The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is different. Just like its mythical namesake it is two beasts in one. From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit at the core to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1000mW and other things in-between it takes serious headphones to tame the Gryphon.
The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is different. Just like its mythical namesake it is two beasts in one. From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit at the core to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1000mW and other things in-between it takes serious headphones to tame the Gryphon.
The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is different. Just like its mythical namesake it is two beasts in one. From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit at the core to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1000mW and other things in-between it takes serious headphones to tame the Gryphon.
The iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is different. Just like its mythical namesake it is two beasts in one. From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit at the core to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1000mW and other things in-between it takes serious headphones to tame the Gryphon.
Last updated at 06/11/2026 02:10:50
iFi xDSD Gryphon - Ultra-Res Portable Balanced DAC & Headphone Amplifier – Supports Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C, S/PDIF, 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm Balanced Inputs/
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
[exc] Ifi Audio Xdsd Gryphon Portable Wireless Headphone Amplifier
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
iFi xDSD Gryphon DAC & Headphone Amplifier
Free delivery
iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Portable DAC Amp With Bluetooth Aptx Adaptive And 1000mw Output
Free delivery between Tue – Wed
xDSD Gryphon - Ultra-Res Portable Balanced DAC & Headphone Amplifier - INPUTS: Bluetooth 5.1 / USB-C/S-PDIF / 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal
Delivery between 17–20 June $29
originally posted on headamp.com
The noise is so low that there is basically none, which means throughout all the frequencies its better sounding than I heard before. I have 7hz timeless ae, and a samsung speaker that they both sound excellent on. I will use with my laptop and TV as well. The sound quality is better than I thought, mainly because there is no noise. But it also has nice characteristics that sound well above average. I use bit perfect and xbass xspace and presence. Unless I'm listening to my speaker, then I turn off xspace. They sound great with these features. But makes little difference. Worth the money, it sounds like it's cost. For me, above average. And would buy again.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
What I love:- This thing offers great connectivity - usb dac, bluetooth (supporting codecs like ldac), analog in and spdif - you cannot basically wish more.- Since it's a amplifier itself it gives you much more power than regular amplifier in your phone/laptop.- It's capabilities - it's MQA decoder as well, can handle direct input of 192/24 and beyond in bit-perfect reproduction. You don't need to depend on your other device to upscale from 44.1 to 48 and then convert the signal to analog - this thing plays thing as they are.- Display - when I was playing with different inputs (laptops, phones, etc.) - it provided great feedback whether and how their output was configured to match this device and the music source as best as possibleWhat I love less:- EQ ... MoreWhat I love:- This thing offers great connectivity - usb dac, bluetooth (supporting codecs like ldac), analog in and spdif - you cannot basically wish more.- Since it's a amplifier itself it gives you much more power than regular amplifier in your phone/laptop.- It's capabilities - it's MQA decoder as well, can handle direct input of 192/24 and beyond in bit-perfect reproduction. You don't need to depend on your other device to upscale from 44.1 to 48 and then convert the signal to analog - this thing plays thing as they are.- Display - when I was playing with different inputs (laptops, phones, etc.) - it provided great feedback whether and how their output was configured to match this device and the music source as best as possibleWhat I love less:- EQ - since this thing has bass boost and/or mids boost, it would be nice to have some at least basic eq available- cables - while it's nice that you get usb-c to usb-c, usb-c to iphone thing and usb-c to usb-a, they could be a bit longer :) they are so short it's a problem to put this thing in parallel with my phone on a table without breaking the cable :)- size and weight - I understand that more capabilities go hand in hand with the size - but still - this thing is big as two credit cards, and quite heavy. great for setting up on table in a coffee shop, not so much for having it in a pocket.
originally posted on headphonezone.in
I upgraded to this from the iFi Zen DAC v2. It's definitely a step-up from Zen. It has all the connectivity options you would ever need. The sound is less warm than the regular iFi sound signature (zen dac, hip dac).This might not be able to perform at the level of dedicated HiFi setups. But, for a mid-fi device, with similarly priced headphones, it's a great deal as a portable unit.It has a better XBass boost. Build quality is solid. The OLED panel helps very much to flick through the options. I'm getting around 6-7 hours of battery life. have tried it with a separate tube amp and sound signature becomes much warmer, smoother and overall fun to hear. So, it can function as a standalone DAC fairly well. Bluetooth quality, although not at par with wired is entirely ... MoreI upgraded to this from the iFi Zen DAC v2. It's definitely a step-up from Zen. It has all the connectivity options you would ever need. The sound is less warm than the regular iFi sound signature (zen dac, hip dac).This might not be able to perform at the level of dedicated HiFi setups. But, for a mid-fi device, with similarly priced headphones, it's a great deal as a portable unit.It has a better XBass boost. Build quality is solid. The OLED panel helps very much to flick through the options. I'm getting around 6-7 hours of battery life. have tried it with a separate tube amp and sound signature becomes much warmer, smoother and overall fun to hear. So, it can function as a standalone DAC fairly well. Bluetooth quality, although not at par with wired is entirely usable and makes this device a fun, portable go-anywhere and plug into anything sorta DAC.
| DAC | Burr-Brown |
| Dimensions | 123x75x19 mm |
| Wired (digital) | USB-C |
| Wired (analogue) | Balanced 4.4mm |
| DSD | DSD512/256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed |
iFi xDSD Gryphon - Ultra-Res Portable Balanced DAC & Headphone Amplifier – Supports Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C, S/PDIF, 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm Balanced Inputs/
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
[exc] Ifi Audio Xdsd Gryphon Portable Wireless Headphone Amplifier
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
iFi xDSD Gryphon DAC & Headphone Amplifier
Free delivery
iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Portable DAC Amp With Bluetooth Aptx Adaptive And 1000mw Output
Free delivery between Tue – Wed
xDSD Gryphon - Ultra-Res Portable Balanced DAC & Headphone Amplifier - INPUTS: Bluetooth 5.1 / USB-C/S-PDIF / 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal
Delivery between 17–20 June $29
The noise is so low that there is basically none, which means throughout all the frequencies its better sounding than I heard before. I have 7hz timeless ae, and a samsung speaker that they both sound excellent on. I will use with my laptop and TV as well. The sound quality is better than I thought, mainly because there is no noise. But it also has nice characteristics that sound well above average. I use bit perfect and xbass xspace and presence. Unless I'm listening to my speaker, then I turn off xspace. They sound great with these features. But makes little difference. Worth the money, it sounds like it's cost. For me, above average. And would buy again.
What I love:- This thing offers great connectivity - usb dac, bluetooth (supporting codecs like ldac), analog in and spdif - you cannot basically wish more.- Since it's a amplifier itself it gives you much more power than regular amplifier in your phone/laptop.- It's capabilities - it's MQA decoder as well, can handle direct input of 192/24 and beyond in bit-perfect reproduction. You don't need to depend on your other device to upscale from 44.1 to 48 and then convert the signal to analog - this thing plays thing as they are.- Display - when I was playing with different inputs (laptops, phones, etc.) - it provided great feedback whether and how their output was configured to match this device and the music source as best as possibleWhat I love less:- EQ ... MoreWhat I love:- This thing offers great connectivity - usb dac, bluetooth (supporting codecs like ldac), analog in and spdif - you cannot basically wish more.- Since it's a amplifier itself it gives you much more power than regular amplifier in your phone/laptop.- It's capabilities - it's MQA decoder as well, can handle direct input of 192/24 and beyond in bit-perfect reproduction. You don't need to depend on your other device to upscale from 44.1 to 48 and then convert the signal to analog - this thing plays thing as they are.- Display - when I was playing with different inputs (laptops, phones, etc.) - it provided great feedback whether and how their output was configured to match this device and the music source as best as possibleWhat I love less:- EQ - since this thing has bass boost and/or mids boost, it would be nice to have some at least basic eq available- cables - while it's nice that you get usb-c to usb-c, usb-c to iphone thing and usb-c to usb-a, they could be a bit longer :) they are so short it's a problem to put this thing in parallel with my phone on a table without breaking the cable :)- size and weight - I understand that more capabilities go hand in hand with the size - but still - this thing is big as two credit cards, and quite heavy. great for setting up on table in a coffee shop, not so much for having it in a pocket.
I upgraded to this from the iFi Zen DAC v2. It's definitely a step-up from Zen. It has all the connectivity options you would ever need. The sound is less warm than the regular iFi sound signature (zen dac, hip dac).This might not be able to perform at the level of dedicated HiFi setups. But, for a mid-fi device, with similarly priced headphones, it's a great deal as a portable unit.It has a better XBass boost. Build quality is solid. The OLED panel helps very much to flick through the options. I'm getting around 6-7 hours of battery life. have tried it with a separate tube amp and sound signature becomes much warmer, smoother and overall fun to hear. So, it can function as a standalone DAC fairly well. Bluetooth quality, although not at par with wired is entirely ... MoreI upgraded to this from the iFi Zen DAC v2. It's definitely a step-up from Zen. It has all the connectivity options you would ever need. The sound is less warm than the regular iFi sound signature (zen dac, hip dac).This might not be able to perform at the level of dedicated HiFi setups. But, for a mid-fi device, with similarly priced headphones, it's a great deal as a portable unit.It has a better XBass boost. Build quality is solid. The OLED panel helps very much to flick through the options. I'm getting around 6-7 hours of battery life. have tried it with a separate tube amp and sound signature becomes much warmer, smoother and overall fun to hear. So, it can function as a standalone DAC fairly well. Bluetooth quality, although not at par with wired is entirely usable and makes this device a fun, portable go-anywhere and plug into anything sorta DAC.
I've tried a lot of portable DAC/Amps and Gryphon is definitely one of the best AIO product under 1 Lakh. I can think of 2 other products (iDSD Signature, Dethonray Honey H1) that sound better than the Gryphon but at the cost of being less portable, less feature rich, large and at extra cost.Build: Solid, and feels great in hand. The LEDs and display add to the already great looks and all the switches and connectors feel solid and tactile. It's also shaped in a way that it's very nice to hold with no sharp edges or odd bumps.Sound: Deviates from the iFi house sound a bit, more neutral & smooth rather than warm & smooth like the Zen DAC, micro iDSD Signature... this could be a good or bad thing depending on your headphone and subjective preferences but in my ... MoreI've tried a lot of portable DAC/Amps and Gryphon is definitely one of the best AIO product under 1 Lakh. I can think of 2 other products (iDSD Signature, Dethonray Honey H1) that sound better than the Gryphon but at the cost of being less portable, less feature rich, large and at extra cost.Build: Solid, and feels great in hand. The LEDs and display add to the already great looks and all the switches and connectors feel solid and tactile. It's also shaped in a way that it's very nice to hold with no sharp edges or odd bumps.Sound: Deviates from the iFi house sound a bit, more neutral & smooth rather than warm & smooth like the Zen DAC, micro iDSD Signature... this could be a good or bad thing depending on your headphone and subjective preferences but in my listening, what I found was that the Gryphon paired with a wide variety of Headphones & IEMs compared to older iFi devices. On the other hand Brighter great paired well with older iFi devices.Overall there's not much to complain, the analogue DSP works great and Bluetooth works without any drops. I've tried Pre-Amp functionality with my Active Speakers and it works without any issues and being able to use xBass in Pre-Amp is a good bonus. I've also used Gryphon as an Amp connected to Cayin RU6 with interesting results.If I'm nit picking, Gryphon can sound a bit too smooth at times, at least with my Headphones and I would have like a bit more battery life (I get ~6 Hours). Final thing would be the price, at 53k (my purchased price) it get's close to the iDSD Signature which sounds slightly better but if you want any of the other features then I'd highly recommend Gryphon.
This device gives me reasonably close to my desktop setup, which is pretty impressive for a portable device. It has enough power output for most full sized headphones. It alsso has bluetooth, a variety of connectivity options, works well with speakers, it can charge while you listen, the volume wheel feels sturdy, and it's pretty compact for what it does. I use it with Utopia and it even does a reasonable job at powering HD800S. The fact that it can also be used as an entry level DAC/amp for your desktop just puts it over the top in terms of value. I would highly recommend this device for anyone looking for a portable solution or an entry level compact desktop setup.
Nothing comes close to this Swiss knife of Portable Dac Amps. Looks like a futuristic slab of tech. Love the leds which indicate volume and other things. The xbass adds a nice punch to the sound. Volume control is tactile and clicky. Sound is punchy, warm and has enough power to drive most demanding headphones and for normal iems it’s overkill. The Oled display is clear. All in all a good buy. Could have been priced a bit lesser.
This nifty little dac/amp is pretty versatile. The sound is solid with many more features compared to its competitors. The price/value ratio is definitely in winning territory. Although there might be a better sounding device out there, it probably won't offer the convenience of bluetooth. The added x-bass/space feature are also quite simple and impactful. I use this piece to run IEMs primarily, and it's beyond worth the expense for its portability, capabilities, and convenience.As always, HeadAmp offers unbeatable customer service and loyalty. I've been buying from Justin for a couple years and have no plans to slow my business with this reputable shop. Please buy with confidence!
As my wife and I downsize and her penchant for quiet, I purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD 820's, to listen to my music. I needed a portable headphone amp to use at home and on the move so I could get the most out of what my Fiio's DAPs can offer. I was looking at the iFi Micro iDSD Signature Transportable DAC and Headphone Amp and just waiting to get one. Not sure why, but like I always do, I research over and over, so when I make the decision, it is the correct one! Well, in my search, I saw the Gryphon and everything I read was very positive. Understand, I just don't read one review, but many reviews, from many sources. So, I pulled the trigger and so happy I have! My 820's have never sounded better and I have even used the Gryphon with my Sennheiser iem 800's and ... MoreAs my wife and I downsize and her penchant for quiet, I purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD 820's, to listen to my music. I needed a portable headphone amp to use at home and on the move so I could get the most out of what my Fiio's DAPs can offer. I was looking at the iFi Micro iDSD Signature Transportable DAC and Headphone Amp and just waiting to get one. Not sure why, but like I always do, I research over and over, so when I make the decision, it is the correct one! Well, in my search, I saw the Gryphon and everything I read was very positive. Understand, I just don't read one review, but many reviews, from many sources. So, I pulled the trigger and so happy I have! My 820's have never sounded better and I have even used the Gryphon with my Sennheiser iem 800's and again, wow! Music come alive and I hear so many things that weren't as prominent through with my other amplifiers. The Gryphon really drives both headsets and I am spending more time with my headphones then my stereo! This past weekend my wife asked if I was going to play some music through the stereo or just keep my headphones on! Thank you to the staff of Audio 46 who have been very helpful with any questions I have had for both of the Amplifier/DAC's. As with many audiophiles, the quest for even better sound continues and I am sure that Audio 46 will be part of any solution!
I would consider this an audiophile-grade dac/amp. This review is based on about ten days of listening, a couple hours each day. I've tested the Gryphon out with my Focal Utopia headphones and my JH-13 CIEMs. I've had the JH-13's for about eight years, and I don't remember them ever sounding this good. My listening was done with Tidal on my iPhone or Mac, and I compared the Gryphon to an older portable dac/amp I've been using for years, to the laptop's headphone out, and the iphone's own dac/amp via a lightning-to-headphone adapter. They Gryphon improves noticeably on each of the other listening configuration I tested. Try this - close one eye and look around you. The scene is the same but it's flat and it runs together. Open up your closed eye again and everything ... MoreI would consider this an audiophile-grade dac/amp. This review is based on about ten days of listening, a couple hours each day. I've tested the Gryphon out with my Focal Utopia headphones and my JH-13 CIEMs. I've had the JH-13's for about eight years, and I don't remember them ever sounding this good. My listening was done with Tidal on my iPhone or Mac, and I compared the Gryphon to an older portable dac/amp I've been using for years, to the laptop's headphone out, and the iphone's own dac/amp via a lightning-to-headphone adapter. They Gryphon improves noticeably on each of the other listening configuration I tested. Try this - close one eye and look around you. The scene is the same but it's flat and it runs together. Open up your closed eye again and everything is just more distinct and vivid. The Gryphon is like that. Nothing changes about the auditory scene, it just gets more dimensional.When I first started listening to the Gryphon, nothing stood out. This is why I think it's an audiophile-quality device. Whenever I'm impressed off the bat with a piece of new equipment, that usually tells me it has a sonic "character" to it. Whenver I say "wow the guitars really shimmer!" or "man, this thing's got BASS!" that's a device I end up eventually wanting to swap out. I would say the Gryphon's presentation is vivid and clear, with no aspect of the sound standing out. Exactly what I look for in a component that I know I'll be happy with for a long while.Here's another sign this is a great-sounding device. If you switch to Bluetooth instead of USB, the sound is worse. Just a little, but discerinbly so. With some other gear I have, bluetooth sounds just as good as wired. In principle, it shouldn't. (Not yet, at least.) If Bluetooth is sounding just as good as wired, that's a clear sign that the device could be doing better. (I'm happy to have the bluetooth functionality - eventually I will try using it as a streamer to my stereo.)The Gryphon's got plenty of power. For my IEMs the volume never goes above 70. For my Utopias the volume is around 90 max. I've ordered a pentaconn cable for the Utopias, and that should have even more power. Who knows, it may further improve the sound too.There are cons. The cables really stink. They are too short. Like seriously, just 25% longer would have made them a lot easier to use. As it is, I'm going to want to buy longer cables. Frustratingly, the apple brand cables don't work with it. Also, you will want to buy a case for it. The case iFi makes doesn't fit well, so I'm returning it and trying out a third-party case. The little bag they include with the amp is ridiculous, and really no substitute for a proper case, which you are going to want. I get it how accessories can drive up the cost, but in this situation it just feels like far less thought went into the design of the accessories than into the amp itself. So, just be prepared to drop another $100 to get all the stuff you will want. That's still a great price for its sound quality!
After I had two other big brand Bluetooth capable DAC/Amps fail after less than 3 months ownership, one within 3 weeks, I was looking for a good quality replacement option that was likely to be more reliable !After a bit of online research and a conversation with Nick I decided the Gryphon would probably suit my purposes and it has certainly lived up to my expectations.Great sound over LDAC and AAC Bluetooth for on the go use with IEM out of 3.5mm single ended and plenty of power, 1 Watt, out of 4.4mm balanced to drive fill size planars at the desk and sounding great with every IEM and headphone I own. A nice “musical” sound, a tiny touch of warmth and a lot more pleasing overall sound to my ear over AKM based options.Mine also does double duty as a DAC into a ... MoreAfter I had two other big brand Bluetooth capable DAC/Amps fail after less than 3 months ownership, one within 3 weeks, I was looking for a good quality replacement option that was likely to be more reliable !After a bit of online research and a conversation with Nick I decided the Gryphon would probably suit my purposes and it has certainly lived up to my expectations.Great sound over LDAC and AAC Bluetooth for on the go use with IEM out of 3.5mm single ended and plenty of power, 1 Watt, out of 4.4mm balanced to drive fill size planars at the desk and sounding great with every IEM and headphone I own. A nice “musical” sound, a tiny touch of warmth and a lot more pleasing overall sound to my ear over AKM based options.Mine also does double duty as a DAC into a desktop tube amp and sounds excellent in that application also and saves space on my desk.Very versatile little unit, not the cheapest but well worth it to me.
| DAC | Burr-Brown |
| Dimensions | 123x75x19 mm |
| Wired (digital) | USB-C |
| Wired (analogue) | Balanced 4.4mm |
| DSD | DSD512/256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed |
