With the bass well in hand, the owner has the added bonus of far greater free-
dom in selecting an amplifier for the rest of the system, which becomes so
much easier to drive. Most amplifiers greatly appreciate being relieved of
bass duties, allowing them to shine within a more limited range.
Gryphon Pendragon and Trident II Reference Loudspeaker Systems
with Integral Self-Powered Bass System, Q Controller and Active Crossover
Bias
Like every loudspeaker ever made by Gryphon, the critically acclaimed top
of the range Pendragon and Trident II incorporate specially developed con-
stant phase technologies to ensure that all drivers are in phase at all frequen-
cies at all times.
The Gryphon Pendragon and Trident II systems both take full advantage of
our ground-breaking semi-active configuration with specially developed bass
amplification as an integral part of system design. As one of the very few High
End manufacturers of complete system solutions from source components to
amplification to loudspeakers, Gryphon has a uniquely valuable perspective
on all relevant compatibility/synergy issues.
Unlike compromised, universal external amplifiers, Pendragon and Trident II
purpose-built, on-board bass amps are conceived and built exclusively for
optimal integration with our custom-built drive units, advanced crossover net-
works, handmade crossover components, non-resonant enclosures and pro-
prietary, user-adjustable room integration parameters. This extraordinary
degree of integration delivers a level of performance unattainable via any
standard mix-and-match approach.
Gryphon Pendragon and Trident II bass amps incorporate custom developed
parts, the finest Sanken high current bipolar output transistors, linear power
supply, large capacitor banks, DC servo-coupling, no output relays, output
coupling via massive copper bussbars, decoupled transformer castings, mili-
tary spec. double-sided printed circuit boards and Holmgren toroidal trans-
formers with internal magnetic shielding. Ultra-wide bandwidth and zero
negative feedback contribute to extreme speed and unconditional stability.
For extended headroom, available peak power is approximately 4,000 Watts
or 4.5 horsepower. The dedicated, Gryphon bass power amplifier weighs in at
70 kg per speaker!
In addition, Pendragon and Trident II both employ Gryphon Q Controller
room-adaptive technology that allows user adjustment of the total system re-
sonance frequency and of system Q for ideal coupling to any room.
As a theoretical concept, active Q control was discussed in the 1950’s by Link-
witz and Greiner, but never successfully implemented prior to the breakth-
rough Gryphon Cantata stand-mount loudspeaker in 2002, offering powerful
new opportunities for extensive low-frequency adjustment and room integra-
tion.
Bass parameters can be optimised for fast, seamless integration of the bass
section with the upper/mid in any listening room.
Set-up of the Gryphon Q Controller via remote control is sim
plicity itself
with a separate display that can be placed for clear visibility from the liste-
ning position.
Active Crossover Bias
In addition to increasing low-frequency extension for a given cabinet volume
and improving bass control by direct-coupling the driving amp to the drivers,
the Gryphon active approach also provides permanent 28 V biasing of cros-
sover capacitors to eliminate crossover distortion at zero electric potential.
Originally introduced in the Gryphon Cantata, where bias voltage was ap-
plied by battery, the considerable benefits include improved stability, body,
tonal colour and image coherence.
This extraordinary level of coordination and integration ensures an exceptio-
