Cyrus 80 Full Width

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

 

[RoA]

Cyrus' brand identity, with the exception of their Lyric, has always been half width products. Some like it, others don't.

I personally think it's a mistake but appreciate it will technically allow them to be more adventurous and proficient.

My 2cts.

 

[Integralista]

This anouncement sounds like a call from hifi heaven. Cyrus is so good in half size HiFi, this will be for sure an amazing new family of their HiFi. Great News! 😉

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Perhaps will allow them to fit proper power supplies into native product rather than their external PSU rip offs

 

[Gray]

I had absolutely no width preference when I chose a Cyrus amp.
It was up against full-width Roksan and Arcam models on home loans.
Sound performance was the (very easy) decider - box shape and colour have never influenced my choice of hi-fi.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

looking forward to seeing the one-box-solution streamer and amplifier specification, performance and pricing; may be an upgrade to my EVO150

 

[TRIPLE A]

End of an era - sad but inevitable given the streamers' lack of connectivity in particular.
Wishlist:
- HDMI input - for handling hi-res, not-downscaled bitstreams from DVD and Blu-ray
- DSD support beyond 256 - though I suspect they won't have a new DAC in units out by November

Longer-term - I want Cyrus to get in gear with more dedicated stuff - a half-width, high-end DAC-less streamer/reclocker that will upscale nicely, and a half-width, high-end dedicated DAC.
They're in this weird market position right now - smaller units suggesting modularity that you build over time a la computer audio, but with inners more like traditional hi-fi. And related - DACs in everything - you the streamer get a DAC, you the CD player get a DAC, you the pre-amp get a DAC, and you the integrated amp get a DAC too!
Cyrus have always been known for audio quality, but with the computer audio-style makers especially from Korea starting to eat into that, I concern a bit about Cyrus's future unless they get more into the fast lane.

 

[RTHerringbone]

I guess the reality is that one-box solutions at least for digital streaming will become more and more popular and Cyrus are probably acknowledging that with this change.

Should be interesting to see how they get on with more space to play with and the options that'll open up to them.

 

[TRIPLE A]

Yeah I'll be keeping an eye on the developments for sure - I've been a Cyrus guy ever since my first Cyrus III amp pushing 30 years ago, and I've always loved the look and sound of their gear. Wishing them well!

 

[manicm]

Yeah, Cyrus has finally wakened up to the fact that customers think of their external power supplies as a scam

So they've entered the real world. But they will charge an arm and a leg for that acknowledgement. How sweet.

They do look gorgeous though.

 

[TRIPLE A]

Their future cost performance is sure going to be interesting to see, now they’re entering the full width space where there’s more competition.

 

[RoA]

I must be the only one but love the half width factor. I had a full cyrus system (with power supplies) in one of their amazing looking racks (Hark or something like that ...).

Without doubt the most eye pleasing system I've had.

 

[Friesiansam]

Having a good, well known, highly recognisable USP, is usually considered a very good thing, so why abandon it?

 

[TRIPLE A]

I’m wondering this too. On the one hand full width allows proper PSUs and connectivity, on the other they’re retrenching into an arguably more traditional space that’s much more competitive, and, yeah, traditional.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m not sure their positioning of half width combined with traditional hi-fi, is sustainable.
Perhaps they thought about taking on the Koreans, but decided that their engineering stack is more geared toward hi-fi than computer audio, and that it would take too long and cost too much to reboot.
The full width decision feels like capitulation due to missing the boat then. The half width look is pretty iconic and I can’t help but think they have should plowed more R&D into future computer audio-style tech much earlier, keeping the half width. Modularity is, or at least has been, a key functional value of the brand, that they're now moving away from... To give the benefit of doubt I'm assuming a lack of funding has played its part here.

 

[Gray]

Yeah, Cyrus has finally wakened up to the fact that customers think of their external power supplies as a scam

£2,500 for an external supply was excessive (a third of that price is excessive).

You can be sure the full width products will sound good - potential customers know they will cost a lot.
But what they won't want to be told any more, is that they can be improved by adding a 'better', external supply.

 

[TRIPLE A]

I must be the only one but love the half width factor. I had a full cyrus system (with power supplies) in one of their amazing looking racks (Hark or something like that ...).

Without doubt the most eye pleasing system I've had.

Me too even though the PSU costs are eye watering. I'm up to seven Cyrus units now and am strongly thinking to get the rack while they're still around, ahead of the inevitable eighth and final unit that will fit in the rack haha.

 

[Gray]

Me too even though the PSU costs are eye watering. I'm up to seven Cyrus units now and am strongly thinking to get the rack while they're still around, ahead of the inevitable eighth and final unit that will fit in the rack haha.

You really need the rack 👍

I've only had one amp at a time.
Half width it may be, but they still managed to fit a fair old transformer in the 8 amp:

Plus 7 line inputs, and I used them all:

I like direct input selection - need to scroll through inputs on my latest XR-i7 😐

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

That looks like a heat source nightmare. No wonder there’s a lot of failure.

 

[RoA]

That looks like a heat source nightmare. No wonder there’s a lot of failure.

I don’t know about failures but the 8vs2 I had did thermally shut down at higher levels. Agree that cooling is not as good as it could be.

I did not understand why Cyrus did not perforate the top of the case to create additional venting.

Saying that, it only happened at prolonged higher levels.

Other than that, great products imho.

 

[TRIPLE A]

Their earlier power amps had additional holes machined out of the front of the casing - clearly an afterthought.

 

[Gray]

Their earlier power amps had additional holes machined out of the front of the casing - clearly an afterthought.
View attachment 9126View attachment 9127

Yes, my XR amp has the lower front vent holes.
But, without them, my 8 amp did 20+ years (never quietly) with no hint of trouble.
Still looks and sounds as new* - and will be a bargain for someone, boxed, complete, for £300 😉

* When back with the original input labelling:

 

[TRIPLE A]

Now you mention it yes my Power XRs have the lower vent holes, as well as my Pre-XR.
£300 for your 8 is a bargain for sure!

 

[Rodolfo]

I'm surprised it has taken this long. Aside from wide vs. narrow, I've expected integrated amps to routinely integrate streaming (and to end the continuous supply of stand-alone units). Either way, it's a cheap implementation with licensing fees probably exceeding the cost of chips, tiny screens and apps.

 

[Rodolfo]

I had absolutely no width preference when I chose a Cyrus amp.
It was up against full-width Roksan and Arcam models on home loans.
Sound performance was the (very easy) decider - box shape and colour have never influenced my choice of hi-fi.

It was never a factor for me either. I bought the original Cyrus One in 1985 as my first adult, "separate", post-receiver unit because it was so remarkable visually and sonically. It was recommended by the owner of a shop I respected, and for what I knew at the time, I probably liked that my first separate would have non-receiver look. It served me well for >30 years and still powers a secondary or tertiary system, still without a remote and still with its Bluetooth adapter hanging from the back. My replacement is a Rotel 17-incher, but I don't recall even considering that spec. I do recall shopping and holding out for a year or two until I found a unit with as good a phono section.

Go Cyrus!