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Gryphon’s smallest system clocks in at €16K. That’s no chopped liver. Fittingly then the winged baby lions are sonically fully grown up to not play shy when being compared. If you asked me what considering their sticker and vis-à-vis other components the Gryphon twosome could still improve upon, I could casually throw out more gloss on top, more pressure way low and more illumination at the very end of the stage. That said, what specific virtues of the Scorpio/Atilla pairing stood out for me?


There was the dynamically energetic signature mated to the one-step-forward spatial perspective. While perhaps not intrinsically interesting for some, the resultant level of involvement was something to experience. Then there was the exceptionally manifest incarnate rendering which particularly with song could approach the magical. Finally and despite not being 100% neutral, I really enjoyed the potent sonorous tendencies. Where the tonal balance was concerned, the sum total of both contributors clearly applied.


The Scorpio tracked the upper octaves cleanly and clearly but the top range didn’t evidence maximal radiation. True also for the amp, it was logical that the combination could not be ultra airy. Freedom from harshness and artefacts combined with the slightly soft ultrasonic tendencies to make for long-term happiness par excellence. Granted, the same money could buy more airiness elsewhere if that’s what you were after. My comparative system of Luxman, Octave and Electrocompaniet was silkier and shinier on high whilst the Gryphon kids were comparably more defined and resolute at least in the transition of upper midrange/lower treble (and decidedly so without getting sharp).

The same math applied to the lower reaches. Both player and amp were very dynamic and massive in the bass but particularly the Scorpio was also very strong in the bottom octave. Hence the two together were mighty and dynamic. With the Scorpio, the Atilla had better bass definition than when partnered with the Luxman D-05. Simultaneously, Gryphon’s entry-level system wasn’t the last word in deep bass – well endowed yes, ultimate stability at all levels and on all music no. I admired the bass in general for the precise balance of contour and juice plus highly rhythmic timing however.


Should one find the Scorpio’s midband a tad fresh, the amp’s a tad warm, the combination becomes perfectly balanced.  While the sonorous earthy elements dominated somewhat, that was mere micro tendency, not signature trait. Additionally these components managed to combine timbre potency with speed. This I particularly enjoyed with acoustic guitars as though strings and wooden bodies were suddenly more tightly coupled to then pop out of seemingly nothing. Any associations of 'fast' with transient excess or 'full' with blurred impulses would misfire on both counts. Even though it sounds silly, I nearly felt inspired to coin a new term. Fastfull. In practice it sounds far better than it reads.


Conclusion: After a few weeks with the Scorpio and Atilla duo and many cross references to my own system, the upshot relative to tonal balance once again came down to "how’d you like it?" That’s because better or worse didn’t exist here. If you answered "direct, immediate, involving, tonally rather heavier than lighter and most of all physically tactile", you’d need to make an appointment with these winged Danish lions. They make a good team. Both are highly dynamic, exceptionally tacit and in combination perfectly balanced in the midband. A minor trend for earthiness over airiness remains. Of course individual character sketches are interesting too:


Gryphon Scorpio:
  • The treble is slightly mild and soft in the uppermost octave and altogether free of harshness or artefacts.
  • The midrange leans into the lively/energetic rather than voluptuous. Directness is the name of the game but it remains well short of being in your face.
  • The bass is powerful, extended, rhythmically agile and well defined if not extremely dry.
  • The machine is exceptionally dynamic both in the micro and macro domains.
  • The Scorpio is a turn-on player, which also involves the one-step-closer stage perspective. That is unusually broad but still has good depth layering.
  • Physically tacit sounds are a core strength that particularly on vocalists becomes outright fascinating.
Gryphon Atilla:
  • The midrange is powerful and saturated, clearly warmer than dead neutral but simultaneously ultra rhythmic and impulsive to avoid softness and coziness.
  • The treble mimics that of the player – free of harshness, clear and clean but not maximally aerated or shimmering.
  • The lower octaves are quite substantial with solid infrasonics and just slightly emphasized mid/upper bass energy.
  • The amp is very lively and dynamic and plays towards rather than away from the listener.
  • Staging on a broad deep stage occurs very physical and the virtual bodies tend to be sized somewhat larger than normal.
Facts:
Scorpio
  • Dimensions & weight: 48 x 13.5 x 41.5cm WxHxD, 9.6kg
  • Trim: Black
  • I/o ports: XLR analog outputs, BNC digital output
  • Other: Remote control, dimmable or extinguishable display
  • Power consumption: 5, 35 and 40 watts in standby, idle and at max
  • Warranty: 2 years
Atilla
  • Dimensions & weight: 48 x 13.5 x 41.5cm WxHxD, 20kg
  • Trim: Black
  • I/o ports: 3 line-level RCA inputs, one tape loop, 1 XLR input, single speaker terminals
  • Other: AV thru-put, remote, dimmable or extinguishable display
  • Power consumption: 5, 130 and 1.100 watts in standby, idle and at max
  • Other: Remote control, dimmable or extinguishable display
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Website







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