Adagio

About the Adagio

The Gryphon Adagio is a premium CD player launched in 2001, designed with uncompromising attention to sonic resolution and build quality. It employs four stereo 24-bit/96 kHz Digital-to-Analog Converters arranged in a dual-differential topology and features upsampling to 24-bit/96 kHz to improve impulse response, detail resolution, image focus, and high-frequency extension compared to conventional 44.1 kHz D/A conversion. The analog section is true Class A with fully discrete circuits and zero negative feedback, ensuring pure and natural sound reproduction. It uses two custom-built, temperature-compensated crystal oscillators with accuracy better than 5 parts per million to minimize jitter. Separate custom-built C-Core transformers isolate the left and right analog sections from digital noise, supported by large 12,000 microFarad power capacitor banks per channel and completely isolated power supplies for digital and transport/display sections. The design is strictly symmetrical and dual mono, with ultra-short signal paths and minimal internal wiring. Outputs include balanced analog with gold-plated Swiss Neutrik XLR sockets and single-ended analog with gold-plated phono sockets. The transport mechanism is a modified dual digital servo with a fixed pick-up mechanism. The player also features multi-layer printed circuit boards for minimal noise and optimal signal transfer, vacuum fluorescent display with variable illumination, and remote control. It is designed and built in Denmark, representing a benchmark in CD playback and digital audio performance.