Essence Pre-Amp From Gryphon

The Danish outfit has released a dual mono, “pure line” preamplifier with two balanced XLR inputs and three single-ended phono inputs 

Apparently, the only cables in the box are a short ground lead, display ribbons and AC power wiring mounted in a shielded channel from the rear IEC socket to the power switch to minimise 50/60 Hz interference.

The range of microprocessor controlled, fully adjustable menu items include input naming with up to eight characters, maximum level, start level, input level matching up to 8 dB, AV throughput, user selectable display brightness (100/75/50/25%, Off), default restoration and Gryphon Green Bias. 

As an optional extra, the Essence can be fitted with either an MM/MC phonostage or a digital to analogue converter. The phonostage is a Gryphon dual mono design based on the Legato Legacy.

The DAC module is based on the Kalliope DAC. The module adds four digital inputs (i.e. USB, balanced AES/EBU 115 Ohms, TOSLink optical and BNC S/PDIF 75 Ohms). USB can process PCM up to 32bit/384 kHz as well as DSD (on Windows OS up to DSD512, on Mac OS up to DSD128, on Linux OS up to DSD128 DoP), via BNC S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital inputs up to 32bit/192kHz PCM and via TOSLink up to 24bit/96kHz PCM.

If you are using a compatible Gryphon Class A power amplifier, you may choose to connect the Green Bias control link, a Gryphon feature for automatic regulation of user selectable Class A bias between the sockets marked Green Bias on the preamplifier and on the power amplifier. Price is €15,360.

To read more, click gryphon-audio.dk 

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