For those familiar with Cyrus Audio, the new 40 series components represent a significant shift for the British manufacturer and we’re decidedly impressed with the new industrial design which looks utterly brilliant. Having reviewed a number of their components over the past 4 years, there is no question that they engineer reliable and great sounding equipment.
The truth is that the industrial design needed an update when one considers what Naim, Rotel, Arcam, and Cambridge Audio have introduced into the market during the same time frame.
Cyrus Audio may not be as well-known in the U.S. as some other brands, but it has a well-deserved reputation for offering high-end audio components that deliver what they promise (refer to our related reading section for some examples).
Building on its reputation, Cyrus Audio has introduced its 40 Series of components with a sleek design on the outside and a host of innovations on the inside designed to deliver the best possible audio listening experience with just about any speakers and room environment.
Pro Tip: Even though Cyrus Audio has been celebrating its 40th anniversary – the 40 Series is not named for that event.
The 40 series consists of four products: the 40 AMP (integrated amplifier), the 40 ST (network streamer with BluOS), the 40 CD (integrated CD player), and the 40 PSU (external power supply).
Tip: Cyrus has indicated the addition to the 40 Series of an external Phono Preamp in 2025.
40 AMP – Integrated Amplifier
The 40 AMP is designed to be at the of the Cyrus 40 system with access to a variety of sources that include the 40 CD Player and 40 Streamer. With 100 watts per channel into 6 ohms, and a generously over-specified power supply the 40 AMP is capable of driving almost any speaker system.
Sharing the sleek design of the 40 series aluminum casing, the 50 AMP features a 5” hi-resolution full-color TFT display. At the center of this multi-functional amplifier is an electronic circuit designed by the R&D team at Cyrus.
The DAC is based upon the latest chipset from ESS, the ES9039Q2M, and has been reworked to provide an audio signal that (according to Cyrus) replicates the artist’s original recording to a higher level.
The 40 AMP incorporates multiple digital and analog connections, with a low noise MM phono stage which inherits many of its design features from the Classic PHONO external preamp.
The phono stage features low background noise and high dynamic range, providing the perfect complement for a quality vinyl turntable.
The 40 AMP also includes an HDMI-eARC input for easy connection to a compatible TV or projector for a better quality movie or game listening experience.
40 Amp Specifications
- 100 watts per channel into 6 ohms
- ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M 32 bit DAC
- 4 x Analogue Inputs
- 1 x Phono MM Input
- 1 x Digital Optical Inputs
- 2 x Digital Coaxial Inputs
- 1 x Asynchronous USB-B Input
- 1 x HDMI eARC Input
- 1 x Analogue Preamplifier Out
- 1 x Fixed Output
- 1 x Headphone Output
- 40 PSU Compatible
- SPDIF Supported Formats 16/44.1k – 24/192k
- USB Supported Formats 16/44.1k -32/384k
- DSD Supported Formats up to DSD256
- DOP Supported Formats up to DOP128
- RJ45 Ethernet For Firmware Updates
- USB-A For Firmware Updates
- Size (HxWxD): 88 x 220 x 385 mm (3.46” x 8.66” x 15.16”)
- Weight: 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs)
40 ST – Music Streamer
If you are a streaming music fan, Cyrus is offering up the 40 ST, which is designed to be an integral part of the 40 Series if you so choose. For an optimal streaming and content management experience the 40 ST incorporates the BluOS platform as well as supporting ROON.
You can listen to music at up to 24-bit/192kHz audio resolution across a home network with minimal lag and zero loss in sound quality.
The 40 ST is packaged with the new Cyrus remote but is ultimately controlled with the intuitive BluOS app, available for iOS, Android, Kindle, Mac, or PC computers. BluOS provides access to over 20 streaming services, thousands of radio stations from around the world, as well as your own music library on a network drive. The 40 ST also supports Airplay 2 and MQA decoding.
In addition to streaming, the 40 ST allows you to connect to any digital source device via coaxial and optical inputs.
40 ST Specifications
- ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M 32 bit DAC
- 2 x Line Level Analogue Outputs
- 1 x Digital Coax Output
- 1 x Digital Optical Output
- 1 x Digital Coax Input
- 1 x Digital Optical Input
- USB-A Socket For Music Playback
- RJ45 Ethernet Socket For Wired Network
- Built-in WiFi antenna
- Ethernet (GigE 1Gbps), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac, 2.4/5Ghz)
- Size (HxWxD): 88 x 220 x 385 mm (3.46” x 8.66” x 15.16”)
- Weight: 4.8 kg (10.6 lbs)
40 CD – CD Player
Cyrus is well known for its CD players, and the new 40 CD continues that tradition. Cyrus incorporates its ‘servo evolution’ (used in other Cyrus CD players) into the 40 CD which enables the CD player to extract the data on the disc as accurately as possible the first time to create an almost silent noise floor.
The player also includes an advanced DAC based on the ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M chipset and HyperStream IV Dual DAC technology.
The power supply has also been redesigned to minimize interaction between the complex mix of signals which includes fast digital audio, sensitive analog audio, high current servo, and system controls. By segmenting these circuits the digital control circuits run from a dedicated, high-efficiency supply, whilst other parts of the player are powered from an over-specified universal power supply. Nine individual stage regulators are employed to smooth and distribute power within the player according to demand.
The 40 CD features a sleek aluminum casing, and is finished in anodized brushed black with a 3.5” hi-resolution full-color TFT display.
40 CD Specifications
- ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M 32 bit DAC
- 2 x Line Level Analogue Outputs
- 1 x Digital Coax Output
- 1 x Digital Optical Output
- 1 x Digital Coax Input
- 1 x Digital Optical Input
- 40 PSU Compatible
- RJ45 Ethernet For Firmware Updates
- USB-A For Firmware Updates
- Size (HxWxD): 88 x 220 x 365 mm (3.46” x 8.66” x 14.37”)
- Weight: 5.2 kg (11.46 lbs)
40 PSU – Power Supply
Cyrus has been designing external power supplies since the launch of the PSX back in the 80s, and the 40 PSU continues that tradition. The 40 PSU incorporates an on-board microprocessor and can be connected to all products in the 40 series.
This PSU can communicate with other 40 series components to consistently provide the best configuration of power from a full range of voltage output levels.
Providing multiple supplies, all the output voltages from the 40 PSU are digitally controlled internally, so are stable and noise-free. For owners of current Cyrus products, the 40 PSU and PSU-XR can be used across both product lines.
40 PSU Specifications
- Low voltage supply – Standby mode +5V DC
- Low voltage supply – Operational +5V DC
- Fixed voltage supply – Standby mode 0V
- Fixed voltage supply – Operational +24V DC
- Variable supply – Standby mode 0V
- Variable supply – Regulated +10V to +45V DC
- Variable supply – Unregulated +45V or +56V DC
- RJ45 Ethernet For Firmware Updates
- Mini USB For Firmware Updates
- Size (HxWxD): 88 x 220 x 365 mm (3.46” x 8.66” x 14.37”)
- Weight: 9.4 kg (21 lbs)
From Nick Clarke, Managing Director for Cyrus Audio: “It fills me with immense pride to be part of the Cyrus story, one that now spans over 40 years of audio excellence. The core brand values of providing value for money with great sound quality achieved with good, solid engineering have never been so important to the team here. We continue to engineer and build in the UK as it allows us the best control over the entire process of bringing these products to the end customer. I sincerely hope that when you listen to any Cyrus product, you appreciate the skill, dedication, and hard work that has gone into each one and it helps connect you to the music that you love.”
The Bottom Line
Building on its over 40 years of experience, Cyrus Audio continues to innovate and deliver audio components that are deserving of consideration. One of the things we love about their components is that they are designed and manufactured in the UK, and the reputation for reliability and durability is well deserved.
Their products are built like tanks and whilst there needs to be some careful consideration when it comes to system building (warmer/darker sounding loudspeakers work better), we suspect the 40 series are superb pieces of kit for the simple reason that Cyrus doesn’t refresh its lineup all that frequently and they don’t have a reputation for introducing new products unless they are confident the product is a huge upgrade over the previous series.
The forthcoming 40 series phono pre-amplifier is likely to be a category leader based on the sonic performance of what it is replacing. If you love listening to vinyl — these guys make outstanding phono pre-amplifiers that rank with the best out there.
The industrial design is the biggest change here and we’re happy to see the brand take a different approach in a rather competitive market.
Pricing & Availability
The Cyrus Audio 40 series hi-fi components can be purchased from Authorized Dealers at the following prices:
- 40 ST: £2,995 UK, €3,595 Euro, $3,995 US
- 40 CD: £2,995 UK, €3,595 Euro, $3,995 US
- 40 AMP: £3,995 UK, €4,795 Euro, $4,995 US
- 40 PSU: £2,495 UK, €2,995 Euro, $3,495 US
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