Gryphon Scorpio S
Front-loading CD player designed in Denmark, featuring a dual-mono design and four 32-bit/192kHz AKM converters, for enthusiasts of high-end digital sources.
Description
The Gryphon Scorpio S is a front-loading CD player, designed and built in Denmark. It follows in the tradition of the brand's digital players, heir to a long experience in high-end audio design, and incorporates part of the architecture developed for the flagship Mikado Signature model.
Its design is based on a dual-mono topology with four 32-bit/192kHz AKM digital-to-analogue converters and a dual differential topology. The signal is upsampled to 192kHz and then processed by a first-order analogue filter equipped with a silver Mica capacitor, before passing through discrete-construction Class A analogue stages. The signal path is deliberately short, with internal wiring kept to a minimum, in order to preserve audio signal quality throughout the chain.
The balanced analogue outputs use gold-plated Swiss components mounted on the circuit board, with Neutrik XLR sockets on the rear panel. The balanced output level reaches 4Vrms, and the power supply has a capacitance of 40,000uF. A 75 ohm BNC S/PDIF digital output is also available.
This CD player is aimed at listeners with an already demanding hi-fi system, feeding a preamplifier or integrated amplifier fitted with balanced inputs, and seeking a digital source with a carefully finished and designed build.
Technical specifications
| Balanced output level | 4Vrms |
| Power supply capacitance | 40,000uF |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 13.5 × 48 × 41.5 cm |
| Weight | 9.6 kg |
What to check before buying used
The optical block remains the weak point on this generation of players: a tray that struggles to open or playback that stutters on certain discs points to a worn laser, which is costly to replace. Also check that the power supply capacitors (40,000uF) have not aged, a sign of weakness that can result in hiss or a loss of dynamics. Finally, test the balanced XLR outputs as well as the BNC digital output to rule out any contact faults.
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