Tomorrow's video:
We will start big and with a different linestage: Boulder 2110.
Stay tuned to see what the Boulder 2110 sounds like with the Gryphon Mephisto and Focal Stella UTOPIA EVO. This will be our starting point with the Boulder 2110. Expect for me the take it up a few notches down the road. |
|
Hard to pick color. They both are beautiful in my opinion. I have a thing for blue speakers all of a sudden. I never realized how sick I was of black colors until I bought blue speakers. |
I didn’t mean average as in average sound. I meant average as in there are quite a few people who own sasha or Alexia and very little with Stella. Here is a response I got from 2 followers:
"Hmmm I think it’s the High dollar equipment that is attracting the views. I’m guessing if it was the Magico M6 it would be the same. Audiophiles are very interested to hear what they cannot have....but wish for. If you were constantly reviewing Rotel, Bryston, B&W etc.... it would be more of the same that’s on YouTube. What you are now doing is way out of the norm. I get way more interested when you are reviewing high $ gear"
"I think it's a combo of a well marketed brand and very expensive speaker. There are probably tons of music demos on the internet Alexia 2 in someone's room, but very few of the Stella because there are only like 8 pairs on the US" |
Alexia has more muscle but that is just Wilson in general. That said, the refinement on the Stella is leagues above the Alexia 2 - as it should be.
Not even close in terms of resolution either. The beryllium tweeters always have more information and air than most soft domes. I’m discovering so much more in the music that wasn’t there or wasn’t so evident on my previous Wilson Alexia and Sasha.
The only thing I give the nod to Wilson on are the dynamics but everything else (imaging, detail, bass tightness and speed, overall clarity, etc) goes to the Stella. I’m not even going to get into the conversation of how room dependent Wilson audio is. They need the proper room to really do what they do. The flexibility of the stella is in a different league when comparing to all my previous speakers.
|
So for many of you who like statistics and believe in numbers, here is something interesting:
The video I posted today, only 8 hrs ago, already has 1,000 views and yet my channel only has 2200 subscribers. I’ve never ever had so much traction with Wilson speakers and once I put the focal Stella evo on my channel, people are watching it more than ever.
Does this mean people want to see more of Focal than Wilson? Or does it mean they want to see 6 digit speakers play music instead of "average" speakers?
I’m very interested in any educated input on this.... I have not arrived at a conclusion thus far. I’m interested in hearing from you.
|
Interesting feedback. Curious to hear from the rest ? |
Another response I got from a dealer:
" Wilson is tiny in comparison to focal. Focal has the bigger name in many industries: car audio, headphones, home theater, etc) and they have the bigger audience since Europe is larger. You are now appealing more to the European Audiophile than ever before. You also are displaying what could arguably be in a conversation for one of the best speakers made today. People are kinda of tired of the same best buy names such as kef, martin Logan, b&w d3, etc. How many people want to read about a Honda civic with a new exhaust system? Thousands, but how many want to read about super cars? Hundredths of thousands want to read" |
I posted an article that was sent to me which I shared with you all. Just because I don't really believe what they say doesn't mean I can't share content on this thread. That article literally came out today so I thought some of you might find it interesting.
I also posted it because there has been very little activity so I figure it can't hurt. |
|
@zprr:
Can you post the link if it's available? |
By the way:
For those of you who saw wilson not being recommened due to the fact that Wilson doesn’t advertise with them, can you explain to me why he recommended tidal when tidal also doesn’t advertise with them either? and why didn't he place Focal as one of the brands of recommended speakers when focal AND NAIM adverstise? what about Vivid audio not being one of his top choices yet they advertise? how about Gobel & Estelon? they don't advertise either....
I think you all missed that? ... |
|
@carey1110
yes i agree with you
@golfnutz:
yes i am aware he owns them, but that still does not explain the rest of the coincidences? focal, naim, estelon, gobel, vivid audio? etc, etc.
To me, it just stood out that he did not have Wilson Audio there since they are a big player in the speaker world. I do not expect Focal to be on every magazine or reviewer’s top list because the Utopia line is so hard to find out and about. Not many dealers carry the big Stellas and Grandes, but there are plenty of dealers of Alexx and XLF. i do not think i have ever seen a Stella in person until i bought mine. Who knows what the "underlying" criteria was to make this list. Only they know.
Now, when it comes to amplifiers, i will say that if Gryphon does not make any top amplifiers reviewer’s list (at least top 3-5), that will be because he has never heard or reviewed one. No reviewer will ever convince ME that Gryphon does not belong in the top list amplifiers in the world. That is what is great about sitting with the Mephisto: You have this feeling that when something does not sound good, you are the person that has an issue and not the amplifier.
Perfect example was me yesterday: i tried like 3 different times to listen and i could not sit down to enjoy the presentation. i just could not let the music flow and that is when i realized that i was too tired since i had gone to bed at 3am because i was listening to music. As of the last 2-3 months, if my system does not sound "good" then i know i am too tired to listen. My mind is playing tricks on me and that is a reality with audio. We get used to the sound and then we think things sound "ok" even though we were blown away just a few days ago. |
@zprr:
It's your head playing tricks. Make sure you get some rest before you listen critically. Lately, i have understood myself better with doing critical analysis. If I am having an awesome listening session then I'll do whatever it takes to not cut it short and go as late as possible because I don't know how the next day will be. I haven't been able to connect with my system again since Saturday night. I know when my mind is tired and not paying any attention to music even if I try.
I don't expect for this phenomenon to affect everyone the same. I am only speaking about me.
@rpeluso
I almost bought a pair of that exact model last month but things didn't work out. I will say that I have heard other vanderdsteen models and wasn't exactly floored. That said, i have been told that he model 7 is supposed to be really good which is why I was looking to buy it.
For now, i don't have any immediate plans to buy any speakers soon but who knows and maybe I decide to do another magico speaker to finish the year. |
Ricevs:
I appreciate your post above. I unfortunately can't make that happen. Let me ask you, have you done what you proposed above ?
|
|
I am just not the person to do mods. Maybe one day I might venture into that, but as ron17 said, I really don't have the bandwidth to do that.
|
So when i started this thread 4 years ago and began to give my impressions on the NAD M25 power amp, i had no clue i would end up going on a Gryphon Mephisto let alone a pair of $140k Focal Stella Evo speakers.
There is an element of truth to the fact that this is an amplifier thread, but could you imagine if i had to create a separate thread for each speaker, each cable, each dac that i reviewed? how could i maintain 3,4,5,6,etc separate threads? i simply could not do it.
Anyhow, i have been getting a tremendous amounts of emails and comments from people who want me to play their songs through my speakers to which i have no problem doing, but you all gotta keep in mind that Youtube has copyrights in place so i can not play ANY SONG i want.
If you want to know if one the songs you want me to play is allowed by youtube, all you need to do is search for the song on youtube and see if there is ANYONE playing this song through their system somewhere. That is a good indication that i probably can play it too. I think Fleetwood Mac is not allowed because i have tried to play it and it keeps getting declined and it is the same story with the Eagles "Hotel California".
I might "take requests" (i feel like a DJ) and do about 10 songs for bout 2 min each for a total of 20 min.
If there is anyone interested, let me know, but please do your homework first to be sure your song is allowed by youtube. |
I get it, if you are a new speaker company and you are trying to step into the ring with a speaker of a price tag of $140k, you have to make sure you have your ducks in a row or else it can create difficulties for you if you lose.
Videos go viral and if you failed to deliver then that would not be good for business. Focal & Wilson are HUGE companies with massive money so if you are targeting their customers then you have to be prepared to understand that you could also end up failing. This is no different than the small brick & mortar retailers that tried to take on Amazon and have now shut doors.
if you take on ANY heavy hitter, you gotta be aware that you can also get knocked out and this punch might put you to sleep forever. You are not taking Wilson & Focal & Magico out of business - LET’S KEEP THIS REAL -no matter how good your speakers are, but Wilson, Focal & Magico CAN knock you out and dig your own grave. That is why it is important to make sure you are strategic and understand WHO YOU ARE TODAY and WHO you would ultimately like to be. There is a huge difference. |
@carey1110
Correct. Synergy is extremely important and it seems to be the most important thing for me lately. That said, remember i keep plenty of components here at once so i am sure i would have an amp that would work with any speaker unless that speaker ONLY works well with tube and at that point i think the speaker would be disqualified for me. I do not believe in designs where you can only use a certain type of amplifier technology or else the speaker fails. |
I am a believer that there is stuff out there that really performs above its price point. I can not confirm or deny if Tekton or GT Audio are at the level of a Stella Evo because i have never heard them here in my room - where it matters to me.
I am sure i will continue to try more speakers in the future, but i want you all to understand that the logistics when it comes to speakers are tough and it requires man power plus the space to store all those crates.
i would love to try different speakers every month, but that is unfortunately not possible. Speakers - in my humble opinion - are the hardest thing to sell once you are done with them. Granted, if you have the newest Wilson, Magico, etc it won’t be too hard to sell in the beginning, but after a few years you won’t be able to sell them for what you want, but rather for what the market brings.
I would LOVE to have a Magico M3, Focal Stella Evo, Wilson Alexx in here all at once, but i do not have the space and i cant store those huge crates in here.
In closing, i am NOT OPPOSED to bringing Tekton speakers and do not be surprised if i somehow end up with a pair in here, but PLEASE keep in mind that i will be as objective as possible with them. I do not want to hurt anybody’s feelings (specially Tekton owners) if i find the speakers less than what they are praised to be.
I have also kept in touch with Steve from GT Audio and i expressed my sentiments to him about comparing his speakers against whichever speaker i have here:
I need to hear them HERE, with my electronics, in my room, and in an environment that i am familiar with. Until that takes place, we can not speculate that their speakers are superior to any speaker regardless of price. The only thing you all need to know is that whichever speaker i bring here (Tekton, GT audio, etc) is sure to be used with top electronics and cables. There will not be any excuses as to why they did or did not perform.
I truly believe that the only thing i need to do with speakers here is perhaps have a different set of speaker cables, xlrs, powercords and nothing else. Gryphon Mephisto & Pandora as well as Boulder 2110 and DCS Rossini w/clock have the front end covered. I do not believe i need to worry about my preamplification, source or amplification at all.
I also feel like if you are a relatively small speaker manufacturer, WHY wouldn’t you want your speakers to be in the same room as the Focal Stella Evos and Gryphon Mephisto? What a better chance for marketing for your product than to hear it with this quality of electronics? Granted, most Tekton buyers would not be the demographic for a Mephisto (i get it), but think about how awesome it would be to hear what a Tekton is capable of with a machine like the Mephisto? i have been vocal about this behind the scenes with some manufacturers FYI.
I have YET TO HEAR a Gryphon amplifier sound bad with ANY SPEAKER.
If i am trying to penetrate a certain market with a new car brand and Toyota has allowed me display my product in one of their dealerships, WHY wouldn’t i jump at the opportunity if i know my product is good? yes, i know i am not Toyota, but you get my point.
i am waiting for GT Audio or Tekton to put a pair of their speakers at my door for me to evaluate for at least one month. Yes, it costs them money to ship to me and to ship them back, but isn't that the cost of embarking on a business venture? |
Speedbump
Please share your thoughts when you can. You can also send me the video directly and I can post on my YouTube channel if you'd like me to. Let me know what i can do to facilitate this. |
@kren:
i understand what you are saying about being honest and blunt, but i am trying to stay in my lane and not hurt feelings or shut doors for me by going on an all out assault if something does not deliver. I know some people want me to be as vocal as Trump, but i can’t quite deliver things like that if it means i can ruin any future endeavors. I can still be honest, but with a little more "feeling" if that makes any sense. Dont get me wrong, some days i am in a "all assault mode" but that ends up coming back to me down the road.
If you all knew HOW MANY other things i could disclose here publicly about some manufacturers, gear, what goes on behind the scenes, customer service, etc, etc, but i simply can’t.
I am more well-known each day and i didn’t even know the impact i can have. Just the other day, i got a call from a dealer who told me a customer walked into his store and the first sentence out his mouth was: " i want to tell you, i am a BIG Jay’s Audio Lab" fan and i want to hear two components he recommended (vivid audio, Gryphon Essence)"
4 hours later he bought Vivid Audio Speakers and the Essence Linestage with Stereo Amp... I was shocked to hear this because it doesn’t register in my head the impact i have, but this gave me a reality check and now i have to begin to re-evaluate my approach while STILL remaining transparent and giving my audience the truth.
I am a small-timer when compared to other audiophile channels and i get it, but i have identified my spot and plan to give you all what NOBODY ELSE is doing on youtube. Remember, these channels do this for a living and i do not. I am not going to imitate other channels, but i will rip a page or two out of their books to improve my own channel. I look forward to the future to see where i will be 5 years from now. |
Dave:
I don’t want to intervene unless I see it keeps going. I don’t mind people exchanging a few thoughts, but if I see it starts to derail then I’ll say something.
That said, calling people groupies is really one behavior that is similar to what techno was doing which was calling groupies = cheerleaders. This is one reason why techno was suspended from posting which is why he was gone. I’m simply trying to make sure others understand this. Nothing else. If techno was held to a certain standard then the rest have to also comply. It has nothing with me being sensitive, but rather me shining a light on something that someone else was punished for. |
Can we move on ? Let’s continue to sail this ship together and try to get along as best as possible.
@carey1110
It has nothing to do with groupies as you like to call them. Some people (i assume) are passionate about what i am doing and it checks a lot of those boxes that are important to them. It has nothing to do with anyone being a groupie. I think it has more to do with them not wanting to be distracted by things they feel aren’t as interesting.
Yes, as someone said above, they don’t want this thread to become just another "giant sleigher" thread. What has taken this thread to have over one million views, 13,000 posts, and to be the longest running thread in the history of audiogon isn’t because of giant sleigher stories. That’s not how it has gotten this far.
The truth is, and yes I will post a screenshot of the email youtube sent me, people are interested in seeing me own the exorbitant expensive stuff. Am I making this up? No, i can present facts by looking at the number of views on my last 3 videos after I introduced the Stella EVO. Analytics don’t lie and they are saying: " Jay, people want to see you go to the extreme and report back findings"
Again, numbers speak for themselves. I don’t make them up.
Imagine if I were to edit 2 videos and make one single video of my Stella vs Alexia 2 and then added a poll on youtube asking which speaker sounds best ? Wouldn’t that create controversy... And at the end, what will people say? Here is what they will say:
"Oh I don’t care what others voted. I like what I like.
" Oh they are deaf and don’t understand audio"
" It is about preferences and it appears more people preferred the speaker I didn’t"
Etc
Etc
Wilson owners will come out to defend and so will focal lovers. The argument wouldn’t end and while they argue, Jay will be working on crating up the speaker and bringing over a new speaker because he doesn't fall in love with any of it...i have to remain cold-blooded to keep pushing forward and not be enamored by any of it. Yesterday was Wilson, today Focal, tomorrow Magico, Rockport, or any brand that catches my attention.
|
Looks like Gryphon is ahead of the race based on youtube comments!!
|
Comparing Alexia 2 to Focal Stella Evo isn’t apples to apples. I’ve already said the Stella EVO smokes Alexia 2.
This speaker is on another level specially in clarity and imaging. Not even in the same vicinity.
Once you hear a well designed beryllium, it’s hard to go back to a soft dome. The detail is absent on the soft dome and although our ears will get used to just about any kind of speaker, having a soft dome and a beryllium in the same room makes you realize real quick how much nuance and minute details are missing from the soft dome.
The extra bells and whistles found in beryllium is killer and i actually remember comparing the focal Scala and Sasha DAW at the same time and focal kept distancing itself when it came to resolution. |
Alright folks,
Let me step away from the computer and go blow some steam off at the gym. I'll catch up with you all some other time. I need to chill and gather my thoughts.
|
@ron17:
i think i had nordost odin cables when i had the m3s in here for a brief moment. There was an enormous amount of detail but i am also a firm believer that too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing.
For instance, i listened yesterday for about 3 hours and i was glued to the chair and next thing you know i was listening at louder volumes than i usually do because the sound was "delicious" so i wanted more and more, but of course my ears gave me a reality check that LOUD IS LOUD regardless of whether the sound is smooth/relaxed or fatiguing. I have to keep that in perspective doing forward.
I believe the Magico tweeter is awesome, but it is not built by Magico. It is built by Scanspeak with Magico’s specs. I am not sure if this really matters or not, but what i can tell you is that each Magico M3 tweeter is $2,400 dollars. I have seen invoices of what Magico charges for each M3 tweeter and let’s not forget that you have to ship the entire speaker to Magico if you blow any driver. Take a look at the Magico M3 and you will see there are no nuts/screws/bolts around the drivers because they have to be removed from the bottom with special tools that Magico has. They pretty much have to perform "surgery" on the speaker to fix it.
There are many ways to slicing the pie: For one, no Wilson Audio owner has to ever worry about blowing a driver because the resistor tends to below first and not the driver. Each resistor is only $60 dollars and you can replace them yourself with tools that Wilson sends you. In addition to that, i believe that each Wilson tweeter is about $200-$400 on average so it is not absurdly expensive. Of course, people can criticize that Wilson uses crappy tweeters or drivers, but these people WILL NOT complain when they blow a driver because the cost to replace them is very little. On the other hand, they love to hype the extremely sophisticated drivers that Magico, Focals, etc have UNTIL they have to pay for one of these drivers then they begin to complain. So in essence, damn if you do, damn if you don’t.
Any Magico M series owner will tell you: It ain’t cheap to fix if you break it. Be prepared to pay approximately $4800 for 2 tweeters plus $1600 in shipping charges (roundtrip) plus labor. You are talking about $7,000 dollars when it is all said and done. If you want some of the best stuff, don’t complain when it is time to pay for maintenance/repairs. If anyone here is considering any Magico M series speaker, be sure you are aware that the whole speaker needs to be shipped back to them if you break it and drivers cost money. Oh, yes, you have to cover shipping both ways AND you have to be the one to arrange the logistics for them to get shipped back to you. Magico WILL NOT set up return shipping to you. You have to call carriers and get them to go to Magico to pick up the speakers from their loading dock. |
here we go... the dude is bored again... honestly...
this is the same guy who i actually messaged privately and told him, lets get on the phone and talk like adults and he declined. i told him that since he does not want to talk to me (man to man) over the phone then to please stay in his lane and i will stay in mine and never cross paths... well here we go again.. the bickering... well, now you see what he is doing... really man? ugh...coming here to attack me when i have COMPLETELY not even mentioned his name at all since him and i last messaged privately. i have COMPLETELY stayed in my lane ... Sad...
words like crap? lol.. that would be mr techno who is insinuating that about wilson audio and the drivers they use...not me... get your facts straight.
i just do not UNDERSTAND WHY he is all up in my business? why? what am i doing TO HIM ? why is he so salty with me?
Or is it that he is angry that he has tried to initiate threads and they have not lasted long enough because nobody is interested in them? HOW IS THAT MY FAULT? |
A physical threat to a 66 year old....oh boy...really.?. Why would I do that to myself? The damage is done to me if I laid a pinky on you. I got too much to lose...you clearly don’t. |
The Wilson Audio Sasha Daw did stay with me for approximately 6 months. The Alexia 2 was here for about 2 months. Granted, the reason why the Alexia 2 was here for only 2 months was because i had the Stella Evo available to me and i needed to get some funds back so i sacrificed the Alexia 2 or else they would still be here.
Hell, for all we know the Focal Stella Evo might be gone before Christmas and i might have something else here. Sometimes the opportunity that shows up at my door is what dictates my next move and what gets sold.
If tomorrow the stars aligned and i had a chance to get the MSB dac i am contemplating then i’d sell the DCS Rossini. The only component RIGHT NOW in my room that i can truthfully say i won’t be selling unless something else dethrones it is the Mephisto. In order for the Mephisto to leave I’d have to have the replacements here and I’d have to be fully convinced that they bested my Mephisto.
One other factor that influences my decision is how readily available a component is on the used market. If you look at the Mephisto, you all should know by now that it isn’t on the used market ever within the U.S. This means that if i sold mine, where the hell am i going to get another one? it will cost me a ton of money to replace it.
I can always find another Wilson Audio Alexia 2, DAW, etc, etc rather easy. I commend the Gryphon disctributor for keeping tight controls of their current product because this makes the product more desirable and it protects the used market value. |
Thank you Tammy. Greatly appreciated |
Manufacturers got more important stuff to do. That’s why. They aren’t afraid of what’s said. You’re the one that is afraid.
Tell them to delete my YouTube channel too. Go on. You have the bandwidth and time to do it since you don't much else anyhow. |
Ron17
Can you comment on the yg beryllium tweeters? |
@zprr:
Correct. I’m with zero fatigue here. That said, i don’t own nordost speaker cables anymore. I suspect too much Odin cabling on beryllium might be too much. I think there has to be a balance somewhere else in the chain.
Beryllium doesn’t really need the added information from odin. Don’t get me wrong, it still sounds good but if you crank it up then you run into some issues.
The UTOPIA EVO speakers aren’t bright. I can vouch for that. If anyone is considering them, you have my word that brightness isn’t a thing with them. I
Rockport speakers have piqued my interest and I suspect I will try them next year. I am doing "my rounds" with different speakers over the next few months. Mágico, Rockport and possibly MBL are on that list. The new Dynaudio confidence didn’t impress me when I heard them locally. For some reason, and it could be my mind, i view Dynaudio as being below in the rankings when comparing them to the magico, Wilson, focal Utopia, Rockport. Again, it might be my mind.
I heard from 2 dealers who were not impressed with the new Dynaudio confidence either but you know this is all subjective. Just because others say something it doesn’t mean you will agree to that as well. This is why you need to try things on your own.
Do we have any Dynaudio confidence owners here? I mean the new confidence line. I’d love to get some feedback. |
@sciencecop
interesting. I would say nordost odin in general might not be a great match for beryllium tweeters unless you listen at low volume levels or do some near-field listening.
|
Sonic differences between Boulder 2110 & Pandora with Mephisto?
hmm... at a high level, here is what i think:
-Boulder 2110 makes DCS Rossini sound less digitized and more analog
-Pandora is more dynamic
-Boulder has intense imaging that almost spooks you
-Pandora adds that "bite" on the pluck of a guitar and Boulder makes it a little more rounded
-Pandora leads to days of listening sessions
-Boulder leads to weeks of listening sessions
-Old recordings sound amazing on the Boulder 2110. You can still hear how "not good" the song is, but it does not give you road rash in your ears.
-Bass control is probably better on the Boulder, but i am knit-picking here. Both have incredible bass control.
That said, let’s not forget that my cables might be favoring the Pandora and that both linestages go about their business very differently. This will be a difficult task for me once i have identified which linestage i will stay with. One day i have the Boulder winning and then the next day i have the Gryphon Pandora. If feels as if it is very mood & song dependent. |
Today's video will be dropping at 1pm ET. I have removed wireworld interconnects and introduced Gryphon VIP xlrs back in the mix. I also went back to the stock powercord on the Boulder 2110.
One interesting fact about the Boulder 2110: This linestage might be (might be) the only component that i have ever owned where powercords make a difference, but where the stock powercord also sounds insane. i have tried Nordost odin 1 on it and yes it does get better, but i find myself going back to the stock powercord some reason?
This COULD BE a testament to the meticulous care that Boulder places on their products and how they maximize performance on stock powercords. I am quite impressed to be honest how good this thing sounds with stock cords... Wouldn't it be great to finally have a component that does not need expensive powercords to make it sound great? :)
|
It is 2022 and my first evaluation has to do with a cable brand that is QUITE affordable. Each powercord is only about $1,000 versus $9800 for a shunyata Omega or $6,000 for a transparent opus. I have a full loom of this cable brand in order to seek maximum synergy.
Are these THE BEST CABLES for the money??
You all should tune in to find out....
|
None - haven't owned either. |
You read my thoughts on the Mephisto :)
Yep, as I stated on my video, it is king. Will there be a bigger and badder lion that bests it ? Well, time will tell. I am nearing the end of the road. Now it might more about preferences rather than something besting the Mephisto. |
I’m surprised that it turned out this way. Boulder went from being extremely neutral , cold and sterile in the past to very tube-like while remaining extremely detailed and focused. That said, and i have mentioned this many times here, my system RIGHT NOW is set up for the Gryphon Pandora - not Boulder.
Think of the Boulder linestage as a racecar minus the bumpy ride. They gave you all the detail, clarity, immediacy and took away the nastiness of terrible recordings but still remaining as truthful as possible.
I’ve said it before, NOTHING at this level sucks. It’s about choosing your poison. One person could choose the Pandora and I’d totally understand it and another one pick the boulder and I’d get it. Both do spectacular things which is why I was saying this will be one of the toughest challenges for me. I might have to keep living with both for another month until I make my decision on which linestage will stay. That will be purely based on personal preference.
|
On this thread....yes....
|
|
|
|
He wants to be on time out again after being suspended....one more shot at me and I'll let the admins know. |
|
