Following the high acclaim received by the Pandora, Gryphon Audio Design’s previous flagship prior to the Commander’s arrival, the company now introduces the new Helios two-chassis full-function preamplifier.
The Helios preamplifier builds upon the Pandora with circuit refinements trickled-down from Gryphon Audio’s (for short) spare-no-expense Commander, a monster preamplifier and recipient of the company’s full might in engineering high-end audio products. Helios is a two-box preamplifier which separates the input connectivity and the dual-mono, “no global negative feedback” circuitry from the PSU5 power supply which provides the lifeblood to the preamplifier via a massive 166,000 micro-Farad capacitor bank (83,000 micro-Farads per channel).
The Helios is a fully-discrete balanced dual differential Class-A line stage preamplifier featuring a single-ended, Class-A buffer circuit as employed in Pandora, but with a new and improved dual JFET topology. The new buffer offers lower noise and circuit elegance by passing the signal through only two transistors and one resistor. In fact, the input stage comes from Commander. The company claims this strategy provides a sonic performance that is “transparent, fast and natural, while advancing the rich, palpable quality for which Gryphon Audio Designs is renowned.”
The relay-based volume control has been refined via a micro-processor-controlled attenuator which operates in 85 steps, allowing precise volume settings. The attenuator employs high quality MELF SMD resistors. The volume circuit impedance is stated as being half of Pandora’s and is said to provide a wider bandwidth and higher sonic performance.
The single-ended design aspect now sees an RCA output (via proprietary connectors) in addition to Gryphon Audio’s usual balanced XLR outputs (two of). While on connectivity, Helios offers two single-ended RCA and three balanced XLR inputs (one of each can be set to Home Theatre Bypass), Gryphon Audio’s Green Bias connection, 12V triggers (two outputs), a USB-A programming port, and a ground post. The latter provides grounding for Helios’ optional PS3 phono stage module while an additional slot takes the optional DAC3 digital-to-analogue converter module.
Communication between the main unit and its power supply is via five-pin screw connector cables for ‘Control Interface’ and Left/Right PSU. The power supply chassis is true dual-mono and features two IEC sockets and a dedicated grounding binding post.
Rather than the C-core transformers in Pandora, Helios now uses two (one per channel) custom-made and “purpose-designed” Toroidal transformers. The new transformers’ lower magnetic radiation allows the units to be safely stacked without mutual interference. The list of high quality components includes long-life electrolytic capacitors from Panasonic for the power supply, specified WIMA polypropylene capacitors for local decoupling of DC supply voltages, and linear shunt voltage regulators from Texas Instruments, among other high-spec parts. “Cutting-edge” ZETEX bipolar and JFET transistors, specially selected for Gryphon Audio, are used as exclusively items for Helios.
Helios’ front panel features a logic-controlled 4.3 inch capacitive colour touchscreen display, which sits behind a 4 mm tempered glass panel. The stylish fascia features nothing else, aside from an aesthetic (now designed by Søren Slebo) which ties in both main and power supply units while also reflecting the design language of other Gryphon Audio amplification products. Both “Nordic Noir” low-resonance chassis feature heavy gauge solid aluminium components while coupling comes via a massive cone spiking system.
Gryphon Audio provides independent pricing for each chassis, with the idea being that the PSU5 may be employed to offer a power supply upgrade for other of the company’s products, such as the Legato phono stage, which accept a split-supply arrangement.
Gryphon Audio Designs Helios Preamplifier
Price: Helios only AU$37,995, PSU5 Power Supply AU$23,995
Australian Distributor: Kedcorp
PH: +61 2 9561 0799
www.kedcorp.com.au
