Cyrus

[Ultra Violent]

OK, done the Home Cinema thing, now I want a good 2 channel system for the bedroom. Thinking a Cyrus set-up with Sonos as the source. Spend my money. I like the Cyrus because it is discrete and good quality. Speakers I can delay if I need mega expensive ones to maximise the system, as I have some reasonable monitors. The info i'm after is; how much difference is there between Stereo amp and DAC/Power and Mono Blocks. i.e is the later worth the extra cash?

[navier_stokes]

Do you mean a stereo integrated amp vs. a DAC & two mono power amps?

Is the DAC built into a pre-amp or is it just a DAC? If it is just a DAC you will need a pre-amp as well to control the power amps.

[Mr_Yogi]

Cyrus kit, especially the entry level stuff (integraded amps in particular) has a bit of a marmite sound, so make sure you audition it before you buy with the speakers you ultimately intend to use.

[zagato]

Err, I'd say cyrus is very neutral and appeals to most people. (I can only presume the above poster is referring to naim!)

Anyway, cyrus is fine medium quality kit. If you want some stunning speakers look no further than Dynaudio. Ideally the Focus model 140. These have some of the very best engineered drive units currently made. Most of the money is spent on these top drawer components. The cabinets are very sturdy but rather plain and no frills in the looks department. (Better than tat drivers in flash cabinets, which is what many do!)

Anyway, if you get the real hifi bug and want to upgrade from cyrus at some point, the Dynaudios will still be good enough! - coming from a bit of a past hifi nut who spent circa £20k on Bryston, Benchmark & PMC pro audio gear. After a long, long path, I always come back to Dynaudio. I have the Focus 140 in my bedroom too

[SJobson]

I always thought well of Cyrus kit because it got good reviews. When I actually got round to listening to it, I wasn't so keen (same with Naim, although they don't sound the same).

So, go to a dealer and listen is my advice. Sonos will work with any system.

[Mr_Yogi]

zagato said:

Err, I'd say cyrus is very neutral and appeals to most people. (I can only presume the above poster is referring to naim!)

No Cyrus, as the above poster states, I always thought of it as neutral as I'd read many reviews over the years, but when I actually listened to some of their kit I found I didn't agree, and needed careful speaker partnering. Get it wrong and it can sound harsh and fatiguing after the inital 'wow' fades.

I found this more with the entry level kit such as thier intergrated amps, the short listen I've had of their two box CD spinners and monoblocks I found very impressive. However I do like that type of sound which some describe as sterile, as I used to have Audiolab kit, which was also decribed as neutral in reviews but I wouldn't agree 100% with that either.

If you search online you'll find hundreds of posts from people who hate the Cyrus presentation, so it definitely divides opinion.