iFi xDSD Gryphon 22

iFi xDSD Gryphon

DAC
2 min read

From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit at the core to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1,000mW and other things in-between, meet the new iFi xDSD  Gryphon.

  • Separate Bluetooth + DAC + amp stages: each optimised for maximum performance
  • Digital sources via USB, S/PDIF or Bluetooth
  • Analogue sources via 4.4mm or 3.5mm inputs

iFi xDSD Gryphon

Using the latest QCC 5100 series Bluetooth v5.1 as the starting point, for wireless connectivity, the xDSD Gryphon supports the latest formats:

  • aptX Adaptive and aptX HD
  • LDAC and HWA/LHDC
  • regular aptX and aptX Low Latency
  • AAC
  • SBC (plain vanilla Bluetooth)

The QC5100 chip for reception > Global Master Clock for jitter > Burr-Brown for DAC conversion.

iFi xDSD Gryphon 6

In terms of wired connectivity, the xDSD Gryphon handles all the formats using a hybrid Burr-Brown DAC chipset which is the same as used in the flagship model, the Pro iDSD Signature.

Supported formats

On USB:

  • PCM (768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1 kHz)
  • DSD (512/256/128/64)
  • DXD (768/705.6/384/352.8kHz)
  • MQA (Decoder)

On S/PDIF

  • PCM (192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1 kHz)
  • DoP

iFi xDSD Gryphon 2

With the OLED display and iFi’s CyberSync operating system combined, all information from format to battery life is available to read. The SilentLine technology, which means the display does not add noise into the system. It can even be set to off if preferred.

The xDSD Gryphon uses the PureWave amplification circuitry. It has 1,000mW at 32 Ohms. With a max 6.7v output. The 4.4mm Pentaconn is for balanced playback. The 3.5mm S-Balanced will drive the  SE headphones. And high-sensitivity IEMs, iEMatch will handle those.

iFi xDSD Gryphon 4

XSpace adds back the cavernous sound stage of recordings. XBass II reinstates the missing bass from open-backed headphones or for recordings that lack the bass slam. Under XBass II you can select ‘Bass’ and/or ‘Presence’ so that the upper midrange frequencies are correctly added back into recording.

iEMatch – is iFi’s proprietary tech that reduces the annoying hiss from high-sensitivity headphones without losing any dynamic range.

With digital sources, users can choose between three bespoke digital filters via the on-screen menu: Bit-Perfect, Standard and GTO (Gibbs Transient Optimised), each having a fine-tuning effect on the sound.

iFi xDSD Gryphon

Specs

Inputs Wireless

Wired (digital)

Wired (analogue)

 Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, HWA, AAC and SBC Codec)

USB-C
S/PDIF co-axial

Balanced 4.4mm
Single-Ended 3.5mm
Formats DSD
PCM
DXD
MQA (Decoder)

Bluetooth

 DSD512/256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed
768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/ 96/88.2/48/44.1kHz
768/705.6/384/352.8kHz, Double/Single-Speed DXD
384/352.8kHz

Up to 96kHz
DAC Burr-Brown
Battery USB-C charging. BC1.2 compliant up to 1900mA charging current
Dimensions 123x75x19 mm
4.8″x3.0″x0.7″
Weight 215 grams
0.5 Ibs
Line Section
Outputs Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 6.7V max. (variable)
3.5V max. (variable)
Output Impedance Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 ≤200Ω
≤100Ω
Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
<110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 <0.007% @ 0dBFS
<0.015% @ 0dBFS
Headphone Section
Outputs Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 4.4mm Pentaconn
3.5mm SE
Output Power Balanced

S-Bal (SE)

 >1000mW @ 32Ω
>74mW @ 600Ω
>6.7V max. @ 600Ω

>320mW @ 32Ω
>40mW @ 300Ω
>3.5V max. @ 600Ω
Output Impedance Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 <1Ω
<1Ω
SNR Balanced
S-Bal (SE)		 <116dB(A) @ 0dBFS
<115dB(A) @ 0dBFS
THD+N <0.005% (1V @ 16Ω)

Price: 599$