iFi xDSD Gryphon | Portable USB Bluetooth DAC and Amp
IFi Audio's xDSD Gryphon, a Versatile, Portable Powerhouse DAC Amp
- Highly detailed portable DAC with Burr-Brown Multibit DAC
- Supports input via Bluetooth 5.1, USB, Coax, and Analog
- 4.4mm Balanced and 3.5mm single-ended input and line out
- Supports all major codecs including MQA Decoding
- Extremely powerful, can drive most headphones and IEMs
Bloom's Take Gryphon provides an array of features and connectivity which are all easily managed through the device’s interface, and it uses all that tech to deliver music with a powerful, transparent output. If you want the best in portable connectivity options, but don’t want to sacrifice sound quality to get it, Gryphon delivers both in one marvelous beast. |
Fantastic Beasts. Here’s where you find them.
Most portable DAC/amps tend to be compromised because they focus on either great digital OR great analog, but not both. The xDSD Gryphon is different, and just like its mythical namesake, it is two beasts in one. From the Ultra-Res digital stage powered by the Burr-Brown MultiBit DAC to its PureWave analog power pumping out 1000mW, it takes serious headphones to tame the Gryphon!
Try to NOT Connect... We Dare You
- Separate Bluetooth + DAC + amp stages, each optimized for max performance
- Digital sources via USB, S/PDIF, or Bluetooth
- Analog sources via 4.4mm or 3.5mm inputs
- Brilliant Hi-Res Bluetooth
Using the latest QCC 5100 series Bluetooth 5.1 chip as the starting point, the Gryphon is at the bleeding-edge when it comes to the latest formats:
- aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, and aptX Low Latency
- LDAC and HWA/LHDC
- AAC
- SBC (plain vanilla BT)
The above is on the iFi digital platform-side with distinct sections, so: QC5100 for reception > Global Master Clock for jitter > Burr-Brown for DAC conversion. It's more effort, but that’s why iFi's wireless gives wired a run for its money.
USB & S/PDIF: Wired to the Nines
For wired connectivity, the xDSD Gryphon handles all formats using a hybrid Burr-Brown DAC chipset, the same used in iFi's $3200 flagship, the Pro iDSD Signature.
All the following formats are supported and pushed to their max:
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
S/PDIF:
- PCM (192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1 kHz)
- DoP
Balance of Power
The Gryphon uses iFi PureWave amplification circuitry with 1000mW at 32Ω and a whopping max 6.7v output. Bring on the high impedance headphones because the Gryphon won't break a sweat driving them! In fact, there is plenty to drive all manner of headphones. The 4.4mm Pentaconn is the best for balanced playback. The 3.5mm S-Balanced will max SE headphones. And your premium high-sensitivity IEMs have not been forgotten either: iEMatch will cut out the hiss.
Tailored to Your Ears
XSpace adds back the cavernous sound stage of recordings.
XBass II reinstates the missing bass from open-backed headphones or for recordings that you hanker for bass slam. Under XBass II, you can select ‘Bass’ and/or ‘Presence’ so that the low and mid-bass respectively are correctly added back into your favorite recording.
iEMatch reduces the annoying hiss from high-sensitivity headphones without losing dynamic range.
OLED: Seen but not Heard
The OLED display and iFi’s CyberDrive OS combine into a whole new world of user functionality – all info from format to battery life is there. Just as importantly, SilentLine technology means the display does not add noise into the system and can be disabled if preferred.
Specifications
Inputs
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5.1
- Wired, Digital: USB-C, S/PDIF coaxial
- Wired, Analog: 4.4mm Balanced, 3.5mm
Formats
- DSD: DSD512/256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed
- PCM: 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/ 96/88.2/48/44.1kHz
- DXD: 768/705.6/384/352.8kHz, Double/Single-Speed DXD
- MQA (Decoder): 384/352.8kHz
- Bluetooth: Up to 96kHz (aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, Sony LDAC, Huawei HWA, AAC, SBC Codec)
Line Out
-
Outputs
- 4.4mm Balanced: 6.7V max. (variable)
- 3.5mm SE: 3.5V max. (variable)
-
Output Impedance
- 4.4mm Balanced: ≤200Ω
- 3.5mm SE: ≤100Ω
-
SNR
- 4.4mm Balanced: <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
- 3.5mm SE: <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
-
THD+N
- 4.4mm Balanced: <0.007% @ 0dBFS
- 3.5mm SE: <0.015% @ 0dBFS
Headphone Out
-
Outputs
- 4.4mm Balanced: 6.7V max. @ 600Ω
- 3.5mm SE: 3.5V max. @ 600Ω
-
Output Power
- 4.4mm Balanced: >1000mW @ 32Ω; >74mW @ 600Ω
- 3.5mm SE: >320mW @ 32Ω; >40mW @ 300Ω
-
Output Impedance
- 4.4mm Balanced: <1Ω
- 3.5mm SE: <1Ω
-
SNR
- 4.4mm Balanced: <116dB(A) @ 0dBFS
- 3.5mm SE: <115dB(A) @ 0dBFS
-
THD+N
- 4.4mm Balanced: <0.005% (1V @ 16Ω)
- 3.5mm SE: <0.005% (1V @ 16Ω)
- DAC: Burr-Brown
- Battery: USB-C charge (BC v1.2 compliant up to 1900mA current)
- Dimensions: 4.84” x 2.95” x 0.75”
- Weight: 7.58 oz
In the Box
- xDSD Gryphon Unit
- Black Carry Pouch
- USB Jumper Cables
- (x1) USB-C to USB-C
- (x1) USB-C to USB-A
- (x1) USB-C to Lightning
- IFi Warranty Card (1 Year)
- IFi Gryphon User Manual
This can take any headphone I own and tune it to be (situationally) better.
Have bassy cans that you adore but some tracks are just too bassy? There's a fix for that.
Your Grado's just a tad bit too dry? BOOM, there's a fix for that too! (hehe bet ya didn't see that one coming)
You wanna put on IEMatch so you and your significant other can put on the same set of headphones and listen out each of the outputs on the front and back so you can have a sweet moment to enjoy your favorite tunes together? I mean the Chord Mojo can do that, but the Mojo doesn't come with its own Bluetooth chip, which has solid range in its own for the little iFi. Just make sure you're not using anything too difficult to drive. Also, if you don't turn on IEMatch, the front outputs significantly louder than the back. This is the main feature I got this device for btw
Works best with Apple devices if you're using just USB, but I am very satisfied functionality with my Pixel 5a over both USB and Bluetooth. Only issue I have been having is that it does not connect to windows with the USB port set to both charge and data, you have to set it to dedicated data mode. Outside of that small hiccough, this thing is damned fantastic. If you're on the fence, get it. It's easily worth it.
Great sound, drives Stellia well, works flawlessly with iPhone.
I’m quite happy.
This is basically all you’d need to drive an LCD-X.
Sounds just as good if not better than iFI DSD Signature at $750, and it is more portable and
has Bluetooth if you care about that.
Full of useful features including the iFi XBass and XSpace analog EQ type adjustments. Sound quality is very good but not quite at the level of their Signature Zen Can/DAC combo. The Gryphon can do more though.
An excellent piece of audio gear! I’m having all kind of fun listening to music.