Gryphon Helios – a Two-Box Preamplifier from the Danish Brand

Gryphon Audio Designs has announced the Helios preamplifier, built in a two-chassis configuration with a separate power supply. The new model is positioned as an entirely new development, combining reference-grade technical performance with very broad compatibility in complex audio systems. In the company’s product hierarchy, the Helios succeeds the celebrated Pandora, while occupying a position between it and the flagship Commander, inheriting ideas from both designs.

For Gryphon, this is not just another component in the lineup, but an important stage in the company’s evolution. Founded in 1985, the Danish manufacturer has long been known not only for ambitious engineering, but also for its expressive signature design, shaped in part by company founder Flemming Rasmussen. With the Helios, the manufacturer is already speaking of a transition to a new visual language: the unit retains Gryphon’s familiar dark, строгий aesthetic, while looking more modern and noticeably fresher.

The appearance of the new model references the image of a waterfall – a combination of power, flow and sculptural elegance. The front panel reinterprets Gryphon’s familiar design motifs. In particular, the signature inverted triangle known from the Essence, Apex, Commander and Diablo 333 is present here as well, but becomes visually apparent only when the main unit is placed on top of the PSU 5. This solution feels like a gesture toward long-time fans of the brand who know its visual code well. Both enclosures are made from thick anodized aluminium, and the overall level of finish matches the status of the product.

The Helios features a fully dual-mono design: each of the two enclosures contains separate sections for each channel. The chassis uses extruded and CNC-machined aluminium elements, which are intended to provide high mechanical rigidity and effective suppression of unwanted vibrations. To combat resonance, Gryphon’s proprietary spikes are provided, four for each enclosure. The package also includes protective discs that allow the preamplifier to be safely placed directly on top of the PSU 5 Dual Mono power supply.

The front section features inserts made of 4 mm tempered glass. A 4.3-inch touchscreen is built into the central area, serving both for control and for the visual integration of the interface into the overall appearance of the unit.

From a circuit-design perspective, the Helios continues the ideas of the Pandora, but goes further in many areas. The input buffer is built around a single-ended Class A topology, though it now uses a new configuration with two JFET transistors. According to the developers, this approach makes it possible to further reduce noise and simplify the signal path even more. The manufacturer emphasizes that the signal passes through a minimal number of components – just two transistors and one resistor – which is intended to deliver the most open, fast and natural sound possible while preserving Gryphon’s trademark density and tactile presentation.

Special attention has been paid to volume control. As before, Gryphon relies on a relay-based design, but in the Helios it has been implemented at a higher level: the unit employs a microprocessor-controlled 85-step attenuator with precision MELF SMD resistors. Compared to the Pandora, the resistance of the control circuit has been reduced by half, which, according to the company, has had a positive effect on bandwidth and overall sonic transparency.

The single-ended signal path has also undergone substantial refinement. It now uses an input stage based on solutions developed for the Commander. In addition, while the Pandora did not offer a dedicated single-ended output, the Helios now includes one: each channel has its own RCA output on Gryphon’s proprietary connectors. This makes the preamplifier noticeably easier to integrate with a wide range of equipment. At the same time, the designers continue to avoid the use of global negative feedback as a matter of principle.

In the power supply section and in its choice of components, the Helios also adopts more advanced solutions. Instead of C-core transformers, it uses specially designed toroidal power transformers, one per channel. Their advantage is said to be a lower level of magnetic radiation, which allows the main unit to be placed directly above the PSU 5 without concern.

The component base has been selected in full accordance with the product’s high-end status. The design uses WIMA polypropylene capacitors for local filtering and decoupling, Panasonic electrolytic capacitors, precision Vishay MELF SMD resistors with low self-noise and low inductance, as well as low-noise linear shunt voltage regulators from Texas Instruments. The active devices consist of carefully selected bipolar and JFET transistors.

Gryphon emphasizes that the Helios was designed not only as an audiophile line preamplifier, but also as a universal hub for an expensive multimedia system. The unit supports Home Theater Bypass via both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connections. Gain can be adjusted independently for each input, and each input can also be assigned its own name, which is especially convenient in complex installations.

Another important feature of the model is its modular architecture. The Helios allows the installation of an optional DAC3 digital module and a PS3 phono stage module. Two dedicated slots are provided on the rear panel for this purpose. Moreover, the functionality can be expanded either at the time of purchase or later, as the system configuration evolves. According to Gryphon, it is precisely this flexibility that should set the Helios apart from other ultra-premium preamplifiers.

The new model is already available to order on the European market. Recommended retail prices are 27,360 euros for the Helios preamplifier itself, 18,960 euros for the external PSU 5 power supply, and 46,320 euros for the complete set.