Before and after pics if possible!
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No Hype Here
My thoughts regarding the Gryphon Power Zone 3.10 have been a long time coming. Initially I had withheld my comments regarding its contribution to my system’s sonics until I was certain the PZ3.10 had settled in. Also, I’ll add, I refrained from reading the initial early adopter comments regarding their experience so as not to bias my impressions. The delay has been longer than anticipated, partly due to adding additional system components which modified my opinion of the PZ3.10, and multiple emergent personal and family issues that took my time away from enjoying music playback.
A bit of background:
Primary system:
Wilson Audio SabrinaX speakers
Vitus RI-100 MkII integrated amplifier
VPI Prime with 3D tone arm Mutech Hayabusa MC cartridge professionally installed and dialed in by the ttsetupguy
Sutherland Little Loco MC phono pre-amp
Jay’s CDT3 Mk3 CD transport Latest Qstab
PSA DSD Mk1 DAC
RAL HDMI cable
Gryphon PowerZone 3.10
Interconnects Nirvana SX-LTD >> analog gear only
Interconnect DAC to RI-101 Silversmith Audio Fidelium XLR
Speaker cables Fidelium Ribbon
Power cables various Shunyata
The power cable feeding the Gryphon PZ3.10 is a lowly Shunyata Venom, as it is the only 2.0 meter C19 PC I own.
Seasonal Home:
Pure Audio Project Trio 15 Classic with Voxativ PiFe driver
Pass Lab XP-22 with RAL umbilical
Pass Lab XA-25
Linn Sondek LP 12 Ittok Denon DL-304 MC
SimAudio Moon LP310 phono preamplifier
INNuos ZENith Mk3
Jay’s CDT2 Mk3 original Qstab
PSA DSD Mk1 DAC
WWPS7 HDMI
Iconoclast UPOCC RCA interconnects
Discovery Essential speaker cables/Nirvana Speaker cables
Shunyata PC
PowerZone 3.10
Listening bias:
I prefer performances featuring acoustic instrument, specially jazz combos, and the occasional freak-out or Creative music, followed by Twentieth Century Classical Music, and Baroque. Folk/Americana has its place as an occasional rock-n-roller, or traditional blues.
Regarding system presentation I prefer a natural or organic presentation, as in non-artificial non-hyped. I want to be drawn into the music and just let it was over me. A forward overly detailed sound is not my thing. Timbral integrity, natural mid-range are priorities. Reasonably flat bass down to 32hz is fine. I am hyper-sensitive to problems in the presence region, especially coherence, shrillness, sibilance, an uptilted coarse presentation, and phase/timing issues. I do appreciate a wide and deep soundstage, with some image specificity as long as timbral accuracy is not sacrificed. Ultimately what I seek in power optimization/filtering/regeneration is first and foremost no editorializing.
My thoughts:
The PowerZone 3.10 in my two non-Gryphon systems is the real deal. Generally speaking it does not get in the way of my components sonic character, but leverages their strengths. This is vital and was not my experience with either the P15 Power Plant of the Puritan PS156. What I hear is a lowering of the noise floor, an elimination of grit in the presence region and upper frequencies. Also, a reduction of haze overriding the sound that was not apparent until the PZ3.10 was inserted, removed, and then reinserted. The PZ3.10 allows for me to be easily drawn into the music, and does not diminish a slightly relaxed presentation I seek.
Random listening thoughts in no particular order:
- · More air around instrument
- · Double bass articulation is improved
- · Percussion micro-tones are much more apparent
- · The shimmer from a well mic’ed cymbals is exceptional
- · Transient leading edges are cleaner, clearer, and more evident with no exaggeration
- · Decay tails regardless of the instrument drift into oblivion, this aspect is most remarkable
- · Confusion between instruments that compete when playing within the same frequency band are almost eliminated, allowing me to clearly hear the musicians’ intent and interaction.
- · Close mic’ed piano overtones are exceptional
- · The impact on analog playback is beyond expectations, revealing more subtle details and clearly demonstrating the strengths of my analog playback vice digital
- · Image depth width, height, and performer positioning has improved
- · A natural ease to the presentation, drawing me into the music, call it organic (vice artificial)
- · I am listening to Art Pepper Getting’ Together – Craft LP reissue, and they are killin’ it! A natural and refined sound.
- · Regarding LP playback, one example: Santana Caravanserai sounds just right, excellent sense of space, timing and pace. Wide soundstage. Carlos’s guitar sails and soars like a condor on Song of the Wind. The PowerZone coaxes every nuance out of this recording while retaining sonic timbral truth.
- ·
Now for the distractors:
No component is perfect and the Gryphon PZ3.10 knocks on the door of perfection. On some recordings I hear the following:
Regarding the following CD recordings, but not limited to just these, as they happen to be the most egregious; the PZ3.10 spotlights distortion in the presence region on Red Hot Chili Peppers Uplift Mofo Party, Led Zeppelin Mother Ship, harpsichord on Bach Sonatas Isabella Faust, and Trevor Pinnock Six Concertos for the Margrave of Brandenburg. I also hear gray hash behind the cymbals on the Mother Ship CD box set tracks. I attribute part of this to poorly mastered recordings, the first two, and a personal sensitivity to anomalies in the presence region. One odd thing I do hear on the harpsichord recordings is a phase anomaly where the harpsichord overtones seem to be time shifted slightly, an aural discontinuity so to speak. In general this concern is limited to CD playback, and to date only a few CDs. I do hear these same effects on both systems, to various degrees. My take away is the PZ3.10’s ability to lower the noise floor, and optimize the power allows the warts inherent in some recordings to be more apparent. It does seem to be most apparent in the presence region followed by the high frequencies on a number of CDs in my collection. So be it.
Another comment, system resolution. For the most resolving system the PZ3.10 pays back big. For my lesser resolving system, laid of the feet of the PAP Trio 15 Classic speakers, the improvement is notable, but no where near as apparent on my more resolving Wilson system. The PAP speakers were selected specifically for their presentation which is significantly different than the Wilsons, polar opposites so to speak. The Pass Labs gear brings out their strengths.
One final thought, power cords matter. A brief listen with an AQ Dragon provided for more of what the PZ is capable of. This has placed power cord upgrades on my 2025 to do list. Audience FrontRow/FrontRow Reserve Power Chords are on my short list.
My take away is the PZ3.10 must be heard in one’s own system to be believed. Highly resolving systems will benefit the most. The following a value judgement to be sure; for less resolving systems, at the price, it may not be money well spent. Arranging a demo with a Gryphon dealer is near impossible supposedly due to PZ demand. Hopefully, Gryphon USA resolves this in the near future. The product deserves to be heard with arrangements for in home demos.
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Very nice. First I must wait for the dreadful report from Mr tax guy. ugh
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Yup, three property taxes due simultaneously in January, and then State and Fed taxes. I feel your pain. I don’t mind winter, it is January I despise.
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Nice - no, excellent - write up, Rick! In both system scenarios were the amps plugged into the PZ?
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Yes, and they benefited from the PZ3.10. Switching back and forth PZ/no PZ, the benefit was obvious.
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Tony, as the title of this thread says “the hype is real”.
I need a PowerZone.
Hype=Exaggerated or extravagant claims made
No Hype here.
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Excellent report, I was wondering when you would weigh in….since an in-home tryout is going to be impossible we need to rely on you owners to help us out.
Sounds like the Power Zone will go on the purchase queue for 2025.
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2025 priority change: nutball expensive cartridge gets pushed to second place behind PZ.
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Can’t afford one unless a used one shows up on TMR or usaudiomart. 
Simple as that. Besides, I’d need two since my monoblocks are miles away from my source gear.
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My pre and power amps were from the used market. The PZ made a big enough difference that I want one, but am definitely not suffering with my P12 powering everything except the monster amp.
It’d be a lot easier - and maybe even a bit less expensive - if Gryphon made a two outlet model for monoblocks.
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I emailed them about a single outlet version - I didn’t get a reply.
I vote for a four outlet model…
same here. Unless I get a 333 at same time… but then I will have no money for the MU with Muon Pro…geeze I hate this forum…
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I like Dan’s idea of single outlet versions. Two of those and a 3.10 would do it. That way my monos could stay on their independent dedicated circuits.
Darn it, that Gryphon rack looks so nice. I have two out of three. My wallet is thinner from our current trip, and it will be empty soon after I pay for the next two trips.
I need to cancel my subscription here!
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Looks like you grabbed everything else in the rabbit hole also. Wow! Looks great.
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