Where now for my Cyrus 8vs2 system

[pompeygreg]

First off, my current hifi is a Cyrus 8 vs2 amplifier, feeding a pair of B&W 685 speakers. Music is currently fed from my Mac laptop (from NAS) via a Cambridge Audio DacMagic.

I am happy with streaming, although I have CDs I love the flexibility of choosing my music from a screen / random selection. I've had a Sonos system in the past and have recently been experimenting with Amarra, but not getting on brilliantly with it.

In recent months I've been thinking about how I can improve my system - my driving objectives being improved sound, reduction in "boxes" or simplification of the process.

Options I have considered:

1) Get the 8vs2 upgraded to an 8 DAC - Pros: makes use of current kit, cons: significant cost for upgrade vs new and no change to the source of the music

2) Replace the 8vs2 / DacMagic with something like Naim's Unitilite

3) Go for a Mac Mini running Plex as my source

What are people's thoughts? (yes I know I need to go and demo!) Am I missing options?

 

[ellisdj]

A more expensive option but with big sound upgrade over your current source is to look at Meridian Digital Meadia Systems or formerlly called Sooloos - which is an upgradeable and scalable streaming solution - controlled via an ipad

The cheapest option to get started is an MC200 £2k new or cheaper used or ex display. Thats is a 500gb (v1) / 1TB (v2) storage and either digital or analogue out - so its one box for all and its very small.

Sound quality is very good - suppsedly somewhere on par with one of their G08 CD players - but you get the newest apodising and upsampling.

This is then upgradebale in 2 ways - Storage you can upgrade with the MD600 (unlimited storage) or sound you can upgrade to the MS600 which is a much better dac / digital output stage. This is suposed to be nearly as good as an 808,2 cd player which was about £7.5k when new

I think that step is a step too far with the current speakers but its nice to know you can upgrade and still use what you have currently bought. Yiu can use the Mc200 asa storage anywhere on your home network and control for the MS600 as an excellent ouput stage for music

 

[pompeygreg]

Thanks for your reply.

A big sound upgrade, but presumbably still requiring the DAC, so in reality it only replaces the laptop element of my system.

 

[ellisdj]

The MC200 is an all in one system and the also a scalable and upgradeable. Its a small unit the size of a Nas box

Meridian term it - Store, Control and Source - you need all 3 for MDMS (Sooloos) - the MC200 is all 3 - you store your music on it, control it via Ipad and its your source for either analogue or digial to Meridian DSP Speakers

It has analogue output to a high standard - they say to one of their CD Player standards which is high £2k+ and it uses their latest upsampling and apodising

This system is then upgadeable in the ways I mentioned before - storage or sound quality or both and it goes right up to about the best money can buy.

The upgrade to an MS600 is very big - that is a very good source indeed, probs good enough for most people for the rest of their life

Its a system you can keep for life and keep upgrading - there are several SSAV dealers that stock it - but if you want my reco in a good dealer its Rick from Audioimages in Sheffield

Its an idea for you to look into as it solves all your demands - as you say though get a demo, I would demo the MC200 and then the MC200 to MS600 just so you know whats in store

 

[manicm]

Pompeygreg - there's one option you haven't considered yet: Since you have a DACMagic why waste it? Why not try to borrow a Cyrus Stream X2 from a dealer and hook it up to the DACMagic? The Stream X2 does not have a pre-amp or DAC so is a pure streaming transport.

Yes this does not reduce your box count, but you can upgrade your 8vs2 to a 8 DAC later, thus saving a bit of space.

(Hint, I'm hoping to go this way later this year 😉 )

 

[pompeygreg]

That's definitely worth consideration. I haven't seen the Cyrus Ipad app yet so will have a look at that. I did like the Naim app at the Bristol show.

 

[philipjohnwright]

If you want better sound then IMHO you should be looking at upgrading the speakers first. You've got a good amp and the DAC is fine; both are more than capable of driving better speakers. If you want to stick withB&W (and why not) then consider the CM range. Lots available used as well.

 

[ellisdj]

The Op wants to reduce boxes. simplify his way of streaming and improve his source sound quality.

Thats 3 wishes in 1 - changing the speakers doesnt do any of those.

Start with the source / streaming solution then work down, get that as good as you can then work down - you have your amp -- so then you buy the speakers that get the best from the above. The speaker only sounds as good as the source to start with...