Jeff Rowland Concentra II vs Gryphon Callisto 2200

The other 3 new ones are not in the same tier. The Gryphon
is a nice unit but cold and analytical like Boulder,Bryston,
Spectral , etc. regardless of what speakers you use. The Rowland is unequivically musically better. When do you plan to get better speakers ? When and if you do,the Rowland is more chameleon-like to work with any type of system out there.Service is another issue with the Gryphon being problematic.This is from an owner of both units.

Same tier?, different league?, "unequivocally better?" This is, certainly a matter of taste. The JRDG is certainly in another class, as far as price goes. After that, you've got to listen. Like I said: I liked the Passion better. Is the Passion better? To me, yes. Listen and learn.

The Rowland Piece is a great audio product. Somehow, though, I have never gotten the same feeling of music that I get with the Gryphon.
I have spoken, by email to Flemming Rasmussen several times about his product, and he does not consider the USA to be compatible with his product offering. And, based on his past marketing efforts, hobbiests,and speaker manufacturers, the latter selling his product as an afterthought, I would say that the problem is in his sales approach, not some "market compatibility" issue. I spoke to an acquaintence in the Orient, and he basically, without rancor, stated that the US market lacks the cerebral requirements to understand and purchase such a product. I would sadly have to agree with him. In our society, we are so caught up in quick and, just good enough, that such a tremendously built product does not offer the flash that some others do.
Frankly, my Callisto is better in every way than any separates I have compared it to, and the list is considerable. In all fairness, while I have heard the Rowland, I did not do a head to head comparison. The Rowland did, have more of a hi fi sound in the higher frequencies than the Gryphon. The voicing of the Gryphon is superb, with absolutely nothing that I want to change.
So, while either is excellent, the rare and hard to find Gryphon is my favorite, for whatever that is worth. This comes, as does music, from the heart, not the head.
Larry R. Staples

The choices get tough at this point. I went from an ARC tube pre and power amp combo to a Concentra II. So far I have been pleased. As others have said the build quality is fantastic, as it should be at this price point. The sonics are superb as well. It does the desirable audiophile things well (soundstaging, detail, air, etc.) but also conveys the emotion and feel of the music. It has an ease about it, free of glare, grain, and electical artifacts but at the same time doesn't sound sterile or unenvolving. I find that it has ample power and drives my 84db efficient speakers with ease in a medium sized room. A few years back I worked at a dealer that sold Gryphon and it was impressive gear. Like the Rowland it was well built, robust, engineering was sophisticated and the sound quality was top notch. Too bad more people in the US don't consider integrated amps as the market has some fine performers like the NAD, Unison, Creek at one end of the market and Rowland, Gryphon, and YBA at the other. I would arrange for an in home trial with both the Gryphon and the Rowland and see which matches your equipment and tastes.