The Reference Transducer for Analog Perfection | Available at Trimira Audio
The Gryphon Black Diamond DLC Phono Cartridge is presented as a statement-level low-output Moving Coil cartridge designed to complement reference analogue systems centred around the Gryphon Apollo turntable and Siren phono stage.
Developed in technical collaboration with Ortofon, the cartridge combines a rigid machined aluminium body with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) treatment, a naked Micro-Ridge stylus, Boron cantilever, gold-plated 6NX copper coils, and a high-flux neodymium magnet system.
At Trimira Audio, we recommend the Black Diamond DLC for advanced vinyl systems where cartridge rigidity, tracking precision, electrical loading, and careful tonearm matching are priorities.
Key Features & Technological Innovations
Ortofon Custom Engineering Collaboration
The Black Diamond DLC was developed through a technical collaboration with Ortofon, tailoring the cartridge's mechanical and electrical characteristics to Gryphon's reference analogue architecture.
DLC-Coated Solid Aluminium Body
The cartridge body is machined from a solid aluminium billet and finished with a Diamond-Like Carbon coating.
The rigid body provides a stable platform for the generator and stylus assembly, while the DLC treatment is intended to increase structural hardness and control unwanted mechanical resonance.
Naked Micro-Ridge Diamond Stylus
The naked Micro-Ridge stylus is designed for precise groove-wall contact and accurate tracking of fine record-groove information.
Its narrow contact geometry is particularly suited to extracting high-frequency detail and subtle spatial information from well-preserved records.
Solid Boron Cantilever
A solid Boron cantilever connects the stylus to the cartridge generator.
Boron provides a combination of low mass and high stiffness, making it suitable for demanding high-resolution cartridge applications.
Aucurum Gold-Plated 6NX Copper Coils
The generator uses Aucurum gold-plated 6NX copper coil wire.
The high-purity conductor material forms part of the cartridge's low-output moving-coil generator architecture.
Neodymium Magnet System
A high-flux neodymium magnet system provides the magnetic field required for the MC generator.
The generator is designed to provide rapid response to stylus movement while maintaining accurate dynamic tracking.
Technical Specifications
| Specification |
Gryphon Black Diamond DLC |
| Cartridge Type |
Low-Output Moving Coil (MC) |
| Stylus Profile |
Nude Micro-Ridge Diamond |
| Cantilever |
Solid Boron Rod |
| Body |
Solid Milled Aluminium with DLC Coating |
| Coil Wire |
Aucurum Gold-Plated 6NX Copper |
| Output Voltage |
0.2 mV @ 1 kHz, 5 cm/s |
| Frequency Response |
20 Hz–20 kHz (±1.5 dB) |
| Channel Separation |
>28 dB @ 1 kHz |
| Channel Balance |
<0.5 dB @ 1 kHz |
| Dynamic Compliance |
11 µm/mN |
| Recommended Tracking Force |
2.3 g / 23 mN |
| Recommended Load |
>20 Ω; ideal range 50–500 Ω |
| Internal DC Resistance |
6 Ω |
| Cartridge Weight |
12.5 g |
Tonearm Matching
With a 12.5 g cartridge mass and 11 µm/mN dynamic lateral compliance, tonearm matching should be considered carefully.
The cartridge is particularly well suited to a properly matched medium-to-low effective-mass tonearm, with final compatibility determined by the tonearm's effective mass and cartridge compliance.
Trimira Audio can assist with:
- Tonearm selection
- Effective-mass matching
- Cartridge mounting
- Overhang and alignment
- Tracking-force calibration
- Azimuth
- Vertical tracking angle
- Anti-skate adjustment
Phono-Stage Loading
The Black Diamond DLC's 0.2 mV output places it firmly in low-output MC territory, making suitable phono-stage gain and noise performance important.
The specified load is above 20 Ω, with an indicated ideal range of 50–500 Ω.
For a Gryphon Siren system, Trimira Audio can optimise:
- MC gain
- Cartridge loading
- Capacitance settings
- Balanced versus single-ended connection
- Phono-stage gain structure
The final loading should be selected according to the cartridge manufacturer's recommendations and the behaviour of the complete analogue system.
Reference Analogue System
The Black Diamond DLC can form the final transducer stage of a statement Gryphon vinyl system:
Gryphon Apollo → Reference Tonearm → Black Diamond DLC → Gryphon Siren → Gryphon Preamplifier → Gryphon Power Amplification → Reference Loudspeakers
Because the cartridge operates at extremely low signal levels, mechanical isolation, grounding, alignment, and phono-stage noise performance are all important parts of the final setup.
Precision Cartridge Installation
A cartridge of this class requires careful mechanical setup to achieve its intended performance.
Trimira Audio can provide:
- Precision cartridge mounting
- Alignment
- Tracking-force calibration
- Azimuth adjustment
- VTA optimisation
- Anti-skate adjustment
- MC loading
- System-level listening calibration
Consult with the High-End Audio Specialists at Trimira Audio
The Gryphon Black Diamond DLC combines a DLC-coated machined aluminium body, nude Micro-Ridge stylus, solid Boron cantilever, Aucurum gold-plated 6NX copper coils, and neodymium generator in a low-output MC cartridge designed for reference analogue systems.
Trimira Audio can assist with complete cartridge integration, including tonearm matching, precision alignment, MC loading, phono-stage configuration, and final vinyl-system optimisation.
Contact the Trimira Audio vinyl specialists in Brisbane to discuss tonearm compatibility, cartridge loading, or arrange a precision installation and private audition.
