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$63K, 150lbs Gryphon Commander Preamp Reviewed by Stereophile

restorer-john said:
I'm glad you like your Topping. But even thinking for a microsecond it can be compared to anything from Gryphon is the funny bit. :)
Click to expand...
And why can’t it be? Seriously ? Does the price define the Gryphon? Or it’s measured performances ? What do Gryphon has that makes them so superior to Topping? I really would like to know. I could defer to your vast knwledge of things electronics .. However in that very specific situation., I can't see the Gryphon in a way that would make me think of it as superior to the Topping preamplifier
The Topping seems to acquit itself in a better way than the Gryphon. So what makes the Gryphon special? The casing? The Price? Reputation? That is is made in Norway or some other North European country? Seriously What?

Waiting for a an explanation, based on facts and numbers. Not opinions.

Peace.
 
It's a pride of ownership thing, and also enjoyment of owning a magnificent, if overbuilt, piece of equipment. You can likely get where you need to go in a Yugo, (almost a car!) and also in a Mercedes. Both will git 'er done.
 
If the Gryphon was 6x the price of the Topping I'd take the Gryphon. Beyond that I'm done. At current pricing, I'd take the Topping. No other choice!
 
I make do with my home-brewed circlotron-style tube mono block power amps and home-brewed 2-box tube preamp. The Gryphon is way beyond my ability to pay for and not end up in eternal debt or on the street. I'm near end of life in age and no loan company is going to make me a 15 year loan anymore. Oh well, at least I can look at my amps and say "Made 'em muh self!". The darn things sound good, too.
 
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FrantzM said:
And why can’t it be? Seriously ? Does the price define the Gryphon? Or it’s measured performances ? What do Gryphon has that makes them so superior to Topping? I really would like to know. I could defer to your vast knwledge of things electronics .. However in that very specific situation., I can't see the Gryphon in a way that would make me think of it as superior to the Topping preamplifier
The Topping seems to acquit itself in a better way than the Gryphon. So what makes the Gryphon special? The casing? The Price? Reputation? That is is made in Norway or some other North European country? Seriously What?

Waiting for a an explanation, based on facts and numbers. Not opinions.

Peace.
Click to expand...
Hi,

It's not for me, even IF i could spend that kinda money on an Amp, but.... what has it over the Topping, well yes reputation ; built quality, i'm pretty sure it will still be repairable after 30 years of service, (given of course that there still be technicians at that time who know how to!), the Topping most likely not, hell, you're lucky if it even works without fault for 10 years, which is of course fine, given the price difference.
But to compare this kind of products (similarly Luxman ; Accuphase ; McIntosh and so on) with topping and SMSL is completely missing the point.

For instance, would i buy this (if i had the money!) instead of Topping, Hell yes:cool:

L-509Z Black Edition CENTENNIAL | INTEGRATED AMPLIFIERS | PRODUCTS | LUXMAN | Seeking higher sound quality

www.luxman.com www.luxman.com
 
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AdrianusG said:
Hi,

It's not for me, even IF i could spend that kinda money on an Amp, but.... what has it over the Topping, well yes reputation ; built quality, i'm pretty sure it will still be repairable after 30 years of service, (given of course that there still be technicians at that time who know how to!), the Topping most likely not, hell, you're lucky if it even works without fault for 10 years, which is of course fine, given the price difference.
But to compare this kind of products (similarly Luxman ; Accuphase ; McIntosh and so on) with topping and SMSL is completely missing the point.

For instance, would i buy this (if i had the money!) instead of Topping, Hell yes:cool:

Click to expand...


i'm pretty sure it will still be repairable after 30 years of service,
Click to expand...

Conjecture. Why would the Topping be not repairable?
And why would the Topping not work after 10 years.. Perhaps I am "half-lucky" having a Topping works for the past 5 years and showing no signs of issues.

With the money this nonsense money-grabby contraption cost you could perhaps buy a pallet of Topping A900, and have a supply of preamplifier for +100 years... :p
Can't comment on the notion of "pride of ownership" . The epitome of subjective.

Peace.
 
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FrantzM said:
That is is made in Norway
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Ry, Denmark. It looks like it is not big business. Quite a small building. 19 people employed.

1756890327129.png
 
egellings said:
It's a pride of ownership thing, and also enjoyment of owning a magnificent, if overbuilt, piece of equipment. You can likely get where you need to go in a Yugo, (almost a car!) and also in a Mercedes. Both will git 'er done.
Click to expand...
You would not claim any Yugo provides better performance that most (any?) Mercedes...
OTOH, On the subject of reliability, Mercedes seemingly wants to be in the same conversation. :facepalm:

Peace
 
FrantzM said:
You would not claim any Yugo provides better performance that most (any?) Mercedes...
OTOH, On the subject of reliability, Mercedes seemingly wants to be in the same conversation. :facepalm:

Peace
Click to expand...
Yeah, in the realm of bad but popular analogies this is more like comparing Casio to Cartier.

I’m stressing on paying for my kids’ college tuition so obviously not the target market. But if I had eff you money to spend on audio jewelry, I’d definitely want some high end switchware. And I’d pass on the inverted triangle, which I (unfairly) associate with Nazi concentration camp badges.
 
Sir Sanders Zingmore said:
I may be wrong but my understanding is that Gryphon outsources their manufacturing. They just do the design in house (hence the small house!)
Click to expand...
You are probably right. I only know what is publicly available. From that it seems that the turnover is around $12m which is not likely with only 19 people.

(I could only find the profit for 2024, which is a bit over $4m and a stated profit margin of 35%, which gives a turnover of $12m)
 
restorer-john said:
How many analogue inputs does your ADI-2 DAC have? That's right, exactly: none. It's a DAC- this is a line level preamplifier. Completely different beasts.
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The ADI-2 is a preamplifier for the modern age, with digital rather than analogue sources. In my view traditional preamplifiers are obsolete. I no longer use any analogue sources, so I no longer need a traditional preamp with analogue inputs, but if I did, there is now an ADI-2 with phono input as well. The ADI-2 has the additional benefits such as balance and tone control, and filters, but in a far more flexible and powerful form.
 
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