Cambridge-based company Cyrus Audio has announced the arrival of the 40 Series, a range of four core models intended to blend into the homes of audiophiles.
The Cyrus team began work on the 40 series with a 360° review of sales trends over the past 10 years. The 40 series is made up of an integrated amplifier, integrated CD player, network streamer and external power supply, with a brand-new phono preamplifier, set to become available later next year.
Based upon a new DAC design, the Sabre ES9039Q2M chipset and HyperStream IV Dual DAC technology delivers a fully optimised board layout to tune the DAC in the 40 series. The front panel showcases a headphone connection and edge to edge glass finish hiding a high-resolution TFT display, bringing full colour album art to streaming enthusiasts.
The main chassis is made from aluminium and finished in anodised brushed black, accompanied by volume control that is custom designed from five separate elements, also engineered from aluminium.
For the series, Cyrus have also designed a new remote control and versatile hi-fi that can auto turn-off and come back to life when the user approaches the unit. Screwheads are only visible on the rear panel, with the main body being held together via the feet.
40 AMP – Integrated Amplifier
Designed to be at the centre of home audio, the 40 AMP is compatible with a range of playback sources. This integrated amplifier has the capabilities to drive demanding loudspeakers, boasting 100 watts per channel with 6 ohms and over-specified power supply.
The 40 AMP is encased in the 40 series aluminium casing with a 5” high-resolution full colour TFT display, housing an electronic circuit designed by the research and development 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 replicates original song recordings to a new level.
The 40 AMP has a low noise MM phono stage which inherits many of its design features from the Classic PHONO, featuring low background noise and high dynamic range. Features include the latest HDMI eARC input, offering support to film and TV entertainment.
40 ST – Streaming Music Player
The 40 ST is Cyrus’ high-performance network streamer, powered by the user-friendly BluOS hi-res streaming platform and presented in the 40 series aluminium chassis. Music plays at up to 24-bit/192kHz at fast speeds across the home network with minimal lag and zero loss in sound quality.
The 40 ST is packaged with the new Cyrus remote but can also be controlled with the intuitive BluOS app, available for iOS, Android, Kindle, Mac or PC computers. It provides access to over 20 natively integrated streaming services, thousands of international radio stations and personal music libraries on a network drive. The 40 ST also supports Roon, AirPlay 2 and allows for MQA decoding. There is also the option to connect to any digital device via the coaxial and optical inputs.
40 CD – Integrated CD Player
Taking the new 40 series DAC, Cyrus has redesigned the 40 CD power supply to minimise interaction between a complex mix of signals such as fast digital audio, sensitive analogue audio, high current servo and system controls.
By segmenting these circuits, the digital control circuits run from a high-efficiency supply, whilst other parts of the player are powered from an over-specified universal power supply. Nine individual stage regulators distribute power within the player according to demand.
40 PSU – External Power Supply
The 40 PSU continues Cyrus’ external power supply tradition, going back to the 1980s with the launch of the PSX. Incorporating its own on-board micro-processor, the 40 PSU can be attached to all products available in the 40 series and communicates directly to provide configuration of power from a range of voltage output levels.
The output voltages from the 40 PSU are internally digitally controlled for stable and noise free delivery.
Value for money and high sound quality
Chris Hutcheson, head of marketing at Cyrus, said: “We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year, but the 40 Series demonstrates a new beginning at Cyrus under the leadership of Nick Clarke. This is just the beginning of some very exciting plans at Cyrus.
“We are very happy to see that Cyrus has retained the half-width design that is so synonymous with the brand, but by adding a centimetre here and there, the products definitely stand out on the shelf stronger than previous products.”
Nick Clarke, managing director of Cyrus, added: “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.”
