IFI XDSD GRYPHON

The new xDSD Gryphon is iFi’s most ambitious portable DAC/Headphone Amp yet. It replaces not only its original xDSD but also its xCAN, combining the functionality of both with re-designed circuitry that improves performance and adds features and facilities that were not previously available on either of those two components.

Using one of Burr-Brown’s ‘True Native’ DACs means that that PCM and DSD are handled independently, so each remains bit-perfect in its native form right through to analogue conversion. Meridian’s MQA hi-res streaming codec, supported through the USB and S/PDIF inputs, enables full decoding of MQA files up to 384kHz so the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to the single final unfold offered by ordinary MQA ‘renderers.’

The xDSD Gryphon handles PCM to 32-bit/768kHz, all levels of DSD up to DSD512, and single- and double-speed DXD. Digital and analogue inputs are provided — the former as USB and S/PDIF; the latter via balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn and single-ended 3.5mm sockets — along with wireless Bluetooth 5.1 that supports every current Bluetooth audio format including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, LDAC and HWA/LHDC. “This flexibility makes the xDSD Gryphon the ultimate ‘Swiss Army knife’ of the portable DAC/amp scene, delivering fabulous sound across a host of possible applications,” said George Poutakidis, of BusiSoft AV, which distributes iFi exclusively in Australia. “It’s a headphone amp to use with digital and analogue sources; a pure DAC or DAC/preamp to connect to an amp and loudspeakers; the heart of a home audio system; and a mobile music lover’s dream. The iFi xDSD Gryphon is the high-end audio system you can take with you wherever you go.”

The top of the xDSD Gryphon has an OLED display that shows input selection, volume level, battery level, digital audio format and sample rate, along with other useful information. The circuitry inside is ‘PureWave’ which is a name iFi has given to the advanced, symmetrical dual-mono fully-balanced circuit topology it now uses in all its premium devices. The xDSD Gryphon also uses ‘OptimaLoop’ technology which is iFi’s way of saying that instead of using global negative feedback, it instead uses multiple negative feedback paths, each one optimised for a particular function and working synergistically with the others to deliver optimum overall performance. It also has a ‘CyberSync’, a software-driven volume control that operates in the analogue domain and can detect the operating system of any computer the DAC is connected to and instruct that computer’s OS to bypass its internal software volume control in preference for the xDSD Gryphon’s superior on-board solution.

The xDSD Gryphon also features other of iFi’s proprietary sound tuning circuits, including multiple digital filters, XSpace, IEMatch, XBassII circuits and three different headphone EQ options. Headphone outputs include a 3.5mm socket for headphones with a single-ended connector and a 4.4mm Pentaconn output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the xDSD Gryphon’s balanced amp design. Available now from BusiSoft, the iFi xDSD Gryphon sells for $699 (RRP).

For more information call BusiSoft AV on (03) 9810 2900 or visit www.busisoft.com.au