Musical Heavyweights: New Flagship Amps and Preamp from Gryphon Audio
ryphon Audio's track record of producing category-defining products is enhanced by the introduction of the new Apex amplifiers ($99,000 for the stereo amp, $198,000 per pair of monoblocks) and Commander preamplifier (right, $63,000). The fully class-A stereo and mono amps output in excess of 200Wpc at 8 ohms and increase their output to well over 1000 watts at 1 ohm. Each amp features a complement of 64 high-current bipolar output, along with 1 Farad capacitor banks and two custom-made 2000V toroidal transformers, all housed in a constrained-layer-damped chassis. The Apex Stereo amp weighs nearly 450 pounds, while a pair of Apex Mono amps weigh in at 900 pounds. The Commander features a fully dual-mono layout and separate chassis for signal delivery and power supply. The preamp's single-ended class-A input buffer offers the advantage of passing the signal through the smallest possible number of electrical components -- just two transistors and a single resistor -- and uses zero global negative feedback. The Commander's constrained-layer-damped bottom plate is a sandwich of three individual layers of Kerrock (a composite material), bitumen and stainless steel. All amplifier and power-supply circuit boards float above the bottom plate on specially designed isolators. A 4mm glass window is the outward part of the Commander’s 4.3" TFT capacitive touch display, which allows access to the preamp's many features via "an utterly intuitive user interface." Flemming Rasmussen, the founder of Gryphon Audio, is
responsible for the exterior design of both products, a task for which his long history in
the audio industry and artistic abilities are uniquely suited. Both products are deep,
dark and lovely, halving the difference between high-tech modern and classic Gryphon
design. |
