Cyrus i9-XR Integrated Amplifier – Phantom Black

Here we have a nice example of the i9-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, manual, mains cables, speaker plugs and a USB cable (for firmware updates) are also included along with our standard three month warranty.
Cyrus say…
The i9-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 i9-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 i9-XR power amplifier is very capable of reproducing the scale and drama of the musical performance.
Derived from the new high-end Pre-XR preamplifier, the i9-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 i9-XR will cover just about any system requirement for analogue connectivity.
The DAC input stage of the i9-XR features a new 2nd generation version of our award-winning QXR DAC, but with an all-new high-speed 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.
The i9-XR includes a port for the new PSU-XR power supply. Thirty years ago Cyrus broke new ground with the introduction of the PSX-R, the first ever regulated power supply upgrade that automatically adapted to match perfectly the power requirements of any connected product. The PSU-XR raises the bar by sourcing no less than five independent regulated supplies in a single box. For the i9-XR a pair of these are assigned to provide ultra-smooth power for the preamplifier, and a second pair to provide a huge dynamic boost for the power amplifier.
Inheriting many design features of the award winning Phono Signature, the phono stage in the i9-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 i9-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.
Being Roon Tested means that Cyrus Audio and Roon have collaborated to ensure you have the best experience using Roon software and Cyrus equipment together, so you can just enjoy the music.
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.
Specifications:
Analogue Audio Performance
Input Sensitivity (70 W/8 Ω): 237 mV
Input Impedance: 28 kΩ
Frequency Response (- 3 dB): 0.1 Hz, > 100 kHz
Signal To Noise Ratio (A-WTD): 105 dBA
Power Output (2 channels driven): 91 W into 6 Ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (Pre-Amp) 1 kHz: < 0.002%
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (1 kHz, 2/3 power): < 0.002%
(both channels driven)
Digital Audio Performance At Pre-Out
Input Voltage: 500 mV pk-pk
Input Impedance: 75 Ω
Sample Rate Range (SPDIF): 22.05 k – 192 k
Sample Rate Range (USB): 44.1 k – 384 k
Audio Formats (SPDIF): PCM stereo
Audio Formats (USB): DSD 64, DSD 128, DSD 256 DoP, PCM
Signal To Noise Ratio (pre-out, 0 dB FS): > 113 dBA
THD (pre-out, 0 dB FS): < 0.001%
Power Consumption: < 0.5 W (Standby); 480 W (Maximum)
Dimensions: 215 (W) x 365 (D) x 75 (H) mm
Weight: 5.9 kg

For a review from Hi-Fi+ magazine please click HERE

For a second opinion from Hi-Fi Choice magazine please click HERE