Reviewer: Edgar Kramer 
Financial Interests: Click here 
Source: AMR CD-77.1 CD player, MacBook with BitPerfect player and AIFF files, DEQX PreMate as DAC and preamplifier  
Preamplifier: Supratek Reference DHT with Bendix rectifier tube; NuForce P20 
Amplifier: Gryphon Antileon EVO; NuForce Reference 18 monoblocks
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia 
Cables digital: ZenSati Seraphim; Cerious Technologies; Harmonic Technology Magic; NuForce digital cables analog interconnects: ZenSati Seraphim RCA & XLR; Bocchino Audio Morning Glory; Cable Research Laboratory (CRL) Gold with Bocchino XLR and RCA; Cerious Technologies; DanA Digital Reference Silver; ETI Quiessence Reference; Exakte IC; Harmonic Technology Magic; MIT Giant Killer MPC; NuForce IC-700; PSC Audio Monolith AG; PSC Audio Pristine R30 Ribbon speaker cables: ZenSati Seraphim; Cerious Technologies; ETI Quiessence Reference; Exakte speaker cable; MIT Giant Killer GK-1 loudspeaker cables; NuForce SC-700 power cords: Cerious Technologies AC; Eichmann eXpress AC power cables; Exakte AC; Harmonic Technology Fantasy; PSC Gold Power MKII; Shunyata Research Diamondback 
Stands: SGR Signature racks 
Sundry accessories: Burson Audio Buffer, Bright Star Audio IsoRock Reference 3 and BSA IsoNode feet; Bocchino Audio Mecado isolation diodes; Black Diamond Racing cones; Stillpoints ERS paper in strategic positions, Shakti On Lines; Densen & IsoTek CD demagnetizer; Auric Illuminator CD Treatment 
Room size: 6.4m wide by 7.1m long with high ceiling and narrow cavity behind speakers. Room has been professionally measured and found to be extraordinarily flat and neutral 
Review component retail: €29'000 ex VAT


Man, if only I could go back in time, to experience once again my highest most wonderful moments; to have a second chance; to right the wrongs. Punting that dream across to audio, I'd rejoice at revisiting wonderful memories with Tannoy, Thiel, Duntech and Infinity speakers I once owned. Stepping back into the Audio Tardis, another time travel would see me once again relish Cymer Audio's masterpiece SE35 monos. A further voyage would have me experience the blissful symbiosis of amp and speaker as characterized by Thiel CS2.3 and Gryphon's entry level—but oh so marvelous—Tabu 100 power amplifier. Living with that 'budget' model from the Danish purveyors of upscale Class-A power amplifiers and subsequently high-end speaker systems... that gave me an insight into what intelligent solid-state design can reap from appropriate speaker systems: namely control, dynamics and resolution.

I've had many amplifiers since but my desire to own one of Gryphon's Class-A behemoths always remained strong (while at the time my wallet was relatively weak). Fast forward to 2016. Due to a number of fortuitous events back at High-End Munich 2015 then further conversations with Gryphon founder and head honcho Flemming Rasmussen, an opportunity arose for me to review the new Antileon EVO stereo amplifier. Needless to say, after all these years I was literally chomping; and even more so in light of my extremely positive experience with the Diablo 300 I reviewed for Audio Esoterica.


The Antileon has been a constant at Gryphon for a number of years now. Various generations (I count the current as being fourth over quite a long life span since Gryphon don't arbitrarily release new models but only if and when they can offer genuine improvements) always shared superlative build quality and Class-A circuitry built around massive power supplies of ever-increasing robustness.


The new EVO model scales up that concept to a whole new level with a much larger power supply and a newly-designed input stage said to remarkably improve performance. And there's no disputing the amplifier's serious presence. This is a large black mass of heavy gauge metal and black acrylic with an arresting industrial design. Of course the heat sinks add to the ominous look but they are necessities to dissipate the large amounts of heat generated by any pure Class-A design. The stereo EVO (Gryphon also offer proper not bridged mono blocks) is specified as being 150 watts into 8Ω which doubles right down to 1Ω  drive (1200 watts quoted). An intelligent feature which Gryphon use in these Antileon amplifiers and higher-powered models too is switchable Class-A bias. This starts at 25 watts in its 'low' setting, progresses to 50 watts in 'medium' and culminates in full Class-A power in 'high'. Further, if you happen to own a matching Gryphon preamplifier, Green Bias setting economizes by adjusting relevant Class-A power to correspond with the volume setting of the preamp. Smart indeed.