This brings up a question I have wanted to pose for the reviewers for some time.

As music lovers and considering your positions as reviewers, do you find yourselves choosing to own gear simply based on your own personal preference for sound or because of your need to have equipment capable of revealing the sonic characteristics of various gear you know you will be required to review?

Quote:
Do you ever regret the elimination of your Mark Levinson 20.6 amps? These are debatably one of the finest amps ever produced by Levinson from there Class A sound to the impeccable build quality.

It was a favorite amplifier of mine, particularly regarding its bass performance. However, it tended to sound slightly grainy in the treble compared with the No.33H. We bought the review samples of the '20.6 (originally No.20s that I upgraded to 20.5 and 20.6 status) and they are still in use by Brian Damkroger.

I haven't heard the Gryphon, unfortunately.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile