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DACs — Gryphon Audio DIABLO 120 DAC MODULE
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Gryphon Audio DIABLO 120 DAC MODULE
Image source — © Gryphon Audio
The Diablo 120 DAC Module is an optional plug-in converter board from Gryphon Audio Designs, a Danish-built unit made for the Diablo 120 integrated amplifier. Installed inside the amplifier, it adds four digital inputs to the five analogue inputs already present, which then appear as inputs 06 to 09 in the input selection.
Key specs that matter
A Sabre ES9018 chip does the conversion in a Class A analogue circuit built as true dual mono with zero negative feedback. The USB input takes PCM at 44.1 to 384 kHz up to 32 bits, plus DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 and DSD512 under Windows and DSD128 under Mac or Linux. The balanced AES/EBU input on a gold-plated Neutrik XLR socket and the S/PDIF input on a gold-plated 75 Ohm BNC socket with Teflon insulation accept PCM at rates from 22.05 kHz, including 64 kHz, up to 192 kHz, and the TOSLink optical input runs up to 96 kHz.
Engineering and use context
The USB section draws on a 12.5 Farad super-capacitor supply that Gryphon compares to a true battery. After power-up a blue LED next to the standby symbol flashes while this bank charges, which can take up to four minutes. A temperature-compensated crystal oscillator with better than 5 parts per million accuracy clocks the converter. Analogue filtering after the chip is first order for PCM and second order for DSD, using polypropylene capacitors. Discrete regulated +/- 15 V DC rails power the analogue output stages, the ES9018 analogue section has separate left and right channel supplies, and multiple local regulators suppress digital noise. Everything sits on one four-layer circuit board with 70 micron copper and board-mounted sockets to keep wiring to a minimum.
Pairing
All settings are made through the Diablo 120 display and front touch buttons. The PCM filter can be set to slow roll-off with short group delay, which is the default, or sharp roll-off with long group delay. DSD offers a -3 dB passband of 50, 60 or 70 kHz and a first-order analogue low-pass that can be switched on or off. Input names can be edited in the amplifier menu, and output gain of 0 dB or -6 dB applies to all four digital inputs. The amplifier display then shows the active input, sample rate, a padlock symbol for lock status, format, chosen filter and volume level from 00 to 45, and a restore function returns the DAC to factory settings along with all other amplifier settings.
Alternatives
The Gryphon Zena DAC Module is the equivalent converter board for the Zena preamplifier.
Key specs that matter
A Sabre ES9018 chip does the conversion in a Class A analogue circuit built as true dual mono with zero negative feedback. The USB input takes PCM at 44.1 to 384 kHz up to 32 bits, plus DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 and DSD512 under Windows and DSD128 under Mac or Linux. The balanced AES/EBU input on a gold-plated Neutrik XLR socket and the S/PDIF input on a gold-plated 75 Ohm BNC socket with Teflon insulation accept PCM at rates from 22.05 kHz, including 64 kHz, up to 192 kHz, and the TOSLink optical input runs up to 96 kHz.
Engineering and use context
The USB section draws on a 12.5 Farad super-capacitor supply that Gryphon compares to a true battery. After power-up a blue LED next to the standby symbol flashes while this bank charges, which can take up to four minutes. A temperature-compensated crystal oscillator with better than 5 parts per million accuracy clocks the converter. Analogue filtering after the chip is first order for PCM and second order for DSD, using polypropylene capacitors. Discrete regulated +/- 15 V DC rails power the analogue output stages, the ES9018 analogue section has separate left and right channel supplies, and multiple local regulators suppress digital noise. Everything sits on one four-layer circuit board with 70 micron copper and board-mounted sockets to keep wiring to a minimum.
Pairing
All settings are made through the Diablo 120 display and front touch buttons. The PCM filter can be set to slow roll-off with short group delay, which is the default, or sharp roll-off with long group delay. DSD offers a -3 dB passband of 50, 60 or 70 kHz and a first-order analogue low-pass that can be switched on or off. Input names can be edited in the amplifier menu, and output gain of 0 dB or -6 dB applies to all four digital inputs. The amplifier display then shows the active input, sample rate, a padlock symbol for lock status, format, chosen filter and volume level from 00 to 45, and a restore function returns the DAC to factory settings along with all other amplifier settings.
Alternatives
The Gryphon Zena DAC Module is the equivalent converter board for the Zena preamplifier.
Specifications
Model name
DIABLO 120 DAC MODULE
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
Sabre ES9018
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 32bit/384KHz and DSD512
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
20
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
20 000
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
N/A
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
N/A
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
<0.0050
Dimensions (mm)
267 x 55 x 114
Weight (kg)
1.1
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