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Best Portable DACs of 2023 | Moon Audio

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xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp DAC

$599.00
In Stock

Powerful & pocket-sized DAC/amp with a clear, balanced sound. More details

Best Portable DACs of 2023 | Moon Audio

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A hi-fi system in your pocket

Looking for a way to upgrade your music listening experience? Check out the iFi xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp DAC. This premium HD DAC and powerful balanced headamp is perfect for anyone who wants to take their music to the next level. With its pocket-sized design, it's easy to take this little powerhouse wherever you go. Plus, its built-in battery means you can enjoy your tunes for hours on end without having to worry about finding an outlet. Whether you're an audiophile or just someone who loves great sound, the iFi xDSD Gryphon is the perfect solution for you.

Fantastic Power for Portable Headphones.

iFi's xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp DAC is a portable powerhouse that offers the best of both worlds for audiophile-grade sound. The xDSD Gryphon features a Burr-Brown MultiBit digital stage for ultra-resolution sound, and a PureWave analogue section that pumps out 1,000mW of power. Whether you're using it with your favorite headphones, more modest earbuds or powering a set of studio monitors, the xDSD Gryphon is sure to deliver detailed, accurate sound reproduction.

ifi xDSD Gryphon
Well-connected
  • 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 interior

Brilliant Bluetooth. Hi-Res Wireless.

Using the latest QCC 5100 series Bluetooth v5.1 as the starting point, for wireless connectivity, the xDSD Gryphon is at the bleeding-edge when it comes to the latest formats:

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

USB & S/PDIF. Wired to the nines.

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 ifi's £3,000 flagship, the Pro iDSD Signature. Rest assured that all the following latest formats are catered for but most importantly, are pushed to their zenith.

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

Not only this but the above is on the iFi digital platform where each section is distinct. So QC5100 for reception > Global Master Clock for jitter > Burr-Brown for DAC conversion. More effort but that’s why iFi wireless gives wired a run for its money.

Balance of Power

Experience pure, lossless audio with the iFi xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp DAC. This powerful device uses iFi's PureWave amplification circuitry to deliver 1,000mW of power at 32 Ohms, enough to drive even the most demanding headphones. With a max output of 6.7v, the Gryphon can handle high impedance headphones with ease. Additionally, the 4.4mm Balanced and 3.5mm S-Balanced connections provide superior sound quality for all your listening needs. And for those with premium high-sensitivity IEMs, iEMatch technology eliminates hiss for a truly immersive experience. Don't settle for anything less than the best – experience pure audio perfection with the xDSD Gryphon.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch
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 upper midrange frequencies are correctly added back into your favourite recording. iEMatch – is iFi's proprietary tech which 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 sound.

OLED. Seen but not heard.

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. Just as importantly, SilentLine technology means the display does not add noise into the system. It can even be set to off if preferred.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

Ifi uses Qualcomm’s new QCC5100 Bluetooth processing IC in combination with proprietary circuits to create 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 (the ‘plain vanilla’ Bluetooth codec). 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, so future codecs may be added.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

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 in the format in which it was recorded. At iFi uses Burr Brown extensively in their products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. Their experience with this IC means they know how to make the most of it.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The xDSD Gryphon adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound. Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound. You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all iFi customers.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

The iFi exclusive S-Balanced technology made its debut in the original Pro iCAN. Since then, it has become a significant feature in across the iFi range and features as an integral part of the xDSD Gryphon. It delivers the maximum performance from both single-ended and balanced headphones. The S-Balanced (single-ended compatible balanced) 3.5mm headphone output delivers the benefits of the balanced connection to single-ended headphones.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

‘Negative feedback’ is used in amplifier circuits to compare the output signal with the input signal and correct errors, in order to control gain and reduce distortion. For sound quality, this is positive; BUT commonly applied, one-size-fits-all ‘global negative feedback’ can also highlight different problems at the same time as solving others – corruption of the error signal, phase shifts, group delay and so on can all have a negative impact on sound quality. Ifi 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 incorporates multiple feedback paths instead of a global loop, each path optimised for a particular function and working synergistically with the others to deliver optimal overall performance.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

Balanced, differential analogue circuit design has long been championed for its ability to reduce noise and cross-talk within the signal path by fully separating the left and right channels. 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.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

The OLED in the xDSD Gryphon sports 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 a setting, thus eradicating any sonically deleterious interference.

ifi xDSD Gryphon switch

CyberSync is a software-driven volume control that operates in the analogue domain and the way it synchronises with any digital source to which the xDSD Gryphon is connected is very different. 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 volume is adjusted using the xDSD Gryphon’s rotary control or on the source device, CyberSync ensures the change is performed purely by the Gryphon’s superior analogue control chip, while also displaying the adjustment on the source device’s screen. Volume curves differ between operating systems and apps, but CyberSync ensures perfect synchronisation between the source device and the DAC every time.

What's in the Box?

  • xDSD Gryphon
  • Felt Pouch
  • USB-A to USB-C Cable
  • USB-C to USB-C Cable
  • USB-C to Lightning Cable
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Card
InputsWireless -Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, HWA, AAC and SBC Codec)
Wired (digital) -USB-C / S/PDIF co-axial
Wired (analogue) - Balanced 4.4mm Single-Ended 3.5mm
FormatsDSD - 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
DACBurr-Brown
BatteryUSB-C charging. BC1.2 compliant up to 1900mA charging current
Dimensions123x75x19 mm
4.8"x3.0"x0.7"
Weight215 grams
0.5 Ibs
Line Section
OutputsBalanced - 6.7V max. (variable)
S-Bal (SE) -3.5V max. (variable)
Output ImpedanceBalanced - ≤200Ω
S-Bal (SE) -≤100Ω
Balanced - <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
S-Bal (SE) - <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
Balanced - <0.007% @ 0dBFS
S-Bal (SE) - <0.015% @ 0dBFS
Headphone Section
OutputsBalanced - 4.4mm Pentaconn
S-Bal (SE) -3.5mm SE
Output PowerBalanced - >1000mW @ 32Ω / >74mW @ 600Ω / >6.7V max. @ 600Ω
S-Bal (SE) - >320mW @ 32Ω / >40mW @ 300Ω / >3.5V max. @ 600Ω
Output ImpedanceBalanced - <1Ω
S-Bal (SE) - <1Ω
SNRBalanced - <116dB(A) @ 0dBFS
S-Bal (SE) - <115dB(A) @ 0dBFS
THD+N<0.005% (1V @ 16Ω)

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