Matt from our Cardiff store is once again on the amplifier quest, this time with one of his favourite brands: Cyrus. Ever since hearing the new 80 AMP streaming integrated amplifier at this year’s Bristol Hi-Fi Show, it’s certainly piqued his interest. Now that we have one in store, Matt felt it was high time he brought it home and put it through its paces against his very own 40 AMP. Some would say this is David vs Goliath, but we’ll see which one of these amplifiers comes out swinging.

Another chapter in my Cyrus journey

Hi there once again to all you fantastic Hi-Fi fans and blog readers! Before I kick this one off, I’d like to say a big thank you to you all for reading my blogs every month and following my long and winding Hi-Fi journey. It certainly isn’t at an end, as fantastic new products keep grabbing my attention, sonically as well as visually.

This time, as the title of the blog suggests, it’s all about Cyrus’s new 80 AMP. As you all know, I’m pretty much a fanboy of this brand. Right from my early days at Audio T, I was introduced to their hot products of the time, the XR Series, which captured my ear more than any other comparably priced Hi-Fi amplification brand out there. I’ve written about this very subject on a couple of occasions.

As you’ve come to know through the various changes to my own Hi-Fi system, I currently have the 40 AMP and the 40 PPA phono stage in my setup, as well as a CDi-XR. So, when Cyrus announced the 80 AMP, my initial thought was the famous quote from the bowl of petunias in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: “Oh no, not again!”

In the immortal words from HITCHHIKER'S Guide to the Galaxy - “Oh no, not again!”

Of course, I don’t mean that in a negative way, as I was very much looking forward to its release. The quote was on my mind because of the effect it might have on my wallet! As they say, discovery leads to want, and then, when you hear it, you feel like you need it in your life.

All of this was going through my head at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show this year, when I first clapped eyes on it and heard it driving those massive Kerr Acoustic K200 speakers. They sounded phenomenal, as many of you who attended the show will know. As for getting my hands on one and trying it myself, of course I was patient… not! Now I have my hands on one, it’s high time to get it in the rack and put it through its paces.

A little Cyrus history

Before I dive into my big 40 vs 80 test, let’s talk a little about Cyrus’s history and the research and development that have helped make the brand a force to be reckoned with in our Hi-Fi world.

Cyrus Audio is an independent British Hi-Fi manufacturer with its headquarters in Cambridgeshire. Its story stretches back more than 40 years to the original Cyrus One amplifier, launched in 1984. Since then, it has built a range spanning integrated amplifiers, streamers, CD players, power amplifiers and power supplies, with manufacturing carried out in the UK by its partner, SMS Electronics.

The R&D team’s focus is on reproducing the original performance as faithfully as possible, including the emotion behind it. That certainly fits with what has kept me coming back to Cyrus over the years.

As Cyrus Audio’s managing director, Nick Clarke, explains, the aim is to bring us closer to the performance of the artist or band we’re listening to. As I say, it’s about perfection in imperfection, from the breath on a microphone right down to mistakes, like a fumbled note on a guitar. Cyrus certainly captures this, especially with the development of the new 80 AMP. Alongside the larger chassis, there’s a step up in power and, to my ears, performance. It really goes to show how Nick and the team at Cyrus push their products above and beyond expectations.

Cyrus 40 AMP vs 80 AMP specifications

Before I tell you all about my little David vs Goliath test, and who comes out swinging, let’s look at a few specs for both amplifiers.

Cyrus 40 AMP

100W per channel into 6 ohms, rising to 113W per channel with the optional 40 PSU
ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M 32-bit DAC
4 x analogue inputs
1 x MM phono input
1 x optical digital input
2 x coaxial digital inputs
1 x asynchronous USB-B input
1 x HDMI eARC input
1 x analogue preamplifier output
1 x fixed output
1 x headphone output
S/PDIF support: 16-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz
USB support: 16-bit/44.1kHz to 32-bit/384kHz
DSD support: up to DSD256
DoP support: up to DoP128

Cyrus 80 AMP

150W per channel into 6 ohms, with both channels driven; Class AB amplification
Built-in BluOS streaming
ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M 32-bit DAC
Full-colour 5-inch TFT display
Built-in Wi-Fi antenna
High-resolution streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz
MM/MC phono input
4 x analogue inputs
2 x optical digital inputs
2 x coaxial digital inputs
1 x asynchronous USB-B input
1 x HDMI eARC input
1 x analogue preamplifier output
Balanced XLR inputs and outputs
Headphone amplifier
BluOS Controller app for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Mac and PC
Apple AirPlay 2, Roon Ready certification and MQA decoding

The listening playlist

Before I jump into full-on listening mode, as I do with all my blogs, here’s a list of the bands, tracks and formats I used for this test. Believe me, vinyl will be involved! And with Halloween on the horizon, the music choices will be on the dark side. Be warned: there may be some distortion and some scooped mids for good measure.

Vinyl choices

Iron Maiden: “The Writing on the Wall” from Senjutsu (2021)
Metallica: “To Live Is to Die” from ...And Justice for All (1988)
The Cure: “Lullaby” from Disintegration (1989)
Led Zeppelin: “Achilles Last Stand” from Presence (1976)

Streaming choices

Quiet Riot: “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” from Metal Health (1983)
The Temperance Movement: “Always Been Love” from New Promise Land Incorporated (2026)

Setting the benchmark with the Cyrus 40 AMP

Before switching to the 80 AMP, I played each vinyl track on my current amplifier and phono stage, the Cyrus 40 AMP and matching 40 PPA. As we always say, it’s best to play each track on your own system before swapping out a component. The reason is simple: familiarising yourself with how it sounds makes it easier to pick out the differences when you make a change.

And now for my favourite part. You guys know the routine by now: let’s get the coffee of choice and crank up the tunes!

With everything settled and the kit warmed up, the first track in the line-up was, of course, Iron Maiden’s “The Writing on the Wall”. This is a rather busy track for any Hi-Fi system to handle well, but it’s very well recorded, considering there are three guitarists to deal with. The track opens with an acoustic guitar, with a good amount of reverb in the mix. Then Adrian Smith’s main guitar riff punches out, setting the scene for the track. Nicko’s drums have wonderful feel and presence, while Bruce Dickinson’s vocals are perfectly centred throughout. And, of course, Steve Harris’s unmistakable bass playing cuts through the mix, giving this track Iron Maiden’s signature sound and feel.

As I, and some of you out there, have come to know with Cyrus kit, you pretty much get that near-perfect sonic performance and pace, with an almost-live feel to it.

The standout track for me had to be “Achilles Last Stand”. Right from the opening, with Jimmy Page’s layered guitars in the mix, I could hear that swirling guitar sound moving between the speakers, almost behaving like a Uni-Vibe. Then there’s Zep’s rhythm section: John Paul Jones on bass and John Bonham on drums, with fantastic separation and pace, while Robert Plant’s vocals sit forward in the mix.

This is a very long track, with a lot going on, but my system dealt with it beautifully, keeping my head nodding rather than moshing! This is one of my favourite Led Zeppelin tracks, and the 40 AMP really did it justice.

Switching to the Cyrus 80 AMP

And now for the changing of the guard: it’s time to switch out my 40 AMP for the full-width 80 AMP.

A wider stage for the music - Cyrus 80 AMP

Before I dig in, there’s something to be said for an amplifier with more power in reserve. It’s useful when the music gets demanding, even if you’re not trying to turn the volume right up, although that can be a lot of fun! What struck me here was the greater sense of control and authority with the music I was listening to.

The keen-eyed among you may have noticed in the pictures that I’m still using my Cyrus 40 PPA with the 80 AMP. The 80 AMP does have a switchable MM/MC phono stage built in, which sounds phenomenal, but I prefer the quieter background I hear with my 40 PPA in the system. Keeping it in place also meant I was comparing the amplifiers using the same phono stage.

For those about to rock, the 80 AMP certainly does just that, and more!

With the 80 AMP warmed up and a record on the turntable, I’ll tell you about the track that stole the show: Metallica’s “To Live Is to Die”. Let me put it this way: I’ve never heard this track the way I heard it that evening.

There’s a great saying about how you remember where you were when you first heard an album. I remember buying ...And Justice for All on cassette in 1988 from my local record store and taking it straight over to my dad’s studio, getting him to put it on the rack-mounted cassette player, which was made by Tascam, as I recall.

Anyhow, I’m digressing again! What I’m saying is that listening to this transported me back. The track had a greater sense of authority, with more definition between Lars’s drum kit and James and Kirk’s guitars, especially when those guitar parts harmonise. As those of you who know this track will know, it’s largely instrumental, aside from a brief spoken-word passage, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get lost in the playing.

Streaming amp, you say? Stream I shall!

As all of you know, I’ve yet to buy a streamer. When Cyrus announced that the 80 AMP has BluOS built in and uses the onboard DAC, I thought, “Count me in!” This amplifier really does have everything I’m looking for.

With Qobuz queued up on my phone, there were two tracks, out of the many I listened to throughout the evening, that caught my ear.

Quiet Riot and a little music history

The first was a bit of a classic-rock guilty pleasure from Quiet Riot: “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)”. I’ll admit it’s not the best recording, but this track holds memories for me. It sounded big and open, from the first strike of that shotgun snare right through to Carlos Cavazo’s anthemic guitar riff, which we all know and love.

Quiet Riot was pretty much a revolving door when it came to great musicians. Before Carlos joined the band, its guitarist was, for me, the greatest of them all: Randy Rhoads, who left to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band. But Randy wasn’t the only one. Bassist Rudy Sarzo also played with Ozzy before returning to Quiet Riot.

The Temperance Movement

The next track to catch my ear was from a new record by a band that had been on hiatus for a while: The Temperance Movement, with their brand-new album, New Promise Land Incorporated, and the single “Always Been Love”.

The first thing that hit me on this track was that opening guitar riff. It cut through the mix perfectly, while all the other instruments had plenty of space around it. Then, of course, Phil Campbell’s powerful vocals kicked in with great presence, pulling the track together.

I highly recommend getting this album on your playlist or, even cooler, buying it on vinyl. You know it makes sense!

Is the Cyrus 80 AMP worth the upgrade?

For me, a very big, resounding yes! The Cyrus 80 AMP really is the whole package. Alongside the extra power, it offers multiple inputs, the aforementioned MM/MC phono stage and, of course, built-in BluOS, as well as that phenomenal display that shows off the album artwork. It feels like the ultimate all-in-one, high-end integrated amplifier for my listening habits.

Could I see myself upgrading to the 80 AMP?

Personally, I can see it on the horizon, and I’d love one. As they say, once you’ve heard it, you can’t unhear it! But right now, it’s a pretty big jump for me, especially as I’m just moving house.

For fellow 40 AMP owners, it’s also worth remembering that there’s another upgrade route: adding the 40 PSU. Cyrus quotes an increase from 100W to 113W per channel into 6 ohms, alongside the wider performance benefits of the external power supply. It’s an option I’d recommend hearing for yourself.

If you’d like to put these two amplifiers up against each other, as I have, get in touch with us at Audio T Cardiff or speak to your local Audio T store about arranging a demonstration. Bring along some music you know well and see which one gets your head nodding. I highly recommend it!

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog and for following the next chapter in my Hi-Fi journey. For now, the 40 AMP is staying put, but I suspect this won’t be the last you hear from me about the 80 AMP!

Matt - Audio T Cardiff

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