Further information

Cyrus i9-XR Amplifier

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.

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, whilst faithful to the Cyrus core acoustic philosophy, provides remarkable sound quality benefits and substantially increased dynamic range, allowing every layer and nuance of the music to shine through. Indeed, the clarity and detail of the XR series will keep the listener wanting to go back and listen to tracks heard a thousand times before.

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.

The newly designed  i9-XR amplifier is 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 i9-XR integrated amplifier is equipped 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. The DAC input stage of the i9-XR features a new 2nd generation version of the award-winning QXR DAC, but with an all-new high-speed analogue buffer stage. Seven digital filter alignment options are user adjustable to suit the taste of the listener. Input options include USB audio (to 384k sample rate) and DSD to DSD512, 2 x SPDIF digital and 2 x optical digital inputs.

To cater for the continued growing market for vinyl, it also features a built-in moving magnet phono stage that inherits many design features of the award-winning Phono Signature. This phono stage in the i9-XR performs at a level way above its class.

The i9-XR also includes a port for the new PSU-XR power supply. Thirty years ago Cyrus broke new ground with the introduction of the PSX-R, the first-ever regulated power supply upgrade that automatically adapted to match perfectly the power requirements of any connected product. The PSU-XR raises the bar by sourcing no less than five independent regulated supplies in a single box. For the i9-XR a pair of these are assigned to provide ultra-smooth power for the preamplifier, and a second pair to provide a huge dynamic boost for the power amplifier.

Naturally, the XR series also features a new aesthetic. All products in the new XR series are wrapped in a new "Phantom Black" paint finish, introduced especially for the XR series. If you’re worried that they won’t coordinate with your existing Cyrus products, don’t fret. The colour 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.

Cyrus Stream-XR

Key features

• BluOS App control 
• Tidal, Qobuz, and Spotify 
• Bluetooth input and output 
• High-quality DAC 
• PSU XR upgradeable 
• Multiroom with other BluOS products 

The Stream XR is designed to be a versatile and easy-to-use streaming solution, and it is compatible with a wide range of streaming services, including Tidal, Qobuz, and Spotify. With its sleek and modern design, the Stream XR is a stylish addition to any home audio system, and it offers a seamless and intuitive streaming experience for music enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to stream your favourite tracks or explore new music, the Stream XR is a powerful and versatile streaming platform that delivers exceptional sound quality and a range of advanced features.

Cyrus Stream XR hi-fi streamer is a match for other models in the flagship XR range and is an ideal streaming partner for these in a full system or indeed alongside any other excellent hi-fi equipment.

Stream opens your system to high performance streaming from all of the most popular streaming services like Tidal and Spotify. Stream XR is compatible with the BluOS app and can be used as part of a multi-room system.

The front panel has simple controls for playback as well as volume up and down. While the rear panel connectivity includes an Ethernet port and a digital, coaxial or optical input. There are also analogue and digital outputs. Additionally, there is a port for the optional XR PSU upgrade.

High quality DAC

The XR range was introduced in 2021 and Stream XR was designed to be digital friendly with a DAC that has been upgraded from the first-gen DAC developed in 2019. After much research, Cyrus decided to go with a DAC from one manufacturer. This is an FPGA chip with ESS. This allowed Cyrus to use their own programming, as well as all of the support circuitry. The chip is low noise and the sound can be ‘tuned’ to get the best sound.

A new feature of the second generation DAC is selectable output filters. Most digital recordings use a filter at the analogue to digital stage, and consequently, the playback DAC also uses a filter to compensate for this. After experimentation, it became clear that the sound was better if the user could select different playback filter settings. The Stream XR has this capability. The setting can be changed via the remote

Power supply upgrade option

The built in power supply, for the Stream XR had been upgraded. The bridge rectifier diodes are now Schottky types. These have a lower voltage drop under full load. Moreover, the external power unit delivers 60% more power and is twice as efficient as the previous version. You can improve upon this further with the dedicated XR XR PSU upgrade which bypasses the internal main PSU.

Ease of use

The Cyrus Stream XR can be used with the BluOS app for easy control. The app can be installed on PC, Android and Apple devices. There is also a large BluOS eco system of compatible devices. The Stream XR can also be used for multi-room playback and supports hi-res audio files.

Reviews

Specification

Cyrus i9-XR

4 x Analogue inputs
1 x Phono MM input
2 x Optical inputs
2 x Coaxial digital inputs
1 x Asynchronous USB input
1 x Analogue preamplifier out
1 x Headphone output
PSU-XR upgrade port
2 x 91W into 6 Ohms / twin speaker outputs
Headphone amplifier, 2 x 138mW into 16 O (<0.1% THD)
SPDIF supported formats 16/44.1k – 24/192k
USB supported formats 16/44.1k – 32/384k
DSD supported formats up to DSD512
DOP supported formats up to DOP128
Custom input naming
iR14 Remote control included
Dimensions (H x W x D) – 73 x 215 x 360 mm
Weight 6.5kg