CYRUS AUDIO

UK firm Cyrus Audio announced its new Cyrus One HD stereo amplifier, which adds a digital section to the highly regarded Cyrus One, which is an analogue plus Bluetooth model currently on limited-period special pricing of $999 (you can read our review of that at avhub.com.au/cyrusone).

The ‘HD’ variant of the One follows the same design, having a compact front — 220mm wide by 86mm tall — but with a full 390mm depth. Yet it can deliver 2 × 100W (into six ohms) using Cyrus’ own hybrid Class-D amplifier technology. It also has a separate Class-A/B headphone amplifier.

The new digital side adds optical and coaxial digital audio inputs, and USB Type-B for plugging into a computer. Its ESS Sabre DACs support up to 192kHz sampling at 32 bit, plus DSD and double-speed DSD128.

And there’s some clever stuff in there. The amp automatically detects the speaker impedance when it’s switched on, so that it can configure itself for optimal performance. But traditional values are reflected by such things as the use of a large toroidal transformer.

Oh, and Bluetooth with aptX remains. Importantly, it also supports the newer, higher-throughput aptX HD codec (though you’ll need a source that supports this to enjoy its benefits). The aptX means you can use it with one of the RIAA BT Elipson turntables — see opposite. Although there’s also a moving magnet-level phono input built into the Cyrus One HD.