Owners manual v2

Pendragon

A Message from the FounderBy Flemming E Rasmussen CEO Gryphon Audio Designs

As the thirtieth anniversary of Gryphon Audio Designs loomslarge on the horizon it is as good an occasion as any to lookback and reflect on how we came this far on what we haveachieved and what we have learned

It is now widely acknowledged that Gryphon has built its repu-tation on a singularly iconoclastic approach to the design of lu-xury High End home audio equipment perhaps bestdescribed in the kind and generous words of audio critic KenKessler ldquoa code of perfectionism the likes of which Irsquove onlyever seen at the Bugatti atelier in Alsace or at the great watchhouses in Switzerland It is the result of not accepting the no-tion of compromise on any levelrdquo

In retrospect the history of Gryphon Audio Designs has beenan exploration of the complex art of simplicity taking as ourconceptual foundation the words of Albert Einstein widely re-ferred to as Einsteinrsquos Razor ldquoThe supreme goal of all theory isto make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as fewas possible without having to surrender the adequate repre-sentation of a single datum of experiencerdquo

Fortunately during the Gryphonrsquos lifetime dedicated music lo-vers in ever increasing numbers have come to demand morefrom their home entertainment systems in recognition andappreciation of the crucial musical contribution of natural un-doctored realistic sound that conveys the integrity and fullemotional impact of the original performance

More and more serious listeners recognise the validity of theGryphon approach A loudspeaker must not be an instrumentor an interpreter with a voice of its own only a neutral conduitthat lets us hear what is there no more and no less for betteror for worse

This is the wellspring of inspiration and motivation that led tothe ultimate loudspeaker system the Gryphon Pendragon re-affirming our commitment to being the best that we can bewith the definitive full-range system to be partnered with eq-uipment and a room truly worthy of such a loudspeaker

Pendragon is a name historically associated with the ancientkings of the Britons most famously Arthur of Camelot The fi-gurative title Pendragon or Pen Draig means head or chief dra-gon symbolising the bearerrsquos uncontested leadership

For the most ambitious reference loudspeaker system in thehistory of Gryphon Audio Designs there can be no more fit-ting name

Flemming E RasmussenRy Denmark March 2013

The Final FrontierHaving earned a global reputation for technological masteryand unsurpassed excellence in audio amplification and CDplayback it was a natural evolutionary move for GryphonAudio Designs to broaden its scope and apply the uncompro-mising Gryphon philosophy to the final link in the chain Butthis decision was by no means made on the spur of the mo-ment

The Gryphon loudspeaker story begins with a chance encoun-ter between Gryphon head honcho Flemming E Rasmussenand Danish loudspeaker legend Steen Duelund a Danish mat-hematician who dedicated his life to the advancement ofloudspeaker theory Duelund was a man on a mission whosemany theories and discoveries continue to inspire professionaldesigners and DIY speaker builders long after his passing

On a strictly informal basis they began an in-depth explora-tion that would take full advantage of Rasmussenrsquos extensiveexperience in design and manufacturing to transform Due-lundrsquos theories into real-world products with scant regard forsuch minor details as pricing parts availability prevailing atti-tudes and preconceived notions

Imperfect DriversDuelundrsquos revolutionary theories on constant phase in crosso-ver networks can be summed up in a single statement ldquoAlldrivers must be in phase at all times at all frequenciesrdquo Follo-wing this theoretical ldquoEurekardquo the hard part then became ma-king that happen with a real loudspeaker in a real room Thefirst step was to acknowledge that the greatest challenge fa-

Steen Duelund

cing loudspeaker designers was the simple fact that dynamicdrive units are by nature flawed and compromised

Many driver designs defy all sound design principles be-cause they are the result of penny-pinching exercises underheavy market pressure to deliver ldquoacceptablerdquo performance atthe lowest price There is little motivation to allocate resourcesto making drivers truly the best that they can be

In order to succeed in their mission now assigned the workingtitle Project 30 Rasmussen and Duelund returned to first con-cepts literally building by hand individual drivers with ba-skets that did not introduce compression handmademulti-laminate cones exotic home-brew coatings adjustablewire suspension to replace the conventional spider heavy-duty magnetic systems ventilated pole pieces machinedphase plugs and special surrounds to optimize the transitionbetween cone and baffle All edges were beveled for a delibe-rate aerodynamic profile Double wiring was employed on thecones to ensure perfect symmetry The list of breakthroughsgoes on

Every aspect of driver design assembly and function was tho-roughly investigated without prejudice and with scant respectfor received wisdom which often proved to be ill-foundeddogma formulated by individuals promoting their own specificagendas

The end result was drive units with extremely low Q highpower handling no dynamic compression and a linear pistonicrange that pushed back the limits of driver designIn order to live up to the uncompromising design goal of per-fect phase at all times at all frequencies the enclosure incor-porated a concave curved front to form a direct angledtime-aligned system with identical distance from the listenerto the acoustic centre of each driverThe finished loudspeaker can only be described as an openwindow utterly transparent to the original recorded event withequally remarkable dynamic headroom that re-creates thetrue power and full weight of live music both in details such asa drum rimshot and in the effortless expansion of an orchestralcrescendo in a large-scale symphonic piece

Gone were the sluggishness and ldquowhitewashedrdquo uniformity ty-pical of loudspeakers with complex crossovers where 60 ofthe components are dedicated to the thankless task of com-pensating for the basic imperfections of inferior drivers Insuch speakers the crossover becomes a virtual ldquoblack holerdquosucking up energy instead of conveying it to the drivers

At this stage a respected German audio reviewer visitedGryphon In the Gryphon listening room he auditioned Gryp-hon amplifiers using the companyrsquos usual reference loudspea-

kers a well-known American full-range system Suitably im-pressed with what he heard he happened to notice some largeenclosures concealed beneath a sheet off to one side His cu-riosity aroused he persuaded Flemming to hook them up foran off the record listening session with the clear understan-ding that this was not a commercial product

To make a long story short the reviewer had a revelatory ex-perience and rumours quickly began to circulate about a my-stery speaker that Gryphon were keeping to themselves

Despite the unique quality of the project Rasmussen decidednot to pursue it as a commercial venture using the loudspea-kers only as a valued tool in the companyrsquos electronics devel-opment work The decision was based on the fact that themany hand-tweaked non-standard components made it a slowexpensive and exceedingly complex system to build Toomany of its geeky off-the-wall solutions were conceived andexecuted without regard for the real-world problems of consi-stent day-to-day production and long-term reliability More-over this was at a time in the High End industry whenelectronics manufacturers and speaker makers politely playedin their own sandboxes rarely invading each otherrsquos turfToday things have changed considerably

The Cantata Reference Monitor SystemBy the millennium Gryphon had become firmly established asa major international player with a range of amplification com-ponents and CD players widely regarded as among the verybest in the esoteric world of High End audio

Gryphon innovations included the worlds first single-chassisCD player with onboard upsampling and critical system en-hancements such as the acclaimed Exorcist the worlds firstsystem demagnetizer as well as a range of cables and acces-sories

Still demand for a Gryphon loudspeaker continued to grow asdistributors dealers and enthusiasts wanted to share in thegreat secret Electing not to fall into the same trap as so manyothers who rush to market with a ldquome toordquo loudspeaker sy-stem in an attempt to cash in on the goodwill of an establishedelectronics brand name Rasmussen decided to address anunacknowledged problem that he had frequently observedMost audiophiles select loudspeakers that are simply too largeto work well in their room and wind up fighting a losing battleagainst room acoustics with inadequate tools

Rasmussen already knew what they would have to learn frombitter expensive experience Not even the best amplifier androom treatments can turn things around once you have instal-led the wrong speaker in the wrong room To help enthusiastswith limited living space overcome these obstacles a more

The Gryphon Cantata

compact loudspeaker became Gryphonrsquos top priority becauseit was felt to fill the greatest need

Driven by his decade-long vision of a loudspeaker that wouldfinally get things right Rasmussen conceived the GryphonCantata to set new standards for sonic performance in a two-way system of modest dimensions With Steen Duelundrsquos theo-ries as inspiration acoustician Lars Matthiesen Rasmussen setabout the task of translating theory into workable practical so-lutions Rasmussen and the Gryphon design team created theproductrsquos conceptual and physical framework while Rasmus-sen and Gryphon chairman Valdemar Boslashrsting were responsi-ble for final voicing Exploiting Gryphonrsquos home courtadvantage in the field of electronics it was natural to incorpo-rate a high tech active Q control a concept introduced in the1950rsquos by Linkwitz and Greiner but never successfully imple-mented

The Cantata received a rave reception from press and ownersalike winning numerous awards including Product of the Yearfrom UK magazine HiFi+ Gryphon was immediately acceptedas a loudspeaker manufacturer and praised for tackling theendeavour with innovative flair and bravery

Gryphon PoseidonThe development and in particular the actual production ofCantata with its innumerable tailor-made components gaveGryphon valuable experience and the courage to revive andcomplete Project 30 Auditioning confirmed that the systemhad been well ahead of its time Equally important Gryphonrsquosaccrued experience and good working relations with drivermanufacturers now meant that the project could be fully reali-sed to an even higher standard

Special drive units would still be required but Gryphonrsquos unq-uestioned High End stature and the success of the Cantata at-tracted the interest of an internationally respected Danishdriver manufacturer willing to build drive units to Gryphonrsquosstrict specifications Jensen Capacitors manufactured induc-tors and capacitors to Gryphonrsquos specifications A German ma-nufacturer supplied a surround that matched the conegeometry The list of specialists involved continued to expand

As was once the norm in the High End Gryphon is still run byenthusiasts able and willing to take risks and push back boun-daries not because the marketplace demands it or becauseanyone asked them to but out of sheer curiosity as to whatawaits in the uncharted territories where no one has gone be-fore

Consequently Project 30 began to grow in scope and ambi-tion bearing out Flemming E Rasmussenrsquos bold declaration

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

A Message from the FounderBy Flemming E Rasmussen CEO Gryphon Audio Designs

As the thirtieth anniversary of Gryphon Audio Designs loomslarge on the horizon it is as good an occasion as any to lookback and reflect on how we came this far on what we haveachieved and what we have learned

It is now widely acknowledged that Gryphon has built its repu-tation on a singularly iconoclastic approach to the design of lu-xury High End home audio equipment perhaps bestdescribed in the kind and generous words of audio critic KenKessler ldquoa code of perfectionism the likes of which Irsquove onlyever seen at the Bugatti atelier in Alsace or at the great watchhouses in Switzerland It is the result of not accepting the no-tion of compromise on any levelrdquo

In retrospect the history of Gryphon Audio Designs has beenan exploration of the complex art of simplicity taking as ourconceptual foundation the words of Albert Einstein widely re-ferred to as Einsteinrsquos Razor ldquoThe supreme goal of all theory isto make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as fewas possible without having to surrender the adequate repre-sentation of a single datum of experiencerdquo

Fortunately during the Gryphonrsquos lifetime dedicated music lo-vers in ever increasing numbers have come to demand morefrom their home entertainment systems in recognition andappreciation of the crucial musical contribution of natural un-doctored realistic sound that conveys the integrity and fullemotional impact of the original performance

More and more serious listeners recognise the validity of theGryphon approach A loudspeaker must not be an instrumentor an interpreter with a voice of its own only a neutral conduitthat lets us hear what is there no more and no less for betteror for worse

This is the wellspring of inspiration and motivation that led tothe ultimate loudspeaker system the Gryphon Pendragon re-affirming our commitment to being the best that we can bewith the definitive full-range system to be partnered with eq-uipment and a room truly worthy of such a loudspeaker

Pendragon is a name historically associated with the ancientkings of the Britons most famously Arthur of Camelot The fi-gurative title Pendragon or Pen Draig means head or chief dra-gon symbolising the bearerrsquos uncontested leadership

For the most ambitious reference loudspeaker system in thehistory of Gryphon Audio Designs there can be no more fit-ting name

Flemming E RasmussenRy Denmark March 2013

The Final FrontierHaving earned a global reputation for technological masteryand unsurpassed excellence in audio amplification and CDplayback it was a natural evolutionary move for GryphonAudio Designs to broaden its scope and apply the uncompro-mising Gryphon philosophy to the final link in the chain Butthis decision was by no means made on the spur of the mo-ment

The Gryphon loudspeaker story begins with a chance encoun-ter between Gryphon head honcho Flemming E Rasmussenand Danish loudspeaker legend Steen Duelund a Danish mat-hematician who dedicated his life to the advancement ofloudspeaker theory Duelund was a man on a mission whosemany theories and discoveries continue to inspire professionaldesigners and DIY speaker builders long after his passing

On a strictly informal basis they began an in-depth explora-tion that would take full advantage of Rasmussenrsquos extensiveexperience in design and manufacturing to transform Due-lundrsquos theories into real-world products with scant regard forsuch minor details as pricing parts availability prevailing atti-tudes and preconceived notions

Imperfect DriversDuelundrsquos revolutionary theories on constant phase in crosso-ver networks can be summed up in a single statement ldquoAlldrivers must be in phase at all times at all frequenciesrdquo Follo-wing this theoretical ldquoEurekardquo the hard part then became ma-king that happen with a real loudspeaker in a real room Thefirst step was to acknowledge that the greatest challenge fa-

Steen Duelund

cing loudspeaker designers was the simple fact that dynamicdrive units are by nature flawed and compromised

Many driver designs defy all sound design principles be-cause they are the result of penny-pinching exercises underheavy market pressure to deliver ldquoacceptablerdquo performance atthe lowest price There is little motivation to allocate resourcesto making drivers truly the best that they can be

In order to succeed in their mission now assigned the workingtitle Project 30 Rasmussen and Duelund returned to first con-cepts literally building by hand individual drivers with ba-skets that did not introduce compression handmademulti-laminate cones exotic home-brew coatings adjustablewire suspension to replace the conventional spider heavy-duty magnetic systems ventilated pole pieces machinedphase plugs and special surrounds to optimize the transitionbetween cone and baffle All edges were beveled for a delibe-rate aerodynamic profile Double wiring was employed on thecones to ensure perfect symmetry The list of breakthroughsgoes on

Every aspect of driver design assembly and function was tho-roughly investigated without prejudice and with scant respectfor received wisdom which often proved to be ill-foundeddogma formulated by individuals promoting their own specificagendas

The end result was drive units with extremely low Q highpower handling no dynamic compression and a linear pistonicrange that pushed back the limits of driver designIn order to live up to the uncompromising design goal of per-fect phase at all times at all frequencies the enclosure incor-porated a concave curved front to form a direct angledtime-aligned system with identical distance from the listenerto the acoustic centre of each driverThe finished loudspeaker can only be described as an openwindow utterly transparent to the original recorded event withequally remarkable dynamic headroom that re-creates thetrue power and full weight of live music both in details such asa drum rimshot and in the effortless expansion of an orchestralcrescendo in a large-scale symphonic piece

Gone were the sluggishness and ldquowhitewashedrdquo uniformity ty-pical of loudspeakers with complex crossovers where 60 ofthe components are dedicated to the thankless task of com-pensating for the basic imperfections of inferior drivers Insuch speakers the crossover becomes a virtual ldquoblack holerdquosucking up energy instead of conveying it to the drivers

At this stage a respected German audio reviewer visitedGryphon In the Gryphon listening room he auditioned Gryp-hon amplifiers using the companyrsquos usual reference loudspea-

kers a well-known American full-range system Suitably im-pressed with what he heard he happened to notice some largeenclosures concealed beneath a sheet off to one side His cu-riosity aroused he persuaded Flemming to hook them up foran off the record listening session with the clear understan-ding that this was not a commercial product

To make a long story short the reviewer had a revelatory ex-perience and rumours quickly began to circulate about a my-stery speaker that Gryphon were keeping to themselves

Despite the unique quality of the project Rasmussen decidednot to pursue it as a commercial venture using the loudspea-kers only as a valued tool in the companyrsquos electronics devel-opment work The decision was based on the fact that themany hand-tweaked non-standard components made it a slowexpensive and exceedingly complex system to build Toomany of its geeky off-the-wall solutions were conceived andexecuted without regard for the real-world problems of consi-stent day-to-day production and long-term reliability More-over this was at a time in the High End industry whenelectronics manufacturers and speaker makers politely playedin their own sandboxes rarely invading each otherrsquos turfToday things have changed considerably

The Cantata Reference Monitor SystemBy the millennium Gryphon had become firmly established asa major international player with a range of amplification com-ponents and CD players widely regarded as among the verybest in the esoteric world of High End audio

Gryphon innovations included the worlds first single-chassisCD player with onboard upsampling and critical system en-hancements such as the acclaimed Exorcist the worlds firstsystem demagnetizer as well as a range of cables and acces-sories

Still demand for a Gryphon loudspeaker continued to grow asdistributors dealers and enthusiasts wanted to share in thegreat secret Electing not to fall into the same trap as so manyothers who rush to market with a ldquome toordquo loudspeaker sy-stem in an attempt to cash in on the goodwill of an establishedelectronics brand name Rasmussen decided to address anunacknowledged problem that he had frequently observedMost audiophiles select loudspeakers that are simply too largeto work well in their room and wind up fighting a losing battleagainst room acoustics with inadequate tools

Rasmussen already knew what they would have to learn frombitter expensive experience Not even the best amplifier androom treatments can turn things around once you have instal-led the wrong speaker in the wrong room To help enthusiastswith limited living space overcome these obstacles a more

The Gryphon Cantata

compact loudspeaker became Gryphonrsquos top priority becauseit was felt to fill the greatest need

Driven by his decade-long vision of a loudspeaker that wouldfinally get things right Rasmussen conceived the GryphonCantata to set new standards for sonic performance in a two-way system of modest dimensions With Steen Duelundrsquos theo-ries as inspiration acoustician Lars Matthiesen Rasmussen setabout the task of translating theory into workable practical so-lutions Rasmussen and the Gryphon design team created theproductrsquos conceptual and physical framework while Rasmus-sen and Gryphon chairman Valdemar Boslashrsting were responsi-ble for final voicing Exploiting Gryphonrsquos home courtadvantage in the field of electronics it was natural to incorpo-rate a high tech active Q control a concept introduced in the1950rsquos by Linkwitz and Greiner but never successfully imple-mented

The Cantata received a rave reception from press and ownersalike winning numerous awards including Product of the Yearfrom UK magazine HiFi+ Gryphon was immediately acceptedas a loudspeaker manufacturer and praised for tackling theendeavour with innovative flair and bravery

Gryphon PoseidonThe development and in particular the actual production ofCantata with its innumerable tailor-made components gaveGryphon valuable experience and the courage to revive andcomplete Project 30 Auditioning confirmed that the systemhad been well ahead of its time Equally important Gryphonrsquosaccrued experience and good working relations with drivermanufacturers now meant that the project could be fully reali-sed to an even higher standard

Special drive units would still be required but Gryphonrsquos unq-uestioned High End stature and the success of the Cantata at-tracted the interest of an internationally respected Danishdriver manufacturer willing to build drive units to Gryphonrsquosstrict specifications Jensen Capacitors manufactured induc-tors and capacitors to Gryphonrsquos specifications A German ma-nufacturer supplied a surround that matched the conegeometry The list of specialists involved continued to expand

As was once the norm in the High End Gryphon is still run byenthusiasts able and willing to take risks and push back boun-daries not because the marketplace demands it or becauseanyone asked them to but out of sheer curiosity as to whatawaits in the uncharted territories where no one has gone be-fore

Consequently Project 30 began to grow in scope and ambi-tion bearing out Flemming E Rasmussenrsquos bold declaration

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

This is the wellspring of inspiration and motivation that led tothe ultimate loudspeaker system the Gryphon Pendragon re-affirming our commitment to being the best that we can bewith the definitive full-range system to be partnered with eq-uipment and a room truly worthy of such a loudspeaker

Pendragon is a name historically associated with the ancientkings of the Britons most famously Arthur of Camelot The fi-gurative title Pendragon or Pen Draig means head or chief dra-gon symbolising the bearerrsquos uncontested leadership

For the most ambitious reference loudspeaker system in thehistory of Gryphon Audio Designs there can be no more fit-ting name

Flemming E RasmussenRy Denmark March 2013

The Final FrontierHaving earned a global reputation for technological masteryand unsurpassed excellence in audio amplification and CDplayback it was a natural evolutionary move for GryphonAudio Designs to broaden its scope and apply the uncompro-mising Gryphon philosophy to the final link in the chain Butthis decision was by no means made on the spur of the mo-ment

The Gryphon loudspeaker story begins with a chance encoun-ter between Gryphon head honcho Flemming E Rasmussenand Danish loudspeaker legend Steen Duelund a Danish mat-hematician who dedicated his life to the advancement ofloudspeaker theory Duelund was a man on a mission whosemany theories and discoveries continue to inspire professionaldesigners and DIY speaker builders long after his passing

On a strictly informal basis they began an in-depth explora-tion that would take full advantage of Rasmussenrsquos extensiveexperience in design and manufacturing to transform Due-lundrsquos theories into real-world products with scant regard forsuch minor details as pricing parts availability prevailing atti-tudes and preconceived notions

Imperfect DriversDuelundrsquos revolutionary theories on constant phase in crosso-ver networks can be summed up in a single statement ldquoAlldrivers must be in phase at all times at all frequenciesrdquo Follo-wing this theoretical ldquoEurekardquo the hard part then became ma-king that happen with a real loudspeaker in a real room Thefirst step was to acknowledge that the greatest challenge fa-

Steen Duelund

cing loudspeaker designers was the simple fact that dynamicdrive units are by nature flawed and compromised

Many driver designs defy all sound design principles be-cause they are the result of penny-pinching exercises underheavy market pressure to deliver ldquoacceptablerdquo performance atthe lowest price There is little motivation to allocate resourcesto making drivers truly the best that they can be

In order to succeed in their mission now assigned the workingtitle Project 30 Rasmussen and Duelund returned to first con-cepts literally building by hand individual drivers with ba-skets that did not introduce compression handmademulti-laminate cones exotic home-brew coatings adjustablewire suspension to replace the conventional spider heavy-duty magnetic systems ventilated pole pieces machinedphase plugs and special surrounds to optimize the transitionbetween cone and baffle All edges were beveled for a delibe-rate aerodynamic profile Double wiring was employed on thecones to ensure perfect symmetry The list of breakthroughsgoes on

Every aspect of driver design assembly and function was tho-roughly investigated without prejudice and with scant respectfor received wisdom which often proved to be ill-foundeddogma formulated by individuals promoting their own specificagendas

The end result was drive units with extremely low Q highpower handling no dynamic compression and a linear pistonicrange that pushed back the limits of driver designIn order to live up to the uncompromising design goal of per-fect phase at all times at all frequencies the enclosure incor-porated a concave curved front to form a direct angledtime-aligned system with identical distance from the listenerto the acoustic centre of each driverThe finished loudspeaker can only be described as an openwindow utterly transparent to the original recorded event withequally remarkable dynamic headroom that re-creates thetrue power and full weight of live music both in details such asa drum rimshot and in the effortless expansion of an orchestralcrescendo in a large-scale symphonic piece

Gone were the sluggishness and ldquowhitewashedrdquo uniformity ty-pical of loudspeakers with complex crossovers where 60 ofthe components are dedicated to the thankless task of com-pensating for the basic imperfections of inferior drivers Insuch speakers the crossover becomes a virtual ldquoblack holerdquosucking up energy instead of conveying it to the drivers

At this stage a respected German audio reviewer visitedGryphon In the Gryphon listening room he auditioned Gryp-hon amplifiers using the companyrsquos usual reference loudspea-

kers a well-known American full-range system Suitably im-pressed with what he heard he happened to notice some largeenclosures concealed beneath a sheet off to one side His cu-riosity aroused he persuaded Flemming to hook them up foran off the record listening session with the clear understan-ding that this was not a commercial product

To make a long story short the reviewer had a revelatory ex-perience and rumours quickly began to circulate about a my-stery speaker that Gryphon were keeping to themselves

Despite the unique quality of the project Rasmussen decidednot to pursue it as a commercial venture using the loudspea-kers only as a valued tool in the companyrsquos electronics devel-opment work The decision was based on the fact that themany hand-tweaked non-standard components made it a slowexpensive and exceedingly complex system to build Toomany of its geeky off-the-wall solutions were conceived andexecuted without regard for the real-world problems of consi-stent day-to-day production and long-term reliability More-over this was at a time in the High End industry whenelectronics manufacturers and speaker makers politely playedin their own sandboxes rarely invading each otherrsquos turfToday things have changed considerably

The Cantata Reference Monitor SystemBy the millennium Gryphon had become firmly established asa major international player with a range of amplification com-ponents and CD players widely regarded as among the verybest in the esoteric world of High End audio

Gryphon innovations included the worlds first single-chassisCD player with onboard upsampling and critical system en-hancements such as the acclaimed Exorcist the worlds firstsystem demagnetizer as well as a range of cables and acces-sories

Still demand for a Gryphon loudspeaker continued to grow asdistributors dealers and enthusiasts wanted to share in thegreat secret Electing not to fall into the same trap as so manyothers who rush to market with a ldquome toordquo loudspeaker sy-stem in an attempt to cash in on the goodwill of an establishedelectronics brand name Rasmussen decided to address anunacknowledged problem that he had frequently observedMost audiophiles select loudspeakers that are simply too largeto work well in their room and wind up fighting a losing battleagainst room acoustics with inadequate tools

Rasmussen already knew what they would have to learn frombitter expensive experience Not even the best amplifier androom treatments can turn things around once you have instal-led the wrong speaker in the wrong room To help enthusiastswith limited living space overcome these obstacles a more

The Gryphon Cantata

compact loudspeaker became Gryphonrsquos top priority becauseit was felt to fill the greatest need

Driven by his decade-long vision of a loudspeaker that wouldfinally get things right Rasmussen conceived the GryphonCantata to set new standards for sonic performance in a two-way system of modest dimensions With Steen Duelundrsquos theo-ries as inspiration acoustician Lars Matthiesen Rasmussen setabout the task of translating theory into workable practical so-lutions Rasmussen and the Gryphon design team created theproductrsquos conceptual and physical framework while Rasmus-sen and Gryphon chairman Valdemar Boslashrsting were responsi-ble for final voicing Exploiting Gryphonrsquos home courtadvantage in the field of electronics it was natural to incorpo-rate a high tech active Q control a concept introduced in the1950rsquos by Linkwitz and Greiner but never successfully imple-mented

The Cantata received a rave reception from press and ownersalike winning numerous awards including Product of the Yearfrom UK magazine HiFi+ Gryphon was immediately acceptedas a loudspeaker manufacturer and praised for tackling theendeavour with innovative flair and bravery

Gryphon PoseidonThe development and in particular the actual production ofCantata with its innumerable tailor-made components gaveGryphon valuable experience and the courage to revive andcomplete Project 30 Auditioning confirmed that the systemhad been well ahead of its time Equally important Gryphonrsquosaccrued experience and good working relations with drivermanufacturers now meant that the project could be fully reali-sed to an even higher standard

Special drive units would still be required but Gryphonrsquos unq-uestioned High End stature and the success of the Cantata at-tracted the interest of an internationally respected Danishdriver manufacturer willing to build drive units to Gryphonrsquosstrict specifications Jensen Capacitors manufactured induc-tors and capacitors to Gryphonrsquos specifications A German ma-nufacturer supplied a surround that matched the conegeometry The list of specialists involved continued to expand

As was once the norm in the High End Gryphon is still run byenthusiasts able and willing to take risks and push back boun-daries not because the marketplace demands it or becauseanyone asked them to but out of sheer curiosity as to whatawaits in the uncharted territories where no one has gone be-fore

Consequently Project 30 began to grow in scope and ambi-tion bearing out Flemming E Rasmussenrsquos bold declaration

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

cing loudspeaker designers was the simple fact that dynamicdrive units are by nature flawed and compromised

Many driver designs defy all sound design principles be-cause they are the result of penny-pinching exercises underheavy market pressure to deliver ldquoacceptablerdquo performance atthe lowest price There is little motivation to allocate resourcesto making drivers truly the best that they can be

In order to succeed in their mission now assigned the workingtitle Project 30 Rasmussen and Duelund returned to first con-cepts literally building by hand individual drivers with ba-skets that did not introduce compression handmademulti-laminate cones exotic home-brew coatings adjustablewire suspension to replace the conventional spider heavy-duty magnetic systems ventilated pole pieces machinedphase plugs and special surrounds to optimize the transitionbetween cone and baffle All edges were beveled for a delibe-rate aerodynamic profile Double wiring was employed on thecones to ensure perfect symmetry The list of breakthroughsgoes on

Every aspect of driver design assembly and function was tho-roughly investigated without prejudice and with scant respectfor received wisdom which often proved to be ill-foundeddogma formulated by individuals promoting their own specificagendas

The end result was drive units with extremely low Q highpower handling no dynamic compression and a linear pistonicrange that pushed back the limits of driver designIn order to live up to the uncompromising design goal of per-fect phase at all times at all frequencies the enclosure incor-porated a concave curved front to form a direct angledtime-aligned system with identical distance from the listenerto the acoustic centre of each driverThe finished loudspeaker can only be described as an openwindow utterly transparent to the original recorded event withequally remarkable dynamic headroom that re-creates thetrue power and full weight of live music both in details such asa drum rimshot and in the effortless expansion of an orchestralcrescendo in a large-scale symphonic piece

Gone were the sluggishness and ldquowhitewashedrdquo uniformity ty-pical of loudspeakers with complex crossovers where 60 ofthe components are dedicated to the thankless task of com-pensating for the basic imperfections of inferior drivers Insuch speakers the crossover becomes a virtual ldquoblack holerdquosucking up energy instead of conveying it to the drivers

At this stage a respected German audio reviewer visitedGryphon In the Gryphon listening room he auditioned Gryp-hon amplifiers using the companyrsquos usual reference loudspea-

kers a well-known American full-range system Suitably im-pressed with what he heard he happened to notice some largeenclosures concealed beneath a sheet off to one side His cu-riosity aroused he persuaded Flemming to hook them up foran off the record listening session with the clear understan-ding that this was not a commercial product

To make a long story short the reviewer had a revelatory ex-perience and rumours quickly began to circulate about a my-stery speaker that Gryphon were keeping to themselves

Despite the unique quality of the project Rasmussen decidednot to pursue it as a commercial venture using the loudspea-kers only as a valued tool in the companyrsquos electronics devel-opment work The decision was based on the fact that themany hand-tweaked non-standard components made it a slowexpensive and exceedingly complex system to build Toomany of its geeky off-the-wall solutions were conceived andexecuted without regard for the real-world problems of consi-stent day-to-day production and long-term reliability More-over this was at a time in the High End industry whenelectronics manufacturers and speaker makers politely playedin their own sandboxes rarely invading each otherrsquos turfToday things have changed considerably

The Cantata Reference Monitor SystemBy the millennium Gryphon had become firmly established asa major international player with a range of amplification com-ponents and CD players widely regarded as among the verybest in the esoteric world of High End audio

Gryphon innovations included the worlds first single-chassisCD player with onboard upsampling and critical system en-hancements such as the acclaimed Exorcist the worlds firstsystem demagnetizer as well as a range of cables and acces-sories

Still demand for a Gryphon loudspeaker continued to grow asdistributors dealers and enthusiasts wanted to share in thegreat secret Electing not to fall into the same trap as so manyothers who rush to market with a ldquome toordquo loudspeaker sy-stem in an attempt to cash in on the goodwill of an establishedelectronics brand name Rasmussen decided to address anunacknowledged problem that he had frequently observedMost audiophiles select loudspeakers that are simply too largeto work well in their room and wind up fighting a losing battleagainst room acoustics with inadequate tools

Rasmussen already knew what they would have to learn frombitter expensive experience Not even the best amplifier androom treatments can turn things around once you have instal-led the wrong speaker in the wrong room To help enthusiastswith limited living space overcome these obstacles a more

The Gryphon Cantata

compact loudspeaker became Gryphonrsquos top priority becauseit was felt to fill the greatest need

Driven by his decade-long vision of a loudspeaker that wouldfinally get things right Rasmussen conceived the GryphonCantata to set new standards for sonic performance in a two-way system of modest dimensions With Steen Duelundrsquos theo-ries as inspiration acoustician Lars Matthiesen Rasmussen setabout the task of translating theory into workable practical so-lutions Rasmussen and the Gryphon design team created theproductrsquos conceptual and physical framework while Rasmus-sen and Gryphon chairman Valdemar Boslashrsting were responsi-ble for final voicing Exploiting Gryphonrsquos home courtadvantage in the field of electronics it was natural to incorpo-rate a high tech active Q control a concept introduced in the1950rsquos by Linkwitz and Greiner but never successfully imple-mented

The Cantata received a rave reception from press and ownersalike winning numerous awards including Product of the Yearfrom UK magazine HiFi+ Gryphon was immediately acceptedas a loudspeaker manufacturer and praised for tackling theendeavour with innovative flair and bravery

Gryphon PoseidonThe development and in particular the actual production ofCantata with its innumerable tailor-made components gaveGryphon valuable experience and the courage to revive andcomplete Project 30 Auditioning confirmed that the systemhad been well ahead of its time Equally important Gryphonrsquosaccrued experience and good working relations with drivermanufacturers now meant that the project could be fully reali-sed to an even higher standard

Special drive units would still be required but Gryphonrsquos unq-uestioned High End stature and the success of the Cantata at-tracted the interest of an internationally respected Danishdriver manufacturer willing to build drive units to Gryphonrsquosstrict specifications Jensen Capacitors manufactured induc-tors and capacitors to Gryphonrsquos specifications A German ma-nufacturer supplied a surround that matched the conegeometry The list of specialists involved continued to expand

As was once the norm in the High End Gryphon is still run byenthusiasts able and willing to take risks and push back boun-daries not because the marketplace demands it or becauseanyone asked them to but out of sheer curiosity as to whatawaits in the uncharted territories where no one has gone be-fore

Consequently Project 30 began to grow in scope and ambi-tion bearing out Flemming E Rasmussenrsquos bold declaration

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

kers a well-known American full-range system Suitably im-pressed with what he heard he happened to notice some largeenclosures concealed beneath a sheet off to one side His cu-riosity aroused he persuaded Flemming to hook them up foran off the record listening session with the clear understan-ding that this was not a commercial product

To make a long story short the reviewer had a revelatory ex-perience and rumours quickly began to circulate about a my-stery speaker that Gryphon were keeping to themselves

Despite the unique quality of the project Rasmussen decidednot to pursue it as a commercial venture using the loudspea-kers only as a valued tool in the companyrsquos electronics devel-opment work The decision was based on the fact that themany hand-tweaked non-standard components made it a slowexpensive and exceedingly complex system to build Toomany of its geeky off-the-wall solutions were conceived andexecuted without regard for the real-world problems of consi-stent day-to-day production and long-term reliability More-over this was at a time in the High End industry whenelectronics manufacturers and speaker makers politely playedin their own sandboxes rarely invading each otherrsquos turfToday things have changed considerably

The Cantata Reference Monitor SystemBy the millennium Gryphon had become firmly established asa major international player with a range of amplification com-ponents and CD players widely regarded as among the verybest in the esoteric world of High End audio

Gryphon innovations included the worlds first single-chassisCD player with onboard upsampling and critical system en-hancements such as the acclaimed Exorcist the worlds firstsystem demagnetizer as well as a range of cables and acces-sories

Still demand for a Gryphon loudspeaker continued to grow asdistributors dealers and enthusiasts wanted to share in thegreat secret Electing not to fall into the same trap as so manyothers who rush to market with a ldquome toordquo loudspeaker sy-stem in an attempt to cash in on the goodwill of an establishedelectronics brand name Rasmussen decided to address anunacknowledged problem that he had frequently observedMost audiophiles select loudspeakers that are simply too largeto work well in their room and wind up fighting a losing battleagainst room acoustics with inadequate tools

Rasmussen already knew what they would have to learn frombitter expensive experience Not even the best amplifier androom treatments can turn things around once you have instal-led the wrong speaker in the wrong room To help enthusiastswith limited living space overcome these obstacles a more

The Gryphon Cantata

compact loudspeaker became Gryphonrsquos top priority becauseit was felt to fill the greatest need

Driven by his decade-long vision of a loudspeaker that wouldfinally get things right Rasmussen conceived the GryphonCantata to set new standards for sonic performance in a two-way system of modest dimensions With Steen Duelundrsquos theo-ries as inspiration acoustician Lars Matthiesen Rasmussen setabout the task of translating theory into workable practical so-lutions Rasmussen and the Gryphon design team created theproductrsquos conceptual and physical framework while Rasmus-sen and Gryphon chairman Valdemar Boslashrsting were responsi-ble for final voicing Exploiting Gryphonrsquos home courtadvantage in the field of electronics it was natural to incorpo-rate a high tech active Q control a concept introduced in the1950rsquos by Linkwitz and Greiner but never successfully imple-mented

The Cantata received a rave reception from press and ownersalike winning numerous awards including Product of the Yearfrom UK magazine HiFi+ Gryphon was immediately acceptedas a loudspeaker manufacturer and praised for tackling theendeavour with innovative flair and bravery

Gryphon PoseidonThe development and in particular the actual production ofCantata with its innumerable tailor-made components gaveGryphon valuable experience and the courage to revive andcomplete Project 30 Auditioning confirmed that the systemhad been well ahead of its time Equally important Gryphonrsquosaccrued experience and good working relations with drivermanufacturers now meant that the project could be fully reali-sed to an even higher standard

Special drive units would still be required but Gryphonrsquos unq-uestioned High End stature and the success of the Cantata at-tracted the interest of an internationally respected Danishdriver manufacturer willing to build drive units to Gryphonrsquosstrict specifications Jensen Capacitors manufactured induc-tors and capacitors to Gryphonrsquos specifications A German ma-nufacturer supplied a surround that matched the conegeometry The list of specialists involved continued to expand

As was once the norm in the High End Gryphon is still run byenthusiasts able and willing to take risks and push back boun-daries not because the marketplace demands it or becauseanyone asked them to but out of sheer curiosity as to whatawaits in the uncharted territories where no one has gone be-fore

Consequently Project 30 began to grow in scope and ambi-tion bearing out Flemming E Rasmussenrsquos bold declaration

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

compact loudspeaker became Gryphonrsquos top priority becauseit was felt to fill the greatest need

Driven by his decade-long vision of a loudspeaker that wouldfinally get things right Rasmussen conceived the GryphonCantata to set new standards for sonic performance in a two-way system of modest dimensions With Steen Duelundrsquos theo-ries as inspiration acoustician Lars Matthiesen Rasmussen setabout the task of translating theory into workable practical so-lutions Rasmussen and the Gryphon design team created theproductrsquos conceptual and physical framework while Rasmus-sen and Gryphon chairman Valdemar Boslashrsting were responsi-ble for final voicing Exploiting Gryphonrsquos home courtadvantage in the field of electronics it was natural to incorpo-rate a high tech active Q control a concept introduced in the1950rsquos by Linkwitz and Greiner but never successfully imple-mented

The Cantata received a rave reception from press and ownersalike winning numerous awards including Product of the Yearfrom UK magazine HiFi+ Gryphon was immediately acceptedas a loudspeaker manufacturer and praised for tackling theendeavour with innovative flair and bravery

Gryphon PoseidonThe development and in particular the actual production ofCantata with its innumerable tailor-made components gaveGryphon valuable experience and the courage to revive andcomplete Project 30 Auditioning confirmed that the systemhad been well ahead of its time Equally important Gryphonrsquosaccrued experience and good working relations with drivermanufacturers now meant that the project could be fully reali-sed to an even higher standard

Special drive units would still be required but Gryphonrsquos unq-uestioned High End stature and the success of the Cantata at-tracted the interest of an internationally respected Danishdriver manufacturer willing to build drive units to Gryphonrsquosstrict specifications Jensen Capacitors manufactured induc-tors and capacitors to Gryphonrsquos specifications A German ma-nufacturer supplied a surround that matched the conegeometry The list of specialists involved continued to expand

As was once the norm in the High End Gryphon is still run byenthusiasts able and willing to take risks and push back boun-daries not because the marketplace demands it or becauseanyone asked them to but out of sheer curiosity as to whatawaits in the uncharted territories where no one has gone be-fore

Consequently Project 30 began to grow in scope and ambi-tion bearing out Flemming E Rasmussenrsquos bold declaration

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

ldquoThe reason we make products is to finance our research anddevelopment This is our true passionrdquo

In August 2004 the final fruit of Project 30 was unveiled Gryp-hon Poseidon Lavishly built by even the most extravagantHigh End standards the exquisitely finished Gryphon Posei-don offered expressive musical communication and a grippingsensation of involvement in the performance as it unfolds

Gryphon Poseidon redefined loudspeaker performance insuch crucial areas as sonic continuity and integrity allowingthe listener to create a more vivid mental image of the musicalevent with a greater sense of wholeness and consummateease

Followed by the more accessible Trident Atlantis and Mojo sy-stems Poseidon immediately established Gryphon Audio De-signs as a force to be reckoned with in the field of High Endloudspeakers

Enter the PendragonNow Gryphon Pendragon builds on what has gone before ex-ploring the complex art of simplicity even further in the ser-vice of music

The Pendragon is a three-way loudspeaker system consistingof four separate enclosures all 199 cm tall coincidentally ()the same height as Mr Rasmussen himself The distinctivestring grille design is courtesy of Sonus Faber of Italy and isused with their kind permission

The sculptural towers are built just down the road from Gryp-hon by a woodworking company specializing in custom designwork for recording studios and musicians Their staff includesseveral musicians who combine a perfectionist approach totheir craft with an open mind to untraditional solutions Ras-mussen frequently tested the limits of their open-mindednessin executing an undertaking on the grand scale of the Pendra-gon while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity

Assembled using proprietary techniques Pendragon offer aservice unique in the audio field access to virtually unlimitedpersonalised custom finish options not only at the time of ori-ginal purchase but also at any later date to keep pace withevolving personal style and interior deacutecor

Available panel options are limited only by the customersimagination However requests may not include rain forestwood or any endangered restricted or illegal materials

assembly of bass towers

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

The Quest for SimplicityNo single drive unit is capable of properly reproducing theentire audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz No diaphragm canmove fast enough to reproduce 20 kHz overtones and at thesame time move enough air to reproduce deep bass at con-cert hall levels

For this reason loudspeaker manufacturers devote considera-ble resources during product development to selecting speci-alised drivers for each frequency section and moreimportantly to designing a crossover network to coerce themall to work together To do so the frequency spectrum is slicedup electronically and each piece is directed to the appropriatedriver where things are hopefully reassembled to form a cohe-rent acoustic event

It is at this point that so much can go wrong

Are the selected crossover components good enough to dotheir job without signal loss or distortion

Are the drivers sufficiently similar in tonal quality and speedthat they can create the illusion of a single coherent source ofsound

Does the crossover network properly compensate for the dri-versrsquo varying sensitivities so that the resulting sound is cor-rectly balanced from top to bottom

Have the crossover points between the drivers been properlytuned for undetectable seamless transitions with no frequencydips or peaks or phase anomalies

Is the cabinet designed to prevent resonances and delete-rious interaction between the drivers

The Gryphon Audio design team possesses unique experi-ence in the solution of such arcane audio problems having le-arned the most valuable lesson of all that eliminating aproblem before it arises is always far better than trying tosolve it

Or to put it in the vernacular ndash An ounce of prevention is wortha pound of cure

In accordance with this guiding principle Gryphon Pendragoneliminates the cabinet altogether in the midhigh frequencyrange Instead an extremely rigid panel houses a verticalarray of four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) super-tweetersalongside a single two meter tall dipolar planar magneticthin-film ribbon transducer

Passive x-over

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

With ideal sound reproduction and mechanical behaviouracross more than seven octaves from 200 Hz to 18 kHz theGryphon Pendragon ribbon eliminates multiple crossover fil-ter sections in the critical mid frequency range preservingspectral and temporal integrity

The 200 Hz crossover consists of the finest Duelund parts andsolid silver components encased in a heavily damped alumi-nium block suspended freely behind the panels At the ex-treme high frequency transition between the ribbon and theAMT super-tweeter array the ribbon rolls off naturally with nolowpass filter section in the signal path

The high frequency systemrsquos innate wide and even horizontaldispersion with virtually nil vertical dispersion creates a largestable sweet spot with none of the floor and ceiling reflectionsthat muddy the sound of conventional multi-way systems Eli-minating this major source of interference allows GryphonPendragon to achieve new levels of room-independent clarityand resolution

Bass FoundationSignificant effort and resources have been focused on delive-ring extended deep bass with articulation force and authoritycompletely independent of the acoustic environment

To keep pace with the extraordinary speed and openness ofthe dipolar drivers with none of the discontinuity that plaguesmore conventional ldquohybridrdquo speakers the Pendragon basstower offers elegantly simple original Gryphon solutions to anumber of complicated problems

Deep bass is perhaps counter-intuitively the most difficultpart of the audio spectrum to reproduce with both accuracyand seamless integration with the upper frequency range Afull-range speaker with bass drivers built into the main enclo-sure has its own set of demons to exorcise as does the cur-rently popular approach of tacking on a so-called ldquosubwooferrdquofor bottom end duties

Each Pendragon bass tower houses eight custom designed 8rdquodrive units and a built-in specially designed Gryphon ClassAB power amplifier capable of 1000 Watts continuous outputFor extended headroom available peak power is approxima-tely 4000 Watts or 45 horsepower

Unlike compromised ldquouniversalrdquo amplifiers the Pendragonbass amp has been conceived and built exclusively for opti-mal integration with the systemrsquos custom-built drive unitsrigid cabinet and flexible user-adjustable room integrationcontrols for a level of performance unachievable by any stan-dard mix-and-match approach

Pendragon bass driver

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

The Pendragon amplifiers incorporate 18 high current bipolaroutput transistors a 200000 microFarad capacitor bank DCservo-coupling zero global negative feedback no output re-lays output coupling via massive copper bussbars decoupledtransformer castings military spec double-sided printed circ-uit boards and Holmgren toroidal transformers with internalmagnetic shielding

In addition to the advantages of an active bass system withpurpose-built amplification designed for optimal operationwith the drive units and with the array of adjustable parame-ters active bass allows the owner to select a dedicated ampli-fier for the high frequency panels without having to worryabout the power demands of the massive Pendragon bass sy-stem

Conventional passive loudspeakers must be designed forcompatibility with a wide range of commercially availablepower amplifiers and active subwoofers are typically drivenby an off-the-shelf ldquodigitalrdquo power module that could fit in onehand

By way of comparison the purpose-built onboard Pendragonpower amplifier weighs in at 70 kg per tower

Naturally ideal integration with the Pendragon high frequencypanel is assured

To achieve this ambitious goal the amplifier incorporates sop-histicated Q Control circuitry to fine-tune bass response aswell as additional adjustments to ensure ideal room interfaceThe bass remote control allows adjustment of bass level Q lowcut and other parameters directly from the listening position

The bass module offers Standby mode and provides effectivedriver protection via a comprehensive non-invasive systemthat monitors all functions more than 100 times per second The singular bass performance of the Gryphon Pendragon sy-stem heightens awareness of rhythmic subtleties and nuances

Amplifier module for 1 bass

tower

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

as it immerses the listener in musicrsquos rhythmic powerPassive Upper Frequency PanelBy physically separating the bass and upper frequency sec-tions Gryphon Pendragon elegantly sidesteps issues that ine-vitably arise in a full-range cabinet or in a satellitesubwooferconfiguration

Reproduction of deep bass from a dedicated cabinet comple-tely eliminates bass vibrations resonances and internal basspressure waves in the upper frequency enclosures for cleanerclearer mid and high frequencies By reducing the enclosureto its most basic form a floor-standing open panel GryphonPendragon takes mid and high frequency clarity and articula-tion to an entirely new level

By eliminating fundamental issues of mass inertia and internalresonance the Gryphon Pendragon ribbon and AMT driversare able to respond accurately and instantaneously to even thesubtlest of micro-dynamic changes conveying all the expressi-veness richness and complex textures of the greatest recor-dings laid out across a vast natural soundstage with pinpointstereo imaging

Four Air Motion Transformer (AMT) drivers and a two-metertall ribbon in an open baffle configuration provide ideal cove-rage of an exceptionally wide frequency range extending from16 Hz to 32 kHz

Thanks to its line source dispersion characteristics the Pen-dragon ribbon generates a continuous perfectly coupled cy-lindrical wavefront across its entire frequency range for auniquely coherent wide and deep soundfield

As a consequence of this ideal wavefront form sound pressurelevel at a given distance drops off by only -3 dB half the rate ofconventional speakers (-6 dB) for a more full-bodied consi-stent room-filling listening experience

The ribbon is mounted in a three-layer frame of heavy-gaugeself-reinforced steel to ensure solid construction free from anyinherent resonance A symmetrical magnet system consistingof a push-pull configuration of ceramic magnets fitted on bothsides of the diaphragm provide linear drive of the diaphragmwhose moving mass is actually less than the air load

Laminated with aluminium strips that act as a planar spiralvoice coil the ribbonrsquos large radiating area moves only a verysmall distance even at high volume with minimal distortionand perfect control Due to the ribbonrsquos open construction andlarge surface area heat dissipation is not an issue resulting inhigh power handling capabilities with consummate ease

The extreme high-frequency range is handled by an array of

AMT super tweeters

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

four extraordinary Air Motion Transformers that move air bydriving an extremely low-mass folded sheet in a semi-perpen-dicular motion via a powerful magnetic field Following exten-sive research into materials and diaphragm geometry thePendragon AMT employs a heat-resistant Kapton film basealuminium conductor traces and an innovative fold geometry

Because of their large surface area and pleated structure theAir Motion Transformers move a large air volume with minimaldiaphragm motion for lightning fast transients with flat freq-uency response well beyond the audible range with negligibledistortion and a total absence of compression

The AMT array incorporates an attenuator for ideal fine-tuningand integration with the acoustics of the listening space ( +1 ndashneutral ndash 1 db )

The Pendragon high frequency panel presents a purely resi-stive load significantly reducing demands on the partneringamplifier although the systemrsquos unrivalled transparency andresolution deserve to be mated with the finest amplificationand source components

The radical passive crossover network design ensures idealphase at all frequencies a perfect result achieved only byGryphon loudspeaker

The Pendragon systems low-frequency cut-off is room-depen-dent and is also a result of the user-selected Q setting but use-able room response from the systems 26 drivers will cover therange from 16 Hz to 40 kHz

The transparency speed and spine-tingling musical realism ofthe Gryphon Pendragon system set new standards for audiovirtues such as resolution timbre and soundstaging illumina-ting the music in ways previously experienced only occasio-nally in glimpses or fragments of a speakerrsquos overallperformance but rarely in a true full-range system

Like every Gryphon product Gryphon Pendragon is designedby Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E Rasmussen andmanufactured in Denmark The Gryphon Pendragon towers areour proudest statement our declaration of love to music and afinely crafted sculptural element to grace even the most luxu-rious of surroundings

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

Pendragon set-upUnpackingThe Pendragon system arrives in 4 large and heavy wood cra-tesThe system will be set up by your dealers or Gryphon distribu-tor Do not attempt to unpack the system yourself We know the almost uncontrollable urge to get the system upand listening but the Pendragon is a complex system that requi-res a predefined set-up by experts with special tools and severedamage can be done to your investment ndash and back - if mistakesare made

The 4 boxes include

1048713 1 Pendragon Master cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 display unit1048713 1 remote control1048713 1 assembly guide1048713 1 Pendragon Slave cabinet1048713 4 short stands1048713 1 accessory box1048713 1 Gryphon anniversary book and brochure1048713 1 Delaers assembly guide

1 x Pendragon Accessory box inside Slave box1048713 1 data cable1048713 2 power cords1048713 24 screws M6x60 with washers

for woofer stands1048713 16 screws M8x50 for blinding of

transport plate holes woofer1048713 4 screws M6x80 with washers for

blinding of transport plate holesmid-high tower

1048713 1 hex socket key 6 mm1048713 1 hex socket key 5 mm

2 x Pendragon Midhi Tower Box1 Midhi panel1 Passive x-over1 pair of gloves

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

A box in a Box

The differences between rooms are often bigger and moreprofound than the differences between speakers This is thereason why a speaker with a great subjective review can di-sappoint greatly when placed in another room Often it is morea test of how a certain speaker interacts with a certain roomrather than the actual quality of the speaker In short you listen to the combination of speaker and room

In real life it is easier to buy a new speaker than to buy a newroom Depending on the individual situation ndash is it a dedicatedsound room or is it a living room with other considerations totake and respect ndash but acoustics can be greatly improved inmost rooms and can basically be divided into 2 directions ndashabsorption or diffusion

a Absorption is reducing the sound level at certain frequen-ciesb Diffraction is scattering reflections and removing negativeeffects of reflections from the walls that interfere with the di-rect sound from the speaker system

At Gryphon we are biased towards diffusion as we find that ab-sorption in its extreme is killing dynamics and live feeling andis often pushing the system to hard because of the loos ofsound level Damping may be required to control an excess ofenergy in a certain frequency area Diffusion can not do thatThe Pendragon is a dipole speaker system where the mid-range and tweeter panels is radiating sound forward andbackwards Consequently it is interacting with the back wallmore than a box speakerIt is not possible to give plug and play directions to any spea-ker system A large degree is the individual ndash and often mi-nute ndash adjustments of position of speaker and listeningposition that is crucial for optimum performanceIn the following we will describe a starting- point set-up basedon our experience and it should only serve as a guidelineKeep in mind that the set-up that sound right ndash is rightAs speakers run in minor adjustments may be required forfinal set-upThe bass is a huge challenge in set-up and reason for muchaggravation However the Pendragon active woofer with itsadjustments to the room is making that part more easyIn our reference room ( 60 sq m ) we do not have any damping( absorption ) behind the speakers but some diffusion on thisand more on the rest of the walls Often some damping on theback wall may be the right solution ndash the live dead end phi-losophy ndash If ceiling is low damping at first reflection is sugge-sted For a ultimate-take-no-prisoners- approach thetraditional table in front of the listener should be avoided as itcan generate reflections just as the close ceelingThe Pendragon may at first sight look very much as some of

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

the old 4 column systems such as the Infinity IRS models thatwas outstanding at its time They were usually set up with verylittle respect to the woofer towers that was just placed some-where behind the panels and just supposed to provide someoomph to the sound

The Pendragon is a different generation of speakers and shi-nes with its seamless integration between bass and the MT pa-nels that was the weakness of the older generations of 4 towersystems So forget about the old school set-ups

13 23

Notes on sound reflectionsBehind speakerThe farther away the system is from back wall then less diffu-sion ( if any ) is requiredSide walls Diffusion should be used ( if any ) at sidewalls where first re-flection will enter ndash in this example between 13 and 23Behind listenerIf distance is large little or perhaps moderate damping can beapplied If it is closer diffusion can be applied could be com-bined with damping

Speaker Toe-in ( se fig 1 )Note that the system is set up in a curve so all drivers are onsame line and pointing direct at the listenerToe-InIf the room is narrow it may be necessary to use the bass to-wers on the outside of the MT panels to increase distance frompanels to sidewalls In this case it is advisable that the AMTsuper tweeters are kept on the outer side of themidrangetweeter panelIn a short room a set-up where the ldquofocusrdquo of the speakers isslightly behind the speaker may be requiredReducing toe-in ndash opening up ndash may increase soundstage sizeopening to much can reduce focus and often headroom

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

Adjusting lean angle

The feet on the panels can be adjusted in height a back leanwill often result in a higher placed soundstage If you are sea-ted low a forward lean may be requiredThe bass towers are not sensitive to thisSpikesDue to the weight of the system and consequently its solidcontact to the floor Spikes are not offering any performancegain unless the floor is very lively or the carpet is thick andsoftThe woofer towersIn the old school systems the woffers was often underestima-ted and view as devises that should provide some ldquoumphrdquo tothe sound They lived their own life often unhappily marriedto a inferior muscle amp with PA qualities ( a contradiction ofwords perhaps )The Pendragon is a speaker system and shines with its rare in-tegration between the piston drivers and the planar driversThis is achieved by using a number of special developed dri-vers that due to its size are lightening fast to respond to com-mand Large drivers are heavy and takes time to start and mostof the time has trouble stopping thus creating the dreadedldquooverhangrdquo ndash the woofer is playing something that it was nottold to by the amplifier By using this responsive drivers in alarge numbers in combination with a Gryphon amplifier de-signed specifically to this purpose ndash rather than a all-roundperformance - a exceptional degree of bass control is achie-ved down to the notes that are more felt than heard The signa-ture of a deep bass system in absolute control is the absenceof bass unless the bass is required ndash it is never a constantldquorumblerdquo creating a illusion of a bass that is not telling if it is acello or a bass ndash at best it is just a deep sluggish toneThe Bass tower electronicsEach tower has a amplifier capable of delivering 1000 watts tothe driversIt also has some adjustments to support precise integrationwith panels and the roomOne of the towers is the master and the other is the slave The master tower houses all the intelligent circuits that res-ponds to the remote control or other functions these com-mands are communicated to the slave with a data-only cablebetween them This set-up with only one master in charge se-cure that no misunderstandings can occur

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

Master tower controlAdjustments applies to both towers automaticallyWarningBe aware that there is 1000 watt amplifier in each tower thatcan deliver a huge output in very low frequencies if instruc-tions are not observed Please be very careful when handlingthis systemVol+Vol-Bass level up or down Q+Q-Optimizing bass performance to the specific roomLow cutUse this with turntable use to prevent overloading the systemwith low level noise from turntable ( rumble) or to prevent di-sasters with a dropped tone armMUTEAlways if you change cables ndash or turn the towers off

In amp out putsXLR inConnect to balanced output from balanced preamplifier XLR -AES standard- ( pin 2 positive Pin 3 negative Pin 1 shield )XLR outCan be used to loop to MidHi amplifier if preamplifier do nothave 2 outputsXLRRCAToggle Switch between balanced or single ended connectionCONNECT ONLY PENDRAGON TOWER TO PREAMPLIFIERSWITH ABSOLUTELY STABLE DC OPERATION NEVER TURNPREAMPLIFIER ON OR OFF OR MOVE TOWER UNLESS THEPENDRAGON MASTER IS TURNED OFFRCAinConnect to single ended output from preamplifierRCA outCan be used to loop to the MidHi amplifier if your preampli-fier do not have 2 sets of outputs

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

PortsDisplayConnect LED display hereData InterfaceLink between Master and SlaveErrorIndication of malfunction12 v LinkAuto power-on if connected to a Gryphon link systemStdbyFlashes when starting up Blue led on front of bass tower is in-dicating that tower is ready

AC powerDo not use filters or ldquosound enhancingrdquo AC devisesFUSEReplace only with fuses of same value and typeNo serviceable parts insideOnOff Mains switch both towers must be turned on

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

Tweeter fine tuningThe toggle switch on the passive x-over offers a finetuning oftweeter level to match HF damping in the roomSwitch up is + 1dbSwitch in neutral is neutralSwitch down is - 1 db

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

OR if your preamplifier

only has 1 set of outputs

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product

SERIAL No__________________________________________

WarrantyThe Gryphon Pendragon is warranted against failures arisingthrough faulty workmanship and materials for a period of 3year from date of purchase

The warranty is not transferable

This warranty is only valid in the country where the productwas purchased

All claims under this warranty must be made to the distributorin the buyer`s country by returning the unit securely packed inthe original box with all accessories postagefreight prepaidand insured The unit will be repaired or replaced at no chargefor parts and labor

This warranty remains valid only if the serial number of theunit has not been defaced or removed and if repairs are per-formed only by authorized Gryphon dealers or distributors

The warranty does not cover damage due to misuse accidentor neglect This warranty is not valid if the operation voltageof the product has been changed

The distributor or manufacturer Gryphon Audio Designs Den-mark retains the exclusive right to make such judgement onthe basis of inspection

The retailer distributor or manufacturer of the Gryphon shallnot be liable for consequential damage arising from the usemisuse or failure of this product including injuries to personsor property

To qualify the enclosed warranty registration card must be fil-led out and returned to the manufacturer within 10 days of pur-chase

Service warranty claims or questionsPlease contact the dealer where you purchased the product