Is the Cyrus cd6se2 that good?

[stevebrock]

Is there going to be a step change from my Marantz CD6004? I hoping to audition one with the matching 6a amp and also the Roksan Kandy 2 combo.

My musical taste is varied I'm just finding the Marantz set up I have just a little reserved, hoping for something with a bit more punch. Currently using the CD/PM6004 combo with BX2 speakers. I will be upgrading cd/amp first then speakers when funds allow.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi Steve.

I've heard the CD6SE with Naim, Roksan and Leema. TBH, if you want to listen to music 'by the seat of your pants' then Cyrus will be ideal. By that I mean it's an instant impact machine, whereas the Roksan CDP will be better suited for long listening sessions. Also Cyrus and MAs aren't a great mix.

I would say keep your current CDP and feed the music via Arcam rDac, Rega Dac or MF V1 Dac. If you're determined to change machine I'd look at Rega Apollo or Arcam CD17. You'll achieve a far better balance than with the Cyrus.

Good luck, pp

 

[ngibbs]

I think so. I had my CD6 SE upgraded recently, and it really blew me away when I first heard it: warm, revealing, spine-tingling in fact. Much better than my Sonos, for instance, which I'd be relying on while the CD player was away. However, not all the reliability issues seem to have been sorted (the reason I had mine taken in for repair/upgrading to be honest), and the player does seem to jump on occassion. A terrific machine......when it's doing what it should do! An upgrade from the Marantz CD 6004 - I would say probably yes. If I was you, though, I'd be thinking about streaming (despite what I just said about my Sonos!): a decent, not necessarily expensive, laptop + decent DAC. That's ceratinly where I'm going in the next few months.

 

[stevebrock]

I keep trying to ignore the streaming option,but guess I can't for much longer! I'm finding it a bit of a minefield though with all the Dacs on the market with stories of them taking hours to run in, how can you try different dacs if they all need running in. I did visitthe DAC route a few weeks ago, but have heard conflicting opinion that a DAC using my marantz as a transport isn't worth it? I was looking at the arcam rDAC (the wireless one) using my marantz as the transport and also have the facility to stream lossless from my iMac!

Would the arcam rDAC outperform the Cyrus? Or would I need to send more money on a DAC

Thanks guys

 

[plastic penguin]

I keep trying to ignore the streaming option,but guess I can't for much longer! I'm finding it a bit of a minefield though with all the Dacs on the market with stories of them taking hours to run in, how can you try different dacs if they all need running in. I did visitthe DAC route a few weeks ago, but have heard conflicting opinion that a DAC using my marantz as a transport isn't worth it? I was looking at the arcam rDAC (the wireless one) using my marantz as the transport and also have the facility to stream lossless from my iMac!

Would the arcam rDAC outperform the Cyrus? Or would I need to send more money on a DAC

Thanks guys

It isn't so much about whether the rDac will outperform the Cyrus, it's about system synergy. The Cyrus is a fabulous machine... in the right set-up. I would say it is too bright for your current kit. You would need to look at Spendor, Dynadio or Epos speakers, especially with a Cyrus amp as well.

As regards Dac dems, dealers should have them run in so it shouldn't be an issue.

D you listen to music for long periods?

 

[The_Lhc]

I keep trying to ignore the streaming option,but guess I can't for much longer! I'm finding it a bit of a minefield though with all the Dacs on the market with stories of them taking hours to run in, how can you try different dacs if they all need running in.

They don't, it's nonsense.

 

[stevebrock]

As I said in my initial post,it's not my intention to keep the marantz kit and speakers, I will as funds allow buy a Cyrus 6a amp and speakers to match the Cyrus gear, but I can only afford 1 component at a time every 3 months.

Im not trying to build a system around the marantz and bx2s, but build one around the Cyrus 6se2

 

[the record spot]

Hi Steve, not sure of the point of the thread if you've got the route map planned out. Cyrus is apparently voiced with more detail and "in your face" which some find bright. You might want to bear in mind that this is the kind of sound you want before splashing the cash?

I prefer more of a balance which is easier to live with (read: effortless) over longer listening sessions - I have my stereo on all the time for music or TV/movies duty so it needs to fit the bill, if you only listen in short-ish bursts then the Cyrus might be just the ticket.

The CD6 will certainly be different from the Marantz, but "better" is moot; Marantz have a long and rather brilliant pedigree when it comes to turning out sub-£500 players that you can easily categorise under "brilliant". I've had three of their machines to date (the current CD52 Mk II SE, the SA7001-KI, and the non-SE CD52 Mk II about 20 years ago) and they have all been very fine - lovely presentation, great with all kinds of music.

My suggestion would be to buy a different pair of speakers if the BX2 pair don't do it. Then an amp. Those two will have a greater impact on the resulting sound than changing a CD player will (IMO).

 

[Anonymous]

Very happy with my CD8SE2.... beats everything else i hook up to my Cyrus.

This week I did get a HiFace2 and some 24/192 downloads which I attached with an RCA from Cardas to my macbook pro.... only listened to a few tracks.... they did sound exceptionally clean but I have to test further.

Up til then, the Cyrus CDP over analogue RCA beat my MBP over optical with 24/96 in my opinion. It just had something magical.

 

[plastic penguin]

As I said in my initial post,it's not my intention to keep the marantz kit and speakers, I will as funds allow buy a Cyrus 6a amp and speakers to match the Cyrus gear, but I can only afford 1 component at a time every 3 months.

Im not trying to build a system around the marantz and bx2s, but build one around the Cyrus 6se2

If you've already dem'd the new Cyruses then great. If not I'd look at others and see how they 'grab you'. They are pretty distinct sounding...

 

[stevebrock]

I take on board everything you say, thank you.

However I'm very tempted as my local hifi dealer has CD6se 2 in black for £550....... As they are B stock from Cyrus, they just have imperfections in the casing, they still come with the standard Cyrus 2 year warranty.

At this price I think it's a bargain too good to miss!!

 

[stevebrock]

Krlock3,

What music do you listen too on your Cyrus kit?

 

[FennerMachine]

I had an all Cyrus system for a few years with Mission 782 speakers and then Von Schweikert vr1's.

I enjoyed the system but I ended up avoiding lots of CD's and some tracks as they where too fatiguing I eventually could not listen to them even as a first track during a listening session!

I still have my CD player and power amps.

With another change of speakers and change of pre-amp I think I'm now content with the system.

I can listen to all those tracks now.

As has already been said an all Cyrus system is not to everyone’s liking.

If the CD player is a real bargain you could always demo it with a small range of amps/speakers and if it works for you get it knowing it works with various kit. Then you've got three months of demoing before your next purchase!

 

[plasterman]

If it were me I'd buy the cyrus 6 dac and use the marantz as transport and then change out the speakers.

 

[ifor]

I was looking at the arcam rDAC (the wireless one) using my marantz as the transport and also have the facility to stream lossless from my iMac!

Would the arcam rDAC outperform the Cyrus? Or would I need to send more money on a DAC

Thanks guys

It isn't so much about whether the rDac will outperform the Cyrus, it's about system synergy. The Cyrus is a fabulous machine... in the right set-up. I would say it is too bright for your current kit. You would need to look at Spendor, Dynadio or Epos speakers, especially with a Cyrus amp as well.

As regards Dac dems, dealers should have them run in so it shouldn't be an issue.

D you listen to music for long periods?

I agree 100% with pp's comment about synergy. In my system the iMac + Arcam rDAC gets very, very close to the Arcam CD8SE.

 

[ifor]

Of course I meant Cyrus CD8SE.

 

[stevebrock]

Hi everyone, thanks for all your input, I'm going to have a rethink about my whole system!

I am mostly happy with the sound I'm getting with female vocals sounding very good, however I'm struggling with stuff like Kasabian, oasis etc, everything seems so cluttered and is quite fatiguing to listen to.... I don't think changing to the Cyrus kit is going to sort this out and it's quite a lot of money to spend if I don't get an improvement.

Any thoughts on wether I should changed anything?

My system is Marantz CD/PM6004, BX2 speakers on atacama stands and chord crimson plus/silver carnival cables.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

 

[bluebrazil]

Your system is good as it is, if you want greater detail cyrus is the way to go but you might be changing those speakers very quickly. If i was you i would be thinking about an 8dac amp as most of the speakers cyrus kit sings with tend to like more power, use your cdp as a transport in the meantime and upgrade to the cyrus transport cdp when you can. I will warn you though that this is an expensive journey as you will then want a psxr then the qx upgrade to the dac Plus look at about a grand for a pair of speakers that will do the system justice.

 

[bluebrazil]

if it was me tho i'd just buy a stream xp and an x power, it would be in a different class to anything you have thought about and have great functionality, i wont ever buy another cdp.

 

[bluebrazil]

if it was me tho i'd just buy a stream xp and an x power, it would be in a different class to anything you have thought about and have great functionality, i wont ever buy another cdp.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi everyone, thanks for all your input, I'm going to have a rethink about my whole system!

I am mostly happy with the sound I'm getting with female vocals sounding very good, however I'm struggling with stuff like Kasabian, oasis etc, everything seems so cluttered and is quite fatiguing to listen to.... I don't think changing to the Cyrus kit is going to sort this out and it's quite a lot of money to spend if I don't get an improvement.

Any thoughts on wether I should changed anything?

My system is Marantz CD/PM6004, BX2 speakers on atacama stands and chord crimson plus/silver carnival cables.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

The hard reality of hi-fi, and a lot of enthusiasts won't admit to, is that it's a compromise. Doesn't matter how much money you chuck at it, obtaining the Holy grail is unobtainable... if you want a punchy, solid soundstage you generally lose a little detail and openness. Likewise, the flipside is the Cyrus: searing detail and great with vocals but you'll lack some of the heft of the Roksan or similar brands.

Hi-fi, harking back to a previous post, is all about finding that ideal balance, hence why I mix 'n' match...

 

[stevebrock]

Sounds like a case of better the devil you know !

 

[plastic penguin]

Sounds like a case of better the devil you know !

Well no. that's too simplistic. " Better the devil you like," would sum that up better. That's why we all recommend a shop or home dem before handing over your hard earned...

 

[stevebrock]

Going off on a different tangent, obviously a lot of people here are suggesting not bother with a new cd player as the cd6004 is a fine machine, would replacing my amp with something like the Rega Brio r give me a bit more control? My local shop says I can take one home and demo it with my existing kit? I'm looking for a bit more punch

 

[plastic penguin]

Going off on a different tangent, obviously a lot of people here are suggesting not bother with a new cd player as the cd6004 is a fine machine, would replacing my amp with something like the Rega Brio r give me a bit more control? My local shop says I can take one home and demo it with my existing kit? I'm looking for a bit more punch

Don't think anyone has suggested not to bother with upgrading your Marantz CDP. What we do say is listen to a couple of other options, along with the Cyrus, and see which one really 'grabs you'.

I spent close on two years before I decided to to buy the Leema. My old Arcam amp is terrific for the price and some... and others I heard - below the grand mark - had their own wonderful qualities: Roksan Kandy, Cyrus 8VS2, Primare i21, Rotel, Creek and many others. Only the Creek gave me the synergy and uplift in quality to really satisfy. Unfortunately, it lacked the inputs needed. In fact I was running out of brands to try within my budget, so I turned to Naim XS, Audio Analogue, Roksan Caspian M1, Bryston and Leema. After a long and frustrating journey the Leema drew the short straw.