Gryphon Mephisto (and Alexandrias)

[Thf99]

No , but i'm impressed with it's .5 ohm operation .....

The Gryphy Idles at 700 watts , so i have no doubt of its 200 watt class- rating , which is more than a KSA 250 ...

200 @8
100 @4
50 @2

So Lloyd will have 100 watt class-a max on his WA speaker ....

I thought it should be...
200@8
400@4
800@2
1600@1...

 

[LL21]

No , but i'm impressed with it's .5 ohm operation .....

The Gryphy Idles at 700 watts , so i have no doubt of its 200 watt class- rating , which is more than a KSA 250 ...

200 @8
100 @4
50 @2

So Lloyd will have 100 watt class-a max on his WA speaker ....

I thought it should be...
200@8
400@4
800@2
1600@1...

I think A.wayne is referring to how much Class A power there is at each ohm level...the Class A rating is typically at 8ohms...but inevitably i am told the science dictates as you halve each ohm load the total Class A element must slip into Class B...so perhaps that math is that while the total power rating may double into half the ohms...the Class A element of it may halve...which i think is what A.wayne is saying. Someone technical - pls clarify if i got this wrong.

A.wayne...in the case of the old Wilson's the average imedace is closer to 6.5ohms with only above 15khz where it dips to 3ohms or 4ohms...so i might be able to eke out a few more Class A watts...though in truth, i am sure i am not using much beyond 100 watts class A anyway given the 95db efficiency.

 

[Thf99]

I think A.wayne is referring to how much Class A power there is at each ohm level...the Class A rating is typically at 8ohms...but inevitably i am told the science dictates as you halve each ohm load the total Class A element must slip into Class B...so perhaps that math is that while the total power rating may double into half the ohms...the Class A element of it may halve...which i think is what A.wayne is saying. Someone technical - pls clarify if i got this wrong.

A.wayne...in the case of the old Wilson's the average imedace is closer to 6.5ohms with only above 15khz where it dips to 3ohms or 4ohms...so i might be able to eke out a few more Class A watts...though in truth, i am sure i am not using much beyond 100 watts class A anyway given the 95db efficiency.

Oh, ok. Sorry Wayne.

 

[microstrip]

What does peak power really mean micro? Available for a millisecond? I never took any "peak power" spec seriously before.

Peak power means that the amplifier can supply this power for a short time, but not continuously. It is an important rating when combined with the continuous ratings at other impedances, as it shows that the amplifier does not have current limitation in peaks. And unless you listen mainly to electronic music at high levels it can be very meaningful.

IMHO, the main problem with specifications is that very often one specification taken out of the whole set has little meaning. They must be considered as an whole.

 

[LL21]

Peak power means that the amplifier can supply this power for a short time, but not continuously. It is an important rating when combined with the continuous ratings at other impedances, as it shows that the amplifier does not have current limitation in peaks. And unless you listen mainly to electronic music at high levels it can be very meaningful.

IMHO, the main problem with specifications is that very often one specification taken out of the whole set has little meaning. They must be considered as an whole.

Hi Microstrip - happy holidays. Have you heard the Gryphons? I think you have? Was curious as to your impressions...apologies if you've shared them previously.

 

[microstrip]

Hi Microstrip - happy holidays. Have you heard the Gryphons? I think you have? Was curious as to your impressions...apologies if you've shared them previously.

Not yet. Although they are now distributed in my country, I only listened to them shortly at a show. I can not consider it a valid session. As I am currently hosting the X-2 I would not mind borrowing a Mephisto stereo ...

 

[LL21]

Not yet. Although they are now distributed in my country, I only listened to them shortly at a show. I can not consider it a valid session. As I am currently hosting the X-2 I would not mind borrowing a Mephisto stereo ...

hosting an X2? is that a prelude to a purchase? Definitely go for Mephisto!!! I think you will be impressed, knowing the Colosseum as I do. I also think it has quite a good match with X2s having spoken with owner of the X2 and Mephisto monos (with ARC Ref Anniversary pre).

 

[Thf99]

Not yet. Although they are now distributed in my country, I only listened to them shortly at a show. I can not consider it a valid session. As I am currently hosting the X-2 I would not mind borrowing a Mephisto stereo ...

You don't need to borrow. You already won one!
Anyway, be forewarned! Borrow one will cost you 42k euros as you will most likely not be returning it.

 

[A.wayne]

I thought it should be...
200@8
400@4
800@2
1600@1...

Not for class-a power , thats their AB Ratings ..the exception is their 8 ohm rating ..

 

[Thf99]

Not for class-a power , thats their AB Ratings ..

Thanks, Wayne. I just learnt something from you today.

 

[A.wayne]

I think A.wayne is referring to how much Class A power there is at each ohm level...the Class A rating is typically at 8ohms...but inevitably i am told the science dictates as you halve each ohm load the total Class A element must slip into Class B...so perhaps that math is that while the total power rating may double into half the ohms...the Class A element of it may halve...which i think is what A.wayne is saying. Someone technical - pls clarify if i got this wrong.

A.wayne...in the case of the old Wilson's the average imedace is closer to 6.5ohms with only above 15khz where it dips to 3ohms or 4ohms...so i might be able to eke out a few more Class A watts...though in truth, i am sure i am not using much beyond 100 watts class A anyway given the 95db efficiency.

If your listening distance is 4 M , then Your wilsons will produce 83db with 2watts (approx due to the 6 ohm rating and impedance fluctuations) which means it will require 120 watts for a 100db, so if you like symphony levels , its another 360 watts for 106 db ( this is for one speaker) the second channel adds 3-4 db dependant on room gain ..

 

[LL21]

If your listening distance is 4 M , then Your wilsons will produce 83db with 2watts (approx due to the 6 ohm rating and impedance fluctuations) which means it will require 120 watts for a 100db, so if you like symphony levels , its another 360 watts for 106 db ( this is for one speaker) the second channel adds 3-4 db dependant on room gain ..

thanks...those are sustained levels right...not peak? (in terms of maintainingn class A)? so effectively at 4m listening with 2 channels, i am at 103-104db sustained...which frankly is pretty loud if we consider the amp has, practically speaking, more than enough dynamic headroom not to compress if playing at sustained 103-104db levels....that's louder than a jackhammer at 6 feet...all about right?

 

[A.wayne]

Peaks or sustained it will be the same power required ....if your avg din on say carmina Burana is 88 db then peaks will exceed 103db , the dynamic explosion of the recordings will not be captured by its class-a rating ....

Of course lots of variables , mileage may vary .....

 

[LL21]

Peaks or sustained it will be the same power required ....if your avg din on say carmina Burana is 88 db then peaks will exceed 103db , the dynamic explosion of the recordings will not be captured by its class-a rating ....

Of course lots of variables , mileage may vary .....

Thanks...got it. All i know is this all-out Class A calculation sure is fun...but in practical terms, it just sounds great. Thanks for the math. Just so i am clear...if Colosseum is 160watts Class A into 8ohm load is it linear to 4ohms? So at 6ohms average, i am roughly 120watts Class A into 6ohms?

 

[A.wayne]

Aproximately ..........Yes !

 

[LL21]

Thanks...got it. All i know is this all-out Class A calculation sure is fun...but in practical terms, it just sounds great. Thanks for the math. Just so i am clear...if Colosseum is 160watts Class A into 8ohm load is it linear to 4ohms? So at 6ohms average, i am roughly 120watts Class A into 6ohms?

Aproximately ..........Yes !

Thanks!!

 

[audioblazer]

I m puzzled with the last few postings which claimed that Class A will drop in wattage when the impedance drop . Below from gryphon claimed otherwise . Do educate me thks

Weighing in at a healthy 108 kg, Gryphon Mephisto delivers 2 x 175 Watts (8 Ohm), 2 x 350 W (4 Ohm), 2 x 700W (2 Ohm), continuous RMS, pure Class A. Built to meet the challenge of the most advanced contemporary loudspeakers which typically present vicious reactive loads while drawing huge amounts of current, the dual mono Mephisto is capable of massive peak current swings and, equally vital, can do so into very low impedances without losing its cool.

 

[LL21]

I m puzzled with the last few postings which claimed that Class A will drop in wattage when the impedance drop . Below from gryphon claimed otherwise . Do educate me thks

Weighing in at a healthy 108 kg, Gryphon Mephisto delivers 2 x 175 Watts (8 Ohm), 2 x 350 W (4 Ohm), 2 x 700W (2 Ohm), continuous RMS, pure Class A. Built to meet the challenge of the most advanced contemporary loudspeakers which typically present vicious reactive loads while drawing huge amounts of current, the dual mono Mephisto is capable of massive peak current swings and, equally vital, can do so into very low impedances without losing its cool.

I will double check but someone technical once posted that it is virtually impossible to build a Class A amp that goes full Class A thru 1ohm...i forgot where in WBF that post is...but the power required to be able to do this was insane.

Having gone back thru articles which review Class A amps which double all the way down, i saw one on an older Threshold which doubled all the way down...where they specifically note that the Class A element necessarily decreases with halving the impedance. so the amp was 250 into 8ohms...but 125 watts class into 4 ohm with 375watts in class (ie 500 watts into 4ohms...the first 125 of which are class A).

is that the case with Gryphon? Do not know, but suspect it might be so.

I do note that their manuals state the power description at Pure Class A 175watts into 8ohms, 350 into 4ohms...i think the Class A relates only to the 175 watts into 8ohms...again, a guess.

 

[microstrip]

I m puzzled with the last few postings which claimed that Class A will drop in wattage when the impedance drop . Below from gryphon claimed otherwise . Do educate me thks

Weighing in at a healthy 108 kg, Gryphon Mephisto delivers 2 x 175 Watts (8 Ohm), 2 x 350 W (4 Ohm), 2 x 700W (2 Ohm), continuous RMS, pure Class A. Built to meet the challenge of the most advanced contemporary loudspeakers which typically present vicious reactive loads while drawing huge amounts of current, the dual mono Mephisto is capable of massive peak current swings and, equally vital, can do so into very low impedances without losing its cool.

Gryphon does not state that the powers at 4 or 2 ohm are class A. The only rating that is class A is the 8 ohm one - the Pure class A only addresses this rating. Perhaps the sentence you quote can be confusing "Pure Class A 2 x 175 Watts (8 Ohm), 2 x 350 W (4 Ohm), 2 x 700W (2 Ohm), continuous RMS " Remember it is a translation from Danish, a very difficult language ... But if look in the technical specifications it is very clearly stated:

http://www.gryphon-audio.dk/Content/Downloads/Technical_Specifications.pdf

 

[Thf99]

I will double check but someone technical once posted that it is virtually impossible to build a Class A amp that goes full Class A thru 1ohm...i forgot where in WBF that post is...but the power required to be able to do this was insane.

Having gone back thru articles which review Class A amps which double all the way down, i saw one on an older Threshold which doubled all the way down...where they specifically note that the Class A element necessarily decreases with halving the impedance. so the amp was 250 into 8ohms...but 125 watts class into 4 ohm with 375watts in class (ie 500 watts into 4ohms...the first 125 of which are class A).

is that the case with Gryphon? Do not know, but suspect it might be so.

I do note that their manuals state the power description at Pure Class A 175watts into 8ohms, 350 into 4ohms...i think the Class A relates only to the 175 watts into 8ohms...again, a guess.

I read somewhere that it's only class A at 8 ohms and thereafter, 350 A/B into 4 ohms, 700 A/B into 2 ohms.....