It has always been Gryphon’s mission to achieve the highest possible sound quality, regardless of cost. With Apex Mono and Apex Stereo, Gryphon Audio Designs elevates pure Class A power amplification beyond what was previously considered possible.
Years of experience developing Antileon EVO and Mephisto amplifiers, as well as ongoing research in the fields of circuit topology, component quality and reliability have culminated in Apex: the new flagship of the Gryphon Audio Designs brand.
The material specifications of Apex illustrate its cost-no-object design: Apex Mono features a staggering complement of 128 very high-current bipolar output transistors (64 per chassis), 2,080,000 μF (>2 Farad) capacitor banks (>1 Farad per chassis), four separate custom-made 2,000 VA toroidal transformers (two per chassis), all housed in a magnificently crafted, constrained-layer- damped chassis. Apex Stereo tips the scales at nearly 450 pounds, while a pair of Apex Mono weigh-in at 900 pounds.
Power Is Everything: with nearly 1800 RMS Watts into one Ohm (Mono), Gryphon Apex masters even the most challenging speaker loads. Given the massive power reserves available at all times, Gryphon Apex amplifiers do not “see” the loudspeaker; in other words, Apex’ virtually limitless reservoir of power and current renders it immune to loudspeaker characteristics. Apex always delivers its ultimate sound quality, regardless of loudspeaker choice. What’s more, unlike other high-power amplifiers, Gryphon’s no-compromise, pure Class A topology combines this prodigious power with ultimate refinement and delicacy in musical presentation.
Ever since we introduced the legendary DM100 in 1991, pure Class A operation has always been a Gryphon hallmark, because no other circuit topology approaches its sonic perfection. There are a growing number of “New Class A” topologies based on automatic biasing which supposedly allow the amplifier to sense when the bias should increase to ensure constant Class A performance. Put bluntly, however, you can’t cheat physics. Our research into obtaining Class A performance from class A/B topologies proves that there is no substitute for the musical magic of pure Class A; however, based on thorough analysis of typical listening situations, we have invented “Green Bias” (“Green” for reduced environmental impact) which delivers TRUE, PURE CLASS A with considerably lower power consumption than traditional solutions.
Green bias in the new Gryphon Apex allows the user to select the amount of Class A required to drive speakers in pure Class A at any given time, considering such factors as speaker sensitivity, room size, musical dynamics, and overall volume level. Green bias gives Gryphon system owners the option of letting the preamplifier automatically control amplifier bias.
Unique even in this price range, Gryphon Apex utilizes a completely independent transformer and linear power supply for display and control circuits, preventing digital noise generated by these circuits from contaminating the amplifier circuits. The new and proprietary Gryphon speaker terminals accept bare wire, spade lugs, banana connectors or any combination thereof. Apex’ gorgeous, “Nordic Noir” chassis incorporates advanced constrained-layer-damping technologies to optimize resonance, while the specification of non-magnetic materials virtually eliminates electrical interference.
In every design and construction aspect, Apex is designed to be an amplifier whose performance is unlikely to be surpassed. Ever.
About Gryphon
Gryphon Audio Designs ApS, manufacturer of Ultra-Luxe Audio Systems, was founded in 1985 by Flemming E. Rasmussen, whose artistic training resulted in products whose state-of-the-art technical performance are complemented by stunning visual design. Since 2002, Thomas Willum Børsting has been the majority shareholder with Gryphon employees holding the remaining shares. Gryphon is distributed in more than 40 countries worldwide.