iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon review: BEST Portable DAC!?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Buy the iFi xDSD Gryphon from Amazon: locally.link/HAZB Video timestamps: -Intro & size: 00:00 -Battery life: 01:00 -Inputs & outputs: 01:41 -Features: 04:00 -Drivability & setup: 06:37 -Performance: 08:15 -Verdict: 10:28

[@ocdmods4992]

That's the review I needed to hear. Corroborates other reviews I've read. Getting my first portable listening setup put together and this will be my DAC. Had originally planned on a cheaper IFi model, but can see that spending a little more gets me everything I could ever need. Thank you for your honest, informative review.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Pleasure, glad you found it useful! If you're going via Amazon, links in the description give me commission :)

[@kevinholliday2066]

Glad to see a definitive example that the volume knob does indeed play/pause and skip track. It wasn't available on the first release except with a firmware update, that proved to be hit and miss for many users. I am assuming it is now being shipped with this update installed. I have been holding off on this unit until the kinks were worked out, to which they now seem to be. Thanks so much for your thorough review. Cheers!

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Pleasure, glad you liked the detailed review!

[@axelfoley1768]

I had to choose between this & the Mojo II & the Astel/Kern Kann Max. I chose the ifi Gryphon, it puts in a fantastic performance. very realistic tone, & reminiscent of reference sound. Lots of detail, wide soundstage, accurate treble with good extension, lush & realistic midrange, and punchy bass without overdoing it. Overall it sounds better than any DAP i've ever heard 🍦 Good amp too. And the wireless performs great You'll need to spend a lot more to top this.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@alessandrotesser6841]

For Sundara headphone would you prefer this or Diablo? I am not interested in BT. Will I miss Xbass and Xspace feature with Diablo?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

I personally don't use those features. If you don't care about Bluetooth, I'd highly suggest the Zen Dac instead of those two.

[@paulgross682]

Great review! This is my first of yours and definitely subscribed immediately. On the Gryphon if more power is needed for your headphones can it be used as a DAC only and connect to a separate amp?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Glad you liked the review! As for your question - good one, not sure - I think technically it should be plausible

[@adrianmorrish8494]

@@TotallydubbedHD it can @Paul, the 4.4 bal and 3.3 SE on the rear are input and output, there is also a line mode in the menu options

[@fluffylambut]

Great review. Can I leave it permanently plugged in, for bedside table use? Would that degrade the battery or cause other negative results? Or is it fine? Thanks

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Glad you liked the video - unsure, best asking the manufacturer that question or checking the manual for more info. I suspect you shouldn't keep it consistently plugged in.

[@davidmichael3189]

When I connect my Dan Clarks Aeon into the ifi Gryphon via 4.4 Balanced, I always get distortion. Whats going wrong. Also, is there any DAC / Amp better for those Headphones? Thanks

[@TotallydubbedHD]

No idea about that setup, sorry. Shouldn't get any distortion though.

[@LiterallyScarface]

Hi, can it be defaulted in recording devices ? Using it with Audition, Audacity, Discord etc with a microphone ? Or is it exclusively for listening ? I'm aware there are inputs but I can't find anything online about it and I'm afraid it's some kind of passthrough ! Thanks

[@TotallydubbedHD]

There's no mic input/output, or else I'd have mentioned it in the video.

[@davidmichael3189]

How does this compare to the Fiio Q7 in terms of sound quality? Thanks

[@TotallydubbedHD]

No idea

[@joeAK7.62]

is this ifi gryphon or the ifi go bar gold better? because the go bar has no battery, screen, bluetooth and is smaller, yet more expensive shell materials. so i ask, could the go bar gold be better?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

No idea, not tried the other

[@williamchromebookpeterson]

Great review and thanks for all the info!! Would you happen to know if I would be able to use this with a couple of type c to 4.4mm adapters with my cell? Meaning, type c to 4.4 adapter from phone then 4.4 to 4.4 cable from adapter to gryphon. Then type c to 4.4 adapter from headphones then 4.4 to 4.4 cable from adapter to gryphon. Hope that wasn't confusing :)

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Glad you enjoyed the review; as for the question; I really don't know why you'd be doing that?

[@williamchromebookpeterson]

@@TotallydubbedHD I'm quite new to this DAC business and it seems like finding type C to 4.4mm cables is impossible. I would rather not use adapters for sure. Could you recommend a retailer for type C to 4.4 cables? Thanks for your reply.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@williamchromebookpeterson no idea about that sorry!

[@nirajktm]

Thanks for the video, have u compared it with Fiio BTR 5 or 7

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Thanks! Not tried the others so can't comment.

[@nirajktm]

@@TotallydubbedHD thanks 😊 Have you tried the ifi zen dac ?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@nirajktm yup, check my review of it

[@nirajktm]

@@TotallydubbedHD thanks will do

[@beyondtheuniverse999]

Hey, doss gryphon sound as good as a desktop setup in similar price point?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

It's very good, but if you have the space to accommodate, there are some DACs at a cheaper price, which would provide a larger soundstage

[@roberto607]

Why cant I change to next song with the volyme knob? Only mute and power off/on. Any firmware?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

You can by double pressing, check the manual.

[@binuat80]

Hi, Check out the X Duoo XD05 Bal. I am using one Outputs 1w continuous. (can drive any headphones). I have (Hifiman Ananda, Neumann NDH20 and Sony WH-100 XM2 for Over head monitoring) and (Fiio FH5, Moondrop CHU, BLON BL-03 and BLON BL- MAX for In ear monitoring). It has Dual ESS Sabre DAC Chips. Also it has the option to swap its on board dual op amps. Texis Instruments op amps (stock on the unit) and a pair of Japan Radio Company op amps (in the box). I personally opted to replace the stock pair with Burson Audio - Supreme Sound op amp V5I (Dual X 2). It sounds superb in wired mode. Bluetooth connectivity range is a minor issue. Also on the unit there is a Boost switch which I can't figure out any purpose, as its application or exit makes no difference. I innately thought it was for IEM Gain matching but Im not sure right now. I would like to hear your views on this portable DAC. If you could also shed some light on the use of the Boost switch on the unit.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Unlikely I'll be reviewing that buddy, sorry!

[@bhayescampbell]

How does the sound quality compare to the iFi Go Blu?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Not tried it so can't comment!

[@UmarAbid]

Hi can i ask is this better than Creative Sound Blaster X4?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Not tried that model, but the iFi is certainly far more impressive than the X3 which I previously reviewed.

[@untitledwebm]

Hey, does it sound 3x better than the BTR5 2021?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

No idea

[@monarakudumbiya957]

How safe is to drive iems with this ? For the iem and your own ears both :)

[@TotallydubbedHD]

No issues whatsoever with my setup.

[@lysandrourena1610]

But how do you activate MQA on the gryphon??

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Check the manual

[@Canoneosmiami]

About EQ app ?

[@jonathanoxlade4252]

This device maybe Ile go apple but since apple lacks a high speed codec this would be better on a Snapdragon device due to the better power requirement

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Yes, but you can use it wired.

[@adrianmorrish8494]

@@TotallydubbedHD Shame they didn’t add Airplay, maybe they are waiting for the new standards as the Bluetooth firmware is updatable for future “proofing”

[@crate718]

how can a dac with a clean sound have a V shape?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

As one is the sound signature, the other its transparency :)

[@crate718]

@@TotallydubbedHD A DAC does one job. It converts digital audio to analogue audio. A good DAC will do that very accurately. If the resulting analogue audio is noticeably different from the digital version, it is malfunctioning. A DAC shouldn't change the sound other than converting from digital to analogue. A dac doesn’t have an eq curve or create a sound stage. Audiophiles are delusional.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@crate718 better look up what audio chips do, and why there are different manufacturers and sound signatures. Note, your attitude isn't going to get your far and it's not appreciated on this channel.

[@crate718]

@@TotallydubbedHD it is called marketing and nothing more. It is the same argument that people have over tone wood on electric guitars if it actually does any thing. Some people swear on it and others say the tone comes from the pickups.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@crate718 you're welcome to believe that. Best of luck in your future endeavours!

[@arrakian]

5houra of battery IS bad; it’s larger than the previous model, so why this new model has less than 10+ hours I don’t know. How the Qudelix 5K manages to shame larger DAC/Amps is a mystery.

[@Lazerbeam323ci]

It has a tonne of power that's the difference. Q5 won't drive 1 watt. Also I think the review misrepresents the size here, it's by no means a large device. Very portable and maybe heavier than prior model, it's still feather light. I drive Focal Elear and LCD-XC and they slam. I decommissioned my Schiit magni modi stack and this is a fraction of the size and goes all over the house and can be taken to work easily. It's a great device

[@arrakian]

@@Lazerbeam323ci Maybe so, but I’d gladly take one with a third of the power and double the battery life. I don’t know why these companies think that people only want to listen to music for a few hours; sometimes I need it all day long.

[@the14u36]

Does it sound better than the monolithic portable ?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

No idea

[@Jack-uq9pu]

声音很糊 不如 Sony a306

[@Repuuaaaaaaa]

> 35mW output power Nyesssss boss

[@yellowcone1]

5 hours....

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Yup, at least form my tests!