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Cartridges — Gryphon Audio Black Diamond DLC
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Gryphon Audio Black Diamond DLC
Image source — © Gryphon Audio
The Black Diamond DLC is a moving-coil phono cartridge made by the Danish firm Gryphon Audio Designs and the first cartridge released under the Gryphon name in the company's 40-year history. It was first presented in Munich at the spring 2024 High End exhibition with a US price of USD 20,000. The design starts from the Ortofon MC Diamond and was reworked by Gryphon, with Ortofon and the Danish Technological Institute as partners on the project.
Key specs that matter
Output is 0.26 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm/s, from an internal DC resistance of 8 ohm. Recommended load is above 10 ohm, and 80 ohm is the preferred setting on the Gryphon Siren phono stage. Tracking force runs from 2.4 to 2.8 g with 2.6 g as the target, dynamic lateral compliance is 10 um/mN and the cartridge weighs 18 g. Frequency range is 20 Hz to 50 kHz within 2 dB. Channel balance is 0.5 dB and channel separation 26 dB at 1 kHz, tracking ability at 315 Hz is 70 um, and the vertical tracking angle is 23 degrees. The Ortofon Replicant 100 stylus has an r/R 5/100 um profile and sits on a solid diamond cantilever.
Engineering and use context
The body is titanium made by Selective Laser Melting and then given a 5 um DLC-TR coating, short for Diamond-Like Carbon Thin-Film Resistor. Gryphon states that the coating doubles the speed at which sound and resonance travel through the titanium, from 9,000 m/s to 18,000 m/s, so vibration leaves the body faster. The coil wire changes from plain copper to gold-plated copper, called Aucurum, and the coils use a newly developed six-layer configuration with 2 x 84 turns per channel. Front and rear rubber bearings use a new compound, and the mechanical tension of the suspension was optimised. The finished cartridge is black, matching its name.
Pairing
The very low output calls for a phono stage with MC gain in the range of 60 dB or more, or a step-up transformer suited to a low-resistance coil. The Gryphon Siren is the matching stage named by the maker. The heavy body and medium-low compliance point to a medium or higher mass tonearm that can carry the weight and still balance at the target force.
Alternatives
The Black Diamond DLC is the only pickup in the Gryphon range, so the brand offers no second cartridge to compare.
Key specs that matter
Output is 0.26 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm/s, from an internal DC resistance of 8 ohm. Recommended load is above 10 ohm, and 80 ohm is the preferred setting on the Gryphon Siren phono stage. Tracking force runs from 2.4 to 2.8 g with 2.6 g as the target, dynamic lateral compliance is 10 um/mN and the cartridge weighs 18 g. Frequency range is 20 Hz to 50 kHz within 2 dB. Channel balance is 0.5 dB and channel separation 26 dB at 1 kHz, tracking ability at 315 Hz is 70 um, and the vertical tracking angle is 23 degrees. The Ortofon Replicant 100 stylus has an r/R 5/100 um profile and sits on a solid diamond cantilever.
Engineering and use context
The body is titanium made by Selective Laser Melting and then given a 5 um DLC-TR coating, short for Diamond-Like Carbon Thin-Film Resistor. Gryphon states that the coating doubles the speed at which sound and resonance travel through the titanium, from 9,000 m/s to 18,000 m/s, so vibration leaves the body faster. The coil wire changes from plain copper to gold-plated copper, called Aucurum, and the coils use a newly developed six-layer configuration with 2 x 84 turns per channel. Front and rear rubber bearings use a new compound, and the mechanical tension of the suspension was optimised. The finished cartridge is black, matching its name.
Pairing
The very low output calls for a phono stage with MC gain in the range of 60 dB or more, or a step-up transformer suited to a low-resistance coil. The Gryphon Siren is the matching stage named by the maker. The heavy body and medium-low compliance point to a medium or higher mass tonearm that can carry the weight and still balance at the target force.
Alternatives
The Black Diamond DLC is the only pickup in the Gryphon range, so the brand offers no second cartridge to compare.
Specifications
Model name
Black Diamond DLC
Type
MC
Stylus
Replicant 100 diamond
Body
titanium
Cantilever
diamond
Coils
6-layer coil configuration with 2 x 84 turns per channel
Output voltage (mV@5cm/sec)
N/A
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Internal impedance (Ohm)
N/A
Channel separation (dB / 1,000 Hz)
N/A
Compliance (×10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz)
N/A
Recommended load (Ohm)
N/A
Recommended tonearms
N/A
Weight (g)
N/A
Official link