Cyrus i9 XR Integrated Amplifier & PSU XR Power Supply - Baby Boxes That Sound Seriously Big

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Cyrus i9 XR Integrated Amplifier & PSU XR Power Supply - Baby Boxes That Sound Seriously Big

Рет қаралды 6,812

Күн бұрын

In this episode, Mike and David agree that the i9-XR is the best integrated amplifier that Cyrus Audio has ever made, and the PSU-XR power supply further adds to the fun. The only downside is that these little boxes carry a serious price tag. But as ever, you get what you pay for, they point out...
Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
Follow Hi-Fi Riff on Instagram here: hifiriff

Пікірлер: 70

@menfallinloveandwomenmakeplans 5 ай бұрын

Now listen chaps, I am glad you are reviewing Cyrus because nobody else does. How they get so little attention and still remain in production for all these years, is beyond me.

@timothyfreeseha4056 5 ай бұрын

I've never heard Cyrus Products. I have always been a huge fan of their design. Love the Smiths!

@attrktmarketing4582 5 ай бұрын

Hey I love what you guys do. Love that you are both friends for a long time. It shows.

@Ricky-cl5bu 5 ай бұрын

I’ve ordered my AT33SA Mike and Dave can’t wait to get it thanks

@steven2809 5 ай бұрын

I remember many years ago going into the Wilson Benesch room at the Bristol Show and they had 3 little Cyrus boxes each on separate speaker stands driving some HUGE speakers and the sound was jaw-droppingly good...🙂

@gdwlaw5549 5 ай бұрын

I owned the original Cyrus One with JPW sonata. First real system. This has definitely motivated me to try Cyrus again.

@DaleWhitlam-ni5wp 5 ай бұрын

Another great review, many thanks.

@Ricky-cl5bu 5 ай бұрын

Great review, Cyrus is great stuff good value for money sometimes lol

@JCW-jx6ld 5 ай бұрын

Wonderful banter

@martinscase3904 5 ай бұрын

I have 'Hatful of Hollow' on vinyl bought by me when it was first released. Pretty sure it's a compilation of BBC sessions. I'll check when I get out of the bath!

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

Yes, it's a compilation of various sessions and some early 12-inch B-sides. When it was first released it was about 35% cheaper than a standard LP.

@nazaholicable 4 ай бұрын

I have been using this i9XR Cyrus amp for around twelve months, and it presents music in a crisp and clear way. The bass is tuneful too. Overall, I'm pleased with it, but it is a tad bright and dry. I put that down to the Cyrus sound (which I've heard before) rather than my other kit or sound of the room. When funds permit (I'd rather trade-in for another brand than buy a second power supply box). Btw I prefer the i9 XR amp to Naiim nait super 3 (which is dull), and Sugden (plain) and Rega Aethos (plodding). Next time that I upgrade my amplification, I'll be turning Japanese, I really think so.

@Hi-FiRiff 4 ай бұрын

It's a very good amp, and highly enjoyable, however, your comments are spot on. The question is... which Japanese amp do you fancy? If you buy one, don't worry, we won't avoid you like a psyched Lone Ranger. Mike

@nazaholicable 4 ай бұрын

@@Hi-FiRiff I'm loving the psyched lone ranger comment. In answer to your question, I have a Luxman D-03X CD player, so, I would be keen to check out a Luxman integrated amp. I know full well that pre-amps and power amps, and even separate phono stages are considered the way to go. But I want a one box solution to amplification due to cabling issues and aesthetics. I'd love to hear your suggestion for a 5-6K amp solution (including Cyrus trade-in) and would consider stuff less familiar to me, like Hegel.

@Hi-FiRiff 3 ай бұрын

Definitely one for @mrvinylista

@paulwhite1109 5 ай бұрын

Excellent stuff as always guys. What do you think of older Cyrus amps like the Pre Xvs and Mono X's?

@aussie8114 5 ай бұрын

I have the 8 with the upgraded DAC. The 9 removed the Zone 2 output so it’s not suitable for me to try. Pretty expensive here too, especially once you include the power supply.

@TheDjcarlos67 5 ай бұрын

thanks for the reminder about The Smiths The World Won’t Listen album. I can’t play my copy as it melted in the bay window in the 80’s & i’ved never replaced it! (still have it tho). Just got a copy on CD off Amazon for £3!!! Arrives Friday 🎶🎵Regarding poorly produced albums… the A Tribe Called Quest’s first album sounds like it was literally copied and pasted using pva glue, but I’ve always loved it for this reason. It’s like I’m in the studio with the crew😎🎵🎶

@jdekong3945 5 ай бұрын

Put the record between two sheets of glass and put in the sun for a small while, should flatten out the disc, so I’ve been told 😸

@titntin5178 5 ай бұрын

Cheers guys, always enjoy your riffs. If you are buying a £6k amp there are far better prospects imo, and in this case, if you are buying a system for that kind of price, then both the Dac and the wasted power supply in the amps chassis are eating money that could have been better spent elsewhere. I feel this way for any amp that has a built in Dac instead of just offering it as an option like for instance Exposure. You also go on to say that you like the form factor and its much better than full width components and 'boxes with more faf', completely ignoring that it's two boxes which will take up more room than one full sized box and also requires a yet another connection in the already far too tightly packed rear! It's not often you make so little sense, but you made no sense! :) I'm sure it sounds great though :)

@philipadams8615 5 ай бұрын

It doesn't waste the internal power supply it's still used ,,,it all means you can start with the main unit and add as funds allow 🎵

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

Thanks. I think it depends what you want. It's certainly there or thereabouts with anything at its price in terms of sound, packaging and features. It's not a power house like the Musical Fidelity M8 xi though, which would be impossible considering its size. The point about the Cyrus is that it offers serious sonics in a really small, neat package with upgradability built-in. That suits many people's priorities, but certainly not all. I'm all for choice - let's have as many brands competing at this price point and let the customer decide what suits them.

@johnmalone8790 5 ай бұрын

The look of the system is important to me at least. My Naim NSS333 looks so much more modern.. As does my 5 year old Uniti Core & year old Atom HE... Some of the Cyrus products look like they were designed back in the 80's... Especially those god-awful displays. Great video, as always, gents 👍

@markjohnathanappleton8642 3 ай бұрын

Pity that naim products sound rubbish

@johnmalone8790 3 ай бұрын

Yeah 😂@@markjohnathanappleton8642

@user-ez3uq1uu4m 5 ай бұрын

I have been watching your riffs for a little more than a year and truly enjoy them. This is quite a tribute to you guys, as I live in the U.S. and most of the items that you cover are not readily available on this side of the pond. I was so taken with your review of the Audio-Technica AT-33Sa that I scrapped several months of research and a decision to purchase a Zu Audio modified Dennon DL-103 cartridge. I purchased the AT33-Sa instead. I've put about 25 hours on the cartridge and am totally loving the experience. Thanks for the great recommendation! just curious, what impedance loading do you use with the AT-33Sa?

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

Thank you. I'd have an AT33 Sa any day over any DL-103 variant. It amazes me how many people seem to love the Denon. I can only conclude they haven't heard many good moving coil cartridges! I've owned one (the top variant, bought in Japan) and tried it in umpteen arms, with numerous phono stages, and still found it opaque and crude - as you'd expect from its specs! AT33 Sa has a minimum load impedance of 100 ohms.

@TheDjcarlos67 5 ай бұрын

Well that ruined my plans! Was just putting some Otis Redding on the record player and you’ve distracted me! I’ve never even heard a Cyrus/Mission amp in nearly 40 yrs of buying HiFi equipment. I’ve always loved how they look tho🎵🎶😎

@r423sdex 5 ай бұрын

Very overpriced.

@TheDjcarlos67 5 ай бұрын

@@r423sdex £6k is very serious money 💰 but if it sounds as good as comparably priced amps then on par for those who can afford it. £6k is out of my price league

@richardsinger01 5 ай бұрын

@@r423sdexYes, expensive - but I don't have an opinion on the value as I have never encountered one.

@gaetancharbonneau3902 5 ай бұрын

Cool design that's for sure. However, before spending that kind of money I would seriously consider the new Creek 4040 A Integrated. Not in the same price point I understand, but still, I doubt the Creek is 4 times worst. Cheers, thanks guys ✌

@owenoneill5955 5 ай бұрын

For a few minutes there, during the tea break, you two drifted away from Iggy and Buster and got really close to Alf and Else. ''Till death do us part'' Re issued..

@andrewlittleboy8532 5 ай бұрын

After that stonking review on the MF 8xi if I was after a new amp it would be hard to pass up and consider the Cyrus combination. I dont really like the thought of buying two power supplies with one left unused. Having said that I'd just go for the Accuphase instead.

@middleman9183 5 ай бұрын

The power supply shares use in the integrated, when added. PSU XR for the sound. Integrated PS for the display.

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

I can't help thinking that buying both of these you end up buying 2 cases with 2 power supplies (of which one is virtually unused) so from a cost point of view, which is unavoidably reflected in the price, and since case and transformers are probably the 2 highest cost items in an amp, it sounds a bit iffy. From a product positioning point of view this upgrade path seems to be a double edged knife for Cyrus. It might have been different if the external power supply only made a small difference and not the great one you're describing.

@philpembroke5373 5 ай бұрын

Or, the bald pound.

@steven2809 5 ай бұрын

@@philpembroke5373???

@nazaholicable 5 ай бұрын

The i9 XR amp is fine on its own.

@medonk12rs 5 ай бұрын

I really like the looks and form factor, but would not really want to pay for a separate housing and a so-so PSU in the i9 that is rendered useless (?) after the PSU XR has been attached.

@kingtubby999 5 ай бұрын

Agree…

@aussie8114 5 ай бұрын

The internal power supply continues to be used for certain parts of the amp. At least that’s how it works on my 8 model.

@medonk12rs 5 ай бұрын

@@aussie8114 thanks for the clarification!

@stephenharding428 5 ай бұрын

With the PSU you are into Hegel H390 territory, does it compare? Thanks for the excellent review.

@lazgrillo6982 5 ай бұрын

Cyrus sound has always impressed but I can't live with the design. If only they were full width.

@nazaholicable 5 ай бұрын

Sitting in the middle on a thick black glass hifi rack shelf, the Cyrus i9XR looks far better than I expected. And remember, just like other brands, you only really see the front fascia when the component is on the rack.

@nickevans3190 5 ай бұрын

Another fantastic riff however and call me a hi-fi snob but IMHO cramming in all the functions into one tiny case won't sound as good having separate components and if possible each component having its on PSU will be much better sound quality than cramming everything into such a small chassis

@FransbertSchermerMV 5 ай бұрын

Great, like your reviews! Did you ever review the Naim Supernait 3? How does it compare? Regards from the Netherlands. 12 points😅

@nazaholicable 5 ай бұрын

The Name supernait 3 is dull by comparison. I went for the Cyrus i9XR amp

@FransbertSchermerMV 5 ай бұрын

@@nazaholicable Thanks for sharing your very well motivated opinion😉. Glad the Hifi Riff boys always give me more interesting comments!

@Mackey-nb1rw 5 ай бұрын

Hi another good review … that power supply is pricey! And I have been tossing up whether it is worth the money … in my case to pair with the Cyrus XRi CD transport? I do use external power supplies and they do add to sound quality but the Cyrus as said is expensive!Maybe that pairing could be a future review

@nazaholicable 5 ай бұрын

The PSU XR is unnecessary. The i9XR is good as it is.

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

I own that MF M6xDAC and I find it to be very decent. Combined with the Volumio Rivo streamer they make a pair that takes some beating at the max price I'm willing to spend on a streamer & dac combo.

@majtextwriter1794 5 ай бұрын

Any opinion from you two on good old Linn's Numerik - Karik combination, especially with PS upgraded Numerik? A great topology - signal logic. For my ears the best sounding CDP combo by so far. Back then I needed money for some other things, so did not keep it in my system, but I am considering to buy a used one. Is out there now days something with similar great natural, open and liquid sound for reasonable money? Thank you and kind regards.

@oohtob6685 5 ай бұрын

I had so many problems with disc reading on my Cyrus cd players over the years.

@SchiitMagni 3 ай бұрын

I love a small amp like this.However,I had no experience with Cyrus amp before and noticing about speaker inlet that I did not use to.I am wondering how to connect the speaker cables?Are there any adapter or special type of connectors?Thanks in advance.

@englishrogue2649 5 ай бұрын

why is the headphone socket on the rear? that seems deliberately user-unfriendly

@kjbunnyboiler 5 ай бұрын

Evening Gents👍👍😊

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Evening!

@goranvuk8501 5 ай бұрын

Maybe some Thomas Dolby music next time ?

@oliverbeard7912 5 ай бұрын

Don't get yourself into trouble by looking at too many "inputs" Mike.😊

@Ricky-cl5bu 5 ай бұрын

Plethera class word 😂😂😂

@paulhanlon5112 5 ай бұрын

Had a full Cyrus system a few years.ago ..Cd 8se + Psx...Cyrus 8+ Psx..Cyrus Power amp + psx...it would of been the best sounding kit I've owned and I've owned Arcam..Meridian...Linn..Naim... I sold the Cyrus. The cd player failed 3 times in 2 years..2 of the Off- Board power supply's smoked up within 9months....Reliability 0 Sound 10+

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

MF A5 dac, rather than M5 maybe?

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

Not highly tolerant, Mike! Not again! lol You didn't think that would escape my attention, did you? lol