Gryphon Hyperion Stereo Power Amp
Description
Overview
Some products define an era. Few possess the ability to succeed them.
For 14 years, Mephisto stood as the undisputed reference in high-end amplification, earning worldwide acclaim for its uncompromising performance and timeless engineering. Hyperion is the only amplifier worthy of carrying that legacy forward.
The culmination of more than three decades of Gryphon amplifier design, Hyperion brings together some of the finest technologies developed for our flagship Apex Reference amplifier with a new generation of engineering innovations, creating an amplifier that delivers exceptional musical performance in a more attainable form.
Every circuit, every material and every mechanical detail has been engineered without compromise. Drawing upon proven Apex technologies—including its output stage architecture, internal silver wiring and uncompromising construction.
Hyperion does not replace a legend (Mephisto) —it evolves it. The new generation of Gryphon performance. The new standard.
The Drive
Hyperion is the culmination of everything The Gryphon has learned in 35 years of amplifier design, distilling Apex-level performance into a more manageable and more accessible package, delivering somewhat less output but the same State-of-the-Art sound quality and ability to effortlessly drive even the most demanding loudspeakers. Hyperion benefits from the same cutting-edge output devices as our flagship Apex Reference power amplifier—40 Transistors per chassis, 80 per mono pair—for the closest possible approach to our ultimate amplifier technology. All internal wiring is accomplished with the same solid core, pure silver signal cable specified for Apex. And because The Gryphon Design Philosophy eliminates changes during every production run, the first Hyperion we produce will be identical to the last. This is our promise.
As with Apex and Mephisto, Hyperion uses ZERO global negative feedback for the neutral, ethereal presentation that has become a Gryphon trademark. Key to The Gryphon Sound, Hyperion uses our proven Class A amplifier topology but in Hyperion a new and improved dual JFET with extremely low noise has been implemented in concert with a new matched dual BJT transistor, which has been specially selected for Gryphon Audio Designs. Developed exclusively for Hyperion, a new amplifier Printed Circuit Board optimizes bias control and signal routing. Whereas Mephisto used one common transformer casting for both left and right transformers, Hyperion benefits from individual, mechanically decoupled transformer castings for each of the two (left- and right-channel) power transformers. While Mephisto uses a switched-mode power supply for digital control circuits, Hyperion’s power supply design is further enhanced byseparate linear power supplies for both digital and analog circuits. Power Supply Capacitance of 500,000 microFarads per chassis—a more than 10% increase over Mephisto—provides complete, effortless composure during the largest dynamic peaks. The sum total of these component and circuit enhancements ensures that Hyperion perfectly embodies The Gryphon Sound: incredibly transparent, fast, natural, open…and totally addictive.
Eternal Beauty
Gryphon has always believed that components built to convey the beauty of music should themselves be beautiful, designed to stand as visual as well as sonic artworks in the most luxurious surroundings. Exquisitely wrought from the finest materials available, The Hyperion’s deep black, “Nordic Noir”. At once both gorgeous and highly efficient, Hyperion utilizes over-specified heat sinks to ensure stable operating temperatures and long, trouble-free lifespan. Proprietary Gryphon speaker terminals—which accept bare wire, spade lugs, banana connectors and combine aesthetic beauty with extreme functionality.
In every design and construction aspect, Hyperion is designed to be cherished and appreciated for a lifetime.
Features
- Electronics design by Tom Møller
- Pure Dual Mono configuration
- Zero global negative feedback
- 40 very high current bipolar output transistors
- 500.000μF capacitor bank
- Extremely low capacitance Class A J-FET input buffer
- Balanced dual differential class A input circuitry followed by a very fast symmetrical voltage amplifying Class A stage
- Fully regulated low noise power supply for all voltage amplifying stages
- DC servo coupling
- Frequency-independent damping factor
- Gryphon silver internal signal and power wiring
- Premium massive Zn foil capacitors used for local power supply decoupling, with a loss factor ten-times lower than of metallized PP-film capacitors.
Specifications
- 4-layer up to 105 um copper printed circuit boards
- Two separate custom made 1500 VA toroidal transformers
- Individual decoupled left/right transformer castings
- True balanced inputs with gold-plated Neutrik XLR input sockets
- Separate linear power supply for both digital and analog circuits
- Soft start turn-on prevents triggering of fuses or circuit breakers in the home electrical system
- Gryphon gold-plated custom-built binding posts
- AC polarity indicator
- 12V Link for remote power on and off
- Automatic Green Bias setting via Green Bias control link or manual Low/Mid/High bias
- Firmware upgradeable via USB stick
- Non-intrusive protection system
- Standby current consumption < 0,5W
- Designed and manufactured in Denmark