Cyrus i7-XR Integrated Amplifier – Phantom Black

Here we have a nice example of the i7-XR amplifier from British brand Cyrus. It is in the phantom black finish, comes in very good condition and is supplied in original factory packaging. A remote control, mains cable, speaker plugs and a USB cable (for firmware updates) are also included along with our standard three month warranty.
Cyrus say…
The i7-XR is one of the first wave of products, heralding the new XR series of Cyrus components. The familiar Cyrus precision die-cast case is the same, but everything else has changed. With ground-up engineering inside, an all-new phantom black paint finish, touch sensitive controls and a higher resolution display that is customisable for brightness, contrast and polarity, the high quality finish of XR makes a strong statement.
There’s no shortage of innovations and upgrades under the skin. XR series products are the manifestation of over a decade’s accumulated technology and development knowledge. With particular attention to the detail of every component that lays in the audio path, XR takes Cyrus audio performance to another level. The wideband power amplifier of the i7-XR responds from D.C. to beyond 100kHz ensuring ruler flat frequency response and keeping any undesirable phase shifts out of the audio band. With a generous, over-specified power supply the i7-XR power amplifier delivers music with a scale and authority that belies it’s 52W rating.
Derived from the new high-end Pre-XR preamplifier, the i7-XR analogue preamp features relay input selection and a new high performance gain stage. This short-path design makes the analogue preamplifier extremely transparent. With four analogue inputs and phono MM, the i7-XR will cover just about any system requirement for analogue connectivity.
The DAC input stage of the i7-XR features a new 2nd generation version of our award-winning QXR DAC, but with an all-new highspeed analogue buffer stage. Seven digital filter alignment options are user adjustable to suit the taste of the listener. Input options include USB audio (to 384k sample rate) and DSD to DSD256, 2 x SPDIF digital and 2 x optical digital inputs.
Inheriting many design features of the award winning Phono Signature, the phono stage in the i7-XR performs at a level way above its class. Featuring low background noise and high dynamic range, the phono stage is a perfect complement for a quality vinyl turntable source.
A new menu system makes the i7-XR highly customisable yet easy to set up. With a tree-style navigation structure and both local and remote control navigation, menu settings are quick and simple to select.
All Cyrus components are manufactured in an advanced die-cast aluminium chassis and this hand finished casework is an integral part of the products’ sound. It’s not just about good looks; the chassis composition is specifically designed to create an electronically shielded and mechanically vibration-free environment for the sensitive audio circuits which are hung inside the inverted chassis, avoiding unwanted electric currents and secondary magnetic fields so the sound you hear is the very best that it can be.
Features:
4 x Analogue inputs
1 x Phono MM input
2 x Optical inputs
2 x Coaxial digital inputs
1 x Asynchronous USB input
1 x Analogue preamplifier out
1 x Headphone output
Specifications:
Input Sensitivity: 179 mV, 40W/8Ω
Input Impedance: 28 kΩ
Frequency Response: 1 Hz, > 100 kHz – 3 dB
Signal To Noise Ratio: 104 dBA
Power Output: 52 W into 6 Ω
Total Harmonic Distortion & Noise: < 0.003%
Input Voltage: 500 mV pk-pk
Sample Rate Range: 16/44.1k – 24/192k SPDIF
Sample Rate Range: 16/44.1k – 32/384k USB
USB Supported Formats: PCM stereo SPDIF
USB Supported Formats: Up to DSD256
USB Supported Formats: Up to DOP128
Power Consumption: Standby: < 0.5 W; Maximum: 300 W
Material: Die cast chassis
Dimensions: 215 (W) x 365 (D) x 75 (H) mm
Weight: 4.9 kg

For a review from Hi-Fi Choice magazine please click here