Archives: Reviews

“This compact beauty has what it takes to scare many heavyweight competitors. In any case, you never have the feeling that you are underpowered with just 2 x 90 watts. More importantly, the i9-XR drives very good speakers with ease and this results in tonal openness and spatial transparency. The technology takes a back seat when it comes to music reproduction. The integrated HiRes DAC is excellent, as is the phono MM stage which satisfies even more demanding users. The price/performance ratio of this Brit is excellent.”

“Although the i9-XR sounds like a typical Cyrus, the overall tangibility and vividness of the sound have been improved here. This modernized aesthetic is best characterized by three simple words: timbre, power and emotion. And the fourth – resolution, because it is present here in a high measure. Therefore, with a clear conscience, I put the newly launched Cyrus i9-XR on an honorary shelf with the inscription “5/5 recommendation”!”

“Cyrus wants to prove with the i9-XR that you can also expect high-end performance from something that is a fraction of the size of a typical hi-fi device. A mission in which the British largely succeed, because small clearly does not stand for weak here. The small size has some consequences for the user comfort, such as a smaller screen (which is very rich in contrast) and a busy back panel. However, they do not detract from the core values of the Cyrus i9-XR: playing your music in high quality and in a warm, intimate way, even on Goliath speakers that are many times larger than this little David.” 

“It’s amazing how many features – and also sheer power in watts – the developers have put into these two half-width boxes. In a double pack, the two components convince with explosive dynamics and an open, unencumbered, transparent reproduction as well as the bottom line that is an unbridled joy of playing,”

“Pricewise, at £4,000 plus, this is chunky, but you have to consider this has a seriously decent DAC, a competent MM phono stage and a better than average headphone output.  There is plenty to merit the Cyrus Pre-XR and it should rightly receive serious consideration in this price band if you have a power amplifier looking for a partner.”

“Can you do better than that? Sure, but one needs to consider the pricing context. So, seekers of the Holy Grail should be content with my message that for the price asked for by Cyrus, it is very difficult to find a better performing competitor.”

“Very well equipped do-it-all solution with modern DAC and state-of-the-art, menu-driven technology. Sonically flawless with finely balanced tuning that hits exactly the right nerve. Price/performance: HIGH-END.”

“A very well equipped preamplifier that leaves nothing to be desired and just lets music be music. This is how high-end works!”

“The new Cyrus Pre-XR is demonstrably an audiophile space miracle. It competes as a preamplifier, but in the half-width housing there is also a DAC, a phono stage and a headphone amp. In terms of sound, quality and character, Cyrus has retained its trademarks – and yet done everything differently…”