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Writer's pictureAlexander aka KUBIK

iFi xDSD Gryphon

Updated: Oct 17, 2023

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iFi xDSD Gryphon

  • Digital sources via USB, S/PDIF, or Bluetooth

  • Analog sources via 4.4mm or 3.5mm 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 our £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

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 the bass slam. Under XBass II you can select ‘Bass’ and/or ‘Presence’ so that the upper midrange frequencies are correctly added back into your favorite recording.

iEMatch – is our proprietary tech that 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 the sound.


Roon ARC now allows your xDSD Gryphon to spread its wings and fly while enjoying your full Roon library on the go.


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.


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 setup in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN Signature but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers.

The iFi-exclusive S-Balanced technology made its debut in the original Pro iCAN. Since then, it has become a significant feature across the iFi range and features an integral part of the xDSD Gryphon. It delivers 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.

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.

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.




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