Gryphon Mephisto Stereo

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Agree! Need to get the right time, place...and price!
 

Annapurna

Well-Known Member
Mar 19, 2018
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Hi, just last week, I bought a Mephisto stereo amp replacing my Pass XA100.8. Due to the size and weight of the Mephisto, I am placing directly on the concrete floor without any platform or rack. What is the recommended placement for the Mephisto to achieve improvement in sound? Thanks.
 

Thieliste

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Aug 31, 2014
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Hi, just last week, I bought a Mephisto stereo amp replacing my Pass XA100.8. Due to the size and weight of the Mephisto, I am placing directly on the concrete floor without any platform or rack. What is the recommended placement for the Mephisto to achieve improvement in sound? Thanks.

You should get a Stacore Basic+ platform, Jarek could make custom size for your Mephisto.
Congratulations on your Mephisto purchase.
 

Annapurna

Well-Known Member
Mar 19, 2018
29
7
85
You should get a Stacore Basic+ platform, Jarek could make custom size for your Mephisto.
Congratulations on your Mephisto purchase.
Thank you for your recommendation. But being located in Singapore, it will be a problem as there is no dealer here and there is no way to audition. What about HRS, Critical Mass Systems or Finite Elemente?
 

Thieliste

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Aug 31, 2014
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Thank you for your recommendation. But being located in Singapore, it will be a problem as there is no dealer here and there is no way to audition. What about HRS, Critical Mass Systems or Finite Elemente?

You can order from Stacore directly they ship worldwide.
HRS is another very good option.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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You can order from Stacore directly they ship worldwide.
HRS is another very good option.
Agree...though with HRS you are going to need a special custom footer to take the weight...unless perhaps the latest M3X shelf replacements come with footers that can take this kind of weight.

On the other hand, i use Stillpoints Ultra 6s with their own bases. I have no complaints, and they easily take the weight. I use Stillpoints Ultras with HRS products on ALL of my other components...except speakers (incl Sub which is well over 310 lbs incl the mass damping on top) and the Gryphon whose incredible makes that not feasible...but equally i do not hear the 'hardening' with them that i hear with the source/preamp/power conditioner components where the HRS/Ultra combo works perfectly [for me].
 

amadeus

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Jan 13, 2018
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kimurastanley

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Mar 16, 2019
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Singapore
Thank you for your recommendation. But being located in Singapore, it will be a problem as there is no dealer here and there is no way to audition. What about HRS, Critical Mass Systems or Finite Elemente?

May I check if you have decided on which amp stand you are getting? Currently my accuphase A75 is on floor without any amp stand
 

Annapurna

Well-Known Member
Mar 19, 2018
29
7
85
You can order from Stacore directly they ship worldwide.
HRS is another very good option.
Thanks and good to know Stacore can ship overseas. Will do more research on this.
 

Annapurna

Well-Known Member
Mar 19, 2018
29
7
85
Agree...though with HRS you are going to need a special custom footer to take the weight...unless perhaps the latest M3X shelf replacements come with footers that can take this kind of weight.

On the other hand, i use Stillpoints Ultra 6s with their own bases. I have no complaints, and they easily take the weight. I use Stillpoints Ultras with HRS products on ALL of my other components...except speakers (incl Sub which is well over 310 lbs incl the mass damping on top) and the Gryphon whose incredible makes that not feasible...but equally i do not hear the 'hardening' with them that i hear with the source/preamp/power conditioner components where the HRS/Ultra combo works perfectly [for me].
How do you use Stillpoints under the Mephisto? I checked the under chassis of the Mephisto and noticed there are many bolts/nuts. It will be difficult to rest the bottom chassis of the Mephisto on the Stillpoints Ultra.
 

Annapurna

Well-Known Member
Mar 19, 2018
29
7
85
May I check if you have decided on which amp stand you are getting? Currently my accuphase A75 is on floor without any amp stand
No, have not decided yet. A few audiophile friends in Singapore have also recommended some platform. A friend using Vitus is using Critical Mass Maxxum and the results have been positive for him. Another friend also using Vitus recommended SRA. He is using the SRA Virginia Class Reference. However, the Virginia Class is very expensive and long waiting time. He suggested I consider the Ohio Class XL+2.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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How do you use Stillpoints under the Mephisto? I checked the under chassis of the Mephisto and noticed there are many bolts/nuts. It will be difficult to rest the bottom chassis of the Mephisto on the Stillpoints Ultra.
I actually put the Mephisto feet onto the Stillpoints Ultra 6s. In addition to working well, it also allows more air circulation underneath. It probably does not need it, but it runs hot so perhaps not a bad thing either.
 

magichifi

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2016
33
15
138
Sheffield
I have seriously considered the Mephisto's with the Audio Research REF40 in the past. However their low input impedance - 20 kohms, 10 kohm in the monoblocks - is not the best for the ARC preamplfiers. Either the GAT or the 7.5mk3 would theoretically be a more compatible tube preamplfier.
Hi I use an ARC ref 40 with a Mephesto and the sound is simply amazing.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Hi I use an ARC ref 40 with a Mephesto and the sound is simply amazing.

Fantastic, Magichifi! We use the CJ GAT 2 with the Mephisto. What is the rest of your system? Also, have you experimented with different power cables with the Mephisto?
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Fantastic, Magichifi! We use the CJ GAT 2 with the Mephisto. What is the rest of your system? Also, have you experimented with different power cables with the Mephisto?
Just found it...very nice! For those who are interested, from Magichifi's profile:

ARC ref 40 pre ref 2 phono benz lps jon palmer 2.5 sme 5 wadias7i
apogee scintilla gryphon mephisto nordost valhalla full balanced power supply
 

magichifi

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2016
33
15
138
Sheffield
Fantastic, Magichifi! We use the CJ GAT 2 with the Mephisto. What is the rest of your system? Also, have you experimented with different power cables with the Mephisto?
No not really tried any power cables I'm using Atlas ones at the moment not sure of the model, the rest of my system is, Jon Palmer 2.5 turntable with SME5 arm Benz LPS or Koesto Onyx, ARC ref 2 phono, Wadia S7i Schiit Yggy dac Apogee Scintillas all strung together with Nordost Valhalla but I also ave Townshend Fractal speaker cables. Looking for a CD transport if you have any suggestions trying a CEC TL2N as son as the dealer has a demo in stock
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
No not really tried any power cables I'm using Atlas ones at the moment not sure of the model, the rest of my system is, Jon Palmer 2.5 turntable with SME5 arm Benz LPS or Koesto Onyx, ARC ref 2 phono, Wadia S7i Schiit Yggy dac Apogee Scintillas all strung together with Nordost Valhalla but I also ave Townshend Fractal speaker cables. Looking for a CD transport if you have any suggestions trying a CEC TL2N as son as the dealer has a demo in stock
Great system. On transports, personally, I really like the Metronome Kalista Ref Transparent (the one that rolls on steel balls and has a 3' thick clear acrylic-type base.) Never heard CEC. I cannot say how good the Zanden Transport is with other DACs, though I know a few people who found it excellent (though even they felt it worked much better with its matching Zanden DAC via the i2s connection). I have to think the CEC is a serious contender in the SOTA world.
 

magichifi

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2016
33
15
138
Sheffield
Great system. On transports, personally, I really like the Metronome Kalista Ref Transparent (the one that rolls on steel balls and has a 3' thick clear acrylic-type base.) Never heard CEC. I cannot say how good the Zanden Transport is with other DACs, though I know a few people who found it excellent (though even they felt it worked much better with its matching Zanden DAC via the i2s connection). I have to think the CEC is a serious contender in the SOTA world.
Thanks for the info, I'll let you know which transport I finish up with.
 

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