kernow
pfm Member
Spend less on cables in futureOkay, well I’m back in the rabbit hole and could use some much needed advice.
Many thanks in advance.
Nick.
Spend less on cables in futureOkay, well I’m back in the rabbit hole and could use some much needed advice.
Many thanks in advance.
Nick.
Na I love Chord cables. I got the interconnects new at 40% off rrp as they’ve just been updated and the speaker cable new at 30% off rrp with the posh ohmic plugs.Spend less on cables in future
I would recommend a class D power amp with hypex ncore modules. Audiophonics ncore 125/250 is a very good and clean sounding amplifier. Slightly better sounding than amplifiers with the tpa3255 chip that everyone raves about ( they are good sounding to ) . And maybe get a digital source with a good PEQ implemented. The last option is maybe more important for the sound than changing the amplifier. ( in my opinion )Hi all,
After being without a hifi set up for a few years (divorce) and having to listen to a Sonos Beam for music duties albeit in night time mode and bass turned right down, I thought it was time and decided to get a little budget set up.
i plumped for a Cambridge Audio axa 35 amp, Acoustic Energy AE100 mk2 speakers and Blusound Node gen 3 front end and Chord Clearway interconnect and Chord Rumour X speaker cable.
I think for the money spent it’s very impressive. The problem is I only have a small room in my new property and the sound is just too big/ full and warm.
I recently picked up a pair of Amphion Argon 0 speakers and they are fantastic and now I need a new amp to get the most out of them.
In the past I owned a AVI Lab series integrated amongst many others. This is the sound I’m now after. I want tight, lean controlled bass. Is there anything out there with a similar presentation? I’m thinking maybe a Audiolab 6000A though I’m happy to buy just a straight amp with no dac as I’m happy with the dac inside the BS Node. From memory I think Cyrus gear is along these lines, is that the case? I’ve seen some Cyrus 8A’s knocking about at good prices. Does anyone have any experience of this amp?
Okay, well I’m back in the rabbit hole and could use some much needed advice.
Many thanks in advance.
Nick.
Yes I saw that deal on the Cyrus i7 - XR and it very much interests me. I read in one review that the bottom end is fuller than previous Cyrus models. Could you give me an idea of how it sounds to you. I can get a Hegel H95 for that price which is also meant to be a clean sounding amplifier. Considering both amps at present.During part of the covid era I used an AX35 and it was ok for the price, but didn't really excite me - a few months back I plumped for a Cyris i7-xr when the retail price was reduced from £2295 to c.£1395, and for that, I reckon it stands up well against its peers and as a result, I have returned to enjoying music as opposed to simply tolerating it!
I have to be careful as my listening room adjoins my neighbours' main living room and so far they have not complained about any noise. This is well worth looking at in my view - and having previously owned Naim (ie XS-2, and a pre/power/napsc set-up) the Cyrus wins hands-down though I know some may scoff at that.
My bro-in-law has older but modded Cyrus stuff (8?, 8A?, 8-Dac? - can't quite recall) and his set-up always sounds impressive to me.
Also, could you describe how the Cyrus i7/xr sounds compared to the axa 35 please? Did you find the axa 35 too full and warm?During part of the covid era I used an AX35 and it was ok for the price, but didn't really excite me - a few months back I plumped for a Cyris i7-xr when the retail price was reduced from £2295 to c.£1395, and for that, I reckon it stands up well against its peers and as a result, I have returned to enjoying music as opposed to simply tolerating it!
I have to be careful as my listening room adjoins my neighbours' main living room and so far they have not complained about any noise. This is well worth looking at in my view - and having previously owned Naim (ie XS-2, and a pre/power/napsc set-up) the Cyrus wins hands-down though I know some may scoff at that.
My bro-in-law has older but modded Cyrus stuff (8?, 8A?, 8-Dac? - can't quite recall) and his set-up always sounds impressive to me.
HiI had the Cyrus i7-XR and now have the i9-XR, both are good sounding amps.
The i7-XR will be out of stock soon, so move quickly!
Rotel RA 820. You'll pick one up for very little, just try it -- I doubt you'll be disappointed.Hi all,
After being without a hifi set up for a few years (divorce) and having to listen to a Sonos Beam for music duties albeit in night time mode and bass turned right down, I thought it was time and decided to get a little budget set up.
i plumped for a Cambridge Audio axa 35 amp, Acoustic Energy AE100 mk2 speakers and Blusound Node gen 3 front end and Chord Clearway interconnect and Chord Rumour X speaker cable.
I think for the money spent it’s very impressive. The problem is I only have a small room in my new property and the sound is just too big/ full and warm.
I recently picked up a pair of Amphion Argon 0 speakers and they are fantastic and now I need a new amp to get the most out of them.
In the past I owned a AVI Lab series integrated amongst many others. This is the sound I’m now after. I want tight, lean controlled bass. Is there anything out there with a similar presentation? I’m thinking maybe a Audiolab 6000A though I’m happy to buy just a straight amp with no dac as I’m happy with the dac inside the BS Node. From memory I think Cyrus gear is along these lines, is that the case? I’ve seen some Cyrus 8A’s knocking about at good prices. Does anyone have any experience of this amp?
Okay, well I’m back in the rabbit hole and could use some much needed advice.
Many thanks in advance.
Nick.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I fully understand what you’re saying.Thing is Nick, I don't have your ears, your room and your music - nor your associated equipment.
There's a lazy assumption made about Cyrus being bright sounding, which has been perpetuated through the years. Quite frankly it's bollocks. I had the i7 for a few months and was really pleased with it. I personally believe that I was one of the first people to buy it, and this is a few years ago, back in lockdown. before that I had the Rega Brio and the i7 sounded better to me. It had a one-pixel fault on the display screen and Cyrus were extremely helpful and arranged to pick it up, and they also loaned me an i9 whilst they fixed it. I couldn't let the i9 go after hearing it, and we came to a financial arrangement and it stayed.
I would describe it as articulate and musical. Fast and exciting too. High-end is smooth, bass is deep and with texture. I play a wide range of music and I haven't found it wanting yet.
Looks like there is one here (I'm not sure where you are based): https://www.referenceaudio.co.uk/cyrus-i7-xr#variant_2265
Oh and don't let the horophile above bully you with his drive-by quips, he's a full-weight whopper on every forum that we both go on, and often gets pulled up.
No more questions Nick, get one tried. Buy it if you like it. Return it if you don't.
Thank you for your reply. I’ll check out AVForums.Yes, I did find the AX35 to be somewhat warm and wooly (not sure about being fat sounding). One thing that I have noticed is that vocals and drums/percussion are much much clearer and more involving than before. I'm no expert on Cyrus stuff though as I said my bro-in-laws' does sound impressive and full of dynamics. Saying that you would expect that taking into account the price difference.
That Hegel is very, very tempting .
As for reviews, I noticed valuable and largely complimentary stuff on AV Forums.
What class D amps have you owned mate?I would also second looking for a class D amp. I've owned four and can say the bass is lean & detailed. I found I could get away with a louder volume and not annoy the neighbours. Class D amps also tend to be super fast and have blacker backgrounds in my experience.
I had a 10W T amp many years ago, then a couple of DIY mono-blocks, Roksan Oxygen & Jeff Rowland Continuum 2. I still have the latter two.What class D amps have you owned mate?