cyrus 8xpd or peachtree nova

[moosey]

Having got the sonos 'must have music everywhere' bug, i have rediscovered my love of music. Now i'm listening to more music than in the last 15 years, i have decided my 20yr old marantz cdp and amp could be justifiably replaced.

I was thinking of a new amp, dac and cdp, but i was introduced to the Nova and it could well be the solution. I would like to use my ZP90 as primary source, and the thought of a combined amp/dac would allow more money to be spent on speakers.

Anyone compared the Nova with the 8xpd

or any other ideas?

thanks mike

 

[Anonymous]

I'd imagine they're chalk and cheese, but have only heard the Cyrus fleetingly. The Nova I have heard extensively. With its tube preamp stage it has a slightly warm but,dynamic sound that I find really appealing.

I heard it with Chario speakers - wonderful, silky-smooth presentation. Very versatile piece of equipment too - and doesn't it have built-in provision for Sonos?

 

[moosey]

the ability to hide a ZP90 inside is nice, but not essential. I had previously been looking at a Audiolab 8200CD as both cdp and dac(for zp90) and paired with perhaps a cyrus 6xp. Total cost £1700.

Considering my move to NAS based music, the idea of an amp/dac combo appeals both visually and cost wise. But I don't want to go down that path if i keep thinking 'for a bit more I could have had...'

Having said all that, £1700 would be absolute max outlay for amp + dac/cdp.

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sure I read on one of the US forums that the Audiolab CD player was designed by the same guy as the Peachtree.

I think the Dac sections are probably very similar as they both use the ESS SabreDac chip in a similar circuit layout, using multiple regulated power supplies and adjustable filter slopes etc.

I guess the decision comes down to 2 things - Do you still need a CD transport when you have a Sonos? Does it make more sense to have the Dac in the CDP, connected to the amp by analogue cables, or just have the Dac in the Amp itself.

 

[moosey]

TBW,

thanks for that info; i'll look into designer/component similarities.

with the sonos as primary source, i don't really need a cdp; i can always use my old marantz as a transport and feed my newer dac. The question is whether the dac in the Peachtree or Cyrus amp is the better. The second question is whether these two would beat using the dac in the audiolab.

From a cost and aestheticpoint of view, the Peachtree would be first, cyrus amp/dac second and audiolab cdp with seperate amp third.

the performance rating could be different?

thanks

 

[eternaloptimist]

I would be wary of using the DAC in the 8XPd as the main source...
I used the DAC in the PreXPd (identical) and it is quite "muffled" - easily beaten by the CD6SE analogue as a source. With a better DAC, the sound is fantastic, so I would assume this would be the case with the 8XPd.
I would suggest either getting the 8XPdQx (the Qx DAC I believe is significantly better) or perhaps the 8XP and an external DAC - the former is "neater", the latter gives more flexibility.

Just my 2 cents.