Gryphon Audio Designs, designer and manufacturer of Ultra-Luxe Audio Systems, proudly introduces The Gryphon Helios: an all-new preamplifier which delivers State-of-the-Art performance and unmatched system compatibility.
Long-awaited successor to the legendary Pandora, The Gryphon Helios is the more accessible alternative to the Commander and benefits both from the heritage of the Pandora and innovations created for the Commander. Like its honored predecessor, each of The Helios’ two enclosures houses two discrete, monaural circuits; however, The Gryphon Helios makes extensive use of extruded and CNC-Machined aluminum for enhanced rigidity and superior vibration reduction. Each chassis is supported by four proprietary, Gryphon Audio Designs-designed spikes for optimal resonance control. Special coasters are included to protect furniture and allow the Helios to be placed directly atop its matching PSU 5 Dual Mono Power Supply. 4mm thick tempered glass panels adorn the center of each faceplate, with The Helios’ 4.3″ touch-control display bonded inside the preamplifier’s glass panel to provide complete protection.
The Gryphon Helios utilizes the same single-ended, Class A input buffer topology as the Pandora but in the Helios, a new and improved dual JFET design offers the advantages of low noise and ideal simplicity, passing the signal through two transistors and one resistor for sound that is incredibly transparent, fast and natural, while advancing the rich, palpable quality for which Gryphon Audio Designs is renowned. Once again, a relay-based volume control has been chosen; however, the Helios’ gain adjustment has been upgraded with a microprocessor-controlled, 85-step relay volume attenuator with precision MELF SMD resistors. Compared to the Pandora, the impedance of the Helios’ volume circuit has been halved, resulting in increased bandwidth and an even higher standard of audible excellence. The Helios’ single-ended signal path is significantly improved compared to the Pandora, now employing the same single-ended input stage developed for the Commander. Whereas the Pandora lacked a single-ended output, the Helios provides one dedicated single-ended output per channel via proprietary Gryphon Audio Designs RCA connectors, further extending system compatibility. As with the Pandora, The Gryphon Helios employs no global negative feedback.
Naturally, The Gryphon Helios benefits from the latest advancements in component technology. Whereas the Pandora employed dual C-core transformers, the Helios utilizes custom-made, purpose-designed Toroidal units-one per channel —which feature lower magnetic radiation, enabling the Helios to be placed directly atop the PSU 5 (when used with supplied coasters). Gryphon Audio Designs designers have specified WIMA polypropylene capacitors for local decoupling of DC supply voltages, long-life electrolytic capacitors from Panasonic for the power supply, MELF SMD resistors from Vishay (featuring low inherent noise and low inductance) and low-noise, linear shunt voltage regulators from Texas Instruments. Cutting-edge Bipolar and JFET transistors, specially selected for Gryphon Audio Designs, are used exclusively in The Gryphon Helios
From its inception, The Gryphon Helios was intended to be more than a State-of-the-Art Line Stage: it was conceived to serve as the centerpiece of the most sophisticated Audio/Video systems. Home Theater Bypass can be accomplished through both XLR and RCA connections, extending Gryphon Audio Designs performance to multimedia applications. All inputs can be individually gain-adjusted and named. To deliver ultimate versatility
The Gryphon Helios accommodates our latest Digital and Analog modules. Two blanking panels on the rear of the preamp chassis enable the Helios to be upgraded with the DAC3 Digital Module and/or the PS3 Phono Module, either at the time of purchase or at some future date, in accordance with the owner’s desires. This ability to tailor system interfaces and functionality for diverse applications sets The Helios apart from all other Ultra-Luxe Preamplifiers.
Since its founding in 1985, Gryphon Audio Designs has been nearly as well-regarded for its sculpturally stunning cosmetics as for its standards-setting performance, thanks to chassis aesthetics penned by Gryphon Audio Designs Søren Slebo. Mr. Slebo is responsible for mechanical and industrial design for Gryphon Audio Designs. The Gryphon Helios is the first Gryphon Audio Designs electronic product of a new era. The Helios’ bold, modern appearance at once signifies a new visual design language for Gryphon Audio Designs while honoring the “Nordic Noir” aesthetic that has been a Gryphon Audio Designs hallmark for more than forty years. Inspired by the power and grace of a waterfall, The Helios’ faceplate at once honors its aesthetic heritage and predicts the future of Gryphon Audio Designs visual design. The iconic, inverted triangle which has distinguished the front panels of the Essence, Apex, Commander and the Diablo 333 is retained, but this detail only becomes apparent when the preamplifier chassis is stacked atop the PSU 5: a subtle design flourish that Gryphon Audio Designs cognoscenti will immediately recognize and appreciate. Executed in thick, richly anodized aluminum,
The Helios’ two chassis echo the heirloom build quality of the circuitry within.
The Gryphon Helios is shipping immediately.
MSRP for The Helios Preamplifier is 22,800 EUR, with the PSU 5 Power Supply priced at 15,800 EUR.
US MSRP is $29,800 for The Helios Preamplifier and $20,800 for the PSU 5.
About Gryphon Audio Designs: Gryphon Audio Designs, manufacturer of Ultra-Luxe Audio Systems, was founded in 1985 by Flemming E.
Rasmussen, whose arts background resulted in products whose state-of-the-art technical performance are complemented by stunning visual design. It is one of the few brands that builds every component in the audio playback chain. Gryphon Audio Designs is distributed in more than 40 countries worldwide.
FEATURES
- True Dual Mono configuration.
- Zero negative global feedback.
- Microprocessor-controlled 85-step relay, volume
- attenuator featuring precision resistors and ultra-low
- capacitance relays for best sonic performance.
- Super-fast discrete Class A input buffer developed
- for best possible sonic performance.
- Fully discrete balanced dual differential Class A
- line stage circuitry followed by a very fast current
- amplifying Class A stage.
- DC servo coupling.
- Four-layer printed circuit boards with pure copper
- traces up to 70my thickness.
- PCB-mounted sockets eliminate wiring and shorten
- signal path.
- Two separate custom made 65VA toroidal
- transformers, one for each channel.
- Massive power supply capacitor bank for each
- channel; total of 2 x 83,000uF.
- Polypropylene capacitors for local power supply
- decoupling.
- Separate power supply for both digital and
- individual left/right channel analog circuits.
- Fully regulated extremely low noise power supply for
- all voltage amplifying stages.
- Local shunt regulators for best noise suppression.
- PSU 5 Power Supply chassis with additional DC
- outputs for external Gryphon sources.
- Optional DAC3 module with one USB, two S/PDIF,
- one AES/EBU and one TOSLINK input.
- Optional PS3 MM/MC phono stage module.
- Gold-plated Neutrik XLR sockets for three balanced
- (Source) inputs and two (Main) outputs.
- Gold-plated Gryphon RCA phono sockets with Teflon
- insulation for 2 (Source) inputs and one single-ended
- preamplifier (Main) output.
- Fixed-level AV inputs for seamless integration with
- surround systems.
- Adjustable channel balance, source level matching,
- start-up volume and maximum volume level.
- Infrared remote control.
- 12V Link In/Out for remote power On/Off control.
- Green Bias control for Gryphon power amplifiers.
- Infrared receiver input on rear panel.
- 4.3” TFT capacitive touch screen with 4mm hardened
- glass in front.
- Firmware upgradeable via USB 2.0 socket on rear
- panel.
- Separate mechanical chassis for Power Supply and
- Amplifier circuits.
- Standby current consumption ≤0.5W.
- Designed and built in Denmark.
- Input Impedance, balanced: 25KΩ
- Input Impedance, single ended 12K5Ω
- Output impedance: 8Ω
- Bandwidth (-3dB): 0.1Hz to 1.5 MHz
- Gain: +18dB
- THD + N: 0.003% @ 1kHz and BW 10Hz – 30KHz, balanced output
- Max input level, balanced: 20Vrms
- Max input level, single-ended: 10Vrms
- Power consumption: ≤ 0.5W (standby), approx. 90W (idle, including PS3 and DAC3 modules installed)
- AC voltage range: 110-120V OR 220-240V – not changeable.
- AC inlets: 2 x IEC C14 inlets (for power cords with IEC C13 receptacle)
- Operating ambient temperature range: 15 – 30°C / 59 – 86°F
- Dimensions Preamplifier unit, WxHxD: 47,5 x 17,3 x 36 cm, net unit weight: 13,9 kg
- Dimensions PSU 5 unit, WxHxD: 47,5 x 17,3 x 36 cm, net unit weight: 13,9 kg
- Shipping dimensions: Two crates; each 58 x 28 x 57 cm, respectively 25,2 kg and 29,2 kg
MENU-controlled functions:
- Volume Max Level
Balance, Left/Right. (6dB in 1dB steps)
Display Intensity: (100%-75%-50%-25%, Auto Dim and Auto OFF)
Green Bias setup
Infrared source (Front or Rear Panel)
Input Level Match
Input Naming
Dedicate Input 3 (XLR) or Input 4 (RCA) to Fixed-level AV-input
Restore Settings
Phono Stage MM/MC selection (optional)
DAC level and filter settings (optional)
