Фонокорректоры — Gryphon Audio SIREN

The Siren is a phono stage from Gryphon Audio, presented by the Danish maker as The Essential Phono Stage and placed alongside the Apex power amplifier and Commander preamplifier. Electronics were designed by Tom Moller, and production takes place in Denmark. It follows the sculptural Nordic Noir styling of other current Gryphon components.

Key specs that matter

Connections comprise three balanced XLR inputs plus one single-ended RCA input, with one balanced XLR output per channel at an output impedance of 50 ohm. Gain choices are +38 dB or +48 dB for MM and +58 dB or +68 dB for MC, measured at 1 kHz. MM load is 47 kOhm with capacitance selectable from 0 to 608 pF in steps, while MC load runs from 20 to 1,600 ohm in selected steps with 0, 220 or 440 pF of capacitance. RIAA accuracy is within 0.1 dB. Unweighted signal to noise is 86 dB for MM at 10 mV and 70 dB for MC at 0.5 mV, rising to 90 dB and 74 dB A-weighted. The main unit measures 480 mm wide, 236 mm deep and 455 mm high, with a weight of 30.4 kg.

Engineering and use context

The circuit is true dual mono, fully discrete and fully balanced, a topology Gryphon has used since 1994, with zero global negative feedback and DC servo coupling. Parts include Mundorf MCap ZN capacitors for supply decoupling, low-inductance Vishay resistors, matched ROHM transistors and ultra-low-noise ZETEX transistors, on four-layer boards with 70 micrometre copper and PCB-mounted XLR and RCA connectors. A separate external supply of 480 x 236 x 440 mm and 38 kg provides fully regulated rails separately for each channel and for the digital section, with 74,000 uF per stereo channel. The chassis stands on an isolation base built from constrained layers of Kerrock, bitumen and steel. A 109 mm TFT touch screen behind 4 mm hardened glass, shared with the Commander, handles cartridge type, gain, load, input naming and display intensity. Standby draw is below 0.5 W.

Pairing

With three balanced inputs, up to four turntables or tonearms can stay connected at once, and MC load and input can be changed from the infrared remote. Its XLR output connects to a line stage with balanced inputs, for example the Gryphon Commander. 12 V bus links tie the unit into system power management, and firmware is updated through a rear USB 2.0 socket.

Alternatives

The Gryphon Legato Legacy XLR is an older design offered stand-alone or as a module, with 38 dB or 68 dB of gain and LEMO inputs.