CYRUS v NAIM pound for pound which is better??

[jc1972]

After hearing the naim xs and naim dac, I'm on the verge of selling current gear and getting this, However I have cyrus cd6se which is good, And also like the smallness of their amps, and they've had great reviews of late, where i demo'd the naim stuff they don't stock cyrus anymore. So if i spent similar amount's, say around £3500 which would sound the best? I know they would differ and it's an opinion on what is best ,But i want this to be last upgrade, so would like to know what people on here think, who have maybe heard both, to chip in with what they think has the superior sound quality.

cheers, jc.

 

[Anonymous]

£3500 is a lot of money, so it would perhaps be best to listen and decide for yourself ...

it's like asking which is better ... Mercedes or BMW? ...

many who own mercedes say it's the best, and likewise with bmw ...

but it will be interesting to see the comments on this thread

 

[staggerlee]

naim, naim, naim

 

[Frank Harvey]

If you're talking integrated amplifiers, Naim is better value, but once you reach pre/power territory, it's just a case of different. I'd say the Naim is easier to match to more speakers, but it'll come down to which match your own speakers better for your own purposes. Styles of music can also have an effect on your choice too.

As always, the best thing to do is have a listen for yourself.

 

[millerman]

I upgraded with a similar budget. I posted here on my experience.

For the record Naim was better.

check out http://community.whathifi.com/forums/post/358930.aspx

regards

 

[jockey.wilson]

I have owned both.

I think it at the levels of money that you are considering, Cyrus is better sonically overall. Build quality is another matter...

BUT, notwithstanding the fact that generally both Manufacturers major on timing and pace, they do differ and you need to listen to both.

 

[jc1972]

millerman:
I upgraded with a similar budget. I posted here on my experience.

For the record Naim was better.

check out http://community.whathifi.com/forums/post/358930.aspx

regards

Cheers, interesting read, Also the guy where i had the demo said he stopped stocking cyrus because matched up against the naim gear nearly all his customers chose the naim, Weather this was sales talk i don't know, but all the latest cyrus gear gets such great reviews thought i'd ask on here to see what came up. Also it will be intergrated amps i'm after.( it's a space thing) and i'm so sold on the naim dac cyrus would have to be really something to match it.(i'll be using cd6 se as transport). My speakers will be upgraded too, heard the cm9's and spendor a6's but think i might go for stand mounts, again space dictates, b&w 805s perhaps.

 

[Ragworm]

Which is better? Better for what? Better for who?

 

[jc1972]

dim_span:
£3500 is a lot of money, so it would perhaps be best to listen and decide for yourself ...

it's like asking which is better ... Mercedes or BMW? ...

Your'e right, as i said it's a very opinionated topic, wish it was easier to get the answer, i.e, which make is better at reproducing all types of music with good speakers!!?? A straight vote could be the answer? Or i feel another sat morning demo somewhere that does the equivalent cyrus gear if poss.

 

[jc1972]

Ragworm, well put point, interesting again, like i said i'm sold on the naim, (the dac with sonos going into it really is the nuts!) so i wont be using cd as much, Its just what is the best sound, Between their comparable amps, pound for pound in a straight fight, whatever music, whatever volume through proven speakers. Which is generally considered the superior? I think this wont be solved anytime soon!

 

[chebby]

Ragworm:It made all sorts of thumps and thuds when you switch on or change sources. On the plus side, its charms were more subtle. I couldn't pin it down on any one aspect of performance and say that's definitely better, it's just that, in the long run, I enjoyed it more. My conclusion was, the Cyrus is a scientific instrument but the Naim is a musical one!

With my old Rega R3's the Nait 5i thumped at power-on but now - with the N-Sats - I just get a quiet click.

I am bemused at your experience of 'thumps and thuds' when changing source though. Mine is utterly silent in this respect, even when the volume is up. (Whether using the buttons on the amp or via the remote.)

Your Nait XS has an active pre-amp section whereas the Nait 5i pre-amp is passive. Maybe that accounts for the difference. Either way, I would urge you to get it serviced under warranty.

 

[jockey.wilson]

How long is a piece of string???

I love the Naim sound, and my previous Cd3.5, NAC 102/NAP140 sounded great. I changed for reasons of domestic harmony...

But when downsizing, I have to say that for what I was prepared to pay, the Cyrus 8XPd was as good as the (admittedly older) NAC 102/NAP140, AND better to my ears than an Nait XS. The higher end gear is a different story.

I don't think you can generalise about what brand is better. Both have strong bits of kit in their lineup. The 8XPd is certainly the best amp I heard for the money IN MY OPINION. You may think differently.

By the way, £2000 is a lot to blow on a DAC with a total budget of 3500. Re-assessing that would by you a lot of amplification; Naim Supernait or Cyrus PreXPd and X Power, for example...

 

[jc1972]

jockey.wilson:
How long is a piece of string???

I love the Naim sound, and my previous Cd3.5, NAC 102/NAP140 sounded great. I changed for reasons of domestic harmony...

But when downsizing, I have to say that for what I was prepared to pay, the Cyrus 8XPd was as good as the (admittedly older) NAC 102/NAP140, AND better to my ears than an Nait XS. The higher end gear is a different story.

I don't think you can generalise about what brand is better. Both have strong bits of kit in their lineup. The 8XPd is certainly the best amp I heard for the money IN MY OPINION. You may think differently.

By the way, £2000 is a lot to blow on a DAC with a total budget of 3500. Re-assessing that would by you a lot of amplification; Naim Supernait or Cyrus PreXPd and X Power, for example...

cheers again for your thoughts, it's looking like it's a personal taste thing, I thought ( rather hoped!) it could be proven otherwise.

And the budget of £3500 is for an amp and dac, not total, looking at 2k for speakers. ( when current gear sold, and credit card finally cleared.....ready to ramp up again!)

 

[chebby]

jc1972:...it's looking like it's a personal taste thing, I thought ( rather hoped!) it could be proven otherwise.

It would not have been 'proven otherwise' even if 100 staunch Naim (or Cyrus) fans had lined up to tell you their chosen brand was 'better'. Ultimately that would merely be 100 opinions.

You really must try and hear both.

 

[jockey.wilson]

Chebby is right...

Listen to both and be happy in the knowledge that whatever you end up going for will put a smile on your face and help support the British Hi Fi industry!

 

[jc1972]

Another demo it is then.

It already looks like it's a close call and down to personal taste, And that there is no general feeling that either is better or worse when comparing equal costing kit. I'll have to let my ears decide!

Had a bad experience with the shop that sold me the cyrus cd6se (tried to palm me off with the demo one i'd listened to as brand new) maybe that's playing on my mind too.

It'll be interesting deciding though.

 

[True Blue]

Ragworm:
By comparison, the Naim was relatively crude. There's no standby mode so you can't switch it off from the remote. It made all sorts of thumps and thuds when you switch on or change sources.

The Naim amps are designed to be on at all times, when in quiescent mode they take less than 20w I think. My XS does not clunk clatter or anything when changing sources even if it is done at high volume. As per Chebbies suggestion this unit needs looking at.

My personal take on Cyrus / Naim. Listened to both on demo, Cyrus was very detailed, a bit harsh for my liking, but lacked the passion of the Naim, the Naim is nowhere near as detailed / analytical. So it depends if you want to listen to your music or analyse it IMO

Hence why I chose Naim

 

[Sliced Bread]

jc1972:
Another demo it is then.

It already looks like it's a close call and down to personal taste, And that there is no general feeling that either is better or worse when comparing equal costing kit. I'll have to let my ears decide!

Had a bad experience with the shop that sold me the cyrus cd6se (tried to palm me off with the demo one i'd listened to as brand new) maybe that's playing on my mind too.

It'll be interesting deciding though.

Go to a different shop

 

[Sliced Bread]

jc1972:
Another demo it is then.

It already looks like it's a close call and down to personal taste, And that there is no general feeling that either is better or worse when comparing equal costing kit. I'll have to let my ears decide!

Had a bad experience with the shop that sold me the cyrus cd6se (tried to palm me off with the demo one i'd listened to as brand new) maybe that's playing on my mind too.

It'll be interesting deciding though.

Go to a different shop

 

[jc1972]

Cheers for all reply's, or should that be opinions! getting the feeling that naim is a more tight 'musical' sound compared to the 'clinical' reproduction of cyrus, As a matter of tastes.

I'll have the cyrus demo soon, to compare ( the sound of the xs, dac and cdx2 will be in my mind for a long time yet, i don't care what any expert/professor says! re - sound memory)

The cyrus gear will have to really go some. should be good.