🔷 iFi xDSD Gryphon

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories Portable DAC/AMPs & Dongles
57

Would there be one that have heard the LCD-i3 on the Gryphon?
In my search for the perfect set for home and portable I have been eying LCD-i3/4 and maybe the Gryphon as the source. I have the GL20s and love to be the open back planar in a small package.

58

I had the LCD-5 for a bit and it was a great pairing. Not sure about any of those other ones.

59

I am a lucky owner who has tested the 2021 LCD-XC with the Gryphon. I have owned the Gryphon for four days. Tried it with the 2021 LCD-XC, Arya V2, E-MU Teak and 7hz Timeless. I have heard just about any TOTL headphone you can name and the 2021 LCD-XC is my absolute favorite. Having said that, I find the stock tuning to be 3-4 DB short on bass and 1-2 DB too much energy above 10k. So I listen too it 90% of the time out of my RME ADI-2 V2 DAC (6db bass shelf). If you have the 2021 LCD-XC and find the stock bass and treble (to a lesser extent) tuning does not require EQ, then they will sound great with the Gryphon. For my taste, the Gryphon does not add enough bass via the XBass analog boost, for a lot of my favorite music. It is probably fine for 50% of what I listen to. I no longer have my older LCD-XC, but for my taste the Gryphon would be a perfect match for those, because they have 3-4 db more bass and the mids are a little sucked out. The XBass + Presence feature on the Gryphon I think would be perfect with the older LCD-XC.

Now the pairing that really surprised me was the Gryphon with the Arya V2- in word, delicious. The stock tuning of the Arya V2 is a bit closer to my preference in the bass and treble, so the XBass (and occasionally) the XSpace features on the Gryphon are a great match. Such a smooth and non fatiguing combo. The 1000mw of the Gryphon is just enough power to leave some headroom for the Arya V2, for me any less would be selling the Arya V2 short. Now all of my headphones still sound better on my RME ADI-2, but it does not fit in my pocket.

2 Likes
60

HI - I just got the awesome Gryphon which I am using with my Focal Elegia + Grado ps500e headphones, and would like to ensure I am using optimal quality audio from streaming services and in my setup - I have Tidal, Spotify and Apple music all set to highest quality quality streaming and can connect my iOS device via bluetooth or cable to the Gryphon.

When connecting via bluetooth the Gryphon led display shows AAC / PCM / 44K (from any streaming service and quality) and via cable it shows AAC / PCM / 44K (from any streaming service apart from when playing Tidal masters then it shows OFS / 92K.

Here are my questions:

  • Which streaming service provides the optimal quality for this setup?
  • Which high quality formats should I expect to get from those services?
  • Which is the best method for connecting iOS device to Gryphon (I assume cable)?
  • Is the led display showing the correct infos, I was expecting higher quality from Apple lossless and Spotify, what is the difference between AAC / PCM?
  • Does it improve sound quality if I use the 4.4mm input as opposed to the 3.5mm one I currently am using?

Another topic is about EQ, my headphones both are lacking punch in the bass department even with XBass activated on the Gryphon.

  • Is there a decent iOS EQ app (that is not a player but works with Tidal, Spotify)?

Thanks in advance for any tips or answers and sorry for the mixed bag of topics :confused:

Darryl

61
  1. Go with whatever steaming service you like.
  2. 16 bit, 44.1 KHz Flacs are good, anything more is a bonus but not essential.
  3. Wired for sound quality. AAC for convenience and LDAC (not available on iOS) for a mix of both.
  5. Yes

Personally, I have my own collection of Flac files and use Spotify for discovering music. I tried Tidal HiFi but was not impressed by it’s sound when compared to my own collection, it’s still better than Spotify Premium though. I read Qobuz is better than Tidal but have not heard it.

Lack of Bass is because you are using the 3.5mm Out, which does not have enough power for bigger Headphones. Get Pentaconn cables for your Headphones.

63

Would a simple adaptor do the job? (3.5 → 4.4)

64

Lets start with the simple stuff: As far as being connected to the IOS device via Bluetooth (AAC) your results are basically normal. If you have it connected to USB you have to change the input on the Gryphon to USB, then you will not see ‘AAC’ if you are seeing ‘AAC’ you have not switched to USB on the Gryphon. AAC (advanced audio codec) is the Bluetooth codec Apple uses. PCM (pulse control modulation) is what your PCM is just the standard way that your PC/Operating System is sending out the digital audio content (to over simplify).

65

With this Adapter it might work. Do not use any other ones as it might damage the Amp.

1 Like
67

Thanks for advice - ordered!

68

Never saw a adapter like that. What does it do? Instead of using L- and R- it uses the Sleeve (TRRRS) contact for both channels?

But then I still don’t have the power advantage of the balanced output, right?

1 Like
69

I’m a bit sceptic about this adapter, but if ifi themselves sells it it shouldn’t damage your HP at least
But otherwise it shouldn’t give you anything better because you won’t get the benefits of the balanced output

1 Like
70

Would there be a way for changing tracks from the Gryphon without getting my phone out?
Cannot see it anywhere … saw a comment on a youtube video that it has come in an update.

71

A recent firmware update seems to have taken care of this

1 Like
72

How is the sound floor on the gryphon, any hiss on balanced / higher volumes?

73

Balanced has a fair amount of hiss, 3.5 Output does too but it’s faint. You can use the in-built IEMatch toggle to get rid of the noise.

74

Are you hearing that mainly on IEMs or do you hear that on harder to drive cans too?

75

Hiss is present in both Outputs using IEMs. With Headphones, the most sensitive pair I have is the Meze 99 Classic and if I try in a quiet room, there is some noise with 4.4 Out, No problem the 3.5 Out with the Meze.

1 Like
76

Has anyone here A/B tested a hip dac against the gryphon for differences in sound?

I ask because I recently pitted the XDUOO XA-10 against my hip dac and my hip dac won. Tested over several weeks, running Sundara, Fiio FH3, Koss KPH30i.

77

Shoot a question in the direction of @hit_the_right_note , think he has nearly anything somewhat portable form ifi :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like
78

Thanks in advance for your support.

  1. When in Bluetooth mode, it powers down into sleep mode and then shuts completely down/off. I’m not easily seeing how to prevent this so it remains on?

  2. I’ve read there is a turbo mode, but I can’t locate that either.

I’m in the early stages of using this DAC, but wow, I think it packs a punch. I’m really enjoying it.

Thanks! Marcopolo