Disclosure: I’d like to thank iFi for loaning me the xDSD Gryphon for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and iFi had no say or input on the contents of this review.

The iFi xDSD Gryphon has been around for a few years now, but still manages to turn heads with its distinctive flask-shaped design and impressive specs. At $599, this isn’t exactly an impulse purchase, but what you get is a premium portable DAC/amp combo that pushes over 1W of power at 32Ω through its 4.4mm balanced output. I’ve been using the Gryphon as part of my daily audio setup for some time now, and wanted to see if it still deserves consideration in 2025’s increasingly competitive portable audio market. Is this portable powerhouse still worth your consideration in 2025? Let’s get into it and find out.

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• iFi xDSD Gryphon
• Cloth travel case
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• Lightning to USB-C cable
• Manual

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The iFi xDSD Gryphon certainly has a distinctive look, which is usually the case with iFi’s products. It features a wavy, cyberpunk-like flask design that hasn’t aged a day, in my opinion. It’s one of those devices that invites questions when people see it on your desk or paired with your phone.

At 123x75x19mm and weighing just 215 grams, the Gryphon strikes an excellent balance between substantial feel and actual portability. The sandblasted aluminum chassis with its matte space-gray finish has proven to be a practical choice as it does not attract fingerprints, leaving the Gryphon to look clean even after extended handling.

The form factor initially seemed a bit awkward to me, especially the width when stacked with either my Samsung Galaxy Fold 5 or iPhone 16. However, the thoughtfully designed rubber feet on the bottom provide excellent stability whether I’m using it on my desk or as part of a portable stack. I particularly appreciate how the chassis tapers elegantly at the edges, making one-handed operation comfortable despite the solid construction. It’s a small detail that makes daily use much more pleasant.

Connectivity Options

The input versatility is another area where the Gryphon stands strong. On the back of the Gryphon, you get a standalone USB-C power input, another USB-C input supporting power and data connectivity, S/PDIF via 3.5mm (accepting both optical and coaxial signals), plus balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 3.5mm analog line inputs that can double as line outputs.

On the front, the output options are equally comprehensive, with dedicated 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended headphone outputs. The 3.5mm output uses iFi’s “S-Balanced” technology, which delivers many of the benefits of a balanced connection through a standard connector.

OLED Screen and Controls

The OLED display on the top is one of my favorite features of the Gryphon. The display gives you immediate visual feedback on format, volume level, battery status, and input selection, making operation straightforward even for newcomers.

The central volume knob deserves special mention for its excellent usability. It provides distinct tactile steps and features, color-coded LED illumination that changes with volume level, giving you both visual and physical feedback during adjustment. The volume knob doubles as a multifunction button for power control and playback control (pause/play, next song, and previous song).

To the right of the knob is the Settings button, and beside that is the input selection/Bluetooth pairing button.

On the back is the XBass II, XSpace, and Presence control switch, and the bottom of the Gryphon holds the iEMatch switch.

Durability and Portability

After using the Gryphon regularly for quite a while now, I can say it’s proven more durable than I initially expected. The sandblasted aluminum has resisted scratches remarkably well, even in areas that see frequent contact. That being said, the included velvet pouch offers minimal protection, which seems like an oversight for a $599 device. iFi offers a dedicated hard case for the Gryphon, which I’d consider essentially mandatory for anyone who plans to transport it regularly. It seems like a small thing, but iFi could have included given the price.

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Bluetooth

The Bluetooth capabilities remain competitive thanks to iFi’s implementation of Qualcomm’s QCC 5100 series with Bluetooth 5.1. The codec support is comprehensive: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and HWA/LHDC. This means, regardless of whether you’re using Android (with LDAC/aptX) or iOS (with AAC), you’re covered with the best wireless quality your device can provide.

For those concerned about wireless audio quality (I certainly was initially), the Gryphon delivers impressively. LDAC supports up to 96 kHz/24-bit transmission, maintaining substantial detail even without physical connections. The aptX Adaptive and aptX HD codecs support up to 48 kHz/24-bit, striking a good balance between quality and connection stability.

Connection stability was flawless in my usage. I encountered no dropped connections or sound quality issues using the various codecs. I did some unexpected travelling during my testing, and even in a busy airport, the LDAC and aptX Adaptive codecs were 100% stable.

iEMatch, XBass II, Presence, and XSpace

The iEMatch feature has become one of my most-used functions on the Gryphon. It effectively eliminates hiss from sensitive IEMs without sacrificing dynamic range or volume, solving a common frustration for audiophiles who use both IEMs and full-size headphones with the same device. This applies to both the 3.5mm SE and the 4.4mm balanced outputs, and makes the xDSD Gryphon extremely versatile. iEMatch has been featured on many iFi products, and just like their other products it is implemented extremely well here.

XBass II offers genuinely useful low-frequency enhancement with separate “Bass” and “Presence” modes that can be used independently or together. Unlike basic bass boost functions, it strategically fills frequency gaps, which is particularly beneficial for open-back headphones that might need a little help in the low end. I love this filter and it genuinely adds some extra bass impact without bleeding into the rest of the frequency spectrum.

Presence, which I looked at in detail when reviewing the iDSD Valkyrie, adds some upper midrange correction to help some headphones sound more natural. Personally, I didn’t find myself using this filter very often. Yes, for lo-fi music, some live and electronic tracks it can help, but it’s more dependent on the headphone or IEM you are using. I had some interesting results with the Meze 105 AER, but in the end, didn’t like how it pushed some vocals and instruments more forward. If you have headphones or IEMs that sound dark or have added emphasis on the bass region, this filter can definitely help, so experimentation is required.

XSpace the previous filters by creating a more expansive soundstage. It functions like an analog headphone spatializer that makes headphone listening more speaker-like. It’s quite effective for certain genres and recordings, especially live tracks.

Digital Filters

The Gryphon offers three digital filter options that provide subtle but noticeable variations in sound presentation:

Standard (STD): Provides a smoother, more relaxed presentation that’s easy to listen to for long periods

Bit Perfect (BP): Delivers more definition and edge, making it great for tracks where you want to hear every detail

Gibbs Transient Optimized (GTO): Upsamples to 384/352kHz and tries to balance smoothness with detail

I found myself switching between these depending on the music and my mood. The Standard filter works beautifully with vocal-focused tracks, while Bit Perfect brings out more texture in complex orchestral pieces. The GTO filter is interesting, but sometimes sounds a bit less natural to my ears than the other options.

Battery Life

The 3600mAh lithium-polymer battery delivers approximately 8 hours of playback, which is adequate for daily use. However, charging requires patience as it takes approximately 6 hours with a high-powered charger or 12 hours with standard options. Fortunately, the Gryphon can operate while charging, but this is definitely an area that should be improved in the next iteration of this device.

Practically speaking, I averaged between 7 and 9 hours when using IEMs, and 6 hours with most headphones. The lowest runtime I got was when using my HIFIMAN Sundara on the 4.4mm balanced output, hitting 4.5 hours. Thankfully, charging time is much lower than iFi states, with a full charge being achieved in about 4 hours. Battery performance is just average, then, and falls in line with most other portable DAC/Amps available today.

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The iFi xDSD Gryphon doesn’t require any drivers when being used with a computer, though iFi does offer a driver package for Windows that includes a firmware upgrade utility, a control panel for adjusting various options, and an ASIO driver. As an audiophile, this is greatly appreciated. I should note, though, that there is currently no macOS driver, nor one for Windows ARM devices such as the Surface Laptop 7. For bit-perfect playback on Windows ARM devices, you will need to use WASAPI (Exclusive) as the output in your media playback software.

The xDSD Gryphon is intuitive to use once you learn the button placement and workflow. To power it on simply press in the volume knob for a few seconds and the OLED screen will light up. The settings button to the right of the volume knob is used to enable XBass and XSPace, and if you press and hold the button for a couple seconds the menu appears. From here, you can select between the various digital filters, screen brightness, volume options, screen rotation, and factory reset. The volume knob is used to scroll through the options and clicking it in is used to select them.

The Input selector on the far right is used to cycle through the various inputs, and holding it in while in Bluetooth mode will start the pairing process.

I greatly appreciate that the volume knob can be used to control audio playback. Pressing it in once when pause/play audio, two presses plays the next song, and three presses is for the previous track.

All relevant information is displayed on the screen, including the playback format and sampling rate, input type, battery level, and volume.

Lastly, the Gryphon can be used with iFi’s recently released Nexis app for controlling Bluetooth codecs, as well as firmware updates. If you have iFi’s older Gaia app, it will still work with it, and the functionality between the two apps is the same, though the Nexis app is the way forward.

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The Gryphon takes a bit of a departure from iFi’s usual house sound. If you’ve used previous iFi products, you’re probably familiar with their typically warm, somewhat tube-like character that gives everything a rich, organic quality. The Gryphon moves more toward neutral territory, trading some of that lushness for improved transparency and accuracy.

The frequency response is balanced with just a hint of warmth in the lower registers. The high frequencies have a lean, crystalline character with plenty of sparkle, while the midrange delivers realistic vocal tones. Bass response is tight and punchy, but never overwhelming.

I’ve found this signature to be extremely versatile across genres. Classical pieces benefit from the clarity and instrument separation, while rock and electronic music retain enough energy and impact to be engaging. The Gryphon doesn’t color the sound dramatically, instead letting your headphones’ natural character shine through with just a touch of refinement, which is exactly what a DAC should do.

Comparison with Newer DAC/Amps

In today’s market, the Gryphon maintains a unique position between ultra-portable dongles and larger desktop units. Newer competitors often excel in specific areas, offering either more power, additional features, or slimmer designs, but few match the Gryphon’s comprehensive package.

The recently released iFi iDSD Valkyrie, for instance, delivers more power and enhanced sound customization options, addressing some limitations of the Gryphon. Similarly, modern dongle DACs have become considerably more capable since the xDSD Gryphon was released, offering excellent performance at sub-$100 price points. The Gryphon no longer stands alone in delivering quality portable sound, but it still offers a balanced mix of features and performance that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

After spending significant time with the xDSD Gryphon, I can say it remains a compelling option despite the newer challengers that have emerged since its debut back in late 2021. The device strikes an impressive balance between portability and performance that few competitors fully match, even today. Its warm-neutral sound signature delivers exceptional clarity while maintaining musicality across various headphone and IEM pairings.

The xDSD Gryphon definitely shows its age in specific areas. The battery life and charging time feel very average in 2025. Additionally, while it’s powerful enough for most headphones, it will fall short with extremely demanding models like the HD800s. These limitations need to be weighed against its comprehensive feature set when making your purchasing decision.

What makes the Gryphon continue to excel is its versatility rather than dominating any single category. This flexibility becomes evident through its extensive connectivity options, practical sound enhancement filters, and solid construction. Even the Bluetooth codec support is extremely solid.

At $599, the iFi xDSD Gryphon sits in a competitive middle ground, offering substantially more than entry-level options while delivering most of the performance found in much pricier alternatives. Though no longer the undisputed champion it once was, this flask-shaped device still earns its place among the elite portable audio solutions of 2025. The question isn’t whether the Gryphon remains capable, it absolutely does, but whether its specific combination of features aligns with your listening priorities.

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I’m not always able to cover all the details of a product, both hardware and software, in our reviews. If you have any specific questions about this product, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly.

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