Ethos Black

Ethos’ internals are equally remarkable: from the selection of the finest CD Transport mechanism available, to the specification of the most advanced Digital-to-Analog Converters and Digital Filters, to the creation of discrete, monaural power supplies for every active circuit, Ethos CD is actually two State-of-the-Art components sharing a single chassis, designed to be the ultimate CD Player as well as a world-class DAC.

Ethos CD advances Gryphon’s tradition of digital innovation, which dates to 1998 when our CDP-1 CD player incorporated world’s first implementation of 88.2 kHz asynchronous sample rate conversion. Launched in 2001, the Gryphon Adagio offered asynchronous 24-bit/96 kHz technology. The Gryphon Mikado Signature was first to offer 32-bit/192 kHz upsampling while our debut stand-alone DAC, Kalliope, was acclaimed as a breakthrough by the world audio press. Ethos CD pushes the envelope even further: the only component as adept with silver discs as it is with digital files.

The Drive

Completely aside from its mastery of the “Redbook” CD, Ethos offers unsurpassed digital connectivity: AES/EBU, USB and BNC inputs allow direct connection of external digital sources (Streamers, Computers, Music Server) to the Ethos DAC section, which accommodates formats up to 32-bit/384 kHz PCM and DSD512. An AES/EBU output allows connection to external DACs. The USB socket features a “Super Capacitor” power supply and is fully compatible with all digital audio formats.

Honoring our cornerstone philosophies of dual monaural design and fully symmetrical balanced operation, Gryphon Ethos employs ESS SABRE ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC chips, capable of full 32-bit processing, in a dual-differential, dual-mono topology. Timing issues (jitter) are addressed with dual independent, temperature-compensated crystal oscillator clocks with accuracy better than five parts per million. Custom-built 32 VA toroidal transformers and 20,000 microFarad power supply capacitor banks for each channel, monaural digital power supplies combined with true Dual Mono analogue and DAC signal paths—all executed with the finest electrical components available—demonstrate how Gryphon’s deign mandates have been fully realized in Ethos.

Ten User-selectable, digital roll-off filters (7 PCM and 3 DSD) and user-selectable, asynchronous PCM sample rate conversion to 384kHz and PCM to DSD conversion to DSD128 enable listeners to fine-tune Ethos’ sound to their personal taste. These filters are available through DAC inputs as well as CD Transport.

Gryphon Ethos also happens to be the world’s finest CD Player. It has been created for 16-bit/44.1 kHz “Red Book” CDs as our CD Transport Mechanism—the CD-PRO8 from Austria’s Stream Unlimited—has been optimized for CD playback. Gryphon was the first company to use this Transport and has extracted every last bit of performance from it. Ethos’ chassis has been purpose-engineered to maximize the sound quality of this drive mechanism, combining extensive mechanical de-coupling and constrained layer damping with an effective clamping system to eliminate spurious disc motion. A trio of Gryphon’s proprietary Atlas Spikes evacuate any residual vibrational energy. Lift the sculpted aluminum lid, load your favorite CD into the transport, push ”Play” and the wisdom of our transport choice becomes obvious from the first note.

”The Best” In Every Way

In the realm of Ultra-Luxe Audio, perfect sound is necessary but not sufficient. To meet the expectations of today’s uncompromising conoisseurs, a State-of-the-Art product must define ”The Best” in many aspects: artisanal craftsmanship, intuitive operation, supreme functionality and multi-generational longevity. Nowhere is the challenge of anti-obsolescence more daunting than with digital audio, a challenge Ethos CD masters with upgradeable firmware, software and modular construction. A host of inputs, outputs, filters and features offer options without limit. And of course, there is the timeless, matchless beauty of a one-of-a-kind Audio Artwork. Fourty years after its debut, the CD Player has reached its Zenith: Ethos CD.

Features

Exterior design by Flemming E. Rasmussen

Electronics design by Tom Møller

Exclusive, CD-only CD-Pro8 transport with all-metal chassis

Extensive mechanical decoupling of the CD transport

Dedicated ESS SABRE ES9038PRO 32-bit D/A converter for each channel

Each ES9038Pro incorporates eight individual D/A converters in Dual Differential coupling for optimal performance

User-selectable, 7 different PCM and 3 DSD digital roll-off filters

User-selectable, asynchronous PCM sample rate conversion to 384kHz and PCM to DSD conversion to DSD128.

Temperature-compensated, ultra-low jitter crystal oscillators with better than 5 parts per million accuracy

USB input compatible with following audio formats via PC/MAC: PCM: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz, up to 32 bits DSD via USB: DSD64 (up to 3.072 MHz), DSD128 (up to 6.144 MHz), DSD256 (up to 12.288 MHz) and DSD512 (up to 24.576 MHz)

No USB driver required for LINUX or MAC OSX

USB driver available for Windows

Super-Capacitor (12.5 Farad!) power supply for USB module – for true battery source

Digital BNC and XLR inputs compatible with PCM: 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz, up to 24 bits

Balanced 110 Ohm XLR AES/EBU digital input

Single-ended 75 Ohm BNC S/PDIF digital input

Balanced 110 Ohm XLR AES/EBU digital output from CD transport

Galvanic isolation of all digital BNC and XLR inputs and outputs for minimal jitter

Comprehensive noise regulation of all digital circuits

Modular digital audio sections for possible future upgrades

True Class A, fully discrete analogue circuitry with zero negative feedback

First-order PCM analogue filters and user selectable second-order DSD analogue filter with silvered Mica capacitors

Analogue output stages with low noise +/- 23 VDC regulated voltage supplies for low THD and noise suppression

Custom-built 32 VA toroidal transformer for each analogue channel

20,000 microFarad power capacitor banks for each analogue channel

True Dual Mono analogue and DAC configuration

Balanced XLR analogue outputs and single-ended phono outputs

Ultra-short signal path with minimal internal wiring

Four-layer 70 mm thick copper trace PCB’s

Vacuum Fluorescent Display with variable illumination

Personalised naming of each input

Solid aluminium top plate

Gold-plated CD clamp

Polished acrylic base

Brushed, aluminium arm

Side-mounted heatsinks

Gryphon designed Atlas adjustable feet

Constrained layer damping vibration control

CD well with LED lighting

Automatic standby mode with user-selectable interval

Standby power consumption less than 0.5W in accordance with EU regulations

12V link in

Infrared remote control

EU CE approval

Designed and built in Denmark