Cyrus Audio, the British manufacturer known for designing and manufacturing premium Hi-Fi amplifiers, DACs and CD players, is launching XR series for discerning audiophiles after a decade of research and development. The XR series is comprised of six brand new products, including two integrated amplifiers with DACs (the i7-XR and i9-XR), a preamp (Pre-XR), two CD players (the CDt-XR transport and the integrated CDi-XR) and an external power supply (the PSU-XR).
“XR series represents the state-of-the-art in audio engineering in so many different ways. Our unique approach to power, coupled with the many innovations in DAC design, circuit topology and a whole new user interface, catapult Cyrus into a whole new level of performance and quality.”Simon Freely, Managing Director of Cyrus
Cyrus has nearly four decades of experience crafting award-winning products, designed and assembled entirely in-house at Cyrus in the UK. From the start, Cyrus’s mission has been to infuse the latest in technology with superb engineering to create ‘emotional’ musical experiences.
The company says a fundamental step change in design approach for XR series has been possible due to an accumulated understanding of DAC technologies and power supply designs, combined with Cyrus’s recently updated manufacturing processes and the availability of higher-grade components.
XR series claims to provide remarkable sound quality benefits and substantially increased dynamic range, “allowing every layer and nuance of the music to shine through.”
XR Series Advancements
1. DAC Technology
2. Power Supply Design
3. Enhanced UI
4. Components Selection/Signal path
For the XR series, Cyrus says its engineers were free to select components based on efficiency and optimal performance, without consideration of cost. In designing these products from the ground up, the engineers were able to create an exceptionally low noise platform, through power supply design, DAC optimization, component choice, circuit topology, as well as some more fundamental design approaches.
One of the driving principles behind the design of the XR series has been noise reduction. Tremendous efforts were made to protect and isolate the signal path from potential sources of noise.
Another significant area of focus was power supply design. Using only the best components, XR delivers outstandingly high quality and reliable power to every bit of the circuitry to ensure optimal performance. Last but certainly not least is the crucial DAC that reconstructs analogue signals with incredible accuracy and precision.
All products in the new XR series are wrapped in a new “Phantom Black” paint finish, introduced especially for the XR series. But if you’re worried that they won’t coordinate with your existing Cyrus products, don’t fret. The color is sympathetic to both the existing core and signature range. The XR series user interface is also new, incorporating capacitive touch buttons with satisfying audible feedback. The new UI also features a high resolution LCD screen and reassuringly weighty solid metal rotary encoder.
Integrated Amplifiers
The newly designed i7-XR and i9-XR integrated amplifiers are built with relay input switches and Schottky diodes. The efficiency improvements generated grant a far greater burst power capacity, enhancing the amplifier’s ability to accurately track the music signal and leading to much lower levels of distortion. A key new feature Cyrus has introduced for the XR series amps is user-selectable DAC filters. These filters can be changed easily on the front of the product, or via the remote from the comfort of your listening position.
- The i7-XR produces 2 x 52 watts per channel and has a dynamic range of 101 dB.
- The i9-XR has more grunt at 2 x 91 watts per channel, with a dynamic range of 104 dB.
Both amps are fully integrated with four analogue and five digital inputs (two optical, two Coax, one USB), a new software update port, and pre and fixed level outputs, as well as dual speaker outputs on the back panel. To cater for the continued growing market for vinyl, both amps feature a built-in moving magnet phono stage.
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Preamp
The Pre-XR uses an all-new power supply design with high-value reservoir capacitors making it extremely stiff and robust. The transformer is also a new custom design. The net result of this is a dynamic range performance of a whopping 110dB.
The Pre-XR represents a vast improvement over Cyrus’s existing high-end preamp, the DAC XP signature. The Pre-XR offers increased dynamic range and a broader bandwidth capable of handling files up to 32-bit/768k as well as DSD files. It also features a built-in phono stage.
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CD Players
Improving on the multiple award-winning design of their classic CDi was no easy feat for Cyrus. Both new XR series CD players, the CDt-XR and the CDi-XR, feature a new power supply design and bespoke transformers designed specifically for the new CD players, making their class-leading SE CD engine even quieter than before.
Both the CDt-XR and CDi-XR use twin microprocessors. One chip handles all the user interface and housekeeping, while the second is dedicated to running the SE engine. This prevents crucial timing information from being interrupted by the processor being asked to do other things.
The physical loader is also new, giving better performance than the previous model. There is a re-clocking circuit to reduce jitter too. In terms of board layout, flow and return principles have been applied to the DAC section and the signal path throughout the entire player. Other improvements include new filter stages and a 2nd Generation QXR DAC specifically optimized to 16-bit 44.1kHz. Finally, both players can be upgraded with the addition of the PSU-XR.
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Power Supply
Cyrus has been looking for the perfect power supply since 1987 when they first launched the PSX, the precursor to the classic PSX-R2. Thirty-three years later, the PSU-XR takes outboard power supply design to a whole new level. It is a truly intelligent power supply with its own on-board microprocessor. It is also unbelievably flexible, adding substantial sound quality benefits to any Hi-Fi system.
The microprocessor communicates with the host product to gather its exact power requirements. The PSU-XR can supply up to three separate circuits on each host product with superior clean power, at any of 256 digitally controlled voltage levels, to ensure precise matching. This makes it incredibly flexible and future proof.
As in all the XR series products, relay switched ‘stiff’ power supplies ensure exceptional voltage stability even under extreme loads.
The power supply itself in the PSU-XR is as isolated as possible from extraneous noise. There is no common ground inside the PSU-XR, grounds only meet inside the host products, and even here at places where current flow is minimal. This prevents the power circuits from inadvertently infecting the musical signal.
The PSU-XR can deliver 60% more power than the PSX-R2 and, due to its clever design, it is 50% more efficient.
This intelligent audiophile power supply provides exceptionally smooth and stable DC feeds. Through this, the PSU-XR helps the partnered components achieve their full potential.
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Price & Availability
The XR Range is only available in Phantom Black Finish.
CD Players
- CDi-XR Integrated CD player, new 32 bit DAC optimized for CD, SE technology, dual micro control
- $2,999 / £1,995
- CDt-XR High end CD transport, SE technology, signal re-clocking, superior power supplies
- $3,499 / £2,195
Integrated Amplifiers
- i7-XR Low noise integrated amp, 2 x 52W with 32/768 DAC, asynchronous USB-B, built-in phono stage
- $3,799 / £2,295
- i9-XR Low noise integrated amp, 2 x 91W with 32/768 DAC, asynchronous USB-B, built-in phono stage
- $4,499 / £2,995
Preamplifier
- Pre-XR Low noise ultra high end pre amp, 32/768 DAC, asynchronous USB-B, balanced outputs
- $5,499 / £3,995
Power Supply
- PSU-XR power supply – not yet available
- TBD
