iFi Audio - xDSD Gryphon

Portable DAC/Amps tend to be compromised because they focus on either the digital or analogue section. But not both. The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is engineered differently. Just like its mythical namesake, it is two beasts in one. From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit chipset at the core, to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1,000mW, it offers serious output power. The Burr-Brown True Native chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended. PureWave is a new, balanced, symmetrical dual-mono topology with short, direct signal paths. The name refers to the sonic purity it achieves thanks to exceptional linearity and infinitesimally low levels of noise and distortion.

The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon utilises a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach to deliver pristine audio. xDSD Gryphon features a Balanced, differential analogue circuit to reduce noise and crosstalk within the signal path by separating the left and right channels, leading to less interference and clean sound. This Balanced circuit design is usually implemented in higher-end products, but iFi Audio is now using this across its product range to produce the best quality audio for all its users. The team at iFi Audio recognised that different parts of a circuit benefit from specifically optimised feedback loops and have developed a Negative Feedback System that is much more accurate than the usual approach. This system incorporates multiple feedback paths instead of a global loop allowing every path to be optimised for a particular function that works synergistically with the others to deliver optimal performance.

The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon uses PureWave amplification circuitry to drive your connected headphones or IEM’s. It has 1,000mW at 32 Ohms. With a whopping max 6.7v output, bring on the high impedance headphones because the xDSD Gryphon will not break a sweat driving them. The device also features a 4.4mm Pentaconn connector for balanced playback along with a 3.5mm single-ended connector with S-Balanced technology for use with single-ended headphones. S-Balanced technology delivers maximum performance from both single-ended and balanced headphones. You can also use premium high-sensitivity IEMs with the 3.5mm connector.

The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon uses the latest QCC 5100 series chip that offers Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Utilising Qualcomm’s new QCC5100 Bluetooth processing IC in combination with proprietary circuits createS an audibly superior ‘Bluetooth engine’. All the current high-definition Bluetooth audio formats are supported – Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, Sony’s LDAC and HWA’s LHDC, regular aptX and aptX Low Latency, AAC (Apple iOS devices) and SBC. Of the 24-bit-capable codecs, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support up to 48kHz, while LDAC and LHDC reach 96kHz. iFi’s ‘Bluetooth engine’ can also be updated over the air, allowing for future codecs to be added.

The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon comes with Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) support, enabling you to hear music exactly as recorded. MQA authentication is a badge of approval and guarantees the device master-quality audio output. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. To further enhance the signal path, iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is equipped with a USB and S/PDIF connector that allows the xDSD Gryphon to handle all pro audio formats. All the following latest formats are catered for but most importantly, are pushed to their zenith.
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) and DoP.
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iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon features a digital platform where each section of the circuitry is distinct. It features a QC5100 chip for Bluetooth reception, a Global Master Clock for jitter, Burr-Brown chipset for DAC conversion. The xDSD Gryphon is also equipped with XSpace, XBass II, iEMatch and CyberSync technologies to elevate your audio. With XSpace enabled, it adds back the actual sound stage of recordings. Bass II reinstates the missing bass from open-backed headphones. Under XBass II you can select ‘Bass’ or ‘Presence’ so that the upper midrange frequencies are added back into your favourite recording. iEMatch is iFi Audio's proprietary tech that reduces the annoying hiss from high-sensitivity headphones without losing any dynamic range.

CyberSync is a software-driven volume control that operates in the analogue domain. It provides perfect volume synchronisation between the source and the DAC. It detects which operating system (OS) the DAC is connected to – iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS or Linux – and instructs the source’s OS to bypass its software volume control. Whether the volume is adjusted using the xDSD Gryphon’s rotary control or on the source device, CyberSync ensures the change is performed purely by the iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon’s superior analogue control chip, while also displaying the adjustment on the source device’s screen. 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 Audio xDSD Gryphon sports a high-quality OLED display that helps you view the changes on your device. The OLED screen in the xDSD Gryphon features a SilentLine design. This ensures that there is no electrical noise to interfere with the audio signal. The way its switches between settings has been engineered to ensure sonic transparency. FET-based switching is handled by a microcontroller, which only ‘wakes up’ when the user changes the setting, thus eradicating any sonic interference. The OLED display and iFi’s CyberSync operating system combined, usher in a whole new world of user enjoyment – all information from format to battery life is there.