.
But for obvious reasons, Flemming "cant" find a good dealer in the US. Does he really even want to? I dont know. Who knows. If he can sell everything he wants to make now...what reason is there to add any additional market? Perhaps he knows...as all good manufacturers do...that when you must lower standards to increase production, the quality of your product goes down. Why would you compromise your integrity for more money, if you already had "enough?" I would not. Maybe he would not either.
One last thing... Someone please help me understand why integrated amps are not more popular? Optimizing the amp/pre-amp characteristics for one-another, and removing external interconnects, are huge bonuses. With proper component isolation, it makes total sense. Personally, and in general, I prefer that analog components be separate from digital ones. But otherwise, Im all-for analog integrated amplifiers.
OK, so this is long as heck and possibly pointless, but I couldnt help passing up such a juicy thread as this. I got to vent on at least 5 pet-peeves in one post!
