Alright, let’s talk about this beast I recently got my hands on – the Gryphon Diablo 333 integrated amplifier. I had heard some buzz about it being the successor to the Diablo 300, so I was pretty pumped to see what the hype was all about.
First off, this thing is huge. Seriously, it’s bigger than the 300, which was already a hefty piece of equipment. When I placed the order, I didn’t expect to have such a huge box in my doorway, I barely managed to get it inside. After unpacking and setting up, I powered it up and it felt like I just unleashed a monster. It’s a solid-state stereo integrated amplifier, and let me tell you, the power is unreal. It’s like they took everything good about the Diablo 300 and cranked it up to eleven.
I started by playing some of my favorite tracks. This thing is fast, strong, and resolving, like really resolving. Not in an edgy way, though, there is so much finesse to it. The music sounded clearer and more detailed than I had ever heard it before. It’s not just about the volume, this amp brings out nuances in the music that I had never noticed. I spent hours just rediscovering my music collection.
The Diablo 333 is not cheap, it cost me around 24,900 dollars. I went for the basic version, without the optional DAC and phono stage modules, maybe I’ll add those later. But even without those extras, this amp is a powerhouse. It feels like it could handle anything I throw at it. It picks up where many pre/power amp combos hit their limits, or so I’ve heard. I wouldn’t know, I’m not that much of an expert.
Using it is a breeze. The remote is sleek and lets you easily change the volume, switch sources, mute, and even put it on standby. Speaking of standby, this thing is efficient. It doesn’t waste energy when it’s not in use, which is a nice touch.
I had read somewhere that the Diablo 300 was Gryphon’s best-selling amp and won a bunch of awards. So, the fact that they dropped the bomb and replaced it with the 333 says a lot. I guess they didn’t want to overload the public with a ton of words about it, but trust me, this thing speaks for itself. They really built on the strengths of its predecessor.
Final Thoughts
- Build Quality: Top-notch. This thing is built like a tank.
- Sound Quality: Mind-blowing. Clear, powerful, and detailed.
- Ease of Use: Super user-friendly. The remote is a nice touch.
- Price: It’s an investment, but in my opinion, totally worth it.
Honestly, I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface with the Diablo 333. I’m still discovering new things about it every day. It’s one of those pieces of equipment that just makes you want to listen to music all day long. I’m really happy with this purchase, and I think it’s going to be a centerpiece of my audio setup for years to come.