Cyrus Pre-XR Preamplifier + PSU-XR Power Supply Bundle
Cyrus Pre-XR
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 Pre-XR is one of the first wave of products, heralding the new XR series of Cyrus components. The familiar Cyrus precision die-cast case is the same, but everything else has changed.
The power supply design of the Pre-XR has received special attention. An over-specified 74VA power transformer delivers power to a high capacity power supply reserve. Within the circuit design, a generous total of 15 independent power supply regulators regulate, then sub regulates quiet power. Digital control circuits are assigned a separate mains power supply, completely isolated from the signal circuitry.
The Pre-XR analogue preamp features relay input selection and a new high-performance gain stage. This short path design makes the analogue preamplifier extremely transparent. With four analogue inputs and phono MM, the Pre-XR will cover just about any system requirement for analogue connectivity.
The Pre-XR features a choice of balanced audio drive via XLR connectors for best performance in systems where it is partnered by high-end power amplifiers with balanced inputs along with standard unbalanced outputs.
The Pre-XR 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 Pre-XR the PSU-XR steps in to take over power supply for the analogue stages of the preamplifier.
The DAC input stage of the Pre-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.
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 PSU-XR
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 whilst 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.
The PSU-XR builds upon their extensive legacy in Power Supply design. Beginning with the original PSX, Cyrus has always led the field in producing clean, stable and ‘stiff’ external upgrade power supplies. ‘Stiffness’ is essential, Even when heavy loads are applied, the voltage has to remain completely stable. The PSU-XR employs the largest toroidal transformer we have ever used, coupled with some amazingly efficient load management circuits to deliver a staggering amount of power.
PSU-XR is able to deliver ‘exact’ power requirements to three different circuits on the host product, the PSU-XR significantly enhances the performance of any XR product it is used with. Advanced, microprocessor controls, relay switching, completely separated ‘Grounds’ to virtually eliminate the transfer of ‘noise’ and a future-proof architecture are just some of the special features of this upgrade power supply.
The PSU-XR communicates with the host-product via the 15pin bus lead to determine the exact voltage requirements of the various circuits to receive the additional power and then controls the output voltage using an 8-bit digital gate, allowing 256 different (and precise) voltage steps for the output rails.
The PSU-XR is able to supply three different circuits in the host product with power.
In order to preserve the purity of the power to each of these circuits, the different power sections of the PSU-XR have completely separate ‘grounds’. This virtually eliminates the possibility of system ‘noise’ from one section of the host product being transferred to another section.
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.
Cyrus Pre-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
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 4.3kg
Cyrus PSU-XR
1 x Output connector for compatible Cyrus XR products
Low voltage supply
Standby mode +5V DC
Operational +5V DC
Fixed voltage supply
Standby mode 0V
Operational ±24V DC
Variable supply
Standby mode 0V
Regulated ±10V to ±45V DC
Unregulated ±45V or ±56V DC
Size (H x W x D)
75 x 215 x 355 mm (2.95” x 8.46” x 13.98”)
Weight
7.7kg (17lbs)