Gryphon Pandora

Preamplificador 

Gryphon siempre ha marchado al ritmo de un tambor diferente. En 1985, cuando Flemming E. Rasmussen y el gurú de la tecnología Kim Rishøj crearon el innovador Fonostage Gryphon, fue un pasatiempo estrictamente único. Flemming solo quería construir el mejor preamplificador de fono posible para su sistema doméstico, no entrar en la fabricación de productos de consumo.

Pero se corrió la voz rápidamente en la comunidad de audiófilos hasta que Flemming ya no pudo ignorar un flujo constante de solicitudes y, de repente, nació Gryphon Audio Designs.

En los años intermedios, Gryphon ha tenido constantemente uno o más proyectos en proceso como plataformas experimentales, bancos de pruebas exploratorios destinados a acercarnos cada vez más a una ilusión creíble de estar realmente en presencia de los artistas intérpretes o ejecutantes. Aunque nunca fueron destinados al consumo público, estos componentes invariablemente impresionan a los pocos afortunados que tienen la oportunidad de audicionarlos en la sede de Gryphon y su respuesta entusiasta y su aliento han sido el impulso detrás de la decisión de hacer que estén disponibles comercialmente.

It was this unique process that ultimately led to the release of the Gryphon Reference One power amplifier and, later, the four-piece Poseidon reference monitor loudspeaker system.

Most recently, Gryphon engineers have been granted the rare luxury of developing a preamplifier/power amplifier combination unrestrained by considerations of cost, size, weight, appearance or production deadlines. Their design brief was simple: make it the best that it can possibly be.

Once again, persistent rumours of these uncompromising laboratory instruments have resulted in the production of a strictly limited edition of components now officially dubbed the Gryphon Mephisto power amplifier and Gryphon Pandora preamplifier.

Pandora’s Four Boxes
In Greek mythology, Pandora was created at Zeus’ command as the first woman on earth. Her name means “the all-gifted”, because the gods endowed her with numerous precious talents. From Aphrodite, she received beauty, divine grace, charm and harmony; from Apollo, the gift of music; from Hermes, the power of subtle persuasion; from Athena, soul and from the Graces, love, tenderness, beauty, kindness, pleasure, creativity, artistry, and sensuality.

We have captured these virtues in the four-chassis Gryphon Pandora preamplifier with total isolation of left and right channels on separate chassis and dedicated dual mono power supplies in individual chassis to protect the audio signal from any interference.

The dual mono aspect of the design is taken to the practical extreme with separate detachable power cords and separate power switches for each channel.

Thanks to creative engineering and unbridled freedom in its design and execution, Gryphon Pandora is empowered to reveal more of the recorded source than any previous preamplifier. Only the finest components, selected for both technical and audio parameters, have been implemented, including Japanese Takman resistors and Charcroft Z-Foil resistors. Signal transmission between preamp and power amp takes place in fully balanced mode for low signal loss and minimal distortion.

Pandora also marks the introduction of a newly developed single-ended Class A input buffer stage consisting of only two transistors and a single resistor to maintain the transparency, speed and openness of the audio signal.

In Control
Conceptually, a preamplifier serves two primary functions, traffic control and volume control. Gryphon Pandora dispenses with conventional tone controls, balance knobs, mono switches and other superfluous circuitry to reduce interchannel and signal path coloration to an absolute minimum.

When in pristine condition, contacts in the signal path have little impact on sound quality, but this condition rarely lasts for long. In order to prevent signal loss through oxidation, all switches, relays and the volume control incorporate gold-plated contact surfaces. Source selector relays (three balanced inputs, two single-ended, one tape loop) are also hermetically sealed to prevent the accretion of grime on contact surfaces. Relays ensure the shortest possible signal path and are subject to negligible wear.

The Gryphon Pandora volume control is a microprocessor-controlled 85-step attenuator for extreme precision in setting the desired listening level. Select resistors and relays ensure long life and perfect matching at all levels. The front panel volume control is a heavy wheel with double ball-bearings for smooth running.

Control Menu
The outward simplicity of the Gryphon Pandora conceals a variety of custom adjustments that are readily accessible without cluttering the front panel. For an exceptional level of convenience and user-friendliness with no negative impact on audio performance, Gryphon Pandora is equipped with a microprocessor-controlled menu of practical features: input naming, max level setting, start level setting, left/right channel balance (6 dB in 1 dB increments), input level matching, fixed-level AV throughput, display brightness (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, Off), Green Bias setup and default restore.

Green Bias
When connected via Gryphon’s proprietary Green Bias Link to a Gryphon power amplifier with Green Bias function, Gryphon Pandora can control available Class A output, reducing power consumption and running the amp slightly cooler for less critical use. This feature adjusts the amplifier bias in relation to the preamplifier volume control for exactly the right amount of Class A power on demand as needed with massive instantaneous power reserves ready and waiting.

Power Supply
With twin 90,000 microFarad capacitor banks, Gryphon Pandora actually generates enough juice to drive many integrated amps or power amplifiers. The overkill power supply ensures rock-solid control, headroom and signal purity under any imaginable conditions. In addition, the Pandora power supply incorporates outputs to drive external components such as the Gryphon Legato Heritage phonostage, both as a stand-alone unit or as modules installed in the Pandora.

Beyond Compromise
For a product that was never intended to see the light, extraordinary attention to detail and innovation have been lavished on the Gryphon Pandora.

Precisely because it was conceived unencumbered by thoughts of price, spousal approval and other niceties that limit the imagination, Pandora is uniquely revealing of the performance of source components, loudspeakers and interconnects.

Gryphon Pandora offers a tonally natural musical presence, a rich, varied palette of colours grounded with appropriate weight and body and set in the original acoustic space with pinpoint dimensional accuracy.
This is the level of performance we demand in our listening rooms and now we are pleased to share it with the world.

Exterior design by Flemming E. Rasmussen
Electronics design by Tom Møller
True Dual Mono configuration
Fully discrete pure Class A with ultra-short signal path
2 x 90,000 microFarad capacity banks
Ultra-wideband 3 MHz frequency response
Zero negative feedback
DC-coupling with servo-control
Isolated power supply for non-audio circuits
Extensive mechanical decoupling
Extensive local voltage regulation
Big-wheel, ball-bearing, microprocessor-controlled 85-step relay volume attenuator featuring Charcroft Z-Foil Audio ultra precision resistors and ultra low capacitance relays for best sonic performance
New, high-speed, discrete single-ended Class A input buffer developed for best possible sonic performance
Select premium-grade components, including Takman Audio resistors
Minimal internal wiring
Military spec. double-sided up to 70µm copper printed circuit boards
Two separate custom-made C-core transformers, one for each channel
Gold-plated input-isolating relays
PCB-mounted sockets eliminate wiring and shorten signal path
Gold-plated Swiss Neutric XLR sockets for three balanced sources and two outputs
Gold-plated phono sockets with Teflon insulation for two inputs and one Tape output
Optional integrated, Gryphon Phono Stage or Legato Heritage RIAA module
Fixed-level AV throughput for uncompromising integration with surround systems
Microprocessor-controlled menu functions
Adjustable channel balance, source level matching, start-up and maximum level
Green Bias control for Gryphon power amplifiers
Graphical Vacuum Fluorescent Display
Backlit touch-sensitive front panel controls
Adjustable display illumination (High, Medium, Low, Off)
Non-magnetic, non-resonant aluminium cabinets
12 V DC link input and output
Flash memory upgrades via PC or key-fob
Infrared remote control
Standby power consumption <1W
EU CE approval
Input Impedance: 50 kΩ, balanced
Input Impedance: 25 kΩ, single ended
Output impedance: 7Ω
Gain: +18dB
THD + N: 0.005% @ 1 kHz and 10 Hz – 30 kHz bandwidth
Bandwidth (-3dB): 0.1 Hz – 3 MHz
Power Supply Capacity: 2 x 90,000uF
Power consumption: <1W (standby), 50W (idle)
Dimensions,WxHxD: 48 x40 x 13 cm, each unit
Weight: 17.5 kg
Designed and built in Denmark