CD Player/Transport Reviews

Cyrus CDi-XR CD player Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital sources: Denafrips Ares II DAC augmented with Sonore opticalRendu, Small Green Computer sonicTransporter i5, Small Green Computer power supply, TRENDnet switch, streaming Roon/Tidal/Qobuz via Apple iPad mini.
Preamplification: J E Sugden Masterclass LA-4.
Power amplifier: LKV Research Veros One PWR+.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity O/96.
Cables: Interconnect (RCA): Triode Wire Labs Spirit II. Digital: Hosa DRA-502 RCA to RCA coaxial cable. Speaker: Auditorium 23. Power cable: manufacturers' own. Sonore systemOptique fiberoptic Ethernet cable. USB: in-akustik Reference USB 2.0.
Accessories: Kuzma Plastis 65 isolation platform, IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius line conditioner, Pro-Ject VC-S2 ALU Record Cleaning Machine, Audiodesksysteme Pro Premium Ultrasonic Vinyl Cleaner, Salamander five-tier rack; IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards (under preamp, Thorens turntable, integrated amps); mahogany blocks (2" × 2" × 0.5") under boards.
Listening room: 12' L × 10' W × 12' H, system set up along long wall; suspended wood floor, 6"-thick walls (plaster over 2×4), wood-beamed ceiling.—Ken Micallef

COMPANY INFO
Cyrus Audio Ltd.
US distributor: Fidelity Imports, LLC
Manalapan, New Jersey
fidelityimports.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Michael King's picture
Submitted by Michael King on April 8, 2022 - 11:53am

Appreciate the CD vs streaming comparisons and music recommendations. As one who listens to both formats, I question the necessity of a stand alone CD player. I purchased my first DAC in 2010. At the time I was in the market for a new CD player. The player I owned (McIntosh MCD201) had required two factory repairs for a faulty transport and I sold it. A salesperson talked me out of buying another CD player because it puts the owner at the mercy of the transport. I could relate. How many DVD players are out there? I spin CDs in an early 2000s Pioneer DV-353 feeding a Moon 280D through the entry level Transparent cable with wonderful results. If the Pioneer cacks out, I can replace it for little cost. Just sayin'.

partain's picture
Submitted by partain on April 9, 2022 - 5:03am

Amen to that .!

If a magazine would pursue affordable audio and at least mention the elephant that might be in the room , as you have pointed out in this one , I'd be up for a subscription.

My need for million-dollar turntables is waning , no , it's morphing into disgust .

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on April 10, 2022 - 4:31pm

Brings me immense pleasure!

partain's picture
Submitted by partain on April 10, 2022 - 4:59pm

Please , Sir .

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on April 12, 2022 - 11:22am

Analog playback has many virtues that digital in any form, does not.

Nonetheless, it has been said many times in many publications that CD data fed from a transport has a different sound signature and higher SQ compared to just streaming. There obviously many factors at play that modifies that statement.

More importantly, many millions of CD owners have huge collections of compact discs. Many of those music lovers don't feel a need to spend countless hours transferring data from CD to digital storage, or even relegate their collections to a garage sale or used cd shop.

Many also enjoy interacting with their expensive audio gear, CD allows that, though nowhere near analog tape or vinyl.

Those with large CD collections see the value in this Cyrus product, regardless the perfunctory comments leveled at it...

jimtavegia's picture
Submitted by jimtavegia on April 9, 2022 - 6:14pm

I still have my PS1 and it still plays CDs. I have never had a transport fail in my audio systems including 3 old Sony DVPNS 755's (2003) and a Yamaha S1800 from 2007 and they are all used every day I have owned them. They are all DAC drivers (transports) except for the S1800 that still plays SACDs. None of the Sony's will play SACDs anymore. I have had one CD player/burner fail, but at 74 I consider myself lucky in that regard.

MBMax's picture
Submitted by MBMax on April 9, 2022 - 10:26am

I suppose I'll rip my CD's to a server or migrate to more streaming one day. But for now, I really enjoy combing the library (LP's & CD's), looking for the perfect piece of music, loading it up and enjoying it and the booklet notes all over again.
It's a participation sport and I like as much participation as possible.

jimtavegia's picture
Submitted by jimtavegia on April 9, 2022 - 11:55am

Should we not expect SOTA in a $2000 player if a $500 Project S2 DAC can be class A? I hope I am not being unfair?

ok's picture
Submitted by ok on April 9, 2022 - 3:24pm

quitted streaming. I don't need all this "new music" readily available at my hand. I like certain things and these things are eventually few. CDs and LPs - even PC disks for that matter - sound physically better for reasons uknown. After all they give me the feeling of earthly longtime friends, not bodyless facebook acolytes. Just me I suppose.

Allen Fant's picture
Submitted by Allen Fant on April 10, 2022 - 7:17pm

Excellent article- KM.
The CD is NOT dead. Far from it in 2022.

PeterPani's picture
Submitted by PeterPani on April 11, 2022 - 8:55am

I tried a lot of CD-Players. Playing digital over longer time fatigues always, compared to analog. Several years I went back to my Sony CDP-01 from 1983. There are differences compared to modern players. Some in better direction (directness, midrange), other in worse direction (treble - what's on the disc, without improving).

MBMax's picture
Submitted by MBMax on April 11, 2022 - 10:54am

After years of searching, I finally found a digital solution that is a delightful, non-fatiguing way to listen to my CD's. Frankly, I never thought I'd enjoy them so much and I don't feel like I'm settling when I choose a CD over an LP anymore (though I still buy and love records to be sure). My find? An MHDT Orchid DAC. No doubt there are others out there of a similar design approach that give similar sonic results. Absolutely worth seeking out IMHO.

jimtavegia's picture
Submitted by jimtavegia on April 11, 2022 - 1:43pm

Pro-Ject S2 DAC's Something excellent I afford.

DougM's picture
Submitted by DougM on April 11, 2022 - 11:59pm

When the CD was introduced an album cost $7 and a CD cost $15. Now a vinyl album is over $20 and a CD is still $15 or less. I will never go back to the hassle of cleaning discs and styli, replacing styli, and having the hassle of setting up a turntable with all the gauges and protractors, not to mention having to worry about isolation and storing all those huge discs. It's not worth all the cost and headaches for the arguably better sound of analog. I'm happy with my CDs and the gear I use to play them. They sound just fine to me, and I have no interest in paying a monthly fee to a streaming service to hear music I already own. The hipsters will soon tire of the vinyl fad and move on to the next fad to impress their shallow friends.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on April 13, 2022 - 7:53am

I was at Princeton Record Exchange the other day, and judging from the first-year university students digging through the vinyl bins, I suspect this fad ain't ending anytime soon. I was the only one in the classical CD section and one of three in the jazz section.

SundayAudiophile's picture
Submitted by SundayAudiophile on September 24, 2022 - 12:53am

A lot of marketing BS by Cyrus. Can't take the product seriously after such aggressive marketing based on misleading, borderline false information. "the company believes that CDs sound better than the same music does when it's streamed" - there's no technical reason why this should be the case when streaming lossless formats.

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