Cyrus Upgrade

[lbafsaj]

I currently have a Cyrus Pre XPD, with an 8 power. Main music source currently is ipod via an Onkyo NDS1 Dock.

I have some available funds and need advice on what is the best upgrade path. May choices are as follows:

Add another 8 power ?

Add PSXR to either Pre XPD or 8 power, or both ?

Upgrade the Pre XPD to the QX DAC ?

Further down the line, I will use my main music source as either my Laptop or I may invest in a Cyrus CD Transport ? Which will give the

better sound quality ????

Thanks and look forward to the advice.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Which speakers do you use?

 

[Crossie]

Lots of possible upgrade routes from where you are. What sort of budget do gave in mind?

 

[john dolan]

Get a Xpower and biamp with the 8power.Sell the cyrus pre get a m-dac use its onboard pre and feed it with a sbt or laptop.

Option 2 sell the cyrus pre and 8power get a m-dac use internal preamp to drive active speakers like Adam or Genelec.

 

[lbafsaj]

I want to upgrade in stages as funds allow. Have around £ 600 and will probably buy second hand. Looking at options, the QX DAC upgrade is £400, I can get a PSXR from ebay for £300 and an 8 power from ebay for around £500 ???

 

[lbafsaj]

Currently I have KEF IQ5SE, bi wired with QED Revelation Signature cable. Speaker upgrades will be later as I have these running with a home cinema set up and dont want to upgrade my 7.1 system just yet.

 

[lbafsaj]

Currently I have KEF IQ5SE, bi wired with QED Revelation Signature cable. Speaker upgrades will be later as I have these running with a home cinema set up and dont want to upgrade my 7.1 system just yet.

 

[john dolan]

If funds are tight have the 8power upgraded to Xpower or see how much a dealer will give you part exchange for the 8.

Id rather have a single Xpower than 2 8powers.

 

[BronC]

Agree with x-power route

Buy x-power on e-bay and replace your 8 power. Sell your 8 power then use these funds + a bit extra to buy a 2nd x-power. Then use these probably in mono mode??

I think the x-power route will give you a better improvement in SQ then upgrading the DAC.

 

[lbafsaj]

So the X power gives a much better sound quality, or just more scale & power ?

 

[BronC]

Both. It is a better power amplifier from all aspects

 

[john dolan]

I went from Smart power with psxr to mono blocked smartpowers both with psxr to mono blocked Xpowers both with psxr and a 8power is a Smartpower all but name and the difference between them is massive.

i prefer monoblocked Xpowers over monoX.

 

[Crossie]

Sell the 8 power and with the £600 you should be in range of a pair of secondhand Mono X's (which don't need PSX-R's). Job done.

Of course you may then need to upgrade your speakers.

cheers :beer:

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Get a Xpower and biamp with the 8power.Sell the cyrus pre get a m-dac use its onboard pre and feed it with a sbt or laptop.

Option 2 sell the cyrus pre and 8power get a m-dac use internal preamp to drive active speakers like Adam or Genelec.

+1

Exactly what I did three (maybe four?) years ago.

When using the 8 and X together, use the X to drive the treble and bi-wire the speakers thus: 8 left and right drive left and right bass, X left and right drive left and right treble. It sounds counter-intuitive, but the treble actually uses more power overall than the bass, most of which's power is used for the big "oomphs" - bass drums etc. - not the constant mid and uppers. When you get to two X-powers, bi amp in twin mono mode. Works a treat.

PSX-Rs can be added later. They do improve the sound somewhat, but it's not like "night and day" (or insert forum cliche' of choice here). Start with the source (or closest to it) bit of Cyrus kit, then work down the chain from there. PSX-Rs go for about 300 quid on a "popular internet auction site" (showing the traits of my late - BBC Chief Engineer - grandfather there) and you can pick them up as and when the pocket money allows.

As for DACs, pre-amps, etc., the debate will go on about as long as a speaker cable debate. Only the flat earth debate has lasted longer than those.

 

[lbafsaj]

Thanks to all for the help.

So what about the source debate ? Should I go for laptop via the DAC, or a CD Transport ??

 

[john dolan]

I have the CDXTSE with psxr and my SBT using EDO for usb out into the M-dac sounds better than the cd.

The M-dac sounds better than my dacX with psxr.