Gryphon Zena
OVERVIEW
The Gryphon Zena replaces the Athena ball-bearing volume wheel with touch-sensitive up/down buttons to create a volume attenuator consisting of 43 individual steps in 2 dB increments, with no more than two resistors in the volume control signal path at any given time.
Among the numerous component upgrades of the Zena is an ultra-precise array of SMD metal-foil resistors and hermetically sealed, gold-plated, ultra-low capacitance Pickering reed relays.
Equally crucial, the Zena volume attenuator is fully balanced, with no conversion of the signal from the XLR inputs to single-ended prior to attenuation, as was the case with the Athena. This simplification of the Zena signal path represents a major step forward in sound quality.
The Zena employs shunt regulators in the voltage supplies to the active circuits of the volume attenuator, in order to ensure a DC supply with ultra-low output impedance across a wide frequency band and optimal noise suppression.
FEATURES
- Exterior design by Flemming E. Rasmussen
- Electronics design by Tom Møller
- Zero negative feedback
- True Dual Mono configuration
- Fully discrete, DC-coupled Class A circuit topology
- Microprocessor-controlled, 43-step, fully balanced relay volume attenuator for best sonic performance based on a minimalist contingent of ultra-precision resistors
- New, high-speed, discrete single-ended Class A input buffer for best possible sonic performance
- Optional PCM/DSD DAC module with one USB, 2 x SPDIF, 1 AES and 1 optical input. PCM up to Fs = 384kHZ, DSD up to DSD512
- Optional MM/MC phonostage module
- Local shunt regulators for optimal noise suppression
- Input level matching to prevent abrupt level changes
- Ultra-short signal path
- Minimal internal wiring
- Gold-plated Swiss Neutrik XLR sockets for 2 balanced inputs and 1 output
- Gold-plated phono sockets with Teflon insulation for 3 inputs and 2 outputs
- Fixed-level AV throughput, balanced or unbalanced, for uncompromising integration with surround preamplifier.
- Large Vacuum Fluorescent Display for easy legibility
- Adjustable display lighting
- Backlit touch-sensitive front panel controls
- 12V DC link input and output
- Green Bias control – compatible with any Gryphon power amplifier
- Infrared remote control
- EU CE approval
SPECIFICATIONS
- +18 dB gain, max.
- Output Impedance: 15 Ohm (XLR), 22,5 Ohm (phono)
- Frequency Bandwidth: 0.1 Hz – 1 MHz (-3 dB)
- Power Supply Capacity: 2 x 26.000 microFarad
- Input Impedance, balanced (20 Hz – 20 kHz): 50 kOhm
- Input Impedance, single-ended (20 Hz – 20 kHz): 25 kOhm
- Designed and built in Denmark