Gryphon Adagio User manual

Adagio
Owner´s Manual

Table of Contents:
Introduction....................... 3
The Gryphon....................... 3
Adagio................................ 4
The Man.............................. 4
Made in Denmark............... 4
Musical Objectives............... 5
The Gryphon Master Tape
Collection............................ 5
Design Principles................ 5
Exterior Design................... 7
Manufacture and Assembly. 8
Using Your Gryphon......... 8
AC Voltage.......................... 8
Burn-in and Warm-up.......... 9
Placement........................... 9
Menu Activated
functions.............................. 9
Balanced Connections......... 9
Choice of Cables................ 9
Programming the Adagio..... 10
Care and Maintenance....... 14
Warranty.............................. 15
Safety Instructions.............. 16

Introduction
Welcome to the global family of
proud owners of fine audio com-
ponents from Gryphon Audio
Designs of Denmark. Your new
Gryphon unit has been painstak-
ingly designed to re-create the
sound of live music taking place
in its original recorded space.
Every Gryphon product is
designed to cater to the needs of
the most discerning music
enthusiast with sumptuous
styling and superb user-friendli-
ness which elevate it above the
mundane world of con-
ventional audio compo-
nents.
As audiophiles, the
members of the
Gryphon design team are con-
stantly reminded to keep their
priorities straight. We are not
involved in “hi-fi” for its own
sake, but strictly as a means to
an end, in the service of our life-
long love of the live music expe-
rience in all its sonic and emo-
tional glory.
Our higher goal is to bring to the
listener a “You-Are-There” sen-
sation. In taking up this chal-
lenge, the Gryphon designers go
back to basics to analyze the
essential nature of the live music
experience. For us, an aware-
ness of soundstaging, ambience
and concert hall dimensions are
necessary components.
Dynamics and an unambiguous
sense of instrument location
even in the loudest passages
are also high priorities. To
achieve these objectives,
Gryphon products offer excep
-
tional speed and agility along
with seamless coherence in the
time domain.
Since 1985, Gryphon Audio
Designs has quietly gone about
the business of creating fine
home audio components. We
know that you will appreci
-
ate and enjoy the benefits
of our accumulated expe
-
rience and share our abid
-
ing passion for music.
The Gryphon
In Greek mythology: A fabled
creature, half-lion and half-
eagle, combining the power of
the “King of Beasts” with the
grace of the “King of Birds”. The
guardian of the source of gold
and protector of the Dionysian
cup of infinite wealth.
In the real world: An acclaimed
Danish audio engineering com
-
pany employing cutting edge
technology and common sense
in the pursuit of the purest musi
-
cal experience. We feel that the
gryphon is an appropriate sym
-
bol for our high sonic goals.
3

Adagio
adagio adj : (of tempo) leisurely
n : a musical composition to be
played in adagio tempo (slowly
and gracefully) adv : (music)
slowly; "here you must play ada-
gio"
The Man
Gryphon Audio Designs is the
brainchild of Flemming E.
Rasmussen and the fulfillment of
a lifelong dream to allow the
purest essence of the live music
experience to be recreated in the
home environment.
Rasmussen holds a degree in
painting and graphic arts from
the Aarhus Art Academy,
Denmark. During his studies,
Rasmussen developed close
relationships with the local music
community and designed many
LP covers and concert posters.
After graduation, he taught pho-
tography and painting and
designed textiles, before found-
ing 2R Marketing, which quickly
became Denmark’s leading High
End audio import company.
Gryphon Audio Designs was
founded in 1985 as an offshoot
of 2R Marketing, The first prod-
uct, the now legendary Gryphon
Head Amp, grew from a one-off
spare time project developed
only for the designers’ own home
systems. Although the Gryphon
project was initially strictly a
hobby, not an actively pursued
commercial venture, demand
generated by reviews and word-
of-mouth led to the formal estab
-
lishment of Gryphon Audio
Designs as a separate corporate
entity.
Following the immediate suc
-
cess of the Gryphon brand, all
import business was phased out
in 1993, so that Rasmussen
could dedicate his efforts entire
-
ly to Gryphon.
Made In Denmark
Every product from Gryphon
Audio Designs is designed and
built in Denmark. This is much
more than just a geographical
fact. It is also a seal of approval,
a stamp of quality. Living in a
region with no natural resources
(no oil, coal, precious metals,
etc.), the Danes have learned to
rely on their quick wits and
skilled hands. Innovative tech
-
nology, beautiful craftsmanship,
pride in one’s craft and a keen
eye for attractive design are
some of the long-standing
Danish traditions which are dis
-
tilled to their finest essence in
every unit that bears the
Gryphon name.
The Gryphon Head Amp 1985
4
Flemming E. Rasmussen painting 1967

unique library of more than
1,000 original master tapes of
recordings made during the
Golden Age of studio engineer
-
ing from 1956-1976.
Unlike conventional commercial
releases, our master tapes cap
-
ture the dynamic contrasts and
subtle inner harmonic structure
of the musical event, forcing us
to work to a higher standard in
our efforts to maintain the integri
-
ty of the original musical per
-
formance.
Design Principles
With state of the art technical
equipment and some of the
finest minds in the audio engi
-
neering field at our disposal, the
Gryphon brand name continues
to define the highest audiophile
standards of subjective and
technical performance.
The dual mono configuration
radically eliminates any possibil
-
ity of crosstalk or other interfer
-
ence between channels and pro
-
vides infinite channel separation
which contributes to the ability to
create space, focus, depth and
transparency.
Because the electrical power
coming out of your wall fluctu
-
ates wildly in terms of voltage
and distortion, Gryphon incorpo
-
rates heavily regulated multi-
Gryphon is located in beautiful tranquil sur-
roundings.
5
Musical
Objectives
While scientific method and
sophisticated technology play an
important role in our electronics
design work, at Gryphon we
never lose sight of the fact that
the keen ears of an experienced
listener are the most crucial “cal-
ibration tools.” Therefore, every
Gryphon product exists for one
simple purpose: to bring the user
closer in the never-ending quest
for a more natural and convinc-
ing musical illusion.
Every Gryphon design has been
built to cruise effortlessly through
even the most demanding musi-
cal passages, regardless of vol-
ume level, with a musical pres-
entation defined by supreme
articulation and immediacy, sub-
tle dynamic shading and razor-
sharp focus. Refinement and
delicacy are combined with
power and authority for a natu-
ral, involving listening experi-
ence.
The Gryphon
Master Tape
Collection
In the Gryphon listening rooms,
we are fortunate to possess a

stage power supplies that act as
effective mains conditioning fil-
ters. Displays and control circuits
are fed by a separate power sup-
ply to isolate any digital noise
artifacts and effectively prevent
them from contaminating the sig-
nal path.
While the printed circuit boards
in more conventional audio prod-
ucts utilize conductor tracks a
mere 35 um thick, Gryphon
employs at least 70 um traces of
the highest purity.
Beginning with our very first
product, “The Head Amp” all
Gryphon products have featured
extremely wide frequency band-
width, because the ability to
reproduce ultra-sonic frequen-
cies with no difficulty ensures lin-
ear phase across the audible fre-
quency range.
The implementation of circuits
with wideband frequency
response is a painstaking
endeavor in which the actual lay-
out and ground pattern of the PC
boards are crucial to the
achievement of superior sonic
performance with no loss of
inherent stability.
Wideband frequency response
ensures the high slew rate
essential to the realistic handling
of the ultra-fast transients which
routinely occur in live music and
is crucial in recreating the natu
-
ral decay of musical instruments.
Wide bandwidth also improves
phase characteristics, for more
correct soundstaging and imag
-
ing.
All Gryphon designs are realized
with an absolute minimum of
negative feedback, which when
present in large amounts can
actually increase TIM distortion.
All Gryphon preamplifiers are
designed with zero negative
feedback. Gryphon power ampli
-
fiers apply negative feedback
judiciously for improved linearity
and bandwidth.
Gryphon research into the detri
-
mental effects of magnetically
induced distorted (MID) has led
to the elimination of magnetiz
-
able materials wherever possi
-
ble. To eliminate the effects of
stray magnetic fields, non-mag
-
netic materials are employed
throughout, with the unavoidable
exception of the transformer
shield box.
The mechanical design of the
cabinet and assembly methods
are all carefully calculated to
ensure minimal resonance,
either through the use of
mechanically grounded high
mass or decoupling. Vibration-
sensitive components, capaci
-
Typical Gryphon module
6

tors in particular, are thus guar-
anteed a non-resonant environ-
ment.
The heavy, thick chassis offers a
vibration-proof environment for
the sensitive electronics inside
and provides crucial shielding
from a polluted world of low and
high-frequency radio waves,
power-line radiation and other
electrical interference.
Meticulous attention to such
issues makes a significant con-
tribution to the relaxing, open
and transparent Gryphon sound.
Unique, non-invasive protection
circuitry offers reliable, fuss-free
protection without compromising
signal purity and signal path sim-
plicity, with no conventional
relays in the signal path to
degrade or compress sound.
The ground path has been care-
fully laid out in order to achieve
superior sonic performance with
no loss of stability. Component
layout has been designed to
ensure the shortest conceivable
signal path.
Exhaustive investigation under-
lies the selection of every com-
ponent part and many original,
proprietary components are cus-
tom-built exclusively for
Gryphon. Because what is left
out is just as important as what
goes in, an absolute minimum of
internal wiring is included.
By lavishing attention on each
aspect of the circuit and fully
understanding the purpose and
behavior of every single part of
the whole, our designers can
optimize performance in each
section, before moving on to the
next step. This ensures simplici
-
ty, a short signal path and a unity
of purpose with a single, well-
defined objective: musical purity.
In the interest of ultimate fidelity,
tone controls, balance controls
and other unnecessary compo
-
nents have been banished from
the signal path.
Exterior Design
From the very beginning, every
Gryphon product has offered
stunning audio performance,
sumptuous styling and superb
user-friendliness, catering to the
needs of the discerning audio
-
phile who demands musicality,
convenience and aesthetics, all
without compromise.
In every Gryphon product, form
follows function in a unique syn
-
thesis of aesthetics and practi
-
cality. Gryphon stands for
sophisticated technology with a
high standard of industrial finish
that also incorporates the best of
handcraftsmanship.
Gryphon Audio Designs in the
outskirts of the small town of Ry
7

The peerless finish, build quality,
ergonomics and pride of owner-
ship that contribute to the totality
of the Gryphon concept can only
be fully understood and appreci-
ated up close and in person.
Rasmussen’s background in fine
arts and industrial design gives
every Gryphon product a distinc-
tive, luxuriant finish which arises
organically out of the audio cir-
cuit design and the user inter-
face for a truly unique integration
of form and function.
Manufacture and
Assembly
At our laboratories and manufac-
turing facilities in Denmark, we
maintain full control over every
aspect of development and pro-
duction, and the members of our
conscientious staff diligently fol-
low each Gryphon model from
initial concept to early prototype,
through to final quality control.
Printed circuit boards are
assembled by a supplier of pre-
cision military and medical
equipment with strict standards
of quality control and pre-inspec-
tion of components. Chassis
parts are manufactured by a
specialist chosen solely for the
outstanding quality of workman-
ship. In every aspect of every
Gryphon product, the same
stringent standards of excel
-
lence apply.
Following a 48-hour burn-in,
each product is tested again,
before being subjected to
Gryphon’s custom-developed
transport simulator which simu
-
lates the inevitable shaking that
a product will encounter in tran
-
sit. The product is placed on top
of a very large loudspeaker
which plays a special CD with
low frequencies which simulate
the vibrations of an airplane.
Each unit “travels” the equivalent
of 40 round trips from Denmark
to Australia before leaving the
factory.
AC Voltage
Your Gryphon unit is especially
made for the AC voltage of the
country to which it has been
shipped. If the voltage has been
changed, the warranty is void
and the product may be unsafe
or malfunction.
Correct AC polarity contributes
greatly to optimum performance.
If you are not using a three-pin,
non-reversible power plug,
please experiment with the ori
-
entation of the plug for optimum
performance.
8

Burn-In and
Warm-Up
Your Gryphon has been thor-
oughly tested and burned in
before shipping. Performance
will continue to improve during
the first 40 – 50 hours of normal
use. After this period optimum
performance will be reached
approximately 45 minutes after
turn-on. With the exception of
Class A power amplifiers, we
recommend leaving your
Gryphon components powered
up at all times.
Balanced
Connections
All Gryphon products uses the
AES standard for balanced con-
nections.
1. Ground
2. Positive
3. Negative
We recommend the use of dedi-
cated balanced cables. Avoid the
use of adaptors as they degrade
performance.
Choice of Cables
Because your Adagio is a high-
resolution Gryphon audio
device, it will immediately reveal
the characteristics and possible
limitations of the other compo
-
nents in your system, as well as
those of the interconnects and
loudspeaker cables used to con
-
nect your system.
Wiring should never be utilized
as "equalizers" to correct errors
elsewhere in the system.
Instead, any error should be cor
-
rected at the source, so that
interconnects and loudspeaker
cables can be selected solely on
the basis of sonic neutrality. For
this reason, we employ
Gryphon's own range of inter
-
connects and cables in every
stage of the design of every
Gryphon product.
Placing the
Adagio
1.Do not place the Adagio on
top of power amplifiers or other
components that contains large
power supplies.
2.Pay attention to the routing of
AC cords to keep them from
interfering with audio intercon-
nects.
3. Keep interconnects as short
as practical possible.
Connections
The backside of the Adagio is
very strait forward and features
A. 1 Pair of analoqe outputs to
9
The master On/Off switch on
the Adagio is placed on the
underside of the unit near the
front.

be connected to any line input
on your pre amplifier or integrat-
ed amplifier. *
B. 1 Pair of balanced outputs to
be connected to any line input
on your pre amplifier or integrat-
ed amplifier. *
C. 1 AES/EBU balanced digital
output to be connected to an
external D/A converter.
D.1 S/PDIF 75 Ohm BNC Coax
connection
* We do not recommend the
use of direct connection to
power amplifiers via a passive
volume control.
We know that the Adagio is not
your first CD player and you do
not need to learn how to use
the basic functions of a CD
player.
In the following we shall only
address the more complicated
features of the Adagio
All programming of the
Adagio is made from the
remote control..
Checking the total number and
playing time of tracks.
Press TIME on the remote
before start playing.
The display shows the total
number of tracks, total playing
time and musical calendar.
While in shuffle play mode
(SHUFFLE appears in the dis
-
play ) a one-second access
time blank is added between
each track. This increase is
automatically added to the total
playing time in the display.
This information also appears
when you press OPEN/CLOSE
to close the disc tray.
Display information while play
-
ing a disc.
While playing a disc, the display
shows ( from left to right ) the
current track number, index
number, playing time and musi
-
cal calendar.
The track numbers in the musi
-
cal calendar dissapears after
they are played.
Checking the remaining time.
Each time you press TIME on
the remote while playing a disc,
the display changes from:
A. Playing time of current track.
B. Remaining time on current
track. (If the track number
exceeds 24 “—,—” appears
instead of the remaining time.)
C. Remaining time on the disc.
(If the remaining time exceeds
100 minutes in Programme Play
mode or when the disc has
more than 24 tracks “—.-”
appears instead of the remain
-
ing time.
10

Checking the information on CD
TEXT Discs
CD TEXT discs have informa-
tion, such as the disc titles or
artist names, memoriesed in a
blank space on the disc where,
on normal discs there is no
information.
The display shows the CD
TEXT information of the disc so
you can check the current disc
title, artist name and track title.
When the Adagio detects CD
TEXT discs the “CD TEXT”indi-
cation appears in the display. If
your CD TEXT disc has multi
language capacity, “CD TEXT”
and “MULTI” indicators appears
in the display.
Display information before you
start playing the disc.
Each time you press TIME on
the remote, the display changes
from:
A. Disc title
B. Artist name
C. Total number of tracks and
total playing time.
*Note:
The display may not show all
the characters dependig on the
disc.
Turning off indications in the
display.
Each time you press DISPLAY
ON/OFF on the remote while
playing a disc, the display turns
off and on alternately.
Even when the display is turned
off, the display turns on if you
pause or stop play. When you
resume play, the display turns
off again.
Before you start playing, when
you press “DISPLAY ON/OFF”
to turn off the display, “DISPLAY
OFF” appears, and when you
press the button to turn on the
display again, “DISPLAY ON”
appears.
Locating a specific track or par
-
ticular point in a track.
You can quickly locate any track
while playing a disc using the
number buttons, scan forward
or back buttons on the remote.
The 2 different scan buttons
allow you to scan for a specific
track or a specific point in the
track.
When you choose a track num
-
ber over 10
A. Press >10 first then the cor
-
responding number buttons.
B. To enter “0” use button 10.
Example: To play track 30
Press >10 first than 3 and 10.
11

Playing tracks repeatedly
You can play tracks repeatedly
in any play mode.
Press repeat while playing a
disc
Repeat appears in the display.
The player repeats the tracks as
follows:
A. Continuos play - all the
tracks
B. Shuffle play - all the tracks in
random order
C. Programme play - The same
programme.
Repeating the current track. (
repeat 1 )
You can repeat the current
track in any play mode.
While playing the track you
want, press REPEAT repeatedly
until REPEAT 1 appears in the
display.
* To cancel repeat - press
REPEAT.
Repeating a specific point ( A-B
REPEAT )
You can play a specific portion
in a track repeatedly. This might
be useful for equipment evalua-
tion.
* You cannot repeat any portion
extending covering more than 1
track.
A. While playing a disc, press
A-B on the remote when you
find the starting point ( Point A )
to be played repeatedly.
“A” of “REPEAT A” flashes in
the display.
B. When you reach the ending
point ( point B )press A-B again.
“REPEAT A-B”appears in the
display. The player plays this
specific portion repeatedly.
*To cancel A-B repeat
Press “REPEAT”
Setting a new starting point:
You can move the repeating
point ahead by changing the
starting point.
A. Press A-B while the player is
repeating the specific portion.
The ending point B becomes
the new starting point A. “A” of
“REPEAT A” flashes in the dis
-
play.
B. When you reach the new
ending point ( point B ) press A-
B again.
“REPEAT A-B” appears. The
player repeats between the new
starting and ending point.
* When you want to restart
from the starting point A
* Press play during the A-B
repeat
12

Playing in random order (
Shuffle play )
You can have the player “shuf-
fle” tracks and play in a random
order
A. Press SHUFFLE on the
remote. “SHUFFLE” appears in
the display.
B. Press PLAY to start shuffle
play. The (( )) indications
appears while the player is
shuffling the tracks.
* To cancel shuffle play.
Press CONTINUE
** You can start shuffle play
while playing.
Press SHUFLE , “SHUFFLE”
appears in the display window .
Shuffle play starts from the cur-
rent track.
Creating a programme using
the remote
A. Press PROGRAM before you
start playing. “PROGRAM”
appears in the display.
B. Press the number buttons of
the tracks you want to pro-
gramme in the order you want.
C. Press play to start
Programme Play.
Example:
To programme the tracks 2, 8
and 5. - press the number but-
tons 2,8 and 5.
* To select a number over 10 :
Use the > 10 button.
* If you have made a mistake:
Press CLEAR, then press the
correct track number.
* To cancel programme play:
Press continue.
Checking the track order.
You can check your programme
before or after you start playing.
Press Check.
Each time you press this button,
the display shows the track
number in the programmed
order. After the last track in the
programme , the display shows
“-END-”and returns to the origi
-
nal display. You you check the
order after you start playing, the
display shows only the remain
-
ing track numbers.
Changing the track order
You can change your pro-
gramme before you start play-
ing.
Erase a track
Press CHECK until the track
you don´t want appears in the
display, then press CLEAR.
13

Erase the last track in the pro-
gramme
Press CLEAR, each time you
press the button, the last track
will be cleared.
Add tracks to the programme
Press the number buttons of the
track to be added.
Erase the whole programme
completely
Hold down CLEAR until
“CLEAR”appears in the display.
Create a new programme fol-
lowing the programming proce-
dure.
Care and
Maintenance
Gryphon products are handcraft
-
ed by individuals who take great
pride in the high level of fit and
finish which we achieve. To
maintain your Gryphon compo
-
nents in pristine condition,
please follow these simple
instructions.
Metal surfaces may be cleaned
with a damp cloth. Some product
made for treatment of vinyl inte
-
riors in cars may be useful. Test
the product on a non-visible sur
-
face, before using any fluids.
Acrylic surfaces should only be
wiped with a very soft, dry cloth.
Small scratches may be
removed with fiberglass polish.
Fingerprints may be removed
with a damp cloth. Do NOT use
spirits or paper tissue.
14

Warranty
The Gryphon Adagio is warrant-
ed against failures arising
through faulty workmanship and
materials for a period of 3 year
from date of purchase. The war-
ranty is not transferable. This
warranty is only valid in the
country where the product was
purchased. All claims under this
warranty must be made to the
distributor in the buyer ` s country
by returning the unit securely
packed in the original box with all
accessories, postage/freight pre-
paid and insured. The unit will be
repaired or replaced at no
charge for parts and labor.
This warranty remains valid only
if the serial number of the unit
has not been defaced or
removed and if repairs are per-
formed only by authorized
Gryphon dealers or distributors.
If the voltage has been changed,
the warranty is void and the
product may be unsafe or mal-
function.
Warranty does not cover dam-
age due to misuse, accident or
neglect. This warranty is not
valid if the operation voltage of
the product has been changed.
The distributor or manufacturer,
Gryphon Audio Designs,
Denmark, retains the exclusive
right to make such judgement on
15
the basis of inspection.
The retailer, distributor or manu
-
facturer of the Gryphon shall not
be liable for consequential dam
-
age arising from the use, misuse
or failure of this product, includ
-
ing injuries to persons or proper
-
ty.
To qualify, the enclosed warranty
registration card must be filled
out and returned to the manufac
-
turer within 10 days of purchase.
Alternatively, you may wish to
register online from our website.
www.gryphon-audio.com

Hazardous live
Do not expose the unit to drip-
ping water or moist.
Placement:
Do not place your Adagio on top
of any heat producing products,
such as power amplifiers or
DACs. If you place the Adagio
inside any Hi-FI furniture or cab-
inets, there must be a clearance
of a minimum of 10cm (4 inch-
es) above the product and a
minimum of 5cm (2 inches)
along the sides. To allow a flow
of cooling air the back of the
cabinet must be open. If these
guidelines are not observed,
overheating may result.
Mains Switch:
To place your Adagio off use the
main switch.
The switch is located in the bot-
tom on the right side just
beneath the acrylic front panel.
SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS