[CFAX2]

I've found on other DAC / AMPs, and DAPs, that manufactures seem to favor their devices balanced outputs. Regardless of the headphones you're using the the balanced out always seem to sound better / cleaner / more dynamic. With the Gryphon is the 3.5mm output with ieMatch going to preform the best for high sensitivity, higher end IEMs?

 

[Arghavan]

I've found on other DAC / AMPs, and DAPs, that manufactures seem to favor their devices balanced outputs. Regardless of the headphones you're using the the balanced out always seem to sound better / cleaner / more dynamic. With the Gryphon is the 3.5mm output with ieMatch going to preform the best for high sensitivity, higher end IEMs?

iFi claims with it's "S-Balanced" technology you'll get the benefit of balanced out of single ended output. So I assume the balanced output will only have more power.

 

[MicrosPL]

iFi claims with it's "S-Balanced" technology you'll get the benefit of balanced out of single ended output. So I assume the balanced output will only have more power.

In my opinion, the S-balanced integrated circuit had to be changed compared to the old xDSD ... Previously, iFi declared the same output power for Balanced and Unbalanced, now the output power for balanced devices is much higher, similar to devices from other manufacturers.

 

[Condocondor]

Get a look at this! What a thing of beauty.

 

[Ben86]

Why it should be better than the Signature?
I believe that iDSD Signature will remain on its 2nd place right after iDSD Diablo
So I would give the Bronze to Gryphon right now BUT need to listen to it first, who knows how it sounds...

Price is almost the same idsd signature / gryphon - so i hope sound quality to be the same level...otherwise i don't need these bluetooth feautures if sound is not at the same level...

 

[iFi audio]

Does the full MQA decoding happen with streaming of Tidal MQA tracks via Bluetooth LDAC?

MQA can't be had wireless.

You get all the features of xDSD (including new capabilities) plus the power of xCAN.

That was the intent, yes

I'm interested which one has better sound quality from 3.5/4.4? iDSD Signature or this Gryphon?

Both these products share our house sound, but the clear difference is in their power output, size and available utilities. In that sense they address different needs and aren't exactly comparable.

xDSD Gryphon has less output power than the older xDSD when used with unbalanced headphones.
Is it true @iFi audio ?

Yes, as per listed specs.

With the Gryphon is the 3.5mm output with ieMatch going to preform the best for high sensitivity, higher end IEMs?

In short, xDSD Gryphon's balanced output will produce the best sound, which is normal considering it's a balanced product.

 

[joshnor713]

This came just in time for a head-to-head with the new Mojo (which launches in Jan). Exciting! We know the Gryphon will have a better feature-set. Chord's fortay is more sound quality. I personally thought the Mojo sounded much better than the original xdsd (sounded too relaxed and a little muddy to me). Hoping this one can compete better when considering sound quality alone. I'll save my cash until the Mojo 2 drops.

 

[joshnor713]

This is how it is and why I don't like the Balanced fad. This output always takes precedence when tuning and the 3.5mm is just thrown in there cuz you gotta have it, but it's inferior sounding and defeats the purpose. If you're gonna pay this money, you wanna have the best sound and are forced to play the Balanced game. I personally do not want to spend $ to "upgrade" all my headphone cables to Balanced. And my Shure KSE won't even take a Balanced medium.

This is what I appreciate about Chord. They recognize you don't need Balanced with properly designed circuitry. I can understand it for folks that need a lot of power. But that's a few headphones, and we're talking about mobile/portable devices here.

 

[CFAX2]

This is how it is and why I don't like the Balanced fad. This output always takes precedence when tuning and the 3.5mm is just thrown in there cuz you gotta have it, but it's inferior sounding and defeats the purpose. If you're gonna pay this money, you wanna have the best sound and are forced to play the Balanced game. I personally do not want to spend $ to "upgrade" all my headphone cables to Balanced. And my Shure KSE won't even take a Balanced medium.

This is what I appreciate about Chord. They recognize you don't need Balanced with properly designed circuitry. I can understand it for folks that need a lot of power. But that's a few headphones, and we're talking about mobile/portable devices here.

Ya this bothers the crap out of me, especially when talking to someone just getting into headphones.
'So balanced is better than SE, right?'
'Well technically no, but in 99% of available equipment, and 100% of the stuff your looking at, the manufactures make it better...',
'So balanced is better than SE then.'

I think IFI makes great products, and I still may pick this up after demo'ing one. But I it is annoying that the 3.5mm, which they stacked some features into, will basically never get used. As someone that prefers IEMs to full sized cans, I'm feeling a bit like a second class citizen here. From the descriptions it seems like, to me at least, that the 3.5mm was intended for IEMs and the 4.4mm for headphones, and the 4.4mm is going to output a noticeably better quality sound.

At this point it would have been nice if IFI followed the trend of putting the trifecta of outputs on 3.5/2.5/4.4mm. Yes adapters work fine but I'd rather not need one especially when I'm getting to this price point.

 

[iFi audio]

This is how it is and why I don't like the Balanced fad. This output always takes precedence when tuning and the 3.5mm is just thrown in there cuz you gotta have it, but it's inferior sounding and defeats the purpose. If you're gonna pay this money, you wanna have the best sound and are forced to play the Balanced game. I personally do not want to spend $ to "upgrade" all my headphone cables to Balanced. And my Shure KSE won't even take a Balanced medium.

This is what I appreciate about Chord. They recognize you don't need Balanced with properly designed circuitry. I can understand it for folks that need a lot of power. But that's a few headphones, and we're talking about mobile/portable devices here.

I understand from where you're coming, but rest assured that xDSD Gryphon's SE output isn't just an inferior afterthought and you're not forced to use its balanced output if you don't want to. The product has both, so you can use the one you like and it's quite possible that you might enjoy it enough to not care about the other one.

Although it's perfectly fine if you don't find balanced circuits appealing, this doesn't mean that manufacturers have to share the view. We like balanced designs and most customers consider them great where it matters the most, so there's no reason for us to now take a detour towards SE exclusively and please individuals who fancy only that

 

[PROblemdetected]

@iFi audio why the latest products of ifi don't get the roon tested certificate?

 

[joshnor713]

I understand from where you're coming, but rest assured that xDSD Gryphon's SE output isn't just an inferior afterthought and you're not forced to use its balanced output if you don't want to. The product has both, so you can use the one you like and it's quite possible that you might enjoy it enough to not care about the other one.

Although it's perfectly fine if you don't find balanced circuits appealing, this doesn't mean that manufacturers have to share the view. We like balanced designs and most customers consider them great where it matters the most, so there's no reason for us to now take a detour towards SE exclusively and please individuals who fancy only that

But you just said in a post above that the Balanced output produces the best sound. Why would you pay $600 to not get all the sound quality that is available? This fact basically negates the 3.5mm option, and it excludes those of us that don't use Balanced as customers. I don't dislike Balanced, but I dislike when the 3.5mm port sounds inferior.

 

[Tachikoma]

Because balanced to SE conversion usually exacts a penalty, for whatever reason. Its a little harsh to be blaming manufacturers for a trait that seems to exist in all inherently balanced DACs and amps.

 

[Arghavan]

@iFi audio why the latest products of ifi don't get the roon tested certificate?

I'm against every certificate that adds cost to the unit. I wish there was a non-MQA model with lower price tag because I know many users don't care about scaMQA

 

[joshnor713]

Because balanced to SE conversion usually exacts a penalty, for whatever reason. Its a little harsh to be blaming manufacturers for a trait that seems to exist in all inherently balanced DACs and amps.

An engineering challenge to solve . Until then, it's an afterthought.