Gryphon Mephisto (and Alexandrias)

[audioblazer]

THf99, I don't think you will regret having the mephisto . Few of us in Malaysia audition the viola & colosseum & we love what we heard. When Han bought the Mephisto for audition , we ended up purchasing 3 units of mephisto stereo & 1 pair of mephisto solo. Beside that I purchased the pandora without even auditioning. That's the confidence I have after auditioning mephisto . On top of that Han is a 1st class Gryphon distributor who will take the trouble to help out in tuning the system. Sounds like I m " selling " him but he is truly a 1st class act after purchasing various items from different dealers & their service is nothing to shout about .

 

[LL21]

I am an enormous fan of the brands in my system...Gryphon is one of them. i have had the opportunity to speak with Yamada San of Zanden and Lew Johnson of CJ...and also Flemming Rasmussen of Gryphon...all world-class designers. I bought the Antileon a long time ago and have since upgraded to the Colosseum and have absolutely enjoyed every day of it driving my X1/Grand Slamms. I have had numerous editors, and even distributors who dont distribute Gryphon) talk about personally owning Gryphons and having considered them as one of the all-time greats they've owned in their careers.

I have spoken with an owner of Mephisto monos and Alexandrias, and he continues to marvel at them even today. Enjoy and i dont think you'll regret buying them!!!

 

[LL21]

Today, I took my speakers to the showroom to try out the Mephisto/Extrema combination and I was stunned! First impression was that the Mephisto seemed to take the Extremas to a much higher level of performance. Whether it's due to the amp or the source, I'm not sure yet. Tomorrow, I'll do a home audition to find out and if I hear what I heard at the showroom, the Mephisto will stay for good.

i agree with Audioblazer...i seriously doubt you regret this one. I have been fortunate to have some nice pieces i am 'keeping' and have done so for years. Gryphon pparticularly the Colosseum is definitely one of them...4-5 years and not even looking. CJ preamps...12 years with 2 upgrades within CJ family. Zanden digital...my first serious digital some 5 years ago and nothing changing my mind so far.

I am hopeful Mephisto will be the same for you and would not at all be surprised if it is. Good luck.

 

[Thf99]

i agree with Audioblazer...i seriously doubt you regret this one. I have been fortunate to have some nice pieces i am 'keeping' and have done so for years. Gryphon pparticularly the Colosseum is definitely one of them...4-5 years and not even looking. CJ preamps...12 years with 2 upgrades within CJ family. Zanden digital...my first serious digital some 5 years ago and nothing changing my mind so far.

I am hopeful Mephisto will be the same for you and would not at all be surprised if it is. Good luck.

Many thanks, Lloyd, for your thoughts. I'll sure have fun over this Christmas break with the Mephisto. The dealer has allowed me to audition it for 1-2 weeks and I'll report back. Most likely, the Mephisto will not be leaving my home.
Meanwhile, merry Christmas to you and have a great new year.

 

[Thf99]

THf99, I don't think you will regret having the mephisto . Few of us in Malaysia audition the viola & colosseum & we love what we heard. When Han bought the Mephisto for audition , we ended up purchasing 3 units of mephisto stereo & 1 pair of mephisto solo. Beside that I purchased the pandora without even auditioning. That's the confidence I have after auditioning mephisto . On top of that Han is a 1st class Gryphon distributor who will take the trouble to help out in tuning the system. Sounds like I m " selling " him but he is truly a 1st class act after purchasing various items from different dealers & their service is nothing to shout about .

And many thanks to you as well, Audioblazer. I'm glad to say that you are my fellow countryman and I'll be in touch with you soon.

 

[audioblazer]

Lloyd, I concurred with you. The very fact that Andy Payor is biamping Rockport Arrakis ( was told difficult to drive) with Gryphon amp gave me the confidence that it will be a powerful amp. I was using CJ Act2.2 & CJ 350 ( up for sales) & it's no where near Gryphon performance . It should be considering the price difference

 

[XV-1]

Many thanks, Lloyd, for your thoughts. I'll sure have fun over this Christmas break with the Mephisto. The dealer has allowed me to audition it for 1-2 weeks and I'll report back. Most likely, the Mephisto will not be leaving my home.
Meanwhile, merry Christmas to you and have a great new year.

It certainly will not be leaving without 2 or 3 strong men. Its bloody huge.

Enjoy the demo

 

[Thf99]

It certainly will not be leaving without 2 or 3 strong men. Its bloody huge.

Enjoy the demo

Yes, the Mephisto is staying put for good. After just 1 hour of listening, I'm sold!

 

[LL21]

Lloyd, I concurred with you. The very fact that Andy Payor is biamping Rockport Arrakis ( was told difficult to drive) with Gryphon amp gave me the confidence that it will be a powerful amp. I was using CJ Act2.2 & CJ 350 ( up for sales) & it's no where near Gryphon performance . It should be considering the price difference

Yes, i have heard the CJ 350...it is not a fair fight. The CJ350 was surprisingly powerful and detailed and articulated in the bass...and due to CJ, also had a smoothness in the treble and mids that surprised many (at that time) in comparison to other named SS amps.

However, the Gryphon is nuanced where the CJ is flat, far more microdynamic range/subtlety and refined ability to parse out details, musical cues, intensity of sweetness in the mids/treble which the CJ could not get to (hard by comparison), and the power of the Gryphon is such that everything by comparison seems effortless and thus easier to listen to.

And by the way, the CJ 350 is an EXCELLENT amp as TonePub will no doubt support...i nearly bought one myself but then came across Antileon and have been big Gryphon fan ever since.

What preamp are you using with your Gryphon now that CJ is gone? (I owned CJ ACT 2...very similar taste!...i now run CJ GAT).

 

[LL21]

It certainly will not be leaving without 2 or 3 strong men. Its bloody huge.

Enjoy the demo

Yes! the Mephisto stereo weighs 108kg or 238lbs!!!

 

[LL21]

Yes, the Mephisto is staying put for good. After just 1 hour of listening, I'm sold!

ENJOY! And 108kg of Congrats!! If you ever get to Audiogon, speak with Bigpond...he uses the Mephistos with his Alexandrias, Clearaudio Master Ref Turntable, ARC Ann Reference preamp and i believe CEC TLOX/AN DAC 5 Signature.

 

[LL21]

Yes, the Mephisto is staying put for good. After just 1 hour of listening, I'm sold!

I am curious...did you get any feedback from your dealer as to Mephisto v Colosseum? I suspect i know where it surpasses the Mephisto...but was very curious to know. Thanks!

 

[LL21]

THf99, I don't think you will regret having the mephisto . Few of us in Malaysia audition the viola & colosseum & we love what we heard. When Han bought the Mephisto for audition , we ended up purchasing 3 units of mephisto stereo & 1 pair of mephisto solo. Beside that I purchased the pandora without even auditioning. That's the confidence I have after auditioning mephisto . On top of that Han is a 1st class Gryphon distributor who will take the trouble to help out in tuning the system. Sounds like I m " selling " him but he is truly a 1st class act after purchasing various items from different dealers & their service is nothing to shout about .

How did Colosseum compare to Mephisto? I think i know...just curious. Also, what are your thoughts on Pandora vs other SOTA preamps you have used? Thanks for that also! And congrats!!

 

[Thf99]

I am curious...did you get any feedback from your dealer as to Mephisto v Colosseum? I suspect i know where it surpasses the Mephisto...but was very curious to know. Thanks!

Unfortunately, no, Lloyd. There was a Colosseum in the showroom on static display. All he mentioned was the Mephisto is Rasmussen's best work to date. I will ask him more when I see him next.

 

[LL21]

Unfortunately, no, Lloyd. There was a Colosseum in the showroom on static display. All he mentioned was the Mephisto is Rasmussen's best work to date. I will ask him more when I see him next.

Thank you. Here is my guess...improved intensity of sweetness in the mids/treble at the extremes/dynamics.

my explanation. the change from Antileon to Colosseum removed the darkness which older SS CLass A equipment seemed to have as part of the necessary design at that time. There was intense sweetness which was beautiful to behold...and all-powerful bass. In the right system, the darkness became something you forgot about...until someone bought something like a Goldmund into your system...and you realize taht despite perhaps prefering the Gryphon in most all other areas...the treble was dark.

The Colosseum finally lifted that entire veil and there was light spread throughout the entire frequency spectrum, removal of the slightest touch of something which obscured detail compared to the Colosseum as well. So you ended up with basically Antileon with greater frequency extension, balance, superior balance basically...but retaining all the power, endless dynamics and even better more nuanced microdynamic shadings...very, very rare for a beast this big.

but where Colosseum shaved off all the darkness...it lost a few percent of the intense sweetness when a bow strikes a string on a violin...maybe 95% out of 100%...i suspect the Mephisto brings that intensity of sweetness back all the way and more...which, for me, is where the magic lies in music...when the string or voice soars and you get all note, all clarity...but importantly, all sweetness of a natural note all the way thru decay and into silence. Very very few pieces in my limited experience can do that.

 

[Thf99]

Thank you. Here is my guess...improved intensity of sweetness in the mids/treble at the extremes/dynamics.

my explanation. the change from Antileon to Colosseum removed the darkness which older SS CLass A equipment seemed to have as part of the necessary design at that time. There was intense sweetness which was beautiful to behold...and all-powerful bass. In the right system, the darkness became something you forgot about...until someone bought something like a Goldmund into your system...and you realize taht despite perhaps prefering the Gryphon in most all other areas...the treble was dark.

The Colosseum finally lifted that entire veil and there was light spread throughout the entire frequency spectrum, removal of the slightest touch of something which obscured detail compared to the Colosseum as well. So you ended up with basically Antileon with greater frequency extension, balance, superior balance basically...but retaining all the power, endless dynamics and even better more nuanced microdynamic shadings...very, very rare for a beast this big.

but where Colosseum shaved off all the darkness...it lost a few percent of the intense sweetness when a bow strikes a string on a violin...maybe 95% out of 100%...i suspect the Mephisto brings that intensity of sweetness back all the way and more...which, for me, is where the magic lies in music...when the string or voice soars and you get all note, all clarity...but importantly, all sweetness of a natural note all the way thru decay and into silence. Very very few pieces in my limited experience can do that.

Whoa! Lloyd. You write like an experienced reviewer. I'm impressed. I agree totally with what you wrote.
The Mephisto is so impressive that I just could not stop listening. It has total control of the music. Vocals are so natural and sweet sounding. Classical pieces, jazz, rock and whatever you throw at it are all reproduced beautifully, so much so that it has got me emotionally stirred. More to come.

 

[audioblazer]

Lloyd . When my analogue fellowship heard Colosseum demoed with Eggleston Ivy Signature & compared to viola , it was impressive. When distributor sent the Mephisto for demoed we were hooked lock , stock & barrel & Colosseum was TKO. As good as Colosseum , it was no where as good as Mephisto. I m pairing Mephisto with Pandora

 

[LL21]

Lloyd . When my analogue fellowship heard Colosseum demoed with Eggleston Ivy Signature & compared to viola , it was impressive. When distributor sent the Mephisto for demoed we were hooked lock , stock & barrel & Colosseum was TKO. As good as Colosseum , it was no where as good as Mephisto. I pairing Mephisto with Pandora

Wow! Great stuff! Good to know!!! I have spoken with someone who did a shootout with DAgostino Monos, ML Ref 53 monos and Mephisto (stereo, not monos), and he said Mephisto was unanimously 1 from those who attended the shootout. He ended up buying the Mephisto monos.

 

[microstrip]

I have spoken with an owner of Mephisto monos and Alexandrias, and he continues to marvel at them even today. Enjoy and i dont think you'll regret buying them!!!

Loyd,

What preamplifier is he using? The only drawback I see in using the Mephisto with Alexandria's is the high gain (31 dB) coupled with 94.5 dB/W. When used with some tube preamplfiers we risk to have some residual noise. I did have this problem with the cj 350 (32 dB gain).

Do you know of anyone having compared the Mephisto Stereo with the Solo's?

 

[audioblazer]

I have. My friend Danon was the first person to purchase the mephisto stereo in Malaysia. Within a few months after the purchased he demoed the Solo & it's a done deal. My CJ Act 2.2 has a gain of 20.5 , pretty high & I don't have noise issue with CJ 350. The hummed you have experienced is due to the amp grounding issue . All I did thru my dealer is to add a 47ohm resistor to the safety ground terminal at the back of the chassis & the hum was cured !