Cyrus - shades of Quartz Silver?

[admin_exported]

Clare Newsome:But we've yet to encounter a player with these problems -
May I ask if you've encountered any variation with the paint finish of any of the Cyrus units you've recently reviewed?

Awards 2009 issue, page 113, CD8se.
Nov 2009 issue, page 66, 8XP.

Of course it's difficult to judge from photographs printed in a magazine, but I've reason to believe that these are of the lighter finish. The last 8se unit I had was VERY light compared to my other five Cyrus units. The fact that Cyrus continue to build product into cases that are finished in a totally different shade of Quartz Silver shows contempt for their customers.

Cyrus audio systems are likely to consist of more units than most, and in light of this, it is even more imperative that they are able to give a consistent colour match for their products.

Have you compared the two units mentioned above side by side with units you've had from say six to twelve months ago?

The images below show two Cyrus units. Yes, the units are both Quartz Silver!

 

[Anonymous]

I've added the images. Any comments please?

 

[Anonymous]

There is "original" silver, "quartz" silver (like most of my units), and now it appears to be what I will christen "sandpaper" silver. I completed my Cyrus setup recently with the addition of a DAB8. This has a rough surface finish (deliberate I hope) compared to the smooth surface quartz silver of the other units. I'm not worried that much as I'm not into stroking my hifi and you can't see any difference in the rack, but it may be the case they have changed the surface texture on the casting or finishes thereto recently.

 

[Anonymous]

Darren Heal:There is "original" silver, "quartz" silver (like most of my units), and now it appears to be what I will christen "sandpaper" silver.
Good description.

I completed my Cyrus setup recently with the addition of a DAB8. This has a rough surface finish (deliberate I hope) compared to the smooth surface quartz silver of the other units.
No, I'm certain that the finish is not deliberately meant to be that way. The finish of the 8se in the photograph was just as you describe - light, flat, matt and rough to the feel. This batch of Quartz Silver cases came poorly finished and it is simply that Cyrus could not be bothered to have them re-worked to correct. It's likely that once this "light" batch of cases are used, the finish will mysteriously return to the original and darker "correct" shade.

but it may be the case they have changed the surface texture on the casting or finishes thereto recently.
Wouldn't have thought so, but someone from What Hi-Fi can confirm for us - why the drastic difference in finish?

 

[Anonymous]

why not ask cyrus directly

 

[Anonymous]

one off:why not ask cyrus directly
Oh I have. They simply insisted that the unit was Quartz Silver, with no explanation as to why there is such a huge variance. Cyrus do not like to converse with me, and I can understand why. Many Cyrus purchasers appear to be happy to accept their products with these defects and flaws and I am not.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Here's what Cyrus told us when we raised this issue:

"The specification of the paint has not changed. The paint has a very high metal flake content and is subject to some natural variance. Quartz Silver and Brushed Black have been the standard Cyrus finishes since late 2005." - Jonathan Green
New Technology & Development Mgr, Cyrus Audio Ltd.

The models we have (old and new) have some variance, but not to the degree you describe - and not to a level that you'd notice in a rack.

 

[Anonymous]

Bet you're on their persistent writer log Quenzer........

.

My latest unit is rough but it's great for itchy fingers......

If you don't want the PSX-R I'll give it a good home.

 

[Anonymous]

if every other manufacturer manages to get this right then you have to query cyrus for their choice of finishing material

 

[Tonestar1]

An old friend used to work for linn. On the first batch of the CD12 the finish was less than Linn considered perfect. Staff members had an offer on them for 1k apparently as long as you signed a contract promising not to resell. I know there is a big price difference but 1k for a cd player is still a lot of money. I'd expect the finish to be pristine.

 

[Anonymous]

Graham_Thomas:Bet you're on their persistent writer log Quenzer........

.
I do hope so.

My latest unit is rough but it's great for itchy fingers......
Ah now, you're onto something. You've found the alternate use for this finish - makes a great nail-file!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:Here's what Cyrus told us when we raised this issue:
"The specification of the paint has not changed. The paint has a very high metal flake content and is subject to some natural variance. Quartz Silver and Brushed Black have been the standard Cyrus finishes since late 2005." - Jonathan Green
New Technology & Development Mgr, Cyrus Audio Ltd.

The models we have (old and new) have some variance, but not to the degree you describe - and not to a level that you'd notice in a rack.

Really? Yet I can notice it from the images in the magazine! Or am I wrong about the two units mentioned?

That really is a sorry excuse from Cyrus, as is usual.
The fact is, the finish HAS been consistent for years, I have units from 2007, 2008 & 2009, the latest, a PreXPd, purchased only a couple of months ago - all are a perfect match (as per the PSX-R in the image above), so Cyrus CAN keep the finish consistent if they really WANT to.

There is simply no excuse to be given for this change.

As you can see from the image, that is a HUGE difference and sticks out like a thumb that has been repeatedly hit with a very large hammer! And yes, I DO notice it on MY rack.

I, like many other Cyrus owners I expect, received an email recently, it's entitled Cyrus - Product News. This is what they say in the final paragraph:

The Passion Within

At Cyrus we take pride in every single unit that we produce. All Cyrus products are designed developed and manufactured at our laboratories in Cambridgeshire. By the time each product is finally hand finished and carefully packaged, it has undergone on average at least 14 tests during its final production phase. This ensures that every product meets our exacting standards and will provide you with many years of listening pleasure.

They don't appear to have so much "pride" or have high enough "exacting standards" to care about keeping the paint finish consistent.

 

[Anonymous]

one off:if every other manufacturer manages to get this right then you have to query cyrus for their choice of finishing material
Precisely.
And as mentioned before. Cyrus systems being multiple-box makes it even more important for them to keep a consistent finish.

 

[SHAXOS]

I dont get it? If you are not happy with a brand just sell and move on. Thats what i would do. Please dont get me wrong im not having a go. Just think if you feel that a manufacturer is not fulfilling their obligations you should not provide them with your custom. I mention this because i noticed you have not been happy with Cyrus for a number of reasons. Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Tonestar1:An old friend used to work for linn. On the first batch of the CD12 the finish was less than Linn considered perfect. Staff members had an offer on them for 1k apparently as long as you signed a contract promising not to resell.
Interesting info on the Linn CD12. There's a company that REALLY cares for its own finished product, and shows that it's not just about the profits.

Perhaps the management at Cyrus should make a visit to the Meridian factory just around the corner, I expect they would learn a great deal. It's obviously all about the profits for Cyrus and is JUST a business, they clearly don't REALLY care as they make out.

I know there is a big price difference but 1k for a cd player is still a lot of money. I'd expect the finish to be pristine.
Me too. Thanks for your agreement.

 

[Anonymous]

SHAXOS:I dont get it? If you are not happy with a brand just sell and move on. Thats what i would do. Please dont get me wrong im not having a go. Just think if you feel that a manufacturer is not fulfilling their obligations you should not provide them with your custom. I mention this because i noticed you have not been happy with Cyrus for a number of reasons. Thanks.
No no, I don't take your comments as having a go.
Dumping Cyrus is something that has crossed my mind several times in the past 18 to 24 months, since trying to obtain one of their SE CD players that was actually useable, and finished to a quality level that would be expected. But then I think why should I? I like the sound of my system and I've invested a lot of time and money into the Cyrus company via the purchase of their products.

 

[Anonymous]

i just joined to give my views on the different colours of cyrus equipment, i completely agree they dont seem to be able to make the units the same colour. its not just the new quartz silver but the classic silver units are the same my old 8 amp is very light silver then i have a x power amp very dark so much so u cant stand them on top of each other. i think its time cyrus did something about it, especially in such a competative market. im soon going to sell all my cyrus stuff because its not good enough, all other manufactures can get it right why cant cyrus use proper quality control.

also i heard from a dealer that one of the reasons for changing the silver and the back colours years ago was the problem of colour matching and now its a problem again.

anyway guy please continue the thread.........

 

[Anonymous]

appletree:
i just joined to give my views on the different colours of cyrus equipment, i completely agree they dont seem to be able to make the units the same colour. its not just the new quartz silver but the classic silver units are the same my old 8 amp is very light silver then i have a x power amp very dark so much so u cant stand them on top of each other. i think its time cyrus did something about it, especially in such a competative market. im soon going to sell all my cyrus stuff because its not good enough, all other manufactures can get it right why cant cyrus use proper quality control.

also i heard from a dealer that one of the reasons for changing the silver and the back colours years ago was the problem of colour matching and now its a problem again.

anyway guy please continue the thread.........

I couldn't care if my CD8SE was purple and red! Strange to sell something based on colour matching alone.

 

[Anonymous]

Graham_Thomas:I couldn't care if my CD8SE was purple and red!
As I said in a previous post in this thread "Many Cyrus purchasers appear to be happy to accept their products with these defects and flaws". If you're not bothered by it then that's absolutely fine.

Strange to sell something based on colour matching alone.
This colour matching issue is but one of a whole host of flaws with Cyrus products, in particular, the SE CD players. Their "exacting standards" are exceptionally low.

In my opinion, the original design of the slot on the SE CD players is so astonishingly poor, that all purchasers of that design should be allowed to return their unit to Cyrus for upgrade to the new "plus" specification free of charge.

 

[Anonymous]

appletree:i completely agree they dont seem to be able to make the units the same colour. its not just the new quartz silver but the classic silver units are the same my old 8 amp is very light silver then i have a x power amp very dark so much so u cant stand them on top of each other.
Oh really? Your information shows that this isn't just a recent issue then.

also i heard from a dealer that one of the reasons for changing the silver and the back colours years ago was the problem of colour matching and now its a problem again.
It's something that would normally be assumed, and a customer wouldn't give a second thought about buying two products from the same manufacturer, one would assume and expect them to match visually. That's really part of the reason why one would purchase a complete system from a single manufacturer isn't it? So that the system looks great aswell as sounds great?

And Cyrus products DO sound great, as many owners will agree. But come on Cyrus, let's have that great sound quality given to us in carefully finished products, that can be positioned next to each other that aren't several different shades of silver and look as though they've been hand painted in someone's old shack out back.

 

[matengawhat]

i understand your frustration - musical fidelity annoying alter the silver colour when they update their ranges - not a lot very subtle but enough to make things not match

also i have a smooth black cyrus amp and its annoying they have changed to the rough finish as i can't by a new cdp to match - why can't they just leave alone

 

[rbantges]

Interesting reading this thread. I've had a couple of issues with Cyrus, but in my case they've been very accommodating. The first problem I had was with my CD8SE scratching some CDs, which appeared to be the rough paint-covered slot surround. Cyrus replaced it for free, upgrading it to the 2010 spec, with the smooth black plastic slot.

My second issue was with a REPRO DAB8.0 that I purchased from Moorgate Acoustics. The paint on the unit was a much darker shade of Quartz Silver than on my PSX-R, 8VS2 and CD8SE. I sent a photo to Moorgate Acoustics and after some brief exchanges, they had agreed that it would be exchanged for a brand new (non-REPRO) unit direct from Cyrus.

This is the kind of customer service that not only means I'll be purchasing from Moorgate Acoustics again, but I'll also persevere with Cyrus because I very much enjoy their sound.

 

[SteveR750]

Quenzer: "Many Cyrus purchasers appear to be happy to accept their products with these defects and flaws". If you're not bothered by it then that's absolutely fine. This colour matching issue is but one of a whole host of flaws with Cyrus products, in particular, the SE CD players. Their "exacting standards" are exceptionally low. .

I'm not sure everyone would see this as a flaw, as far as I know it has no effect on sound quality, only aesthetic appeal, which IMO Cyrus stuff is as good looking as an Austin Allegro: it's downright ugly and typically eccentrically "British" . If it was a shiny mass market thing from Yamaha or similar then I might be upset, but then I would buy that kind of equipment for reasons other than simply SQ. For me Cyrus is ONLY about SQ, as there is little else going for it!